The Association for Consultancy and Engineering and the Environmental Industries Commission (“ACE Group”) memberships comprise companies providing infrastructure solutions to some of the most high-profile topics of our time such as economic growth, climate change and biodiversity net gain, housing and regional development, creating social value for communities.
Membership includes major global brands including ARUP, WSP and AECOM and also a large proportion of medium and smaller firms located across the UK. We represent the collective voice of over 400 firms.
The UK engineering design sector is a cornerstone of our economy, employing over 420,000 individuals and contributing more than £15 billion annually. The infrastructure and buildings we create generate over £570 billion in GVA each year.
As the leading business association for our sector our mission is to advocate, anticipate, and educate on behalf of our members. That means proactively engaging with governments and stakeholders about challenges and opportunities, ensuring our members of all sizes have a voice.
SUMMARY OF ROLE
The Director of Public Affairs plays a pivotal role managing and delivering ACE and EIC public affairs and communications activity.
As a member of ACE’s Leadership Team, the incumbent will contribute to the overall leadership of the ACE executive to support and embed a positive and high-performing company culture.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Public Affairs
- Developing a public affairs strategy for ACE Group in discussion with Members;
- Developing and delivering advocacy campaigns with the objective of delivering member policy objectives;
- Political relations, party conferences and contact program; building key relationships, arranging and attending meetings with the Chief Executive and Policy Director, preparing political briefings as required;
- Leading any public affairs activity including organising and attending parliamentary events and party conference activity and facilitating ACE Group public affairs related events;
- Leading the ACE Group Public Affairs Group ensuring strong agenda and speakers;
- Managing the Public Affairs Executive – setting personal objectives and supporting development to ensure that high quality outputs (including the weekly public affairs newsletter) are produced in a timely fashion and create value for ACE Group membership;
- Ensuring the political and parliamentary monitoring function is appropriate and that members and the team are aware of significant developments;
- Conducting political lobbying on various Government agendas such as funding and pipeline, regulatory and policy changes affecting the infrastructure and buildings sector, skills and the environment;
- Devise and deliver to the public affairs budget and manage any contracted suppliers effectively;
- Supporting and deputising for the CEO when required, in their role as the associations lead public spokesperson;
- Public speaking including chairing policy and public affairs related discussions.
PR and Communications
- Jointly leading the ACE Group communications strategy in close liaison with the Marketing Director;
- Arranging and conducting campaigns and media relations activity;
- Drafting timely press releases and media content and materials;
- Ensuring the media and political monitoring is appropriate and that team members are aware of significant developments;
- Leading on the ACE Public Affairs newsletter and providing written material for member newsletters;
- Arranging media tours and where required attending meetings with the Chief Executive and Senior Director colleagues.
Home-based with frequent (2-3 days a week) UK travel, based within easy access to London.