Director of Public Affairs at the ABTA

Ellwood Atfield; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Ellwood Atfield seeks a Director of Public Affairs at ABTA in Central London. This strategic role involves driving public affairs objectives, managing a team, and enhancing the industry's reputation with key stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in media relations, political outreach, and general management within the corporate or public affairs sectors. This leadership position represents a pivotal opportunity to influence policy in the travel industry.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in corporate or public affairs roles.
• Experience with Westminster, Whitehall, and EU processes.
• General management experience in planning and budget management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead ABTA’s public affairs objectives in the UK and Europe.
• Lead responses to key policy initiatives for the travel trade.
• Act as a spokesperson for ABTA when required.

Skills

Media relations

Political outreach

Public speaking

Strategic issue identification

Job description

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Director of Public Affairs at the ABTA, Central London

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Client:

Ellwood Atfield

Location:

Central London, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

1ed9b8d54234

Job Views:

47

Posted:

24.06.2025

Expiry Date:

08.08.2025

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Job Description:

ABTA is the UK’s leading travel association, representing travel agents and tour operators that sell £32 billion of holidays and other travel arrangements each year.

ABTA’s mission is to enable consumers to travel with confidence by supporting the growth of a strong UK travel industry and acting as an emblem of trust and quality. A trusted travel brand for more than 65 years, their support of high standards is an excellent basis to engage and inform the political and policy environment.

ABTA has three values: be trusted; be there; be ambitious. These are integral to how the senior management team work with their colleagues in implementing the annual business plan, from initial planning through to delivery. Their approach is very collaborative. ABTA’s success and expertise depend on the expertise and ambition of its people.

“Public affairs at ABTA takes place in the context of a very operationally engaged organisation, one that is in the flow of world events in an industry whose customers are affected every day.” - Mark Tanzer, CEO, ABTA

The position

Reporting directly to the CEO and as a member of the senior management team, you will have the authority and the team to drive ABTA’s agenda and to further enhance the industry’s reputation with policy makers, civil servants, politicians, and other key stakeholders.

Main responsibilities include:

• Develop and lead ABTA’s public affairs objectives in the UK and Europe.
• Lead the response to key policy initiatives from government and elsewhere on behalf of the travel trade generally and ABTA in particular.
• Horizon scan the political environment and identify strategic issues confronting the industry and ABTA members.
• Build and lead campaigns on policy issues affecting ABTA Members.
• In conjunction with the Senior Management Team, review all major developments within the sector likely to affect ABTA members.
• When required, act as a spokesperson for ABTA and for the industry.
• Manage the public affairs team to ensure the most effective responses to issues.

Required skills and experience include:

• Significant experience of working in a corporate or public affairs role, including experience of media relations, political outreach, and public speaking.
• Experience of Westminster, Whitehall, devolved administrations, and the politics and processes of the European Union.
• General management experience including planning, budget management, personnel management.