About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the external affairs department as Policy and Public Affairs Manager. This role leads the development of policy positions and reports, and oversees policy and public affairs for the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS). It requires strong statistical skills to analyse data, and excellent interpersonal skills to liaise with senior stakeholders. A key duty is keeping the President, Officers and Council, FDS Dean and Board and senior managers abreast of policy developments, to support them in their work. This role coordinates and drives forward the work of the public affairs and policy team, and collaborates with colleagues across the College.

Responsibilities
• Experience in policy development, and development of influencing strategies, preferably in the health sector.

• A good understanding of the workings of Parliament and government, to inform public affairs strategies and activities

• Excellent written skills, with experience of drafting policy briefings, reports and/or consultation responses.

• Ability to prioritise effectively and deliver work to tight deadlines.

• Strong analytical skills with excellent attention to detail. Able to draw insights from data and lead on statistical analysis (e.g. of NHS data and statistics).

• Ability to build collaborative professional relationships and good rapport with senior stakeholders, partners and colleagues.

• Political sensitivity to recognise, influence and manage the communications and public relations consequences of sensitive policy issues.

• Persuasive verbal communicator, to explain the rationale behind advice and build wider support for initiatives.

• Team leadership, to encourage the team to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

• Line management experience (desirable).

• Experience of working with committees and/or charities (desirable)

• Degree educated (desirable)

• Experience of commissioning research (quant and qual) to inform policy development (desirable)

• Financial competence to develop and monitor budgets for policy work, and contribute to the business planning process (desirable)