Public Affairs Director

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The opportunity:
The Advertising Association (AA) is the trade body that brings together all parts of the advertising industry - the advertisers, the ad agencies, commercial media owners, advertising production and market research sectors - to represent the common interests of the overall industry.

The UK has a leading global position, with £11bn of advertising services exported in 2020. As in many other UK creative industries and business services, advertising enjoys a high international reputation for creative and strategic excellence; and many international advertisers choose the UK as a global or regional hub for their business.

Public Affairs is central to the AA’s work. The Public Affairs Director will lead a talented team to manage the reputation and standing of the industry on behalf of members with key policy makers, regulators, and other opinion leaders. You will deliver policy and regulatory outcomes that reflect the interests of the industry, demonstrating AA’s value to its members.

Main responsibilities include:

• Develop policy proposals and a strategy to advance members’ objectives and ensure effective delivery.
• Achieve ‘less and better’ regulation in Westminster and Holyrood and, where it impacts the UK, the EU.
• Ensure that relationships are developed and maintained with key policymakers and regulators.
• Build strong working relationships with the public affairs and policy community across the industry to find consensus, optimise efforts and maximise impact.
• Protect and promote effective self- and co-regulation, the AA’s interests on the Committees of Advertising Practice, and position the AA as the industry leader in the regulation of advertising in all its forms.

Required skills, experience, and knowledge include:

• A strong track record in policy and public affairs, lobbying Government, and delivering policy outcomes for businesses.
• Proven experience in complex policy and regulatory issues is essential, along with experience of negotiating pragmatic and balanced outcomes in legislative processes.
• The ability to convey complex issues simply and clearly to other policy specialists or to non-expert audiences.
• An experienced, convincing, and effective spokesperson.
• Leadership and management of a high performing public affairs and policy team.

This key public affairs leadership role is a chance to connect your broad interests in politics, society, and the media, in a fast-paced, pivotal, and varied role in a trade body representing a dynamic industry, and one where the UK has a world-leading position.