Senior Policy and Communications Manager

Location: London

Job Type: Make UK

Position: Senior Policy & Communications Manager

Type: Permanent

Hours: Full time

Work Arrangement: Home based with occasional travel and visits to London office

Compensation: Competitive salaries and excellent benefits including up to one day's paid leave each year to undertake volunteering opportunities

Make UK Defence is the leading trade association for the UK defence supply chain, part of Make UK, the UK's voice of manufacturing. We represent around 500 members, including global defence contractors, established mid-tier suppliers, and micro SMEs. As a Senior Policy and Communications Manager, you will be pivotal in shaping the future of UK defence and ensuring our members' voices are heard in key policy discussions.

Your primary role will be to engage with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and other relevant government departments to influence policy discussions around the UK defence supply chain. You'll work closely with the Director-General and senior team to advocate for the interests of our members across various forums and initiatives, ensuring the importance of the defence supply chain in the UK's national security and prosperity is understood.

You will act as a conduit between government policy announcements and our membership, simplifying complex policy issues and ensuring clear communication. This role provides an exciting opportunity to have a direct impact on the policy landscape while supporting our members' needs and priorities.

• Represent Make UK Defence at key forums, including the MOD Defence Suppliers Forum and other relevant platforms.
• Collaborate with the Director-General and senior team to develop and deliver impactful policy campaigns, reports, and initiatives that align with our goals and drive change for our members.
• Build and maintain strong relationships within Whitehall, Westminster, and key government ministries, influencing decision-makers on both sides of the political aisle.
• Design and produce policy content, including reports, blogs, and social media posts, to effectively communicate our initiatives and thought leadership.
• Translate complex policy topics into accessible, clear language for our members, ensuring they understand and can act on the latest developments.
• Represent Make UK Defence at events, including networking events, roundtables, and conferences.
• Collaborate with other Make UK teams on joint initiatives, such as National Manufacturing Day, ensuring key policies and initiatives reach our membership.

• Previous experience in policy or communications roles.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, working effectively to tight deadlines and adapting to changing demands.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with experience liaising with senior government officials, stakeholders, and members.
• Willingness to travel and work outside of normal office hours when required.
• Strong understanding of policy and political campaigning.
• Experience with social media is a plus but not essential for the role.
• Knowledge of the defence and manufacturing sectors is desirable.
• Ability to work flexibly within a small, mainly remote team.

With over 125 years of experience, Make UK is a leading provider of essential business support and a champion for the manufacturing industry in the UK. Make UK has the close ear of Government and is a trusted provider of essential services for world-leading manufacturing companies across the country. Everything we do is designed to inspire British manufacturers to compete, innovate, and grow.

Make UK staff enjoy a good benefits package and value a diverse workforce, welcoming applications from all sections of the community. Benefits include, but are not limited to: Free parking, meal service on site, no bank holiday/weekend work, flexible hours, health cover, matched pension contributions up to 8%, and life assurance.

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and recognise the contribution that Service personnel, both regular and reservist, veterans, and military families make to our organisation and have pledged to support this by signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

If this position interests you, and you would like to learn more or explore other available jobs that could also match your skill set, please apply today or email .

Kerry Critchell

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