Education & Skills Policy Adviser

We have an exciting opportunity for an Education & Skills Policy Adviser, to join our well established, specialist team in London. In this position you will support the development of our skills and education policy, and help to broaden our education policy work.

We are the UK’s leading trade body focused in the Manufacturing and Engineering Sector. We offer a range of professional services to our members and also to non-member organisations - principally HR & legal, health & safety, climate & environmental advisory, training & consultancy, including directly training circa 1000 engineering apprentices, based out of our dedicated centers in Birmingham.

We also support our members by representing them at Government, ensuring that industry views remain in both the Government and media spotlight. We champion the issues that affect businesses and celebrate the achievements of the industry.

Responsibilities for the role will include:

• Undertaking broadly based research to support the company’s policy work on education and skills issues
• Responding to relevant UK Government and European consultations and Parliamentary inquiries
• Participating in meetings with our key stakeholders in the UK and Europe
• Liaising and working with various Government agencies regarding the education and skills agenda
• Supporting the work of our Employment and Skills Committee and Regional Skills Groups
• Providing briefing papers and similar documents for internal and external use
• Presenting summaries and briefing to our Regional Advisory Boards and other member networking groups
• Representing the interests of our members in direct meetings with education and skills stakeholders

Candidate requirements:

• You will be a graduate, or equivalent, with experience of working in a policy or representational role, preferably in education or skills policy, although this is not essential. 
• Knowledge of apprenticeships/vocational education would be highly beneficial.
• You will need to be a proven team player, working with colleagues in different disciplines.
• You will be used to managing a competing range of priorities, with the ability to meet short deadlines and to adapt rapidly to changing circumstances.
• You will have excellent written and oral presentation skills and be a confident communicator, with the ability to think laterally and creatively.
• You will have a good knowledge of policy development and the workings of government.
• It would be desirable to have a good understanding of the important business concerns and demands placed upon employers.
• An understanding of the manufacturing industry is desirable.

This job is based in Central London and will require occasional travel across the UK and potentially within Europe.

We require all job applicants to share our company-wide commitment to putting the Customer First.

If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to demonstrate a good understanding and provide examples of having delivered high levels of customer service.