Corporate Affairs Advisor

Job Description:

The Corporate Affairs Advisor role will help to promote and secure a positive policy environment that supports, or does not harm, Harland & Wolff’s business objectives within a political, regulatory, and stakeholder scope. The Advisor will:

• Research and monitor government/political activities that could affect the Harland & Wolff business and clients. This extends to predicting government/political events, and their effects.
• Writing briefings for internal colleagues on relevant government/political events and how these could affect Harland & Wolff.
• Build relationships with, and advocate Harland & Wolff’s position on a range of issues and activities to, the UK Government, Westminster, and the devolved bodies, and industry groups.

Working with the Visits & Events Manager, support and coordinate successful delivery of key projects such as political visits and company attendance at party conferences and other such events.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities: 

• Government Relations and Public Affairs:

• • Rapid Analysis and Dissemination: Efficiently analyse and disseminate developments/activities within the corporate affairs space, ensuring that senior management and relevant departments are kept informed of critical updates that could impact the company’s operations or reputation.
  • Daily Summaries of Developments: Utilise DeHaviland emails to create and distribute daily summaries of relevant corporate affairs developments, highlighting potential impacts and recommendations for action or awareness.
  • Weekly Updates and Reports: Draft and circulate a comprehensive weekly update on corporate affairs activities, including the preparation of detailed reports and updates for internal meetings and briefings with market leads and General Managers (GMs), ensuring all stakeholders are aligned and informed.
  • Government and Parliamentary Consultations Response: Actively respond to government and parliamentary consultations relevant to Harland & Wolff’s operations, ensuring the company’s interests and perspectives are effectively communicated and represented.
  • Stakeholder Newsletters: In collaboration with the Visits and Events Manager, draft and distribute regular newsletters to stakeholders, providing updates on company news, events, and developments in a manner that reinforces stakeholder engagement and support.
  • Support for Sales and Business Development (BD) Campaigns: Coordinate the campaign process in support of the Sales and BD teams, ensuring campaigns are strategically aligned, effectively communicated, and efficiently executed to support business growth objectives.

• Industry engagement:

• • Trade Association Engagement: Administer and Coordinate Harland & Wolff’s engagement with trade associations to ensure meaningful attendance and derive maximum value from participation, leveraging these platforms for networking, advocacy, and industry insights, to build awareness and understanding of the company and promote its interests.
  • Identify and analyse key stakeholders, including the Civil Service, NGOs, industry associations, and advocacy organisations.

• Compliance and Reporting:

• • Maintain up-to-date records of government interactions, lobbying activities, and relevant policy developments.

Prepare reports and presentations for senior management, detailing the impact of government policies and potential implications on the organisation.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

• Required
  • Three years of relevant experience in areas such as public policy issues management, government relations, community relations, or other related areas
  • Strong writing skills and experience in developing stakeholder engagement and communications plans, and executive briefing materials
  • Problem-solving skills to identify solutions and the ability to understand and articulate a policy that fits multiple stakeholders with diverse viewpoints
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong internal and external relationships
  • Excellent written and verbal in English.
  • A Strong knowledge of the UK’s political landscape and politics relating to  defence/energy landscape.
  • A Strong knowledge of devolved bodies and supernational bodies (EU, UN, IMO, NATO)
  • A strong knowledge of Harland & Wolff’s 5 markets – Defence, Renewables, Energy, Commercial and Cruise & Ferries

Education & Experience: 

• Required
  • A Bachelor’s Degree in politics, economics, or international relations
• Preference
  • Existing relationships with political stakeholders
  • Knowledge of trade associations and their importance