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Head of Corporate Affairs
Economic and Trade Analyst

Head of Corporate Affairs

Job Type: Full time, 12 Month Fixed-term Contract
Location: Central London (Bloomsbury)
Salary: Competitive

The Role

We are looking for someone to join our Corporate Affairs team as Head of Corporate Affairs. As Head of Corporate Affairs, you will lead FDF's engagement across all areas of external/ corporate affairs at Westminster, Wales and EU level which:

positions the organisation as the most relevant and authoritative voice for the industry;
manages, informs and influences stakeholders on the main industry priorities
provides a proactive and reactive media voice on both priority and breaking issues
develops and delivers programme of public and stakeholder engagement on:

Brexit
Industrial strategy and
health and wellbeing mission;

supports FDF engagement in Brussels;

Principal Accountabilities

Communications Planning and Delivery

To develop and deliver a co-ordinated stakeholder engagement strategy for FDF by engaging members and their representatives so it has their support;
To work with the Media Manager in delivering the strategy and consistent messaging on key priorities across the media and public affairs channels
Understand and manage key industry risks, ensuring FDF and members are kept abreast of Government developments
To contribute to raising the FDF's profile and ensuring that members can see the added value
To work with Corporate Affairs Director to track FDF's reputation and that of the wider industry

Stakeholder Management

To drive and deliver effective stakeholder mapping, engagement and prioritisation
Representing FDF on external platforms and, as appropriate, in the media
To identify relevant engagement opportunities for the Director General and other senior members of FDF to raise their profiles and the profile of the organisation;
To ensure that the client database is accurate and fit for stakeholder-management purposes.

Media relations

To oversee the work of the Media Manager and team members to ensure FDF's position is well represented to the media at all times
To cultivate and manage relations with journalists with the aim of raising FDF and the industry's profile
Ensure the media team provide a 24-hour on call media service for FDF, so we are able to communicate FDF's position to the media/public at all times.

EU Presence

To maintain an effective FDF presence in Brussels, delivering communications outcomes and initiatives and working with FoodDrinkEurope.
To lead FDF's engagement with the European Commission and MEPs;

Events and Conferences

To assist with the planning, logistics and delivery of public affairs events, including Parliamentary events and party conference programme
Supporting FDF's Commercial agenda through media and public affairs input

Consultancy

To provide consultancy public affairs services for allied associations and other industry bodies subject to contracts/agreements.

Managing a high-performing team

Managing the workflow and output of the Public Affairs and Media teams (6 people in total)
Line managing 3 team members directly (Media Manager, Public Affairs Manager and Team Administrator)
Developing team members to achieve their full potential

Corporate Affairs team

To work across the Corporate Affairs team as required to support initiatives, campaigns and external events and to provide resource at busy times.

The Team

FDF's Corporate Affairs team ensures we and our members have strong and constructive relationships across the UK Government, Parliament, and the media. This enables us to showcase FDF's policy work for political and media stakeholders seeking expertise on UK food and drink issues, and ensures our members' issues are at the forefront of the public policy agenda.

Requirements

Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline;
Successful track record in delivering public affairs and stakeholder engagement programmes
Experienced at influencing government in the UK at all levels and has detailed understanding of working of Westminster and Whitehall
Knowledge of interplay between Brussels institutions and the EU policymaking process
Experienced people manager, with proven track record of developing a high-performing team
Robust, self-confident, good interpersonal skills and able to work with people at all levels (including people in very senior positions);
Good knowledge of key issues affecting the food and drink manufacturing and wider FMCG;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Good organisational skills with attention to detail;
Able to work as part of a team and be prepared to support others;
Able to work flexibly, multi-task, prioritise and have good time management skills;
Competent in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook.

This role will involve the need to occasionally attend events at the weekend or in the evening.

How to Apply

We'd love to hear from you, if you think your experience and skillset are suited to the role. Please send us your CV, covering letter and salary expectations, illustrating why you'd be a great candidate to Recruitment@fdf.org.uk.

View our recruitment privacy notice

Closing Date: 7 August 2020, 5:30pm

Economic and Trade Analyst

Job Type: Full time, 8 Month Fixed-term Contract
Location: Central London (Bloomsbury)
Salary: Competitive

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a recent graduate to join the busy Competitiveness team at the Food and Drink Federation, the representative body of the UK's largest and most vibrant manufacturing sector. With various challenges and opportunities facing the industry, from COVID-19, the National Food Strategy, to exiting the EU, we are advertising an 8-month fixed-term role to support the Economic Research and Exports Policy Manager with raising the economic importance of the food and drink sector.

