Job Summary
A well-established national membership organisation is looking for an experienced interim to lead its policy and public affairs function through a critical period.
This is a substantive leadership role with real scope. You will own the organisation's national policy and public affairs agenda, reporting directly to the Director of Campaigns and Policy, and will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of a programme spanning parliamentary monitoring, ministerial engagement, stakeholder management, consultation responses, and coordinated campaign delivery across England and Wales, overseeing a range of policy issues.
Critically, you will lead, manage and develop a team of two — setting direction, maintaining performance standards, and ensuring the function continues to deliver at pace throughout the contract period.
What the role requires:
This role has two non-negotiable pillars.
The first is team leadership.
- You will have a proven track record of managing and developing policy and public affairs professionals.
- You will know how to adapt your management style to the individual, maintain momentum in a small team and hold standards without disrupting delivery.
The second is policy development.
- You will have led the design and delivery of evidence-based policy proposals in a complex stakeholder environment.
- You will be comfortable translating data and political intelligence into actionable organisational positions, and you will have the credibility to represent the organisation externally with politicians, civil servants, and sector partners.
Experience within a membership body, trade association, or third sector organisation is desirable. Candidates from regulated sectors with directly transferable skills are equally welcome.
This is not a role for someone building their interim career. The organisation needs someone who has done this before and can demonstrate impact quickly.
The details:
Six-month fixed term with potential to extend.
London-based with hybrid working — minimum 20% in the office.
Immediate start preferred.
£70k pro-rata
If this brief is a fit for your experience and current availability, I would welcome a conversation.
Clayton Desant is acting as the retained recruitment partner for this search.
Pay: £70,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London SE1
