PART 1:JOB PROFILE

DEPARTMENT:Communications, Policy and Campaigns

TEAM:External Affairs

JOB TITLE:Public Affairs and CampaignsManager

LAST UPDATED:October 2015

  1. MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB
  • To develop Samaritans influencing work by leading on work with parliamentarians and developing our campaigning activity to help achieve our purpose of reducing suicide.
  1. POSITION IN ORGANISATION
  • Based in the External Affairs Team
  • Reports into the Head of External Affairs
  • Liaises with all levels and across teams as required
  • Liaises with volunteers as required
  1. SCOPE OF JOB
  • Lead on the development of Samaritans work with parliamentarians (Westminster) and use these to create action on suicide prevention
  • Increase Samaritans’ involvement in public policy issues and debates:
  • Manage and develop the All Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Prevention and other parliamentary activity (Westminster)
  • Lead on the development of Samaritans campaigning activity in pursuit of changing public policy and increasing debate
  • General duties of a Samaritans staff member
  1. DIMENSIONS AND LIMITS OF AUTHORITY
  • Manages own workload
  • Provide expertise and advice to teams and projects, Directorate and the Chief Executive on influencing government and parliament (Westminster). Main source of reference for the organisation on how Samaritans’ policies and positions will be interpreted by a Westminster audience
  • Manages the All Parliamentary Group on Suicide and Self-harm Prevention (Westminster), including responsibility for the relationship with the Chair (currently Madeline Moon MP)
  • Represents Samaritans in external forums and builds relationships with external stakeholders
  • Contributes to the definition of Samaritans policy and research strategic priorities
  • Ad-hoc line management of temporary staff, volunteers and interns when required.
  1. QUALIFICATIONS
  • Graduate level qualification essential.
  • Qualification in an appropriate discipline, such as politics, social or health policy.
  1. SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Experience

  • Proven track record in public affairs work and successfully achieving change
  • Experience in political, policy or public affairs environment
  • Knowledge of UK, Ireland the devolved administration’s public policy and legislative procedures
  • Proven ability to synthesise large quantities of information into concise reports
  • Experience in development and management of relationships with stakeholders
  • Experience of developing campaigns that have successfully influenced locally or nationally.
  • Some experience of presentations and public speaking
  • Some experience of pressand media work would be an advantage
  • Experience of working in a field relevant to suicide prevention would be an advantage
  • Understanding of current mental health and suicide prevention issues and research.

Skills and Abilities

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Excellent networking, with the ability to turn contacts into action
  • Able to analyse and respond to external developments and identify issues speedily and effectively
  • Ability to present to a wide range of specialist and non-specialist individuals and audiences
  • Effective time management skills; adept at handing multiple priorities and meeting tight deadlines
  • Able to use a range of word processing, spreadsheet and database software applications (eg. Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Internet)
  • The ability to attend meetings and events outside of normal working hours, in particular regional meetings, consultation activities, and internal and external conferences and events.
  1. PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
  • Strong analytical and problem solving skills
  • High degree of accuracy and attention to detail
  • Ability to work with a diverse range of stakeholders internally and externally
  • Credible with external stakeholders, including MPs
  • Commitment to excellence in public affairsand campaigning
  • Identifies opportunities and takes initiative
  • Able to work flexibly as part of a small team and to be self-servicing
  • Ability to consult within and understand the unique nature of a voluntary organisation and to work effectively within this environment.

PART 2: DUTIES & KEY TASKS

Lead on the development of Samaritans work with parliamentarians (Westminster) and use these to create action on suicide prevention

  • Identify key parliamentarians for Samaritans to engage, in order to influence suicide prevention with maintenance of existing relationships and development of new ones
  • Create opportunities for lobbying of parliamentarians through parliamentary questions, debates, etc.
  • Develop parliamentary events as appropriate
  • Provide briefings to parliamentarians on key topics
  • Provide support and advice to branches on engaging with their local MPs as required.
  • Measure and evaluate the effectiveness of our parliamentary work

Increase Samaritans’ involvement in public policy issues and debates:

  • Continuously scan and monitor the political (Westminster) environment
  • Provide analysis on political developments related to suicide prevention.
  • Provide expertise and support for other teams and Directorate on political issues
  • Provide briefings on key issues and people as required; briefing senior colleagues, Directorate, CEO and volunteers before meetings with key audiences, as required
  • Represent Samaritans views at all-party parliamentary groups, events and seminars, including representing Directorate where requested
  • Develop relations with influential stakeholders and create opportunities for the Directorate and CEO to influence key stakeholders, in particular civil servants and Government ministers
  • Communicate Samaritans’ views on public policy issues to a variety of internal and external audiences through reports, articles and presentations
  • Provide advice and support to teams and staff on working with parliamentarians

Manage and develop the All Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Prevention and other parliamentary activity (Westminster)

  • Manage the relationship with the Chair’s office (Madeleine Moon, MP)
  • Identify topics to propose for discussion by the APPG in order to influence parliamentarians on key issues related to suicide prevention
  • Identify and secure high profile speakers, including Government ministers
  • Maintain and develop effective relationships with APPG attendees and develops the attendee list by including important stakeholders.
  • Manage the secretariat function for the APPG
  • ensure that all key parliamentary and other stakeholders (for example, other charities, researchers and key stakeholders who attend the APPG) receive accurate and full information within the required time frame
  • sending timely invitations to attendees, writing and circulating minutes, responding to queries from attendees
  • Manage Inquiries of the APPG, including setting up the panel of parliamentarians, call for evidence, hearings, consultation and information gathering and writing the report and recommendations.

Lead on the development of Samaritans campaigning activity in pursuit of changing public policy and increasing debate

  • Lead on the development and implementation of campaigning projects in pursuit of Samaritans strategic aims.
  • Work with colleagues in the department to ensure all campaigning activity is based on evidence of need.
  • Work with colleagues to develop effective, engaging campaign strategies and manage their implementation
  • Work closely with colleagues in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to ensure campaigns are coherent across the organisation.
  • Work with volunteers to ensure they are fully engaged in the development and implementation of campaigns
  • Develop campaign materials with colleagues, ensuring they are a high standard and in line with Samaritans branding
  • Ensure that all campaigning activity is monitored and measured to evaluate its level of engagement and impact and that learning is fed into the development of future campaigning activity.

General duties of a Samaritans staff member

  • Contribute to the effective and efficient running of General Office as appropriate
  • Participate, as appropriate, in staff forums and meetings
  • Adhere to Samaritans’ polices and procedures that are in effect from time to time
  • Represent General Office appropriately across Samaritans Treat all colleagues, volunteers and members of the public with dignity and work within and adhere to Samaritans’ equal opportunities statement and polices

This Job Description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role

Signed by employee:______Date: ______

This job description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role.