Public Affairs and Policy Advisor (Policy Advisor) (23401)

Job Introduction

This is a great opportunity to be at the forefront of securing the future of the BBC the worlds most trusted news provider with its enduring mission to inform. educate and entertain.

In a world of disinformation rising media subscription costs and media and social fragmentation the BBC has never been more important to audiences across the UK and internationally. With the BBCs Charter which gives us the right to exist being reviewed now is a key time to highlight our vital role in addressing these societal challenges and communicate our strategic vision to a wide and diverse audience.

Were recruiting a Public Affairs and Policy Advisor in our BBC Public Affairs team to help build and develop relationships with parliamentarians in Westminster and wider political stakeholders across the UK. This role will report into the Head of Public Affairs and have the opportunity to work on exciting projects with real impact and influence in Parliament and with senior leaders in the BBC.

Our team represents the BBC to Parliament and parliamentarians views to the wider BBC. It manages the BBCs relationship with key external political stakeholders and leads the development of engagement strategies and political events.

The Public Affairs team is part of the Policy and Public Affairs Department within the Corporate Affairs Division. The Public Affairs team also provides high level political advice to support the BBCs strategic objectives pursuing truth with no agenda backing homegrown storytelling and bringing people together at a time of rapid change in technology consumer behaviour and regulation.

Main Responsibilities

As Public Affairs and Policy Advisor youll act as a point of contact for political advice for colleagues across the BBC including members of the Executive Committee the Board senior management across at the BBC and locally in Corporate Affairs. Youll be innovative and creative in your approach to engagement as befits the BBC and lead on select committee inquiries (including for example the Lords Communications and Digital Committee) for Public Affairs when necessary including drafting written submissions and internal briefings alongside colleagues across BBC departments. You will assist other colleagues including those at a more senior level in work pertaining to other committees including the Culture Media and Sport Committee Public Accounts Committee and Foreign Affairs Committees.

With a mission to deliver priorities set out in the BBC Corporate Affairs Strategy and engagement plan you will undertake research and investigation on a range of political and media industry issues in the UK. This will include researching and evaluating appropriate sources and writing briefings and biographies as required. This role will also require you to alert internal stakeholders to key political & parliamentary issues and to proactively monitor and research developments which impact on the BBC as an organisation and the wider media industry.

You will help deliver a programme of one to one contact with members of both Houses of Parliament especially the House of Lords advisers and political stakeholders developing fruitful and ongoing relationships. You will be responsible for organising events dinners and visits in and outside of Parliament. This role also acts as secretariat for the BBC APPG and oversees the BBC Corporate presence at party political conferences organising events and speakers as appropriate on time and to budget.

You will work with colleagues in nations and regions on key broadcasting issues in the Scottish Parliament the Senedd and the Northern Ireland Assembly through regular liaison with BBC Nations and Regions. In addition you will assist in engagement with key devolved mayoralties throughout England.

You will also assist in maintaining the systems for capturing qualitative information on key political stakeholders and write and distribute internal and external communications including the internal weekly parliamentary bulletin when required.

Are you the right candidate

This is an incredibly exciting and varied role so were looking for someone with experience of working in Public Affairs and political communications with a keen interest in broadcasting or the wider creative industries sector.

Someone with a proven ability to delivering political communications projects from planning through to delivery ontime and onbudget ensuring a consistency of messaging and a collaborative approach with colleagues and partners inside and outside the Corporation.

You will have strong editorial judgement and demonstrate a commitment to the key values of impartiality accuracy and discretion. In addition to being a strong verbal and written communicator you will be able to understand translate and communicate complex detailed and technical information on an array of subjects to suit a range of audiences.

The ideal candidate will understand the legislative process and how to engage with legislation on behalf of an organisation.

In a field where there is fierce competition for attention we place a high value on innovation and the successful candidate will need to be highly motivated and able to work independently and as part of a team.

Package Description

Band: D
Contract type Permanent
Job title: Inhouse job title is Policy Advisor
Location: Millbank office London c.3 days in the office a week with some hybridworking
Salary: 45000 to 55000pa (plus London Weighting (5319) dependent upon experience

Were happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

• Excellent career progression the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
• Unrivalled training and development opportunities our inhouse Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.
• Benefits We offer a negotiable salary package a flexible 35hour working week for worklife balance and 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days a defined pension scheme and discounted dental health care gym and much more.

If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process please contact the For any general queries please contact:

About the BBC

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC for different reasons and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

We dont focus simply on what we do we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure youve read about our values and behaviours here.

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individuals unique contribution enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC whether thats to contribute to our programming or our wide range of nonproduction roles. The more diverse our workforce the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age gender ethnicity disability sexual orientation gender identity socioeconomic background religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC please click here.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory