Public & Government Affairs Manager

Your new role
You will lead National Highways’ regional public affairs programme across the North of England in support of our corporate priorities and delivery plan. You will work closely with regional leaders and delivery teams to build support for National Highways’ workwith key stakeholders.

The public affairs team is part of the Corporate Affairs and Communications directorate. You will be working alongside other public affairs and communications professionals to deliver National Highways’ public affairs strategy, including the developmentand delivery of a regional stakeholder engagement programme.

You will bring knowledge of the national and regional public affairs landscape and use this to inform your strategy and engagement plans, as well as monitoring and acting on stakeholder sentiment. You will also be part of a regional communications functionthat delivers integrated campaigns and will need to represent National Highways at external events, nationally and regionally.

The role will be based in our Manchester or Leeds office, with the opportunity to work flexibly. Regular travel in the region, and occasionally nationally, is required. In line with government guidance, our teams are currently working from home whereverpossible.
What you’ll be leading on
- Delivery of our public affairs strategy across the region, including proactive stakeholder engagement and campaigns in support of corporate and regional priorities
- Provision of public affairs advice and support to regional leaders and project delivery teams
- Development and delivery of a regional public affairs visit and events programme
- Delivery of regular parliamentary surgeries for Members of Parliament
- Monitoring the external stakeholder environment and bringing actionable intelligence into the business
- Wider public affairs activity, as required

To be successful
- An experienced public affairs professional with excellent working knowledge of government and parliament
- Politically astute, with a demonstrable ability to develop and maintain relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders
- A flexible team player, with a proactive approach to delivering good outcomes
- Experience of working under pressure and to tight and changing deadlines, with an ability to manage complex issues
- Knowledge and experience of the transport or infrastructure sectors is desirable, but not essential

**About Us**

At National Highways we believe in a connected country. We are passionate about creating a culture where colleagues feel connected, included and enjoy greater wellbeing to achieve this. We’re proud that as an organisation we are continually striving to dobetter and actively encourage and support our colleagues to do the same with their careers.

Our benefits package

Our total reward package includes basic salary, the potential for a performance related bonus, and employer pension contributions of up to 10%.

We also offer:

- Annual Leave starting at 26 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising by 1 day each year up to 31 days (plus Bank Holidays)
- Flexible hours and blended working between base location/home
- Life assurance of 4 times annual salary
- Health and wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7 365 days and network of mental health first aiders. Plus access to a wellbeing app to enhance your self-care 24/7, Occupational health service and flu vaccines
- A cycle to work scheme for the purchase of a bicycle and equipment for healthy, low carbon travel
- Significant investment in your career development, through learning and development, talent management, coaching, mentoring and on job experience

And we are:

- Family friendly with enhanced maternity leave and pay, paternity leave (15 days), shared parental leave, adoption leave. Plus access to financial support for holiday play schemes and paid special leave (up to 5 days pa), eg for caring responsibilities
- Money friendly with access to a discounts platform including over 3000 discounts for supermarkets, eating out, leisure, holidays. Alongside a financial wellbeing programme

Community friendly - offering paid leave to volunteer, 3 days basic/year plus an extra 3 days to support the national Covid effort

So if you put safety first, take ownership of your work, show passion for what you do, work effectively in a team, and demonstrate integrity in how you do it - then you’ll be a great fit for our organisation

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