Deputy Director, Strategy and Communications

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is the trade association representing the Scotch Whisky industry, Scotland’s largest food and drink export and one of the UK’s most iconic global products. We work with governments, international organisations and industry stakeholders to secure fair market access, promote proportionate regulation, and protect Scotch Whisky worldwide.

We are seeking an outstanding Deputy Director of Strategy and Communications to join the Scotch Whisky Association at a pivotal moment for the industry. Reporting to the Director of Strategy and Communications, this is a high-profile role at the centre of our engagement with SWA member companies and political stakeholders. You will help shape and deliver our strategy and communications activity, building influential relationships across Westminster, Whitehall, and the devolved administrations. Working across the political spectrum, you will ensure our members’ priorities are clearly understood and effectively represented.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver SWA’s political engagement strategy, positioning the Scotch Whisky industry with senior stakeholders across Government and Parliament.
• Build and maintain influential relationships with Ministers, officials, Special Advisers and other key stakeholders across the UK and devolved administrations, supporting SWA’s ability to influence policy and public debate.
• Manage, motivate, and develop a high-performing team, ensuring effective knowledge-sharing and supporting the development of junior colleagues.
• Anticipate and manage political and reputational risks, advising the Director, CEO, senior colleagues, and member companies on implications, options, and recommended actions.
• Foster strong collaboration across SWA and member companies, drawing on internal and external expertise to advance political engagement priorities and deliver shared objectives.
• Work closely with communications colleagues to align political engagement with external messaging, ensuring clear and consistent positioning.

About You

• Significant senior experience in public affairs and government relations, ideally in a complex and politically sensitive environment.
• Proven track record of shaping and delivering high-profile political engagement, with responsibility for strategy, messaging, and delivery.
• Sophisticated understanding of UK government, Parliament, and the wider political and economic context, and how industry engages effectively on key issues.
• Exceptional relationship-builder, able to cultivate and sustain senior-level contacts across politics, industry, and stakeholder organisations.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term positioning with responsive, tactical interventions.
• Strong judgement under pressure, including experience advising senior leaders on political and reputational risk.
• Line management experience, including managing budgets and resources.
• Demonstrable experience translating complex policy issues into clear, persuasive narratives for diverse audiences.
• Experience of membership organisations is useful but not essential.

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We want every colleague to feel included, valued, and respected. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, and we particularly encourage applications from groups that are underrepresented in our organisation and in the wider sector. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the recruitment process, please let us know.

How we work

Inclusion matters to us. We operate hybrid working and flexitime, and we welcome open conversations about what works best for you. This is a London-based role, and you will be expected to spend substantial time in our Westminster office. Due to the nature of this role, there is also a requirement for regular in-person working aligned to parliamentary business, including engagement in London and Scotland. This may involve periods of increased travel and a higher level of on-site attendance than is typical for some other roles. We encourage applicants to share any circumstances that may affect their working arrangements, so we can explore how best to support flexibility within the requirements of the role.

What’s on offer

The opportunity to shape and deliver a high-profile agenda for one of Scotland’s most iconic industries which is the UK’s largest food and drink export. Competitive salary and benefits, including:

• Employer pension contributions up to 15%
• Private medical insurance (subject to eligibility/qualifying period)
• Life assurance
• Group income protection
• Monthly wellbeing allowance
• Wellbeing initiatives, plus engagement and activity days throughout the year
• CPD days and professional development opportunities
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care support (optical/eye test vouchers)

How to apply

Please email the following documents to: hr@swa.org.uk. Please attach each document as a separate file in Microsoft Word format; applications will be redacted in line with our recruitment procedures.

Your CV

A one-page covering letter outlining your suitability for the role and how you meet the person specification (maximum 500 words)

Closing date: 5.00pm, Thursday 29 January. We anticipate a high volume of applications and may close early; if so, we will not close applications before 12.00pm, Friday 23 January.