The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the trade association for the rail supply sector, and has an excellent track record of successful campaigns and engaging with and influencing government (national and regional) to promote and help deliver a bigger and better rail industry.
We are looking for a talented individual to join our award-winning team to lobby for and raise the profile of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), its members and the rail supply sector’s issues to policy makers and influencers, and amongst key rail clients such as Network Rail, Transport for London, Scotland’s Railway, High Speed 2, East West Rail, and Midlands Rail Hub. You will work closely with the RIA policy function, manage a PA & PR Executive, and have close engagement on strategic issues with other key stakeholders such as Departments for Transport and Business & Trade, HM Treasury, the Office of Rail & Road, and the new Great British Railways organisation, currently being set up to restructure UK rail.
The below sets out the main aspects of the Public Affairs & PR role. It is not exhaustive, and responsibilities and tasks can change over time, depending on the needs of the Association.
Main objectives of the role:
- Providing both: i) PA/PR strategic advice and input; and ii) PA/PR activity delivery for and with the RIA team, Board, RIA Public Affairs & Comms forums, and wider membership;
- Conducting and facilitating PA, PR and communications related administrative tasks, as required;
- Being a public advocate for RIA positions, in political, regulatory and PA related arenas;
- Line management responsibilities, including a PA & PR Executive.
Public affairs:
- Conducting and advocating campaigns, for example on major railway projects and Rail Decarbonisation;
- Political relations, party conferences and contact programme activity; and arranging and attending meetings with the Chief Executive and senior Director colleagues, and preparing political briefings as required;
- Organising and attending parliamentary events and political conferences;
- Stakeholder engagement and related meetings/events management;
- Ensuring political and parliamentary monitoring function is appropriate, and ensuring team members are aware of significant developments;
- Any RIA Public Affairs & Communications forums activity, including preparation of papers, arranging meetings and note-taking, and general communications with the forums;
- Conducting political lobbying in tandem with RIA’s Policy and Technical & Innovation functions, on various Government agenda items, such as funding, Digital Railway, Unlocking Innovation, Treasury Budget proposals, and wide engagement across the political parties;
- Facilitating RIA’s PA-related events schedule, including Devolved Nations & Regions events, politically related receptions, lunches, etc;
- Liaising and working with any RIA contract PA support.
PR and communications:
- Arranging and conducting both RIA and campaigns-related media relations activity, including PR sell-ins;
- Drafting press releases and media content and materials, and updating the RIA website with relevant material;
- Ensuring media and political monitoring function is appropriate, and ensuring team members are aware of significant developments;
- Providing written material for newsletters and weekly emails, and overseeing the production of the three-yearly Railway Industry magazine;
- Arranging media tours and, where required, attending meetings with the Chief Exec / Snr Director colleagues;
- Liaising and working with RIA contract PR support, where appropriate;
- Speech-writing for RIA flagship events.