Head of Public Affairs

ABOUT THE BRC

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is the trade association for UK retail. The industry is diverse, dynamic and includes retail brands, brand manufacturers who sell direct to consumers, and covers many innovative business models, from in-store and digital to rental, repair and re-use.

Retail is the ‘everywhere economy’, a vital part of the socio-economic fabric of the UK. It’s 5% of GDP, our largest private sector employer with 3 million direct jobs and 2.7 million more in the supply chain and through its scale and reach, helps support delivery of government policy.

THE ROLE

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead public affairs for one of the UK's most influential trade associations at a time when retail sits at the heart of the UK's economic, political and social agenda.

Working as a member of the Corporate Affairs leadership team alongside the Corporate Affairs Director, you’ll shape and deliver the BRC’s engagement with government, Parliament and political stakeholders, ensuring the voice of retail is heard where it matters most.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

As BRC's Head of Public Affairs, you will be responsible for:

• Political Leadership; Lead the BRC's engagement with ministers, parliamentarians, special advisers, officials and political stakeholders across government.
• Public Affairs and Campaigns; Design and deliver integrated public affairs campaigns around the industry's highest strategic priorities.
• Strategic Stakeholder Engagement; Work closely with member organisations to ensure advocacy reflects their priorities while advancing the interests of the wider sector.
• Corporate Affairs Leadership; Act as a key member of the Corporate Affairs leadership team, contributing to wider strategic priorities beyond public affairs.
• Leadership; Lead, coach and develop members of the Public Affairs team, creating an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

The ideal role holder will be:

• Significant experience leading public affairs or government relations engagement at a senior level.
• Strong understanding of Westminster, Whitehall and UK political processes.
• Demonstrable success influencing government policy and building senior stakeholder relationships.
• Experience designing and delivering successful public affairs or advocacy campaigns.
• Ability to translate complex policy into persuasive external communications.
• Experience advising senior leaders on political strategy and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience, with eligibility for annual bonus.
• Benefits include private health and dental insurance, pension contributions and the availability of season ticket loans.

APPLICATION PROCESS:  

Vox Partners is delighted to be in partnership with the BRC for this recruitment. For more information and to apply, please visit our website.

We are an equal opportunities recruitment partner and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of background.

To apply, please upload your CV by using the Apply button below. 

For more information, please contact Alec Zetter (alec@voxpartners.co.uk).