Summary
Digital Catapult is hiring for a Lead for Public Affairs & Policy Engagement as part of their Policy, Research, Economics and Engagement (PREE) function. This role will report to the Director for Policy Research & Strategic Engagement, and work closely with the Chief Strategy & Policy Officer. The role will be responsible for driving key policy relationships with central / local government and members of parliament and focus on emerging technologies innovation policy.
The ideal candidate will be an entrepreneurial problem solver, with a public affairs / public policy background, and a demonstrable passion for technology and innovation. This role will help to shape national innovation strategies, developing proposals and briefs in emerging technologies that will benefit society, the economy and environment.
What You’ll Do
- Build policy relationships with central and local government, and the wider political landscape, aligned with the organisation’s long-term objectives and KPIs. This will include gathering information, raising visibility of our work, mapping stakeholders, developing relationships and seeding / aligning new policy ideas for national strategy in innovation
- Lead efforts to Scale-up our engagement with Levelling-up priority areas - working principally via the Governance institutions outlined in HMG's Devolution Framework and their industrial and academic partners
- Support in driving high impact policy goals on behalf of Digital Catapult in important strategic areas such as levelling up, net zero, metaverse, digital twins, creative industries and industrial digitalisation
- Working with other teams across the organisation, and closely within the PREE Team to identify policy challenges and helping to advise teams on how to scale their impact in innovation
- Leading on responses to relevant policy consultations and arranging / attending key policy meetings internally and externally on behalf of the PREE Team
- Work with the Director for Policy, Research & Strategic Engagement to help set out the strategic goals of the team and bridge communication gaps both within the PREE Team and wider organisation
- Team Leadership, management and development of Policy & Research Managers in related areas to the scope of the role. This will be through a mixture of matrix managed staff and after a short period of time, direct line management
What We’re Looking For
- Proactive, entrepreneurial with a passion for technology innovation and positive change towards societal, economic and environmental goals
- Strong experience in business and policy development in a public affairs environment
- Management experience of policy and/or research managers
- Strong understanding of key innovation policy areas for the UK
- Understanding of emerging technology trends for digital (e.g. metaverse, VR/AR, artificial intelligence, 5G, blockchain, IoT, etc.)
- Experience building networks of policy contacts in the innovation and industrial policy areas in the UK
- Strong experience in writing policy briefs for different audiences, strong communication skills and a collaborative team player
- Strong experience in researching and writing longer form reports
- Experience in setting up strategic boards and working groups and undertaking a secretariat role
