Head of Public Affairs

The relationship between technology and politics has never mattered more. As government shapes the rules that will determine how AI develops, how data flows and how digital infrastructure gets built, the tech sector needs a voice that is heard - clearly, consistently and at the right moment.

The Head of Public Affairs will lead techUK's political engagement, forging and sustaining relationships with MPs, Lords, parliamentary staff, the main political parties and key committees. They will ensure that when Parliament acts on issues that matter to our members, techUK is already in the room - trusted, informed and ready to influence.

The role will work closely alongside the Associate Director for External Affairs and the Head of Strategic Communications to take forward and identify techUK's clear asks and messages to a political audience. It will also work closely with programme teams to ensure they are able to advocate for their programme asks, reflecting members' priorities with a political audience.

This role reports directly to the Associate Director for External Affairs and will have line management responsibility for the Public Affairs team.

Role Purpose: To lead techUK's political and parliamentary engagement, building the relationships and influence needed to ensure the tech sector's priorities shape policy at every stage of the legislative process.

Key Responsibilities:

• Relationship building: Build and maintain strong relationships with political and parliamentary figures, including the key political parties, Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. Support colleagues with engaging government figures, particularly where established relationships already exist. Act as an established point of contact for the organisation when working with politicians and political stakeholders.
• Monitoring and analysis: Oversee the tracking of legislative and parliamentary developments by the Public Affairs team to understand their impact. Work with programme teams to establish and deliver engagement programmes that represent members and their asks.
• Strategic advice and advocacy: Support colleagues across the wider organisation with how best to engage with political and parliamentary figures. Advise on how best to address policy challenges in Parliament, working closely with Policy team colleagues to identify, establish and execute engagement plans around particular issues. Represent techUK with political and parliamentary stakeholders, acting as a spokesperson for techUK's messages and wider policymaking engagement. Leverage Parliamentary relationships to ensure techUK is relevant and influential with political stakeholders.
• Events and engagement programmes: Oversee the delivery of key political and parliamentary engagement plans, including but not limited to the Party Conference programme and Westminster Drinks Receptions. Ensure the wider Public Affairs team is able to deliver on the logistics of these events programmes.
• Collaboration and leadership: Work across the wider organisation and programme teams to ensure outreach to Parliament and the key political parties is reflective of techUK's wider strategic aims. Provide line management and development support to the Public Affairs team.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise:

Essential Knowledge and Experience:

• Significant experience in public affairs, political engagement or parliamentary relations.
• Demonstrable track record of building and managing relationships with politicians, parliamentary staff and political parties.
• Strong understanding of UK Parliamentary processes, the legislative landscape and political dynamics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex policy issues into clear messages for a political audience.
• Ability to work collaboratively across a matrix organisation and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong judgement and the ability to act as a trusted adviser to senior colleagues.

Desired Knowledge and Experience:

• Knowledge of the technology sector and the policy issues affecting it.
• Experience of managing party conference programmes or major parliamentary events.
• Existing network across the main political parties and Parliament.

This is a full time role based out of techUK's London offices, however techUK operates a flexible working policy. This role profile is a guide to the work that is required but does not form part of any contract of employment and may change from time to time to reflect changing circumstances. The successful candidate must have permission to work in the UK prior to the commencement of employment.