Public Affairs Manager

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Reporting to the Head of External Communications and Government Relations, the Public Affairs Manager is a key role responsible for executing the company’s government relations strategy, with a particular focus on building and maintaining relationships with government entities, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders across the UK and Ireland.

The role will support the company's regional business objectives by fostering positive relationships with government and industry partners and monitoring political and regulatory developments that could impact our business.

This is a critical and fast-paced position requiring an individual with outstanding organisational, planning, and time management skills, and experience working under pressure to tight deadlines. Strong contacts within central and local government are essential.

The role requires exceptional communication and writing skills, a strategic mindset, and the confidence to challenge and influence senior colleagues where required. Candidates must be able to think creatively, guiding the team in developing new ways and channels to tell AECOM’s stories.

The role sits within AECOM’s external communications team, which consists of media relations and public affairs functions, and external agencies providing media and government relations services. In partnership with senior leaders across the business, you will develop profile-raising opportunities with stakeholders in local and central government.

Key Responsibilities

Government Relations:

• Support the Head of External Communications & Government Relations to execute AECOM’s government relations strategy in alignment with the business strategy.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with central and local government stakeholders, devolved administrations, regulatory bodies, and industry associations to influence policy and regulatory developments.
• Engage with key political stakeholders to deliver intelligence back into the business and to advocate AECOM priorities in alignment with government.
• Monitor and analyse legislative and regulatory changes that could impact the company, supporting the Head of External Communications & Government Relations in providing strategic advice to senior leadership.
• Support and coordinate planning around major industry conferences and political events, such as party conferences and roundtables, ensuring AECOM’s voice is heard in government.
• Coordinate meetings between AECOM and relevant government ministers, departments, local authorities, and devolved administrations.
• Attend networking and other events in Westminster relevant to AECOM.
• Ensure AECOM contributes to relevant government whitepapers and other industry consultations, positioning the company as a thought leader across our core markets.
• Work with the Head of External Communications & Government Relations to manage external government relations agencies and advisers.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration:

• Support engagement with relevant external stakeholders, including industry partners, trade associations, NGOs, and community leaders, in consultation with the Head of External Communications & Government Relations.
• Ensure AECOM is represented at key industry events, conferences, and public forums to enhance visibility and influence.
• Develop and execute stakeholder management plans to ensure positive and productive relationships with key external partners.
• Collaborate with the media relations team to ensure consistency in messaging between public affairs and external communications.
• Work with cross-functional teams, including marketing, legal, HR, and business development, to support business objectives through effective communications.

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in corporate communications and public affairs, through agency or in-house roles; ideally with experience in government or parliament.
• Deep market knowledge and contacts across the political and economic landscapes affecting the infrastructure, construction, and engineering markets.
• Strong understanding of government and parliamentary procedures.
• Experience developing public affairs strategies and campaigns that influence political stakeholders.
• Proven experience in communications during major incidents or crisis situations.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong networking abilities and capability to advocate on behalf of AECOM to key political stakeholders.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Experience preparing and briefing senior leadership for engagements and client meetings.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [email protected]  if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.