Senior Public Affairs Manager

About Network Rail

Join Our Team at Network Rail! Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work-life balance. We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. We care about people, and we're passionate about great service. We believe teamwork is key and the Anglia People Team is no exception. We have an ambitious people plan and want people that are committed to making Anglia a great place to work. You'll need to be flexible in your approach, and keen to learn.

Please note that this is a permanent opportunity and is based in London Stratford.

Brief Description

Are you great at developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships? Do you understand the UK's political system and how to navigate it? We're looking for a senior public affairs manager for our Anglia route, which covers the East of England and parts of Greater London. You'll run a small team managing relationships with MPs, councillors, business leaders and industry groups, helping to build trust and improve Network Rail's reputation, keeping people informed of vital industry issues and supporting the delivery of multi-million-pound railway projects.

As one of Britain's biggest landowners with millions of lineside neighbours, we also manage thousands of public enquiries, requests and complaints received every year. Your team will manage these, and you'll play a critical role in working with our project managers and senior leaders across the business to manage and improve how we balance delivering our critical railway works in close proximity to people's homes and businesses. You'll also be part of a wider thriving and cross-functional communications team at a time of exciting change across the railway industry.

About the role (External)

Key Accountabilities:

1. Analyse and manage the development and delivery of strategies and activities in the government/public affairs environment that enable the delivery of the objectives contained in Network Rail's corporate communications strategy.
2. Lead activities in responding to key legislative proposals, government consultations, and other strategic political consultations and developments that impact upon the company.
3. Provide a comprehensive contact programme for passenger representatives bodies and other national stakeholder groups, and provide assistance as appropriate to senior Executives in their interactions with those groups.
4. Provide direct management and development of a team including carrying out regular 121s, appraisals, objective setting and performance monitoring.
5. Manage designated public affairs activities, including meetings, receptions and tours within agreed financial budgets.
6. Analyse, plan and manage public affairs activities which are fully co-ordinated and consistent with other communications strategies and activities.
7. Establish an effective network of internal and external contacts as appropriate to carry out the public affairs function.
8. Take part in on-call arrangements to deal with out-of-hours media requirements on behalf of the company.
9. Implement the major incident communications plan as required.

Essential

• Substantial experience in public affairs/lobbying/local government
• High standards of written and spoken communication
• The experience and personal credibility to work effectively with senior managers
• Strong influencing skills
• Proven ability to grasp, understand and promote complex and sensitive issues in a persuasive and sensible way
• Ability to develop and maintain a wide network of stakeholder contacts
• A proven understanding of all relevant political calendars and legislative assemblies

Desirable

• Evidence of good planning and financial skills, with the ability to deliver projects and activities on time and within budget
• Experience of directing and managing agency support
• Educated to degree level
• Relevant professional qualifications
• Evidence of continuing professional development