Head of public policy

CEO/CMO

Management of an agency team

GS1 UK’s ambition is to drive sustainable, membership driven growth, yielding profit which we use to deliver benefits to our members, UK Plc, and our wider society. Our standards are key to solving many of the issues legislators and regulators wish to address, be that patient care, protecting consumers, delivering transparency throughout the supply chain or delivering sustainability solutions. As part of our three-year strategy we have started to raise our voice and visibility with key stakeholders across the four nations. This role will be responsible for continuing to raise our profile and, more importantly, influence with these key stakeholders.

Coordinate activities across the business to respond to legislative and regulatory requirements.

Build relationships with external stakeholders and influencers including government, NHS bodies, regulators, and other aligned industry bodies in each part of the UK to position GS1 UK as a leading voice.

Work with the agency partner to horizon scan to ensure GS1 UK is aware of the current and future legislature so that we can positively contribute to the debate and effect industry and societal challenges.

Collaborate with members partners and the GS1 UK team to develop an understanding of policy for our key campaign areas and sectors

Strategic

• Develop the framework for our public policy capability and as part of our three-year strategic plan
• Inspire the broader business with the opportunities public policy presents to inform and protect people
• Build a cross-business team able to respond quickly to new and different opportunities as they arise
• Work with colleagues to develop a clear, relevant, evidence-based and persuasive set of policy aims for relevant industries and sectors
• Collaborate with members to ensure that any policy output is relevant to their needs
• Work with the business to ensure that policy stakeholder matrix is aligned with business needs

Core

• Work with the CMO, CEO and the external affairs agency to develop a public policy plan that builds our reputation and authority
• Build a plan and approach to the political calendar
• Deliver a quick response capability, in conjunction with PR, to respond to media comments in in our core areas
• Review GS1 UK’s wider member engagement strategy to enable an appropriate level of member involvement in policy development
• Work in partnership with the marketing team to build compelling campaigns that support our policy agenda
• Build and maintain a single messaging house to keep our point of view aligned though out the business

Additional

• Be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting the business
• Maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development.
•  Continue to upskill the wider business on the power of a campaigning and a policy approach
• Ensure all stakeholder engagements are maintained within the CRM system and all meetings have structured pre-brief and debrief to enhance the profile of GS1 UK and deliver on our commitments
• Support key spokespeople to ensure the matching of expertise from within the organisation to best meet stakeholder needs
• Represent GS1 UK in the media, across industry networks and government meetings

Personal strength and style

• Politically astute
• An eye for detail to ensure we inform and never mislead our stakeholders • Can build strong relationships with stakeholders that provide insight to the business and our members
• Can translate complex regulatory requirements to guide the business in the provision of quality advice
• Has a consultative style and is able to achieve success working within cross-functional teams
• Has first class oral and written communications skills and is comfortable representing an organisation in industry and legislative forums
• Build a framework for measuring the impact of our policy approach
• Is collaborative and builds partnerships through open two-way communications

Background and experience

• Has led a public policy capability inhouse and/or through partnerships for a membership or industry body
• A track record of developing the business capability to be a catalyst for legislative and regulatory change
• Extensive experience of leading teams in a matrixed environment
• Proven ability to deliver consultation responses working effectively to include the views from across the business
• Has demonstrated the power of a structured approach to policy monitoring and stakeholder mapping to deliver a robust messaging approach
• Previous experience working in one of GS1 UK’s core sectors
• Experience in raising the visibility of an organisation with the goal of representing the views of its members with legislators and regulator to deliver on the needs of consumers.
• A professional public policy, public relations or marketing qualification at degree level or equivalent

If you would like to apply for this role please click on the button below and submit your CV with a covering letter setting out your suitability to the role and salary expectation.

Closing date for this role is 30 April 2022.  Applications received after this date may not be considered.