Government Affairs Manager

West of England Mayor; West of England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is seeking a Government Affairs Manager to join the Communications team. Reporting to the Head of Communications, you will lead the government affairs and engagement activity, shaping priorities and ensuring the MCA's voice is heard.

This role requires strategic, politically aware communication, building relationships with political representatives and government bodies, and overseeing public engagement and consultation activities.

Qualifications

• Experience of government affairs, stakeholder engagement and events management.
• Strong understanding of local government governance, decision‑making frameworks and statutory responsibilities.
• Experience of working within a politically led organisation.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce persuasive briefings, speeches and engagement materials.
• High levels of political awareness and the ability to handle sensitive issues with discretion and professionalism.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Degree in communications, government affairs or related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation's government affairs strategy and oversee engagement outputs.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on government engagement and stakeholder relationships.
• Monitor government developments and ensure timely, appropriate responses.
• Build and maintain relationships with political representatives, government departments and other stakeholders.
• Plan and deliver high-quality government affairs events aligned to leadership priorities.
• Manage staff and supervise workloads to deliver outcomes.
• Support reputational risk management and ensure alignment with corporate values.
• Travel to Westminster (London) and/or Manchester as required.

Skills

Government affairs

Public affairs

Stakeholder engagement

Events management

Strategic advisory

Political awareness

Education

Degree in communications/government affairs

Job description

Government Affairs Manager

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) is seeking to appoint a Government Affairs Manager to join our Communications team. Reporting to the Head of Communications, you will play a leading role in shaping and delivering our government affairs and engagement activity, helping the MCA realise its potential and deliver the Mayor’s priorities for the West of England.

This is an opportunity for an experienced government affairs and stakeholder engagement professional to make a real impact at a strategically important time for the region. You’ll work closely with political and corporate leadership, senior colleagues across the MCA and partners across government to build relationships, influence priorities and ensure the West of England’s voice is heard.

We’re looking for a strategic, politically aware and persuasive communicator who can build trusted relationships, navigate sensitive issues with confidence and translate organisational priorities into effective government engagement.

This is a critical time in our transformation and growth journey, and you’ll be pivotal in helping us achieve our ambitions by:

Leading the MCA’s government affairs strategy and ensuring it supports our organisational priorities.

Monitoring government announcements and initiatives and working with colleagues across Communications, Policy and Strategy to respond effectively.

Providing strategic advice to senior leadership and directorates on government engagement and stakeholder relationships.

Building and maintaining strong relationships with political representatives, government departments and other key stakeholders.

Leading and overseeing government affairs, public affairs, public engagement and consultation activity.

Planning and delivering high-quality government affairs events aligned to leadership priorities.

What you’ll be doing

Are you someone who can think strategically, communicate persuasively and build trusted relationships, while maintaining a high level of political awareness and discretion?

As Government Affairs Manager, you’ll lead the organisation’s government affairs activity and manage the team responsible for delivering high-quality public affairs and engagement outputs.

You’ll work across the MCA, providing strategic advice and ensuring government affairs activity is aligned with political and corporate priorities. You’ll also monitor developments across government and work closely with the Policy and Strategy and Communications teams to understand their implications and support effective organisational responses.

A key part of your role will be building and leveraging productive relationships with political representatives, government bodies across Westminster and Whitehall, and other external stakeholders. You’ll also oversee government affairs events and engagement activity, ensuring these are focused on delivering the organisation’s priorities.

You’ll have responsibility for managing appropriate staff, overseeing workloads and ensuring the team delivers high-quality outcomes across a changing range of priorities.

You’ll also play an important role in managing reputational risk, providing considered advice on government engagement and ensuring activity reflects the MCA’s corporate values.

What you’ll bring

You’ll be an experienced government affairs, public affairs or stakeholder engagement professional with a strong understanding of how politically led organisations operate.

We’re particularly interested in people who can demonstrate:

Experience of government affairs, stakeholder engagement and events management.

A strong understanding of local government governance, decision‑making frameworks and statutory responsibilities.

Experience of working within a politically led organisation.

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce persuasive briefings, speeches and engagement materials.

High levels of political awareness and the ability to handle sensitive issues with discretion and professionalism.

Strong organisational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes.

The ability to build and maintain effective relationships with political representatives, government bodies and a wide range of stakeholders.

You’ll need a degree in communications, government affairs or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Why choose us?

This is a high-profile opportunity to help shape the MCA’s relationships with government and support the delivery of an ambitious agenda for the West of England, including our Growth Strategy, Transport Vision and Investment Prospectus.

You’ll work alongside senior leaders and colleagues across the organisation, with the opportunity to influence how regional priorities are communicated, understood and progressed across government.

This is an opportunity to make a real difference — using your political awareness, strategic thinking, and relationship‑building skills to help secure the best outcomes for the West of England.

The role will likely require regular travel to, or presence in, Westminster (London) and/or Manchester. Candidates based in these locations will likewise be expected to travel to and maintain a regular presence in the West of England.