Public Policy Specialist

Role profile

Job title           

Public Policy Specialist

Reporting to

Public Policy Manager

Role family

Management responsibility:

Communications

No

Team contributor

Overall purpose of role

The Public Policy Specialist is a member of the Public Affairs team in the Communications Department. Your core task is to ensure that ICAEW puts forward analysis and recommendations to government and political audiences in a way that builds reputation and influence. The role is to develop policy positions for the Chief Executive, senior ICAEW members and staff. The Public Policy Specialist assists and leads on the analysis of political and policy developments; actively identify strategic opportunities and deliver public policy projects and publications.

Main responsibilities of role

• Assist the Head of Public Affairs and Public Policy Manager to develop ICAEW public policy strategy which supports ICAEW’s operation plan and objectives.
• Apply experience and understanding of key public policy issues - tax, skills and social mobility, public finances, business and economic growth - to identify potential opportunities and threats to ICAEW.
• Assist and lead in the development of public policy content by exploiting a range of sources including ICAEW’s library, think tank and business publications and political research.
• Work independently on short to long-term research projects, providing updates on emerging findings and written reports to strengthen ICAEW’s profile to a policy audience.  
• Communicate the work of the public policy team to senior internal and external stakeholders, working with colleagues in member and corporate communications, and the media team.
• Lead on building and strengthening stakeholder relationships by attending and participating in policy events and meetings on key topics and developing ICAEW responses.
• Lead on opportunities to strengthen ICAEW’s profile on international public policy issues through stakeholder engagement, events, reports.   
• Specific duties may vary from time to time to meet the needs of the business.

Level 1

• Demonstrate the agreed service standards that apply to your role.
• Treat others as you would like to be treated.
• Connect stakeholders with other parts of ICAEW when necessary.

Level 2

• Understand the environment in which your stakeholders operate and adapt approach accordingly.
• Be proactive in understanding stakeholder needs and identifying solutions to non-standard tasks/queries.
• Balance the needs of individual stakeholders with the needs of other stakeholders.
• Make suggestions of how the team’s service to stakeholders could be improved.
• Look ahead to anticipate what stakeholders might need and plan accordingly.

Level  1

• Build trust by doing what you say you will do and keep confidences.
• Be prepared to say if you don’t know and then find the answer.
• Admit your mistakes and take responsibility for putting them right.
• Communicate openly, directly, honestly and with tact.
• Listen carefully, ask questions and check for understanding of what is being communicated.
• React promptly, rationally and constructively to feedback and complaints.

Level  2

• Identify and use opinion leaders, experts or other third parties to build support for your proposals and ideas.
• Demonstrate flexibility of style, approach and timing when influencing others

Level 1

• Openly share knowledge, information and skills.
• Plan and prioritise your own work effectively.
• Be prepared to put in extra effort to get the job done on time and to standard.
• Have a positive impact on everyone you come into contact with.
• React quickly and flexibly to changing circumstances.

Level 2

• Understand the bigger picture beyond your own team/area.
• Maintain focus and optimism under pressure.
• Work well autonomously when appropriate.

Level 1

• Demonstrate the standards required for your role.
• Take responsibility to identify your further training and development needs.
• Be open-minded to feedback, suggestions for personal development and new ways of doing things.
• Make suggestions to improve the way we work as an organisation.
• Aim to deliver more value than is expected.
• Leave a professional and positive image of your department and ICAEW in all your dealings

Level 2

• Learn from success and failures to improve working practices.
• Demonstrate the ability to work on complex and/or multiple projects alongside ‘business as usual’ tasks.

• Good standard of education ( ideally economics or politics)
• Background knowledge and interest in UK and international policy (i.e. Middle East, China, EU, South East Asia)
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to research, analyse and present complex information in an accessible way.
• Ability to draft internal and external policy briefings.
• Familiarity with various sources of data: UK Government, national and international think-tanks, etc.
• Ability to work with others to tight timetables. Flexibility in meeting changing work priorities. For example, ad-hoc analysis when requested.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.