Political Affairs Adviser

Position within the organisation: member of the Policy and Campaigns team, reports to the Head of Policy and Public Affairs.

Salary: Band 3:£34,071 to £37,695

Summary of the role

Bond is the membership body for NGOs working in international development. We work to ensure the best possible operating environment for our members, and to support them to respond to both the challenges and opportunities in international development policy, including maintaining aid volumes and improving the quality of aid, influencing the post-2015 agenda, responding to European development policy and addressing the structural issues that hamper our ability to reduce poverty and inequality.

As part of the work of Bond’s Policy and Campaigns team, we work to support our 400 members to build and maintain political support for international development, in the UK, in Europe and internationally. Bond engages with MPs, peer, MEPs, advisers and the main political parties to foster and strengthen their visible support for the international development agenda.

Bond regularly submits evidence to the Select Committee on International Development (ICD) and creates opportunities for Bond members to engage in policy dialogue with key political stakeholders, including members of the Cabinet. Bond also provides its members with regular political updates and analysis to ensure that the sector can respond effectively to emerging political trends, opportunities and challenges.

Bond is expanding its Policy and Campaigns Team to ensure that it can deliver a programme of work that delivers strong and on-going political support for International Development, especially in the lead-up to the European Parliament elections in May 2014 and the General Election in 2015.

We are seeking a creative, dynamic and experienced political/public affairs professional with a proven track record of designing and delivering political strategies that deliver results.

This is the role for you if you are passionate about international development and politics; have experience of political affairs including an understanding of Parliamentary processes; you are interested in working for and with for a wide and diverse group of organisations, building key alliances and relationships with political stakeholders to ensure objectives are achieved; you are a strong communicator with the ability to build and maintain strategic relationships and if you have experience of delivering a range of activities for a range of internal and external stakeholders.

If bringing organisations and people together to work collectively to deliver a public affairs agenda that seeks to combat global poverty and inequality excites you, please apply now.

Please apply via CV and covering letter to for the attention of Joanna Rea.

To be considered for this role, you must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Bond welcomes applications from all sections of the community and promotes diversity. Reg. Charity No: 1068839

Deadline for applications: Monday 3rd February at 5pm

Interviews:6th and 7th February, will consist of a panel interview and exercise

Due to the high level of responses, Bond can only respond to shortlisted candidates

Job purpose
To deliver Bond’s strategic policy and public affairs objectives, effectively engaging with key political stakeholders to build and maintain public support for international development, in the UK and Europe.
Job description
  • Engage and work with Bond members and partners to plan and implement pro-active political and public affairs engagement strategies that deliver Bond’s strategic objectives.
  • Deliver a range of influencing activities including high profile political events (including at party conferences), commissioning and undertaking research, drafting position papers and briefings, convening dialogue with key political stakeholders, etc.
  • Represent Bond and engaging with a range of key external political stakeholders, including MPs, peers, MEPs, advisers, select committees and political parties.
  • Increase the number of active, positive relationships Bond has with UK European parliamentarians and as appropriate, international institutions, officials and processes.
  • Facilitate and advise Bond groups and members on their political engagement activities.
  • Draft and communicate analysis and insight of key political trends and issues for internal and external audiences, including Bond’s response to parliamentary debates, questions, committee reports, etc.
  • Manage and develop Bond’s online parliamentary hub.
  • Contribute to delivery of Bond’s overall policy and campaigns strategy and organisational priorities.
  • Track, monitor and evaluate Bond’s influencing strategies and contribute to team planning, budgeting and annual reporting.
  • In collaboration with relevant team members, deliver Bond’s political strategies for the European Parliament elections and the UK general election

Person Specification: Political Affairs Adviser
Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Skills and competence / Good understanding of international development policy and excellent understanding of the political landscape and dynamics in UK and Europe / Strategic understanding of the political trends, opportunities and challenges in international development including the international political landscape
2 years experience of working in political affairs/parliament in the UK, Europe and/or internationally (or in a similar role in another sector) / 2+years of experience of working in a political affairs or parliamentary role
Experience of successfully achieving political/public affairsobjectives and achieving results/wins / Experience of designing and delivering multi-faceted political engagement strategies
Strong relationship building skills / Experience of high-level outreach, engagement and influencing, particularly with political stakeholders
Strong coordination, negotiation and facilitation skills in the context of public affairs/government relations work / Experience of membership-based organisations such as networks and coalitions, ideally within the charity/NGO sector
Ability to communicate complex policy propositions to a range of political audiences
Excellent presentation skills / Experience of using innovative presentation and publication formats
Excellent writing and editing skills, including the ability to write materials for a range of audiences (external and internal plus official submission to consultations)
Experience of project design, managing and delivering high-profile, complex political events including experience of events a party conferences
Analytical and well organised with ability to plan and manage a complex programme of work
Creative and entrepreneurial, with proven ability to see and develop opportunities
A collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal and communications skills / Experience of line Managing interns
Qualifications / education / training / Ability to act on own initiative to set and achieve goals / Experience of delivering reactive policy work
Flexibility and ability to respond to a fast-passed external policy and political environment
Fully competent in using MS Word, MS Excel, databases, email and internet
Degree level or equivalent / A post-graduate degree in international development, international economics or related subject
Experience and knowledge of the international development sector
Strong commitment to ending global poverty and to sustainable development
Ability to travel and, when required, to work outside normal office hours
Must have the right to live and work in the UK