Director of Policy and External Affairs

TN United Kingdom; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Director of Policy and External Affairs to lead a dynamic team in influencing infrastructure policy. This role involves engaging with key decision-makers to drive strategic initiatives focused on decarbonisation, climate resilience, and productivity. The successful candidate will have substantial leadership experience and a deep understanding of public policy processes. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to sustainable infrastructure solutions and make a significant impact on global challenges.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership and management experience in public policy.
• Strong understanding of public policy processes in Westminster.

Responsibilities

• Lead ICE’s political and policy work for impactful engagement.
• Oversee relationships with parliamentarians and senior officials.

Skills

Leadership

Public Policy Understanding

Communication Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Public Affairs

Education

Degree in Public Policy or Related Field

Job description

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Director of Policy and External Affairs, Westminster

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Client:

Ellwood Atfield

Location:

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

0a629f251506

Job Views:

3

Posted:

05.05.2025

Expiry Date:

19.06.2025

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Job Description:

Civil engineers design, create and connect the world by building railways, roads, schools, hospitals, water and power supplies. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is a 97,000-strong global membership organisation with more than 200 years of history. The ICE is a centre of engineering excellence, and our network of experts offers trusted, impartial advice to politicians and decision makers on how to build and adapt infrastructure to create a more sustainable world.

We share learning and experience through original research, engaging events, professional development, partnerships, and mentoring. We qualify engineers working in infrastructure to maintain their competence throughout their careers to create safer infrastructure for society.

Society is facing unprecedented challenges from climate change to demographic shift. The infrastructure sector has a critical role to play in addressing these challenges and in creating a better future, using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as guiding principles. By bringing together the best and brightest engineering minds we find innovative solutions to global critical challenges.

The opportunity:
The Director of Policy and External Affairs leads a high performing team to engage with politicians and decision makers to inform better strategic decisions on infrastructure. ICE policy frameworks centre on three areas: decarbonisation; climate resilience; and productivity. This is done for public benefit to ensure the public gets the infrastructure needed to live sustainable lives.

Accountabilities include:

• As a member of the Director General Board, support the development of the ICE strategy and plan and the leadership of the ICE Group.
• Lead and develop ICE’s political and policy work to ensure the ICE’s policy has impact with senior policy, decision makers and opinion formers.
• Prioritise and oversee ICE’s engagement with parliamentarians, senior officials and other opinion formers.
• Lead the development and management of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure and other relevant groups to ensure the group is positioned as the leading source of insight on economic infrastructure in the UK Parliament.
• Develop ICE’s global profile, working with international bodies and governments to enable infrastructure best practice to be shared globally and fostering knowledge exchange and continuous improvement.
• Serve as spokesperson for ICE’s policy positions to external audiences to ensure the accurate and effective conveying of ICE’s policy positions and insight.

Requirements include:

• Substantial leadership and team management experience.
• A thorough understanding of public policy making processes in Westminster and Whitehall is essential. Some international knowledge is desirable.
• Experience of public affairs and the ability to influence public policy and build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to strengthen the ICE’s reputation is essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (e.g. producing briefing papers, short reports, presenting ICE policy positions at meetings) are essential.
• A good understanding of construction, civil engineering and economic infrastructure issues is desirable.
• An interest in the built environment, infrastructure and sustainable development.

A rare opportunity to join the leadership of a global organisation, act as its spokesperson on important policy issues and be part of the answer to some of the world’s biggest challenges and opportunities.