GWR are hiring a Public Affairs Manager to join our Public Affairs team. You’ll play a central role in a dynamic and effective team, working to promote travel by rail and developing partnerships and relationships with stakeholders at local, regional and national level.

You’ll take our strong reputation and excellent relations with stakeholders and develop this further. You’ll also provide expert analysis and advice to help us navigate the political environment. You’ll be someone who has plenty of experience of engaging with MPs, Councillors, local government, business groups, voluntary organisations, campaign groups, and industry associations

Your main responsibilities will be:

• To support the Head of Public Affairs and the Public Affairs team on building, planning and delivering campaigns
• To research replies and respond to stakeholder and MP correspondence both reactive and proactive
• To manage and support the GWR Advisory Board, preparing presentations and taking minutes
• Be an advocate and develop GWR political engagement programmes across Westminster, Welsh Government, Local Authorities, Business, Voluntary and campaign groups, and industry partners. In the process, you will work directly with multiple senior internal stakeholders, high profile political audiences and our commercial development, sales and marketing and external communications teams
• Produce expert GWR briefing papers and presentation packs to support stakeholder engagement at all levels
• Anticipate emerging political/policy challenges and opportunities and develop response strategies

As a minimum you’ll need to have:

• Extensive experience of working in politics or public affairs
• Have a track record of creating and delivering successful campaigns, including managing and developing events
• Be politically astute with a broad political network, combined with a deep understanding of UK politics and policy
• Have a track record of enhancing an organisation’s reputation with stakeholders
• Demonstrate excellent communications skills, written and verbal, with an ability to distil complex information
• Have a genuine affiliation with rail and generate good ideas about how to promote modal shift and support economic development through rail connectivity