JOB DESCRIPTION. Public Affairs Manager (Wales)

Transcription

1 JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Public Affairs Manager (Wales) Division: Wales Directorate Department/Region/Section: External Affairs (Wales) Location: RSPCA Cymru Cardiff Office Reports to: Assistant Director - External Affairs Wales Responsible for: n/a Grade: MS3 1. Purpose of the job To promote the activities and profile of the RSPCA within Welsh civic society, namely the National Assembly for Wales, Welsh Government, all Unitary Authorities, related Welsh Government Sponsored Bodies (WGSBs) and other related stakeholders. Specifically this will be done through lobbying and campaigning to achieve the objectives and goals of the Society in Wales. To liaise with the branches and operations staff in Wales on both animal welfare and non-animal related legislative (and other) developments affecting their activities. 2. Dimensions Clients will include Councillors and their officials, AMs, Ministers and their officials, the Office of the Presiding Officer and the four political parties in Wales as well as representative bodies such as the Welsh Local Government Association and the single environment body. Budget - responsible for the public affairs budget for the Welsh political activities specifically in respect of local authorities (in Wales) and for the party political conference activities. 3. Principle accountabilities Manage the RSPCA s public affairs strategy in Wales: Establishing that the RSPCA s key animal welfare objectives are contained within relevant primary and/or secondary legislation as well as steering this frequent legislation through all technical and scrutiny stages within the National Assembly for Wales legislative process Develop technical briefings on the legislation at each stage, both for internal and external consumption, which considers the legal and animal welfare impacts for the Society

2 Monitor and influence non-animal related legislation which affects the operations of the Society (e.g. separate legal jurisdiction, Welsh language regulations, Domestic Abuse Bill re pet-retreat, Planning Bill and developments within retail such as rates and carrier bag levies) Prepare official consultation responses, to National Assembly for Wales and Welsh Government, by managing internal workings groups. Present findings on such consultations to relevant AMs, Committees and political parties Give verbal evidence to the various committees of the Assembly and local authorities Influence each of the four political party s agendas and manifestos to ensure animal welfare objectives are included and campaigned on during each election (General Elections for both the National Assembly for Wales & the UK Government, as well as local authority elections) Protect RSPCA Cymru interests at a UK Parliamentary level for the two nondevolved animal welfare issues of hunting and animal experimentation, as well as any non-animal related policy areas (e.g. policing). As such act as the lead contact for Welsh MPs, the Secretary of State and the Welsh Grand Committee of Parliament Act as the Society s main representative to the 22 Unitary Authorities in Wales, both for officers and councillors. Working in collaboration with the Society s Senior Local Government Advisor in England, ensure a bank of briefings (that have been Wales-proofed) are utilised to improve local regulations, animal welfare charters and enforcement work Promote the Community Animal Welfare Footprints awards scheme in Wales to local authorities and housing associations ensuring a strong Welsh presence Convene and co-ordinate cross party and/or issue-based groups of politicians at all levels of government to enable coalitions for animal welfare issues Ensure the Society s public affairs consultants are regularly briefed and manage their activity regarding monitoring subject areas and on specific strategic project work. Co-ordinate the Society s presence at political party and major exhibitions and conferences in Wales Conduct working parties within RSPCA Cymru s branch structure to gather intelligence on operational and branch non-animal welfare needs (e.g. waste regulations, funding and business rates) to ensure these are represented at Welsh Government level to protect branch activities/interests. Ensure any such branch developments are in line with central Society policy Produce timely newsletters for branches (and staff) on the team s political and campaign developments Analyse potential income generation opportunities within political campaign activities and work to maximise these with the national fundraiser for Wales in addition to developing strong corporate and donor relationships for sponsoring the Society s political events. Campaigns and strategic advice: Provide senior political strategic advice for the development of political campaigns through tactical and technical planning Manage the political tools for campaigns such as Petitions Committee, Private Members Bills, Assembly Statements of Opinion, Oral/Written questions to Ministers and Committee inquiries Work with the assistance of the Political Campaigns Manager to deliver strategic political campaigns objectives by utilising campaign software and social media avenues

3 Manage appropriate market research both to establish levels of public interest and to monitor how this varies in connection with the campaign Brief, both through reports and presentations, the strategic committees of the Society (ASCs) - including RSPCA Cymru Board - of campaign and political developments in Wales. Manage cross-ngo project working groups in collaboration with Welsh Government on the development of animal welfare initiatives, campaigns and legislation Act as RSPCA spokesperson on relevant political and campaign developments. Advise the press officers in Wales on the construction of political and campaign press releases Act as a senior advisor (deputising for the Assistant Director) to all relevant RSPCA departments for the Wales-proofing and bilingual policy whereby public documents and reports are cross-checked for devolution-smart language and assessed for their need to be produced bilingually Act as deputy in the absence of the Assistant Director and as such manage the campaigns, marketing and press staff as well as provide external affairs and strategic advice to the Director for Wales and the Wales rep to the RSPCA Council. While at work all staff are required to: take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts and omissions. co-operate with Society policies and procedures for health and safety develop and maintain an effective Personal Development Plan In addition to the above all line managers are required to: ensure, so far as is reasonably practical, the health, safety and well-being of their staff and others who may be affected by Society activities be familiar and comply with Society policies and procedures for health and safety 4. Knowledge, skill and experience Please see person specification attached (appendix A) 5. Organisation tbc 6. Job Context Animal Welfare was formally devolved in its entirety (with the exceptions of Hunting and Animal Experimentation) to the Welsh Government following the referendum in Wales in March Therefore public affairs, campaigning and event/marketing work in Wales now has equivalency with these functions carried out for England by a Director (Marketing and Campaigns) and several separate departments in the Southern Support Centre. 7. Additional information The post holder will be required to undertake some travel within Wales & England and this will also involve overnight stays due to events, conferences around Wales. This job description is a statement of the job content agreed in July It should not be seen as precluding future changes.

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5 Appendix A - Person Specification Criteria Essential Desirable Professional/ Technical Qualifications Degree, equivalent or demonstrable relevant experience working in the political environment Public Relations, Public Affairs or Campaign related degree level qualification or equivalent Experience & Job Knowledge Proven experience of working at a senior level and lobbying in a heavy legislative environment within Wales Strong technical knowledge of legislation, processes, political structures and terminologies Excellent grasp of current affairs Possesses strong contacts in Welsh civic society - including across all four political parties in Wales Experience of designing, advising and project managing political campaigns in a devolved setting Experience managing high-profile conferences and events Proven experience of working in a project management role Knowledge of managing complex organisational relationships Experience of steering primary legislation through a legislature Knowledge of animal welfare NGOs and relevant stakeholders in Wales Track record of writing/collating, producing, publishing and distributing reports Active in PAC (Public Affairs Cymru association for lobbyists in Wales) Experience of giving interviews or briefing journalists Skills & Competencies Strategic skills in policy development and politics Campaign skills including political mechanisms, software and social media Organisation and event management IT skills including word, excel and powerpoint Web content management systems experience/skills Accuracy skills Analytical skills Presentation skills Excellent verbal and written communication skills at all relationship levels Design skills Engaging Networks, Silverpop and other campaign engagement software Welsh language Editorial experience re report writing Social Science and research skills Personal Qualities Interpersonal skills ability to deal with people at all levels including e.g. Ministers, senior police and Council Leaders Self motivation Ability to work on own initiative and to strict deadlines Creativity Adaptable Tenacious Willingness to learn Enjoys a challenge Special circumstances (if any) Ability to undertake some UK travel including overnight stays Willing and able to work longer than the contracted hours when the job demands Full UK driving licence and use of a car