Communications & Engagement Officer

Salary: Circa £35,000 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Part-Time Option: Minimum 3 days / 21 hours per week

Working Pattern: Hybrid - minimum 2 full days per week in the office, with attendance at meetings and events across the region as required

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Start Date: As soon as possible

About the Role

We are seeking to appoint a passionate and driven Communications & Engagement Officer to work closely with members, stakeholders and policymakers, delivering compelling policy communications and activities that influence, inform and help tackle barriers limiting business growth and productivity. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with outstanding communication skills and a keen interest in politics, economics and government. The successful candidate will thrive in an ambitious, proactive and relationship-driven organisation and will be confident engaging with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

Reporting to the Head of Marketing & Communications, you will lead communications and engagement activities relating to policy issues and public affairs. You will play a key role in identifying relevant political, economic and regulatory developments, representing the interests of the business community and ensuring important policy messages are communicated clearly and effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Anticipate, identify and monitor political, economic, regulatory and policy issues relevant to businesses and key stakeholders.
• Advise senior management and other stakeholders on proposed policy positions and appropriate courses of action.
• Arrange and attend meetings with members and stakeholders, researching and preparing information on sector-specific concerns in advance.
• Act upon issues and concerns raised through stakeholder engagement.
• Influence debate on key policy issues by developing appropriate responses to policy and regulatory developments.
• Identify relevant funding and grant opportunities and communicate these internally and externally.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure an effective flow of information and gather meaningful feedback from the business community.

Communications & Thought Leadership

• Support the development of a high-profile and respected policy function.
• Create a programme of policy-related activities, including research, briefing papers, thought leadership and events.
• Ensure policy work is communicated effectively across a range of channels.
• Produce engaging and audience-specific copy for publications, newsletters and reports.
• Contribute to policy-related press interviews, press releases and external communications.
• Translate complex policy messages and jargon into clear, simple and impactful communications.
• Work collaboratively with other teams to ensure relevant and timely information is effectively communicated.

Stakeholder & Public Affairs Engagement

• Establish and develop strong relationships with key policymakers and opinion-forming audiences.
• Build relationships with businesses and organisations regionally and nationally to encourage collaborative working.
• Attend events to network and develop relationships with members and stakeholders.
• Represent the organisation at relevant external events.
• Represent business interests at consultations, roundtables and public affairs forums.
• Act as a visible representative of the organisation when engaging with senior stakeholders, policymakers and the wider business community.

Research & Business Insights

• Commission and manage regular research activities, research collaborations and funded projects.
• Analyse research findings and present information appropriately for different audiences.
• Develop consistent methods for gathering and tracking business sentiment and intelligence.
• Share relevant research and insights with key internal and external audiences.

Skills & Experience

• A minimum of 12 months' recent experience working at a comparable level within policy, public affairs, impact or strategic communications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A keen interest in and understanding of politics, economics and government.
• Experience shaping and communicating organisational policy activities.
• Experience influencing opinion through evidence-led advocacy.
• Proven experience of influencing and engaging stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Strong analytical, research and writing skills.
• The ability to understand complex policy information and translate it into clear, accessible and impactful language.
• Confidence writing copy for business publications and external audiences.
• Good political awareness, curiosity and understanding of the wider business environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills.
• The ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities and deadlines.
• A proactive, positive and solution-focused approach.
• Strong motivation, resilience and drive for results.
• The ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and cloud-based technology, with an awareness of CRM, website and social media systems.
• Knowledge or experience of business support organisations or membership-based organisations would be advantageous, alongside an understanding of the business landscape across the West Midlands.
• Relevant qualifications in areas such as policy, public affairs, communications, business management or project management would also be desirable.

Personal Attributes

• The successful candidate will be passionate, driven and highly motivated.
• An excellent communicator and relationship builder.
• Proactive and solution-focused.
• Dependable and reliable.
• Resilient and able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Confident working with stakeholders at all levels.
• Able to exercise tact and diplomacy.
• Comfortable taking ownership and responsibility for their work.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing business requirements.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel to meetings and events across the region.
• Access to own transport, appropriately insured for business travel.
• Flexibility in working arrangements to meet business requirements.

Benefits

• Salary of circa £35,000 per annum.
• 27 days' annual leave plus public holidays.
• An additional fully paid day off for your birthday.
• Company pension scheme - 6% employer contribution based on a 2% employee contribution.
• Death in Service Insurance - 3 x gross salary.
• Employee Healthcare Scheme.
• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Potential additional Christmas closure days following 12 months' service, subject to organisational discretion.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to combine their communications expertise with a genuine interest in politics, economics, government and public affairs. You will have the opportunity to build influential relationships, engage with policymakers and stakeholders, and contribute to policy communications and activities that make a meaningful impact on the regional business community.