Policy & External Affairs Officer

Role: Policy & External Affairs Officer
Location: Hybrid - from home and Westminster, London
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 9am - 5.30pm
Start date: ASAP
Contract length: Permanent
Reporting to: Senior Manager Policy & Public Affairs (vacant)
Salary: £33,000.00
Closing date: 2200 Sunday 15th December 2024. Note: Interviews may be conducted before the closing date.

How to apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter to [email protected].

Please include the job title 'Policy & External Affairs Officer' in the subject, your reasons for applying and explain how you meet the person specification. 

What is Best for Britain?

We are the researchers, data scientists, strategists, and activists, fixing the problems Britain faces after Brexit.

We conduct polling to help politicians lead debate, not follow it. We design policy for whoever is in government, today or tomorrow. And we give voters the tools to speak to, and persuade, those in power.

We believe that when we change minds we change politics for the better. And that all of this is Best for Britain.

The Role

Do you thrive on current affairs? Dream of being at the heart of politics both in the UK and Europe? Are you keen to work with senior politicians and business leaders and develop your policy and polling knowledge?

At Best for Britain, we believe that when we change minds, we change politics for the better and we are looking for a sharp minded, curious and detail-focused Policy and External Affairs Officer to join our team at this incredibly exciting and important time both for the UK and the world.

We want you to take a crucial role in Best for Britain’s policy development and external affairs work, particularly with our UK Trade and Business Commission, and build support for our campaign as we work to strengthen EU-UK ties and fix the problems Britain faces after Brexit.

As a member of our Policy and External Affairs unit, you will work closely with the Senior Manager and Director to deliver Best for Britain’s key policy offering by supporting the UKTBC members with briefings, presentations and evidence sessions as well as helping to analyse our best in class constituency level polling on EU related matters.

This role will suit someone looking to get involved with trade policy and will give you the opportunity to meet and work with household names from UK media and politics while making career-defining contacts. Recent members of the Best for Britain team have subsequently accepted senior roles with the BBC, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, the Civil Service and the UK Government working with top Cabinet members.

What are the key tasks?

• Supporting the delivery of key projects including polling, the UK Trade and Business Commission and our work scrutinising Bills and Legislation
• Assisting with the organisation and administration of meetings and events, including taking minutes
• Supporting meetings with a wide range of stakeholders, including parliamentarians and external organisations
• Carrying out research to support the production of briefings and reports including for parliamentarians
• Producing research material and other team deliverables
• Drafting internal and external communications
• Managing shared inboxes and communication with external stakeholders
• Maintaining and updating websites and CRM software tools
• Collaborating with other teams on shared deliverables

Person Specification

Essential

• Intellectual curiosity and a strong interest in UK-EU relations
• Excellent written and confident oral communication skills
• Good level of numeracy and spreadsheet skills
• Highly organised with a strong attention to detail
• Ability to read legislation and policy documents and draft summaries to tight deadlines
• A natural ability to network with senior stakeholders
• Familiar with G Suite including Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Drive (or Microsoft Office equivalents)
• Eligible to work in the UK
• Affinity with Best for Britain’s political aims and values.

Desirable

• Good knowledge and understanding of politics, current political issues, the different UK parties as well as their priorities, sensitivities and nuances
• Knowledge of EU institutions and wider geopolitics
• Experience in a policy role

Why work at Best for Britain?

At Best for Britain we invest in the health and wellbeing of our team, and believe it is key to organisational success and sustainability.

We offer a range of benefits, summarised below:

• Hybrid working - we understand the benefits of working from home and offer staff hybrid working with 3 days per week in the office
• Additional leave - the office is closed between Christmas and New Year, and staff are given Friday afternoons off in August
• Pension - NEST pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution
• Staff events - Christmas and Summer events as well as regular team building exercises throughout the year
• EAP - Staff can speak to accredited counsellors via a 24/7 confidential telephone support line with advice on handling stress, relationship difficulties, bereavement, family issues, anxiety, health concerns as well as financial and legal support
• Wellbeing payment - up to £100 per member of staff per financial year towards the costs of an activity that promotes physical fitness and mental health
• Cycle to work and Home scheme - staff can purchase a bike, furniture and tech and pay back over 12 months via salary sacrifice
• Office environment - basic breakfast and lunch items in the kitchen including hot drinks, fruit, cereal, soup and bread.

Equal Opportunities

Best for Britain is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we believe that this makes us a dynamic and effective organisation. We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, age, disability, class or any other protected characteristic.

Our roles and culture are inclusive and we can make reasonable adjustments throughout the application process and on the job. If you have any particular requirements, do get in touch.

Any questions before applying? Get in touch with Tom Brufatto at jobs@bestforbritain.org

How to apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter to [email protected].

Please include the job title 'Policy & External Affairs Officer' in the subject, your reasons for applying and explain how you meet the person specification. 

Working at Best for Britain

Some of the ways we look after our team: