Public Affairs Manager

Organisation: British Paralympic Association
Salary: £35,000-£45,000 pa dep on experience
Location: London and home based
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 26 May 2025
Interview date: 3 June 2025
Job Description: JOB TITLE: Public Affairs Manager
REPORTS TO: Head of Social Impact
RESPONSIBLE FOR: n/a

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Permanent

HOURS OF WORK: Such hours as are necessary to fulfil the duties. This will involve a minimum of 35 hours per week and include work in evenings and weekends as required.

LOCATION: Hybrid of London office and home based. ParalympicsGB Office: 101 New Cavendish Street, W1W 6XH. Travel may also be required in the UK and abroad as necessary.

JOB PURPOSE: The Public Affairs Manager will manage the implementation of ParalympicsGB’s policy & public affairs strategy, including managing a targeted contact programme with politicians, civil servants and stakeholder organisations. The role will also play a key role in supporting the organisation’s approach to influencing public policy in sport, disability and education and deliver Games’ time guest programmes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement

• Manage the implementation of the public affairs strategy, with support from the Head of Social Impact and Director of Communications & Social Impact, reporting back to the Senior Leadership Group on the outcomes achieved.
• Work with the CEO, Director of Communications & Social Impact and Head of Social Impact to implement a stakeholder engagement plan building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholder such as politicians, Government departments, ParalympicsGB’s members, sport and disability organisations, and the education sector.
• Coordinate ParalympicsGB colleagues to execute a contact programme with relevant stakeholders including Government Ministers, MPs and Peers, Civil Servants and Stakeholder organisations from ParalympicsGB’s membership and the wider sport, education and disability sectors.
• Monitor and analyse upcoming relevant policy and legislative developments and activities and identify opportunities for influence including drafting responses to parliamentary, government and other consultations.
• Represent ParalympicsGB externally to raise awareness and strengthen our reputation with key policy makers, decision-makers, and relevant public affairs networks. Reporting back to colleagues on the content of meetings and arranging follow-ups as appropriate.
• Prepare high-quality briefing materials for political audiences and senior internal stakeholders to support influencing priorities.
• Organise and support delivery of a series of Westminster based events and activations to support our Public Affairs strategy, including events to raise awareness of ParalympicsGB’s relevant social impact programmes e.g. Equal Play and Community Sport initiatives.
• Contribute to stakeholder engagement around the promotion of Stoke Mandeville as the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement.
• Administer the Paralympic Games guest programme for Government Ministers, Royal Patron and key stakeholders linked to social impact and international relations.

Policy
• Lead the coordination of ParalympicsGB responses to relevant Government consultations and other stakeholder responses.
• Lead the research, manage consultation with key stakeholders, and draft policy papers with regards development of ParalympicsGB’s policy papers in line with the social impact strategy, particularly around education (Equal Play), community sport, and disability.

Social Impact
• Work with the Social Impact team on communicating public affairs opportunities to our athletes (as part of the ParalympicsGB Athlete Community) and connecting social impact programmes to political opportunities.

Correspondence, Planning and Databases

• Draft correspondence with key contacts on behalf of the organisation.
• Develop and manage parliamentary and stakeholder contact management database.
• Provide administrative support to the Communications team as required.

This job description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and may be amended from time to time in the light of the changing needs of the organisation through appropriate processes of consultation and the mutual agreement of both parties.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

QUALIFICATIONS
• A degree or similar-level qualification, or equivalent working experience

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Essential
• Experience influencing policy at a domestic or international level with Government, Parliament, and decision-makers.
• Experience of building effective relationships with senior stakeholders and representing the organisation in meetings and networking events.
• Experience managing stakeholder and political engagement programmes,
• Strong communication skills with the ability to write key messages and documents to a high level and tight timescale.
• Experience of research and policy development including developing policy recommendations.
• Experience of organising events.
• Experience of researching and undertaking consultation to develop policy papers.
Desirable

• An understanding of the national and international sport landscape.
• An understanding of the education sector.
• A knowledge of, and passion for, sport.
• An understanding of ParalympicsGB, its function and role and the environment in which it operates.
• Charity communications.
• General knowledge of disability sport and the disability sector.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND QUALITIES
Communication: Excellent communication skills with the ability to express message and impart information clearly, concisely, and convincingly to a wide variety of audiences and through a variety of mechanisms, including both verbal and written communication.

Creativity: The ability to understand a problem or issue, and the factors that influence it, and consider constructive inventive ways in which a solution can be found, and a positive work outcome achieved. The desire constantly to consider ways in which existing practices could be done better and more efficiently.

Organisational Skills: The ability to plan, organise and execute work programmes, working to tight deadlines and often in a reactive environment.

