Public Affairs Officer

MAG (Airports Group); Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible pension up to 10%

24 days holiday + bank holidays

Free parking

Subsidised public transport

Discounts across MAG businesses

2 volunteering days/year

Free Virtual GP service

Job summary

MAG (Manchester Airports Group) is seeking aSenior Public Affairs professional to deliver the airport's public affairs strategy and cultivate relationships with political, business and civic stakeholders across Greater Manchester and the North of England.

You will work closely with the Corporate Affairs team to shape MAG's reputation, influence policy, and coordinate engagement activities with MPs, local authorities and senior external partners in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in a public affairs, political, policy, stakeholder engagement or external relations environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate complex policy into clear briefs.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and engage diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver Manchester Airport's public affairs strategy.
• Build and sustain relationships with political, business and civic stakeholders across Greater Manchester and the North of England.
• Coordinate visits and engagement activity with MPs, local authorities and business organisations.
• Prepare high-quality briefings and policy responses and monitor developments affecting MAG.

Skills

Public affairs

Stakeholder engagement

Policy briefings

Political analysis

Communication skills

Relationship building

Education

Degree in Public Policy/Politics

Job description

Based Manchester Airport

Flexible/hybrid working for a better work/life balance

We are proud to be a diverse employer, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds

MAG

At MAG we provide the airport facilities and travel services that people need to connect with the world. As the largest UK owned airport operator, we serve over 66 million passengers a year from Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports. With over 270 destinations across the globe, our businesses not only bring people together but also support the prosperity of the regions in which we operate. Sustainability is one of our core values, and it shapes everything we do. We’re committed to protecting the environment and supporting our local communities. Our programmes include airport and airline decarbonisation, comprehensive education, skills and employment support and community engagement initiatives including volunteering opportunities. At MAG, we recognise creating a first-class journey for our customers starts by creating a first-class career journey for our colleagues and we are committed to building inclusive environments in which our people can thrive.

Benefits

You’ll also have access to some great benefits including:

• Flexible and generous company pension plan with various company contribution options (up to 10%) that you can change to suit your personal needs
• 24 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Free parking
• Subsidised public transport
• Huge range of company discounts
• 2 volunteering days per year
• Free Virtual GP service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Care Concierge service

The Role

You’ll play a key role in delivering Manchester Airport's public affairs strategy, helping to build the airport's reputation and influence with political, business and civic stakeholders across Greater Manchester and the North of England. Working closely with the Senior Public Affairs Manager, Director of Corporate Affairs and wider Corporate Affairs team, you’ll develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, helping to strengthen understanding of Manchester Airport's role as the global gateway to the North and a major driver of economic growth. You’ll support and deliver stakeholder engagement programmes and campaigns, prepare high-quality briefings and policy responses, and monitor political and policy developments that could impact the airport and the wider MAG group. You'll also help coordinate visits and engagement activity involving MPs, local authority leaders, business organisations and senior external stakeholders. This is a varied and fast-paced role, offering the opportunity to work on high-profile issues ranging from transport and connectivity to economic growth, sustainability and infrastructure investment, while engaging with senior leaders across the business and external decision-makers.

What will make you successful?

You'll have experience in a public affairs, political, policy, stakeholder engagement or external relations environment, alongside a strong understanding of how local and national government decisions can affect organisations and communities. You'll be a confident communicator with excellent relationship-building skills and the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, from elected representatives and public sector partners to internal senior leaders. You’ll bring strong written and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex policy issues, identify emerging opportunities and risks, and turn your insights into clear, concise briefings and recommendations. A proactive and self-starting approach is essential. You'll be comfortable managing competing priorities, working to tight deadlines and taking ownership of projects and stakeholder activity, while maintaining a high standard of delivery. Experience in the public sector, transport, infrastructure or a regulated environment would be beneficial, but most importantly you'll be curious about politics and policy, motivated by building relationships, and excited by the opportunity to help shape the future success of Manchester Airport.

Equal Opportunities & Reasonable Adjustments

We’re building something brilliant at MAG: a diverse team of Journey Makers who share our values and want to make a difference. We’re on a mission to be number one in our industry, and that takes talent in all its forms. With so many exciting roles across our airports and businesses, there’s space for your unique strengths to shine.

Whether this is your first role or your next big step, we want to hear from you – even if you don’t think you tick every box. What matters most is what you bring.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you need any adjustments to support your application or interview, just let us know. We’re committed to helping you perform at your best.

At MAG, every journey matters. Our Colleague Communities play a big part in that: Women’s Network, Embrace (Race & Ethnicity), Fly with Pride (LGBTQIA+), Mind Matters (Mental Health), PACT (Parents & Carers), RespectABILITY (Disability & Neurodiversity), and the CAVU Global ID&E Affinity Group.