This role is crucial to FDF's credibility as an economic commentator, working with FDF's policy experts and media team, member companies, government departments, the media and stakeholders to help communicate the industry's economic importance and ensuring FDF's policy arguments are evidence-based and amplify the industry's strengths.

Principal Accountabilities

Economics

Conduct quarterly business confidence surveys, working closely with FDF's Media team and Membership team to increase responses and provide a brief in preparation for media enquiries and FDF Managers to undertake interviews. Keep annual industry, regional statistics and internal economic presentations up-to-date.
Work closely with FDF's Membership and Commercial team, FDF's Professional Affiliates and other relevant stakeholders to produce an annual economic report and quarterly export performance reports to support FDF's commercial agenda and raise the importance of the industry.
Monitor the latest official data releases and update data trackers (on prices, output, wages etc.), presenting the results to the Economic Research and Exports Policy Manager and Competitiveness team. Work closely with FDF's media team to highlight the performance of the industry through social media platforms.
Source official economic data, keep FDF databases up-to-date, conduct research and analysis to support FDF's overarching vision and the delivery of the Industry Growth Committee business plan and work programme.
Support colleagues across various FDF teams, including FDF Scotland and FDF Cymru, by undertaking ad hoc research and member/industry surveys related to the economics of the industry, COVID-19 recovery, exports, trade, the National Food Strategy and EU Exit.

Trade

Work with the Head of International Trade and EU Exit Policy Executive to support the effective delivery of FDF's trade policy agenda, including future trade agreements with the EU and other markets.
Monitor key policy developments impacting on the economic performance of the sector, UK food and drink export growth and trade. Ensure that members, stakeholders and colleagues are kept informed by producing concise and informative briefings.
Work with team administrator to effectively support the Food and Drink Sector Council Exports workstream to deliver the Council's strategic aims and objectives. Assisting with organisation and helping to maintain and grow member support as necessary.

Other

Build and maintain links with key stakeholders relating to economic data, exports and trade including Defra, DIT, FDEA, ONS, HMRC, HMT, CBI, Santander and other relevant bodies.
Draft articles for FDF newsletters, maintain and create relevant webpages on economic data and exports, ensuring information is up-to-date. Work with team administrator to ensure the database is maintained appropriately.

The Team

FDF's Competitiveness team is responsible for policy and market developments that impact UK food and drink manufacturers' ability to invest, grow and do business. The team covers a range of economic issues including: trade and workforce implications of the UK leaving the European Union; skills and employment; exporting; and working with supply chains.

Requirements

Essential

A bachelor's degree in economics or a related subject with a strong foundation in quantitative analysis and statistical/econometric methods.
Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.
The ability to gather data, compile information as well as handle and manipulate large amounts of numerical data, and present this analysis graphically.
Attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, robust work within project timescales.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
Politically aware.
Ability to work alone and as part of a team.
Excellent written and spoken English.
Excellent communication skills.
Excellent organisational skills.
Ability to deal with a variety of tasks and workload.
Willingness to learn and show initiative.

Desirable

Knowledge and interest in macroeconomics and trade, as well as familiarity with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) datasets.
Experience of using STATA software.
Experience of using a document management system.
Proven work experience within a paid or voluntary role.
Interest in the food and drink industry.

How to Apply

View our recruitment privacy notice

Closing Date: 11 September 2020, 5:30pm

More about working for FDF

Our organisation

Our benefits

Our workplace

View our recruitment privacy notice

Our organisation

We're the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) - the voice of the UK food and drink industry: the largest manufacturing sector in the country. We help our members operate in a highly regulated marketplace to maximise their competitiveness and profitability. Our job is to communicate our industry's values and concerns to Government, regulators, consumers and the media. We also work in partnership with key players in the food supply chain to ensure our food is safe, affordable and nutritious.

Our benefits

FDF is a great place to work where we take wellbeing seriously and have a great benefits package to match, offering a pension scheme, life insurance, 25 days holiday, private healthcare, leisure travel insurance, gym subsidy, interest-free season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.

View our staff benefits »

Our workplace

We're based in the heart of central London in a modern, bright open-plan office. We have a friendly work culture with great break-out spaces, quiet booths and opportunities for flexible-working. Our 'Feel Good for Life' team regularly organises events and activities to promote positive health and wellbeing.

View our recruitment privacy notice »

FDF operates as an equal opportunities employer and we welcome all applications regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, religion/beliefs, disability and age.

Last reviewed: 18 Sep 2020