VALUES

ParalympicsGB is an organisation with a unique role and key responsibilities within the UK high performance system. Delivery of our ambitions very much relies on both working with, and through others, and by focussing on our two strategic priorities: taking the best prepared team to each summer and winter Games; and inspiring social change.

As an organisation we are committed to three values: excellence, respect, and integrity. Every ParalympicsGB employee is expected to adhere to:

Excellence
Everything we do at ParalympicsGB reflects our ambition to be world leading. We care deeply about what we do and bring a flexible, positive, and progressive approach to our interactions with others. Like the athletes that we support, we will always challenge ourselves and others to do better.

Respect
Our relationships with each other, our partners and the wider community are based on respect, trust, and a deep-seated belief in diversity, inclusion, and the value of our differences.

Integrity
We demand the highest standards from ourselves and others, seeking always to do the right thing and to engage with openness and transparency in all that we do.
How to apply: How to Apply: For details of the person specification please download the Job Description from ParalympicsGB’s website – https://paralympics.org.uk/articles/job-paralympicsgb-public-affairs-manager Please submit a completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form available here: https://forms.office.com/e/3Lp0z9S3kK Please send a role specific cover letter, CV and indication of current salary to Terry Race, Recruitment and Corporate Services, at jobs@paralympics.org.uk. All enquiries are to be directed to the email listed and no phone enquiries will be taken. Closing Date: Monday 26th May 2025 (17:00) Interviews: Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be notified by Wednesday 28th May. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 3rd June at our central London office. Please note: Depending on the outcome of the first round of interviews there may be a second round to this process. About us We are the British Paralympic Association, known as ParalympicsGB. As the National Paralympic Committee for Great Britain, it is our responsibility to select, prepare, enter, fund, and manage the ParalympicsGB team at Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. But ParalympicsGB is far more than a world leading sports team winning medals across a diverse range of sports. Our mission includes driving positive, sustainable change for disabled people in UK society. Over the past two years our efforts on social impact have grown as we have spent time listening to and learning from athletes, the disabled community, and the sport, education, and disability sectors. Our ambition is to use the positive power of the Paralympics and of Paralympic athletes to inspire a change in attitudes to disability and bring about equality for disabled people in sport, education, and society. Our approach is disabled-led. With the excitement of the Paris Paralympic Games still fresh in our minds and the recent launch of Championing Change Creating Social Impact 2024-2032.pdf, there could not be a more exciting time to join us! We offer a wide range of benefits including pension, cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme, private healthcare, and a generous holiday entitlement. We are based in accessible, modern offices in the heart of London. We also have a ‘performance hub’ on campus at Loughborough University. We have a flexible approach to working patterns. This commitment to flexibility in how we work, when we work and where we work is an important feature of life at ParalympicsGB and we will do all we can to help you work in a way that suits you within organisational needs. Come and meet us, we’re great to work with. In a recent survey, when asked what was great about working at ParalympicsGB, staff said the following: “There is a real sense of team and a real sense of pride throughout the organisation. People really work well together.” “Being part of an organisation with real impact and purpose, working alongside really kind and talented people.” “It’s a great environment to work in and you have the knowledge that you are making a difference.” About you – Social impact, including influencing government and driving policy change, is a cornerstone of our organisation’s 10-year strategy, aimed at delivering positive change for disabled people. You will join the Comms and Social Impact Department at an exciting time, building on the successes of ministerial engagement during the Paris Paralympic Games and the launch of Equal Play, our campaign and policy paper for disabled young people. You will shine at building relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, from civil servants to athletes to sport and education organisations. You will represent ParalympicsGB externally, raising awareness and strengthening our reputation with key policymakers, decision-makers, and public affairs networks. You will confidently support our influencing plans in the UK with the Government and key stakeholders, as well as internationally with the International Paralympic Committee. Collaborating with the Head of Social Impact, you will establish partnerships with leading stakeholders in sport and education and Paralympic athletes to achieve ParalympicsGB’s vision: ‘Through sport, inspire a better world for disabled people.’ Your experience in public affairs and understanding of the UK policy landscape will be crucial. You will have good political judgement and excel at working collaboratively with others. You will be organised and unflappable, managing Ministerial and VIP programmes at the Paralympic Games in Milan Cortina and Los Angeles. The successful candidate will be supported throughout their journey with ParalympicsGB. We are committed to providing a positive team experience from start to finish and beyond, helping all our staff develop their skills and reach their full potential. For full information on the role’s requirements please review the job description which details the main tasks and responsibilities and the person specification. ParalympicsGB is fully committed to the principles of the equality of opportunity. It is responsible for ensuring that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment, on the grounds of age, race, disability, parental or marital status, religious belief, sex, gender, social status, or sexual orientation, than any other. Data Protection: ParalympicsGB will process and store and your personal information (this means any information that identifies or could identify you) for the purposes of recruitment, for a period of up to six months after the closing date, after which it will be securely disposed.