The CBI education and skills team works with businesses and government to shape an education system that increases productivity, drives prosperity, as well as supporting social justice. The team represents member companies on high profile issues ranging from reform of the curriculum, apprenticeship levy, the impact of AI and automation on the labour market, delivery of T-levels, or the National Retraining Partnership.

Based at our London head office, the Principal Policy Adviser will play a key role in the team – developing key CBI campaigns, undertaking research, improving parliamentary engagement, and acting as a spokesperson for the CBI, both in public and with ministers, special advisers, and government officials. In this role you will make an essential contribution to the development of our work and of the team that delivers it.

Key Responsibilities
Supporting the Head of Education and Skills with the management and leadership of the team

• Work with the Head of Education and Skills, members and the CBI senior team to set priorities on education and skills policy.
• Lead the delivery of some of these priorities, both through own work, and through project managing the work of the team of policy advisers, senior policy advisers, and other CBI colleagues.

Working collaboratively to deliver innovative and compelling campaigns and solutions that deliver on members’ priorities

• Developing a strong grasp of the contextual education and skills policy issues.
• Working with CBI members and colleagues to develop policy positions and campaign messages with broad business support.
• Developing and managing a range of contacts, including government, and other external stakeholders that help to shape CBI and business understanding of key issues, and enable the business view on these to be heard.
• Acting as a senior spokesperson for the CBI on education and skills issues, including at CBI events and other public platforms.
• Working with the CBI’s commercial team to ensure that policy work supports the recruitment and retention of CBI members.