Senior Public Affairs Executive

Be part of something greatMaximus is a global organisation that specialises in providing health and employment services to millions of people every year. In the UK we employ around 5,000 people across the country to deliver services that have a profound impact on people’s lives. From assessments and health services to employability programmes and specialist support, we do work that matters with people who care.The Senior Public Affairs Executive will play a central role in our External Communications team, delivering an ongoing public affairs and stakeholder engagement programme for MPs, MSPs, MSs, regulatory bodies, charities and other relevant stakeholders, working closely with senior managers and operational teams across the business.This role will lead on public affairs and policy activity for our Assessments Division, which carries out around a million health and disability assessments each year. The successful candidate will deliver effective stakeholder engagement activity, responding to communication from elected officials and their staff, and identifying opportunities to improve understanding of the health and disability assessment process. We are committed to using feedback and working collaboratively to improve the experience of our customers.£33,000 to £38,000 (Non London)£38,000 to £43,000 (London)Home BasedBenefits include:25 days annual leave, plus bank holidaysFlexible benefits packageHoliday trade scheme9% combined pension Responsibilities will include:Leading on political monitoring, collating relevant political events and policy announcements, drafting briefings, policy papers and summaries to senior internal stakeholders Planning and attending meetings and visits with political stakeholders, raising awareness of our organisations and improving understanding of the programmes and services we deliver. You will Communicate key messages effectively and work with teams to ensure smooth and effective planning and deliveryFeeding in to and reviewing correspondence from elected officials, their staff and disability stakeholders Identifying opportunities to engage with MPs, MSPs, MSs, Ministers, officials and wider stakeholders on issues relating to the delivery of health and disability assessments. Working with teams across the business to deliver public affairs campaigns to position our business, launch new services, argue for policy change and/or support growth and diversificationTracking and evaluating political engagement activity Qualifications And Experience2+ years in a public affairs or policy role, working in parliament or a government departmentExperience of drafting briefings and policy papers, distilling complex topics into clear information and recommendationsExperience of engaging with politicians, officials and/or health and disability stakeholdersExperience of working in a sensitive policy/political environmentDegree or equivalent qualificationExperience of working on health, disability or welfare policy strongly desiredIndividual CompetenciesStrong copywriting skillsStrong understanding of political institutions and the workings of Parliament and WhitehallAn eye for detail, producing high quality content for different audiencesStrong oral and written communications skills, and a good listener Work collaboratively, including with senior internal stakeholders and commissionersAbility to manage multiple projectsAn interest in disability, employment and welfare issuesMaximus is committed to developing, maintaining and supporting a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the recruitment process. We know that feeling included has a dramatic impact on personal wellbeing and are working to ensure that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment due to any personal characteristic. Advertisements for posts will include sufficiently clear and accurate information to enable potential applicants to assess their own suitability for the post. We are a Disability Confident Leader, thanks to our commitment to the recruitment, retention and career development of people with disabilities and long term conditions. The Disability Confident scheme includes a guaranteed interview for any applicant with a disability who meets the minimum requirements for a job. When you complete your job application you will find a question asking you if you would like to apply under the Disability Confident Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you feel that you have a disability and apply under this scheme, providing that you meet the essential criteria for the job, you will then be invited for interview. Your Guaranteed Interview application will only be shared with the hiring manager and the local resourcing team. Where reasonable, Maximus will review and consider adjustments for those applicants who express a requirement for them during the recruitment process.