Public Affairs and Strategic Relations Officer
The Scottish SPCA, Scotland’s only all animal rescue service, is seeking to recruit a Public Affairs and Strategic Relations Officer. This will be a hybrid role and applicants must be able to travel to the Scottish SPCA Headquarters in Dunfermline as required.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of the thousands of abused, abandoned and injured animals rescued by the Scottish SPCA each year.
Overall Purpose of the Role:
Support the engagement approach with Government and influencers, gather political insight and understand key policy developments that impact the Scottish SPCA. Maintain up to date data relating to Parliamentarians, Parliamentary Committees, Government departments, Ministers, civil servants, and special advisors, and support the implementation of the Society’s Public Affairs and Strategic Relations strategy. Act as the Secretariat for the Society’s Ethics and Policy Committee and Pet Trade Taskforce. Actively monitor National and Local Government policy issues that may affect the Scottish SPCA and support the drafting of policies and briefing papers. Actively monitor key strategic relations and support with management of strategic partnerships.
Key Responsibilities:
* Model the Society’s values: Committed, Compassionate, Professional, Expert, Collaborative, and Adaptable in the workplace at all times.
* Monitor external policy developments and trends.
* Provide research and analytical support to the development of Scottish SPCA policy positions and draft initial policy positions.
* Support and sometimes lead the production of briefings for a variety of audiences, including MSPs and MPs, ensuring these are evidence-based.
* Work closely with the communications and marketing teams to deliver outstanding, relevant, and timely content and communications across all stakeholders, including managing and responding to correspondence, enquiries, and complaints.
* Sourcing the latest data and statistics for use in Scottish SPCA’s key messages and briefing documents to ensure they remain up to date.
* Support the development and implementation of public affairs campaigns.
* Assist in the creation and management of an effective Stakeholder Management System.
* Identify, organise, and attend key events such as conferences and stakeholder round table events.
* Support the development of an animal welfare legislative toolkit.
* Assist with the delivery of projects, internally and with relevant external partners.
* Act as the secretariat for the Society’s Ethics and Policy Committee and its three Ethics and Policy Subcommittees.
* Manage volunteer recruitment and management for subcommittees.
* Coordinate visits from key stakeholders including MSPs and Councillors to Society premises or events.
* Keep stakeholder lists and contact programmes up to date.
* Track team budget spend.
* Manage the Public Affairs e-mail inbox.
* Monitor National and Local Government policy issues that may affect Scottish SPCA.
Applicants should have an understanding of the external political environment and political developments as they affect the Scottish SPCA; be highly detail-oriented, with the ability to identify and assess the potential significance of often technical proposals by Government at national and local level; have sound knowledge of the workings of government and parliamentary procedure; and possess good political nous, with a minimum of two years’ experience within a parliamentary office or working as part of a public affairs team.
Hours of work are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week. Applicants must be willing to travel away from home including occasional overnight stays when required.
CVs and covering letters will not be accepted.
Please note that applicants who do not meet the above criteria or provide the required information will not be considered.
Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
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