External Affairs Lead

UK Research and Innovation Salary: £54,043 Hours: Full time (Flexible working patterns can be considered) Contract Type: Fixed Term (24 months) Location: Polaris House, Swindon or Caxton House, London.
Hybrid working available including 1 day a week in the office.
Closing Date: Sunday 8th December 2024 Purpose of the Role Purpose of the External Affairs Team is to develop and deliver engagement approaches that build understanding and trust in UK Research and Innovation with the communities UKRI funds and works with.
This involves working closely with colleagues throughout the councils and wider UKRI to deliver effective external affairs, stakeholder engagement and relationship management across a range of strategic priority areas.
The team is a key function within the External Affairs and Communication directorate.
As the External Affairs Lead you will be responsible for building awareness of and advocacy for UKRI and our activities among audiences.
In the first year this role will have a specific focus on Whitehall; identifying key stakeholders across government and the wider civil service network, delivering a campaign of engagement to raise awareness and understanding of UKRI our role as a delivery partner for publicly funded research and innovation.
You will be part of a small, high performing external affairs team.
The team equips UKRI with the capacity to listen, understand and respond to the views of its community and coordinate the organisation's engagement with key stakeholders across the research and innovation community.
Key Areas of Accountability Leadership/Teamwork/Collaboration Demonstrate leadership in developing and delivering engagement activity to progress corporate policy priorities.
Build and foster relationships with relevant strategically important external stakeholders and partners.
Represent the interests of UKRI with external stakeholders in relevant national and international forums.
Effective relationship development at all levels within UKRI with site-specific teams where needed.
Contribute to the development of effective tools and processes to support effective engagement.
Matrix management of colleagues across the team to deliver specific work packages and priorities.
Work across the whole directorate to ensure join-up and to make the most of the full range of channels and tactic Delivery/Programmes/Projects/Process The first 12 months of this role will support new government engagement as a key priority with a focus on Whitehall stakeholders.
Work closely with colleagues working in External Affairs and across all of UKRI to support emerging public affairs priorities where possible.
Work with the External Affairs team to ensure effective intelligence sharing within UKRI.
Improve and develop insight into relevant corporate themes or Council objectives in relation to wider UKRI, DSIT and government priorities.
Consider and develop a programme of evaluation to assess the impact of engagement with key stakeholders Essential Skills/Qualifications/Experience (S) - Assessed at shortlisting (I) - Assessed at interview (S&I) - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview High level of understanding of how Westminster (UK Parliament) and Whitehall (civil service and government departments) works ( S&I) Recent experience of working in or closely with Government and/or policy makers ( S&I) Demonstrated credibility with relevant external communities, based on public affairs or other stakeholder management experience from government, industry, education or the third sector.
( I) Ability to work collaboratively across teams, councils and communities.
( S&I) Demonstrable emotional intelligence and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty.
( I) Resilience, multi-tasking and ability to work to deadlines.
(I) Ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information appropriately ( I) Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate.
( S&I) Strategic thinking.
( S&I) Flexibility to adapt to change.
With high tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty.
( S&I) Desirable: Experience of working in or with the science, research, innovation or higher education sectors.
( S) Understanding of UKRI and our priorities.
( S&I) About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK.
Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.
For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.
UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
How we support EDI in the workforce At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so.
We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community.
For further information, please visit ' How we support EDI in the workforce '.
Disability Confident Employer As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply Online applications only preferred for this role.
Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role.
Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded.
Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.
Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
Additional Information Organisation: UKRI - Comms & Public Engagement Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract External Closing Date: Dec 8, 2024 Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 54,043 Hours: Full-time