Briefing and Correspondence Manager – Major Rail Projects 17 views

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Do you have excellent written and verbal communication skills?

Would you relish the opportunity to help build ministerial, parliamentary and public confidence in a role that offers exposure to Ministers and senior officials, influencing decisions in the delivery of two of Britain’s biggest infrastructure programmes?

If so, we are looking for someone like you to join our high-performing Public Affairs team!

The Briefing and Correspondence Manager position is a challenging and rewarding role that sits within the Department for Transport’s Major Rail Projects Group. This is a great opportunity to make the most of your communications and writing skills, offering exposure to the delivery of high-profile Government programmes.

To ensure all material is concise, accurate and timely, you will need to work collaboratively with a wide group of colleagues and senior managers across the Group, Private Offices, the communications team and HS2 Ltd.

Depending on business needs and the postholder’s interests, the role could involve the line management of an EO. The role will report to either the Head or the Deputy Head of Public Affairs.

Responsibilities

Will include but not limited to:

• Managing, drafting, quality assuring and keeping track of all correspondence and parliamentary questions relating to High Speed 2 (HS2) and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), helping coordinate the Department’s communications with MPs, peers, other high-profile stakeholders and members of the wider public;
• Managing and drafting briefings for ministerial meetings, parliamentary debates, public events, site visits and select committee evidence sessions;
• Managing and providing advice on information requests (FOI and EIR) within the Group;
• Supporting colleagues with ad hoc activities relating to the Government’s public messaging and promotion of the HS2 and NPR programmes.

For full details please see the role profile.

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work at DfT Rail, please click here.

About you

The successful candidate must have strong and accurate drafting skills with the ability to write concisely and compellingly for a number of different audiences. This will include drafting letters to MPs and public stakeholders, briefing packs for parliamentary debates and visits, and speaking points from senior official to Secretary of State level.

We are looking for someone who is able to learn quickly and get to grips with a complex policy area. You should be able to distil technical information into plain English for briefings and other communications.

The post holder will have to work closely with Ministers’ private offices, HS2 and NPR colleagues, HS2 Ltd, and key external stakeholders to provide high-quality, often urgent briefings. You will be a confident and articulate communicator with positive interpersonal skills which will enable you to form trusted relationships with teams across the department in order to ensure that commission deadlines are met.

The job will involve managing multiple, high-priority work items and can involve challenging senior staff and colleagues when necessary to ensure all material is concise, accurate and timely.

You will have great organisational skills and ability to work at a fast pace, whilst continuously maintaining high standards and attention to detail.

You will be proactive and comfortable working independently, using your initiative when required, as well as demonstrating good teamwork and support for colleagues.

Additional information:

You will have the option to be based in our London office attracting the London salary, or in Leeds or Birmingham attracting the National salary. If based in Leeds or Birmingham, occasional travel to our London office will be required for key meetings and team events.

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. Occasional travel to other DfT offices will be required.