Strategic Government Affairs Lead

West of England Mayoral Combined Authority; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Volunteer leave

Travel opportunities

Job summary

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is seeking a Government Affairs Manager to lead our government affairs and engagement activity, reporting to the Head of Communications, and shaping the MCA’s relationship with Westminster and Whitehall.

You will monitor developments across government, provide strategic advice to senior leaders, manage the team, and plan events to support the Mayor’s priorities, delivering high-quality public affairs outputs while mitigating reputational risk.

Qualifications

• Experience of government affairs, stakeholder engagement and events management.
• Strong understanding of local government governance and decision-making frameworks.
• Experience in a politically led organisation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for persuasive briefings and speeches.
• High political awareness and discretion in handling sensitive issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead the MCA's government affairs strategy and engagement outputs.
• Monitor government announcements and respond with cross-team input.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on engagement and relationships.
• Build relationships with political representatives and government bodies.
• Oversee government affairs events and engagement activities.
• Manage staff workload and ensure high-quality outcomes.

Skills

Government affairs

Stakeholder engagement

Public affairs

Strategic communications

Leadership

Education

Degree in communications or government affairs

Job description

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is seeking a Government Affairs Manager to lead our government affairs and engagement activity, reporting to the Head of Communications, and shaping the MCA’s relationship with Westminster and Whitehall.

You will monitor developments across government, provide strategic advice to senior leaders, manage the team, and plan events to support the Mayor’s priorities, delivering high-quality public affairs outputs while mitigating reputational risk.