Your new company
Hays are working with a public sector organisation to recruit for a Policy and External Affairs Officer on a Permanent basis. In this role you will support and promote the company's political, policy and public affairs activities in Northern Ireland (NI).
Your new role
- To be an expert in the NI political and health policy landscape, proactively monitoring external developments and providing advice and briefings to colleagues as required.
- To ensure that colleagues across the company are kept up to date with relevant developments across NI and that statements/publications/guidance issued by the company continue to reflect its role as a UK-wide regulator.
- To be a central point of contact for colleagues across the company, leading on policy portfolios and projects as requested.
- To develop close working relationships with policy colleagues and work as part of the wider policy network.
- To develop a good knowledge of company ethical guidance and the underpinning ethical and legal principles, in order to provide advice to colleagues about the implications of devolution on current/future policy decisions.
- To manage the company's response to external consultations and health policy initiatives in NI, engaging with colleagues as appropriate.
- To assist the team in building effective working relationships and communications with key interest groups in NI, including the NI Government, NI Assembly, medical bodies and professional groups.
- To support and advise on the team's communication activity including the use of social media.
- Work with the Strategic Communications Team to provide advice to colleagues on the timing and content of communication and engagement activity to ensure communications and consultations are effectively coordinated and scheduled.
- To contribute to the team's wider engagement activities and take responsibility for dealing with enquiries from the public, patients, the profession and partners as required.
- To ensure that relevant intelligence and insight arising from day to day activities is considered and recorded in line with internal procedures.
- To contribute to the team's information sharing activities and working groups.
- To monitor the NI media, advising colleagues on issues arising and recording and tracking themes.
- To ensure relevant updates are provided for inclusion in internal communication tools and management reports in a timely manner and in line with procedures and processes in the NI office and the wider directorate.
- To apply and manage the relevant diversity and equality policy and practice relevant to the role.
- To apply the relevant management systems, procedures and policies relating to risk management, health and safety, information security and business continuity.
What you'll need to succeed
- An excellent understanding of the Northern Ireland (NI) political and health policy landscape, including the legislative framework and the political environment.
- A track record of working in external or stakeholder affairs; including external monitoring, developing excellent stakeholder relationships and delivering stakeholder engagement activities.
- A proven ability to research complex issues, analyse policy documents and reports and reach conclusions about issues affecting an organisation.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with a proven ability to write and verbally update concisely. This will include briefing papers, notes of meetings and slides.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, influence and work effectively with people at all levels, both internally and externally.
- Good time management skills with the ability to understand priorities and risks, work effectively under pressure, to tight deadlines and without close supervision.
- Proven ability to provide innovative solutions to complex problems or issues, preferably in a policy or external affairs environment.
- The ability to demonstrate excellent customer service ensuring the needs of internal and external customers are met and our services and contact with customers are delivered positively.
- Good project management skills and experience with the ability to plan, co-ordinate and evaluate activity, working across teams, external partners and suppliers to deliver required objectives.
- Excellent IT skills including the ability to use the organisation's Relationship Management System, MS Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
What you'll get in return
- £29,580 to £31,817 annual salary
- Hybrid working
- Belfast City Centre location
- 30 days annual leave
- Pension scheme
- Wellbeing benefits
- Learning and development
Closing date is the 29th July.
Interviews Monday 5th & Tuesday 6th August
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk