Public Affairs and Policy Manager

Salary: £40,000

Directors UK is looking for an experienced Public Affairs and Policy Manager to join their team.

About Directors UK

Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 8,000 members – the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Directors UK negotiates rights deals and collects and distributes royalties to its members, ensuring they receive fair payment for their work. It also campaigns and lobbies on its members’ behalf and provides a range of services including legal advice, events and career development. Directors UK works closely with fellow organisations around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns, promotes excellence in the craft of direction and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.

Job role and duties

We are looking for an experienced Public Affairs and Policy Manager who is passionate about influencing government, MPs, policy makers and key stakeholders about the issues affecting TV and film directors, protecting their copyright and creative rights. Reporting to the Director of Communications and Public Affairs, the role will help plan and deliver our engagement activities with parliamentarians and policy-makers. The role includes identifying opportunities to engage with and influence political stakeholders and senior decision makers; monitoring and responding to political developments; developing policy and written submissions to government or sector consultations; raising awareness and strengthening reputation with key policy makers.

Key responsibilities include the following:

• Working with the Director of Communications and Public Affairs to develop and draft position statements and briefing papers on key policy issues to support the work of Directors UK.
• Monitoring and sharing insights and intelligence on key public affairs issues such as creative IP and copyright, freelancing, creative rights.
• Conducting research on key issues, building a strong evidence base to support policy priorities and messaging.
• Horizon scanning for emerging political or policy developments that may be of relevance to Directors UK and its members, identifying and planning actions and campaigns in response.
• Identifying and reviewing relevant consultation opportunities and inquiries, researching and drafting responses. Tracking progress of relevant bills, inquiries and other parliamentary activity.
• Political stakeholder mapping to identify key contacts and opportunities to build and maintain relationships with decision makers, including MPs, civil servants and other stakeholders.
• Raising awareness and strengthening reputation with key policy makers and decision-makers.
• Developing a contact programme, arranging and attending meetings, and drafting and distributing letters and briefings to enable Directors UK to engage with parliamentary stakeholders.
• Identifying opportunities to engage in policy discussions, including conferences, roundtables and sector events.
• Working with the Director of Communications and Public Affairs to develop positive working relationships with relevant trade and industry groups to collaborate and share policy activity across groups.
• Work with the communications team to ensure our policy positions are reflected in member communications, press and media activity and on social media, sharing news about relevant political developments and our public affairs activity.
• Tracking and recording all political engagement, keeping parliamentary contact log up to date.
• Identify and develop relationships with relevant All Party Parliamentary Groups.Build strong relationships with other teams across Directors UK.
• Work as part of the wider communications team, supporting projects and campaigns as needed.

The above list is not exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the role.

Person specification

Essential Skills and Experience 

• Experience in a public affairs/government relations or policy role.
• Experience of the workings of government and parliamentary procedure.
• Ability to identify and understand key issues and develop evidence-based arguments and solutions about complex issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with a clear and compelling writing style.
• Experience of producing written briefings, submissions and policy documents, presenting complex issues in an easy to understand way.
• Strong analytical and fact-finding skills.
• A strong interest in, and passion for, the film and TV sector.
• A passion for policy and stakeholder engagement with an understanding of campaign planning, stakeholder mapping and best practice in engaging with key political and policy stakeholders.
• Persuasive and diplomatic manner.
• Confident and able to hit the ground running.
• Ability to work well under pressure, in a team and independently.
• Good organisational skills, able to prioritise multiple delivery deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail.
• A flexible and proactive, team-driven approach with a ‘can do’ attitude.
• Good relationship management skills, able to work with people at all levels of seniority.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Outlook

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience working in a membership organisation and/or another organisation which undertakes lobbying.
• Knowledge or experience of working in copyright related area.

Key terms of employment

Reporting to: Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Salary: £40,000
Hours: 9:30am – 5:30pm (with occasional evening and weekend work)
Work days: Preferably five days per week, Monday to Friday, however we also welcome applications for four days per week
Location: This role may be split between working at our Directors UK office at 4th Floor, 22 Stukeley Street, London WC2B 5LR and working remotely.
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Holidays: 25 days per year plus all public and bank holidays (pro rata)

Benefits

• Company Pension Scheme
• Annual health check from Nuffield Health
• Life Assurance benefit from AIG (4 x salary paid to dependent)
• Season Ticket Loan
• Perkbox (various discounts)
• Eye Test (reimbursement of up to £50 for cost of annual eye test)
• Cycle to Work scheme

Applications

Directors UK is an equal opportunities employer – we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

This appointment is subject to satisfactory references and completion of a 3-month probationary period. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

To apply please send to: recruitment@directors.uk.com

• a personal statement as to why you consider yourself suited to this role (max. 500 words)
• your CV

Interviews to take place: TBC

Please note that only candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted.

The closing date for this position is 15/09/2023 at 00:00