Senior Public Affairs Manager Location London, GB Department Name Communications About Network Rail About Network Rail Join Our Team at Network Rail Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect people and goods with where they need to be. Click here to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us We want to build a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we aim to make the most of the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we intend to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of diversity and inclusion at Network Rail by clicking here. About our people and the recruitment process: we're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone. We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance. We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. About the function Our Communications function is responsible for ensuring that Network Rail presents a consistent narrative about the company and its strategy. The team integrates Network Rails long-term business strategy with its external stakeholder communications and internal employee engagement. Brief Description Who are we looking for? We have a vacancy for a Senior Public Affairs Manager in the national external affairs team. This role will be the team lead on creating speeches and content for our senior leaders. Our goal is to be instinctively recognised as an industry leader in the railway, and engaging, impactful speeches to a variety of audiences are a crucial part of this. Youll be able to create compelling content on a range of issues, with the ability to work with a variety of expert teams to adapt complex information and case studies on technical, economic and policy areas to widen understanding of our ambitious plans for the railway. Evidence of ongoing experience of writing high quality speeches, briefings and stakeholder comms is crucial, and the impact they have had on achieving business and communications objectives. Building positive relationships with stakeholders will come naturally to you, along with your ability to engage, inform and make an impact both in person and in writing. This role reports into the Head of External Affairs. About the role (External) What does the average day look like? The team supports Network Rails senior leadership engagement in Westminster and Whitehall, and with business groups and stakeholder organisations. You'll work with regional teams and industry partners to develop shared responses to issues. You'll be part of a lively, dynamic team which covers public affairs and government relations, responsible for getting information from across a complex, national organisation and turning it into clear, compelling messages for our audiences. You'll handle various issues, from reacting effectively to fast paced situations on the network, to developing positions and projects over time. You'll develop and implement engagement plans to achieve business objectives, based upon technical expertise and political insight gathered and analysed by the team. The Key accountabilities for the role are: Analyse and manage the development and delivery of strategies and activities in the government / public affairs environment that enable the delivery of the objectives contained in Network Rails corporate communications strategy. Lead activities in responding to key legislative proposals, government consultations, and other strategic political consultations and developments that impact upon the company. Provide a comprehensive contact programme for passenger representatives bodies and other national stakeholder groups, providing assistance as appropriate to senior Executives in their interactions with those groups. Provide direct management and development of a team including carrying out regular 121s, appraisals, objective setting and performance monitoring. Manage designated public affairs activities, including meetings, receptions and tours within agreed financial budgets. Analyse, plan and manage, public affairs activities which are fully co-ordinated and consistent with other communications strategies and activities. Establish an effective network of internal and external contacts as appropriate to carry out the public affairs function. Take part in on-call arrangements to deal with out-of-hours media requirements on behalf of the company. Implement the major incident communications plan as required. What essential skills and experiences are required? Substantial experience in public affairs / lobbying / local government. High standards of written and spoken communication. The experience and personal credibility to work effectively with senior managers. Strong influencing skills. Proven ability to grasp, understand and promote complex and sensitive issues in a persuasive and sensible way. Ability to develop and maintain a wide network of stakeholder contacts. A proven understanding of all relevant political calendars and legislative assemblies We would also like, but not essential. Experience in successfully dealing with the media/handling media enquiries. Evidence of good planning and financial skills, with the ability to deliver projects and activities on time and within budget. Experience of directing and managing agency support. Educated to degree level. Relevant professional qualifications. Evidence of continuing professional development. How to apply (External) Key Vacancy Information Duration: Permanent, Full-time. Flexible working patterns will be considered. Location: These roles are based at London Waterloo General Offices. Closing date: 2nd May 2024. On occasions, we may need to close the advert early based upon application volumes. Late applications may not be accepted. Interviews will be held W/c 13th May 2024. This may change depending on business requirements Band & Salary: 3B, £46,701 - £52,538 plus London weighting. (Depending on experience) A message from our Chief Executive, Andrew Haines: We want to be on the side of the passengers and demonstrate our leadership across the rail industry. We will be an organisation that is easy to do business with, and one where our people are proud to work. To achieve these ambitions, we will work to increase the diversity of our workforce so that we represent the passengers that we serve up and down the country because everyone matters. (2020) Were delighted to have been named as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2023. Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days. Defined benefit pension scheme 75% subsidy on train tickets. ️ Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets. Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass. Flexible/hybrid working arrangements. ️ Volunteer leave to make a positive impact. Plus more. Drugs and Alcohol Standard: All successful candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced. We're an inclusive employer of choice, Disability Confident Leader employer, encourage people to work flexibly and we welcome applications from everyone. If you have any questions about this role or if you have an HR related questions or require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please contact IREC Support (Irecsupportnetworkrail.co.uk). You must have the vacancy/IREC number ready as you will be asked for this.