OVERVIEW
Are you looking for an opportunity to work in the UK sport and physical activity sector and play a leading role in supporting and promoting a network of impactful and inspirational members?
The Sport and Recreation Alliance (SRA) – the representative body of, and voice for, the sport and recreation sector in the UK – is looking for a Head of Public Affairs and Communications to join and help lead our team.
The Head of Public Affairs and Communications will play a crucial role in driving forwards the work of the SRA, building powerful relationships with our members and advocating for their priorities across Government, Parliament, the media and the wider sports and recreation sector.
If that’s of interest to you, please do consider applying. The closing date for applications is 11.59pm on Sunday 29 September 2024.
ABOUT US
The Sport and Recreation Alliance strongly believes in the transformational power of sport and recreation to positively shape lives and help drive societal and economic growth. We recognise the untapped potential of our sector and advocate on its behalf to foster a healthier and more prosperous nation, where more people from all backgrounds can participate and be active.
As one of the main and longest standing organisations in the sector, we act to protect and promote the interest of our members - who range from traditional governing bodies of sport (including the FA, the RFU, the ECB, England Netball, Skateboard GB), to outdoor and water pursuits (including British Canoeing, Camping and Caravanning Club and the RYA), to movement and dance organisations (including the British Dance Council and the Royal Academy of Dance).
We are firm believers in ‘life-work’ balance, and while we are a team of high-achievers, who all work hard, strive to deliver for our members and create real world impact, we equally prioritise fostering a fun, inclusive and supportive culture and environment, where everyone can learn, develop and achieve their full potential.
From face-to face training to networking and volunteering – you’ll have all the opportunities you need to make the right moves for you. We know the postholder won’t start with expertise in all these areas and we will help develop your knowledge.
As a member of our team, you’ll be doing everything you can to deliver our strategy, and we’ll be doing everything we can to support you every step of the way.
ROLE SUMMARY
In what is an important period for the sector – amongst other things in the light of the recent General Election and the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, and in the advent of a Spending Review - we are looking for an ambitious and talented public affairs and communications professional to join the team and help lead our communications, marketing, campaigning and advocacy work.
We are seeking a self-starter, with excellent communication and inter-personal skills, and a strong understanding of and interest in the sport, media, parliamentary and political landscapes. The successful candidate will be highly effective at stakeholder engagement, understand how to build relationships with and influence policymakers and the media, and be capable of developing and delivering powerful communication, marketing and public affairs strategies that drive impact.
They will support the Director of Communications, Partnerships & Member Services to help manage a small but highly motivated public affairs, communications and marketing team, working with the SRA’s wider policy, research, membership, events and governance teams.
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the development and implementation of the SRA’s public affairs, communications and marketing strategies in accordance with agreed, key corporate objectives and priorities set out in the SRA’s strategy
- Lead on media relations for the SRA, building its reach and impact with sport and political media and publications
- Oversee the SRA’s digital channels, website and branding
- Provide strong and visible leadership of the public affairs and communications functions across the SRA membership and wider sport and recreation sector
- Share expert public affairs advice and guidance, gathering insight and intelligence on Government’s, Parliament’s and members’ issues and priorities to help shape the SRA’s, members’ and wider sector’s work
- Develop and deliver highly effective communications, marketing and campaigns to inform and influence, and raise advocacy for the SRA, its members and wider sector
- Help lead and provide the secretariat for the APPG for Sport and coordinate activity with other members of the National Sector Partners Group
- Establish and manage a repository of information on the SRA to enable the organisation to respond efficiently and accurately to engagement opportunities and enquiries. Assist with the production of policy documents, briefings, speeches and presentations
- Line manage two direct reports, supporting their development and delivery of work, and ensuring they are motivated and performing at their best
- Financial management of the public affairs, comms and marketing budgets
- Support the Director of Communications, Partnerships & Member Services, and work with other SRA teams, to help discharge a wider range of functions and responsibilities, including policy work, corporate partnerships, the SRA’s events programme, EDI & Governance work, and research tasks.
THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL NEED TO DEMONSTRATE
- Excellent inter-personal and written and oral communication skills, and attention to detail – with experience drafting press releases, briefings or speeches, and with the ability to engage on and explain complex issues in written work or through verbal briefings
- A deep understanding of public affairs, political and parliamentary work, and a proven ability to engage, inform and influence stakeholders and policymakers
- A track record of developing and delivering successful communications plans and public facing campaigns to drive impact
- Strong skills in networking and the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a range of people at different levels of seniority, including parliamentarians, journalists, civil servants and other external stakeholders
- A deep understanding and/or experience of successfully managing relationships with journalists and UK media contacts and good understanding of the UK media landscape i.e. leading media broadcast and print publications across political and sports sectors
- Ability to read and understand complex documents and distil from these the key implications for the sport and recreation sector
- Ability to oversee the Alliance’s digital media channels, website and branding effectively, with strong digital skills and a creative flair to help the Alliance engage its audiences
- They’re a self-starter, driving forward the work of the Alliance and coordinating and delivering through others
- Leadership skills to oversee and manage the public affairs, marketing and communications team, and be able to help and inspire each member of the team to perform at their best.
- Ability to manage a large range of competing tasks effectively with limited supervision, meeting tight deadlines with high quality work and to take responsibility for impact and output of the public affairs, marketing and communications team.
BENEFITS OF WORKING AT THE ALLIANCE
Below is a list of the range of benefits we offer our employees.
- 25 days paid holiday, increasing to 27 days after 3 years and 30 days after 5 years. Paid bank holidays. You also have the option to buy an additional 5 days leave per year.
- In addition, we offer 3.5 privilege days which is taken between Christmas and New Year.
- 2 moments that matter days to be taken each year which can be used for whatever is important to you - from celebrating a birthday to a movie day.
- 4 volunteering days per year.
- No long-hours culture. Our team work hard but we strongly discourage late working. We like our team to be able to enjoy their personal life as well as their time at work.
- Centrally located attractive office in Holborn which includes collaboration spaces and is close to shops, cafes, bars, gyms and sport clubs.
- Hybrid working from day 1 – all the team do a mixture of working at home and office
- Focus on learning and development. The team are encouraged to discuss their career paths with their line managers as our new approach to performance appraisals. We also tap into the expertise within the sector for employees to shadow with possible mentoring opportunities and a focus on learning from each other including our Board members.
- Enhanced sick leave, maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
- Special leave ranging from dependents and carers leave, household emergency, moving house through to bereavement leave for family members and pets.
- Private healthcare with Vitality which includes a range of reward partners.
- £250 annually towards gym, sports club or sports equipment purchases.
- Choice of 2 pension providers.
- Access to an employee assistance programme through Health Assured should you need additional financial or emotion support. We annually train members of our team to become Mental Health First Aiders.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please send a CV with a covering letter outlining why you want the role and how you meet the role specification. Your covering letter should be 2 sides of A4 maximum. Please send your CV and covering letter to recruitment@sportandrecreation.org.uk
If you would like an informal chat about the role, please contact the recruitment inbox and we will ask the recruiting manager to make contact to discuss.
The closing date for applications is 11.59pm on Sunday 29 September 2024. Should we receive a large volume of applications, we may decide to close the application process early. We aim to hold interviews w/c 7 October.
PROTECTING YOUR DATA
Prior to submitting an application, please refer to our privacy notices on our website.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Diversity is valued within our team. More than just encouraging your application, we're committed to conscious inclusion that (we hope) cultivates an ethos of belonging, connection and shared purpose. It’s this philosophy that drove us to shape our values and behaviours and we open our doors to those who share those values.
Every role in the Alliance team is open to applications from all sections of society. We believe in the potential of everyone; regardless of race, religion or belief, ethnic origin, different physical ability, family structure, socioeconomics, age, nationality, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other difference that makes you, well, you.
Our recruitment process anonymises your application at shortlisting stage. If you are invited to interview and you have a physical or mental medical condition which could impact on your ability to participate in the Alliance’s recruitment process, please let us know before your interview by emailing the recruiting manager who is recruiting for this position or HR.
EQUALITY & DIVERSITY MONITORING
It would really help us if you were able to complete our equality and diversity monitoring survey here. This is anonymous and does not form part of the recruitment process.
