Senior External Affairs Manager

Are you looking for an external affairs role, where your experience of building relationships with senior external and internal stakeholders will make a real difference? Where you will play a critical role in managing the reputation of National Highways by supporting our engagement with our most influential stakeholders?

Our external affairs team is responsible for delivering National Highways' external affairs strategy in support of our corporate priorities and business plan. We have some exciting opportunities for you to join our team as we look to further strengthen our external stakeholder engagement.

You will work closely with senior leaders and teams across National Highways to connect us with some of our most influential audiences in Westminster and industry. You will be champion for external affairs within National Highways, working with others to drive high quality engagement across the business.

With a strong track record in external affairs, public affairs or strategic stakeholder engagement you will represent National Highways at external events and build a network of external affairs contacts.

We are advertising for four roles. Two roles would be Westminster focused, based in Guildford, with regular travel into London. The two national roles can be based in any of our major offices (Guildford, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds or Bedford). National Highways work a hybrid pattern with some domestic travel required.

In your cover letter, please can you express your preference towards either the Westminster or National role.

What you'll be leading on

• Supporting the delivery of our external engagement strategy to build support and advocacy for our work with influential stakeholders in Westminster or industry.


• Planning and delivering stakeholder visits to build greater visibility and understanding of our work, working with other communications disciplines including press office, as required.


• Supporting the development of briefings on key issues ahead of meetings and events.


• Representing National Highways at external events to keep stakeholders informed on key issues and listen to their views.


• Championing the establishment of best practice and common engagement principles to improve the quality of stakeholder engagement across National Highways.


• Develop a network of relationships with communications / public affairs professionals across influential organisations, enabling partnership working and intelligence sharing.


• Supporting the engagement with Select Committees, APPGs and other interest groups, including drafting written evidence and submissions., Our directorate plays a critical role in National Highways. We set the course for strategic roads, enabling the company to deliver economic and social benefits through meeting the needs of our customers and clients, as well as our regulatory obligations.


We are the focal point within National Highways responsible for providing the corporate strategic planning function for the organisation.

We deliver critical analytical support, provide strategic direction for our customer service imperative, partner with colleagues across the business to devise and deliver communications activities, and we shape, lead and drive the overall transformation of National Highways


• A strong track record in external affairs, public affairs or strategic stakeholder engagement.


• Politically astute, with the confidence and ability to develop and maintain relationships with senior leaders and influential stakeholders.


• A commitment to delivering excellent communications and championing best practice stakeholder engagement.


• A flexible team player, with a proactive approach to delivering good outcomes.


• Comfortable working under pressure and to tight and changing deadlines, with an ability to manage complex issues.


• Able to work with high levels of autonomy with the energy and drive to make things happen.
  
  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 do better and actively encourage and support our colleagues to do the same with their careers.
  
  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.


Our benefits package


• Our total reward package includes basic salary, the potential for a performance related bonus


• Contributory pension scheme with employer contribution of up to 10%


• 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


If you are successful, it is key to know all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory completion of our pre-employment checks which include:


• Right to work check


• 3 year employment history references


• DBS criminal record check


• Social media and adverse journalism check


• Driving licence check (if applicable)


• Fit to work questionnaire (for all), followed by a medical check (if applicable)