Tech Policy Director

Milltown Partners is a global advisory firm working with influential organisations and individuals on the public policy, political and communications challenges that define their reputations.

We are looking for our next brilliant senior hire who can bring at least 10 years of experience working on the technology policy issues that affect the global companies driving change. A successful candidate will have the ambition, expertise and network that enables them to provide specialist policy communications advice to our technology client base across the UK and European landscape.

We will be flexible to bring someone on as an Associate Director or Director. The right title will depend on what is best for the right person for the role. The salary range included is indicative of that flexibility.

THE DIRECTOR ROLE

Directors are responsible for the quality of everything we produce. They ensure every team has an agreed strategy, clear priorities, and consistently exceeds client expectations. They set the scope, agree the fees and design the structure of our teams to ensure we have the right resources to deliver our best work. They give brilliant advice to our clients, deliver exceptional work and coach their teams to do the same. Directors are instrumental in the growth of the firm, helping to build external networks and lead on new business opportunities, while also supporting the design and delivery of plans for quality, talent and growth.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TECH POLICY DIRECTOR ROLE

Policy and public affairs: crafting and delivering advice that supports our clients’ ability to influence policy and regulation

• Providing strategic advice to our clients by combining a deep understanding of key technology policy issues (inc. AI, online safety, data and competition) with insight into political dynamics. Using relationships with policy and political stakeholders to provide insights that elevate the quality of our advice.
• Translating technical and policy concepts into compelling narratives that resonate with policy stakeholders (inc. parliamentarians, civil servants, regulators)
• Understanding of how to execute public affairs engagement, in order to lead a team that provides hands‑on support to public affairs teams.
• Designing and interrogating client asks and designing briefs that ensure all advice is underpinned by insights.
• Confidently and transparently discussing AI‑enhanced work with clients and explaining value‑add

Leadership: defining direction and inspiring others to meet a common goal

• Collaborating with senior management to set clear goals and priorities for your teams and holding everyone, including themselves, to account for meeting them
• Building trust with your client in order to give the most impactful advice and support
• Taking responsibility for the strategic direction and tactical choices for clients
• Sharing your insights and experience in a way that allows the rest of the team to replicate your success
• Drawing on the full expertise and resources of the firm to develop and deliver advice that helps our clients build and protect their reputations
• Coaching individuals both in line management and on teams to identify opportunities to meet their goals

Innovation: pushing the boundaries of the work we do as a firm

• Being a role model and leading by example in both managing and delivering exceptional work
• Ensuring research, data and insight underpins all work that we deliver
• Seeking expertise from outside the firm – media, business, policy, academia, research – and using it to improve the quality of our advice and analysis
• Identifying operational efficiencies that enable us to deliver our best work
• Identifying opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing and growth for the business beyond your own client teams
• Proactively engage clients and potential clients about AI‑enhanced services

Growth: Contributing to the future of the business beyond the boundaries of client work

• Identifying and leading on converting new opportunities into work and extending our work with existing clients
• Cultivating an external network that enables us to deliver impactful results for our clients (e.g. with journalists, subject matter experts or other advisers)
• Developing and building your external network in order to attract new clients and reach potential referrers
• Showing entrepreneurial thinking internally by identifying opportunities for collaboration, skills building and knowledge sharing

Contributing to a collaborative and inclusive work environment

• Giving and receiving regular feedback to individuals at all levels in the firm
• Actively seeking input or assistance from others and reflecting their contributions in the work
• Demonstrating allyship to all colleagues and supporting the wellbeing of everyone on the team

MUST HAVE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Excellent command of written and verbal English language
• At least 10 years of advisory experience in technology policy issues – ideally in one or several of: consultancy, government, regulator or a technology company
• Ideally this experience will include advising or engaging with large global technology companies.
• Deep understanding of key policy issues in the UK (inc. AI, online safety, data privacy and competition) and how these interact with policy developments in the EU, US and globally.
• Relationships with a range of policy stakeholders (e.g. government, regulators, parliamentarians, party officials, trade associations, policy influencers)
• Experience communicating complex topics to non‑technical audiences
• Experience managing a team and pushing work to the appropriate level
• Intellectual curiosity to develop subject matter expertise in new topics, and share that with colleagues
• A highly motivated team member who values collaboration and has a desire to seek out feedback in order to learn and develop
• Commitment to contributing to a supportive and inclusive culture

WHAT WE OFFER IN RETURN

Our Associate Director salary band starts at £75,000 and our Director salary band starts at £100,000. We determine a successful candidate\’s salary based on what we believe is a fair and competitive offer for their experience and our level expectations as laid out in our internal career framework.

You\’ll have access to competitive pay with transparent salary bands, twice‑yearly bonuses, professional development opportunities guided by our career framework and progression pathways, private healthcare, mental health support, 26 days holiday plus public holidays (outside of our annual Christmas break), and a hybrid working model (three days in the office: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday).

#J-18808-Ljbffr