The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking a Public Affairs Officer to join our News and Public Affairs team, providing key support in building the Academy’s profile and increasing public awareness of the value of the humanities and social sciences.

You can find out more about the British Academy here, including our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement.

ROLE PURPOSE / OVERVIEW

This role will play a key part in the British Academy’s public affairs work, helping to build the Academy’s profile and influence amongst political audiences. Reporting to the Deputy Head of Public Affairs, this role sits within a collaborative News and Public Affairs team, which works to increase public awareness of the value and importance of humanities and social science research and manage the Academy’s external reputation.  

The role sits within the wider Communications and Marketing Directorate, which is responsible for raising the profile of the Academy among a wide range of audiences. The Directorate is organised into four small teams but is collaborative and integrated, working closely together on all aspects of our work. The four teams are; Digital, Brand and Marketing, Events, News and Public Affairs and Publishing.

The News and Public Affairs Team manages the British Academy’s reputation and relationships with people of influence in politics and the media, making sure that these people understand the organisation’s purpose and ambitions. The team coordinates engagement across the Academy’s diverse teams and policy portfolios, providing strategic communications advice and leading on forward planning and horizon scanning.

This role will play a part in promoting the current work programme, which includes activities linked to the Academy’s SHAPE initiative (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy), the Academy’s Observatory (monitoring the health of the disciplines), and policy work on social infrastructure, digital technology and environmental sustainability, along with an ongoing programme of small projects, engagement activities, policy seminars, debates and other public events.

OFFICE LOCATION - 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, St James Park, London, SW1Y 5AH

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Draft, develop and coordinate public affairs briefings, communications and other engagement activities:

• Draft and write clear briefings for parliamentarians, other written materials and develop ideas for content that showcase the Academy’s work and the importance of its disciplines to an influential audience

• Work with MPs, their staff and other political stakeholders to increase understanding of the Academy, its disciplines and the work of its Fellows, helping to build a network of people interested in our work, supplying them with a flow of relevant material.

• Propose and develop ideas for political engagement which can further the Academy’s profile and reputation as a ‘public voice’ championing the humanities and social sciences and feeding into the forward planning process. 

• Assist the Deputy Head of Public Affairs in identifying and liaising with key spokespeople for a wide range of British Academy projects, including events, policy reports and activity, senior Academy staff and the Fellowship.

Develop and deliver a range of external events to engage parliamentarians and other political stakeholders with the Academy’s work:

• Contribute to the delivery of regular British Academy events and research new ways in which to promote the Academy’s activity, including leading on new event formats such as annual conferences.

• Work with the Deputy Head of Public Affairs and Policy colleagues to coordinate the Academy’s presence at Party Conferences.

• Project manage and deliver the Academy’s annual parliamentary Christmas reception.

Horizon-scan for opportunities to promote the Academy’s work and the role of our disciplines:

• Monitor parliamentary activity, compiling and circulating digests to internal stakeholders.

• Liaise with staff across the Academy to research and identify political engagement opportunities flowing from different areas of the Academy’s work, in line with the overall communications strategy, and to feed into the weekly internal planning grid.

• Work with colleagues in the News and Public Affairs Team and Digital team to identify opportunities to use our digital channels, including social media, to reach an influential audience.

• Work with colleagues in the Communications and Marketing Directorate as well as research and higher education sector stakeholders to create communications campaigns which amplify the value of our disciplines.

Maintain an effective public affairs function and contribute to the day-to-day administration of the News and Public Affairs team

• Act as the first line of information for all enquiries from parliamentarians and their staff and represent the Academy’s interests and policy positions accurately and responsibly at all times, including occasional out of hours working where necessary.

• Support the Deputy Head of Public Affairs across the full range of their responsibilities as directed, including deputising whenever necessary. 

• Assisting with general ad hoc office administration including the updating of our CRM system and the management of the rolling media and public affairs planning and briefing process.

• Assist with the administration of internal and external meetings. 

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Internal

• Press and Public Affairs colleagues, wider Communications Directorate including the Digital and Marketing and Events Teams, Policy Directorate colleagues, Research Funding colleagues.

External

• Parliamentarians and staff, Fellows and funded researchers, research and higher education sector stakeholders and external partners, colleagues at the other National Academies (the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Academy of Medical Sciences).

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Ability to work with multiple teams across an organisation.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• High level interpersonal skills, able to communicate effectively with people at all levels.

• An open, collaborative and respectful approach to colleagues and stakeholders in all verbal and written communications.

• Personal commitment to the values, vision and objectives of the organisation.

• Demonstrates commitment to equality and diversity

• Promotes a positive impression of the Academy both internally and externally.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Substantial experience of public affairs work in parliament, or in a relevant sector.

• Demonstrable understanding of influencing tactics in parliament and government

• High level of political knowledge, including of the Devolved Nations and local and regional political structures  

• Good knowledge and understanding of the full mix of communications tactics including experience of implementing and delivering public affairs strategies or campaigns.

• Excellent drafting and editing skills, and a strong instinctive political judgement. 

• Experience with planning and delivering political engagement events.

• Seeks and uses opportunities to learn and develop, and is quick in picking up new policy areas and tasks.

PROACTIVITY AND PLANNING

• Demonstrates a pro-active, can-do attitude and takes ownership of tasks where appropriate.

• Strong planning, organising and negotiating skills.

• Prioritises tasks to meet deadlines

• Keeps relevant colleagues informed and seeks input

• Evaluates and manages risks effectively

• Monitors progress effectively and adapts plans where possible

PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING

• Handles difficult situations calmly, with sensitivity and respect.

• Shows tact and discretion in work situations.

• Ability to analyse and solve problems, knowing when and how to escalate.

• Focuses on solutions and manages pressure

• Anticipates obstacles and thinks ahead

• Takes a flexible approach to their work, happy to take on different responsibilities in the interests of the Academy.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Experience with or willingness to learn the use of Customer Relationship Management Systems and/ or political monitoring services.

• Familiarity with and proven experience of using MS Office software in a professional environment

• A strong interest in the subjects represented by the Academy and/ or the higher education and research sector.

• Flexibility to work out of hours at events and occasionally at short notice, as required.

BRITISH ACADEMY WORKPLACE VALUES

The Academy’s workplace values and supporting text are set out below. We share these core values with each other. They guide how we work together and with others. We demonstrate them through our behaviours.

COLLABORATION- We consistently work together to a common purpose, supporting each other, communicating openly and sharing knowledge. We are flexible and adaptable, receiving feedback constructively.

CREATIVITY - We bring imagination and curiosity to our work, valuing learning, diverse thinking, and innovation. We are open-minded, receptive, and responsive, taking account of alternative perspectives.

EMPATHY-We are understanding, sensitive, compassionate, and considerate, mindful of our own wellbeing alongside that of others.

EXCELLENCE - We always do our best, without striving to be perfect, applying our expertise and experience to develop and grow.

INTEGRITY - We are open and honest with each other, accepting personal responsibility and demonstrating loyalty. We are reliable and dependable, having belief that we will be transparent and clear.

RESILIENCE - We are confident, bold, and tenacious, knowing when to listen as well as when to speak up. We respond positively to challenges and overcome problems.

RESPECT - We are inclusive in our regard for each other, showing courtesy and appreciation. We treat people fairly and equally, welcoming everyone’s contribution and difference.