June 25 2021

Public Affairs Manager

  • Circa £40,000
  • Edinburgh based (Working from home during covid restrictions with potential to work to a hybrid mix of office and home working)
  • Full time, permanent

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) is the voice of the bus and coach sectors and brings together over 1,000 bus and coach operators across the UK. Our members also include a wide range of suppliers to the bus and coach industries, including vehicle manufacturers, software providers and law firms. CPT’s teams in England, Scotland and Wales work closely with members at local and national levels to help them achieve the best possible operating environment.

Location: Confederation of Passenger Transport Scotland (CPT) Scotland’s office in central Edinburgh but working from home during the current restrictions. You will be expected to undertake work outside of the CPT office when relevant or required and may be expected to undertake domestic travel in the course of your work.

Reporting to: the CPT Scotland Director

Hours: This is a permanent, full time job, working 35 hours a week. This post will require ability and willingness to travel across Scotland, usually within normal working hours. It ill require occasional workout of normal hours and overnight stays.

Salary scale: circa £40,000 per annum

New employees typically start at the bottom of the salary range but there is some limited flexibility on this, depending on experience.

Other: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus 11 days statutory holidays. CPT UK Scotland operates a Company Pension Plan.

Closing date: 16th July 2021

Interviews: 23rd July 2021

CPT has ongoing measures and guidance in its response to Covid-19 and would like to advise applicants that a decision has been taken that all interviews must be conducted in a virtual/remote setting.In order to facilitate this new way of working, we are asking all applicants to ensure that they have a suitable space to participate in the virtual interview as well as access to a personal device of choice by which you can undertake the interview/assessment if selected. Please ensure that your personal Wi-Fi/Broadband capacity will be sufficient to carry both audio and video.

Job purpose: You will work with the CPT Scotland Director, to ensure CPT’s key messages and policy positions, as agreed by our membership, are successfully represented to political audiences.

You will engage with the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, MSPs and decision makers in relevant Scottish agencies. As required, you will also ensure CPT Scotland is represented to Scottish local and regional transport authorities and you will liaise with CPT UK and CPT Wales on wider political issues.

Early tasks will include monitoring the policy landscape as it pertains to the public transport sector, representing our members’ interests to the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland, and establishing strong relationships with the new and continuing MSPs in the post-election Scottish Parliament.

You will be an excellent communicator, with a flair for policy and sound political judgement. You will have held a relevant policy or parliamentary role within an organisation or will have direct experience working in the Scottish Parliament or Government. You will have a naturally collaborative working style, and will thrive in a growing, dynamic and creative team. While we do not expect you to have an in-depth knowledge of the bus and coach sectors, you should be able to demonstrate an ability to learn and adapt to new challenges and will be motivated to contribute towards a supportive policy environment for bus and coach across Scotland.

Duties:

  • To support the Director for Scotland and deputise, where appropriate. in line with the Business strategy and action plan
  • Preparing submissions and responses to relevant consultations and inquiries.
  • Identifying opportunities for, and/or threats to, the bus and coach sectors in the public policy area.
  • Liaising with CPT members and committees to manage, develop and promote policy issues in line with CPT objectives and priorities.
  • Drafting speeches and briefings for use by CPT representatives.
  • To facilitate and attend meetings with key transport and tourism stakeholders in Scotland, including the Scottish Traffic Commissioner and local authorities and lead these meetings as required.
  • To keep CPT HQ informed of developments regarding CPT Scotland activity and policy positions.
  • To manage individual projects as and when required in conjunction with the Director for Scotland and CPT HQ.
  • To assist in the organisation of CPT Scotland events with other CPT Scotland Staff.
  • To assist with the provision of information, advice and assistance to members and ensure that all enquiries are actioned.
  • To monitor Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament activity, report on relevant developments to colleagues, and ensure CPT is reacting and responding where appropriate.
  • To ensure that effective systems are in place for CPT to comply with the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 and related legislation
  • To support campaign work directed at local authorities where relevant.
  • To help CPT members to respond to key Scottish Government consultations and Scottish Parliamentary inquiries
  • To attend relevant conferences and seminars and make presentations at such events where appropriate.
  • You will also assist with other reasonable duties as requested by your manager.

Person Specification

This is a list of skills, experience and attributes we are looking for in candidates for this role. We would encourage applicants to think broadly about how you might evidence these kinds of skills in your application. They may have been developed in a work or voluntary capacity or through life circumstances. Ideally, the successful candidate will meet all of the essential criteria. Additionally, meeting any of the desirable criteria may put you at an advantage.

Essential

  • Degree or equivalent in political science, or public or environmental policy
  • Relevant experience working in a parliamentary or policy role for a company, charity or public sector body or working in the Scottish Parliament or Government
  • A good working knowledge of Scottish Parliamentary procedures, and the structure and workings of the Scottish Government
  • Excellent oral and written communications, including networking skills and experience writing reports, presentations and briefings.
  • Strong organisational skills and experience of working to tight deadlines.
  • Ability to analyse, evaluate and utilise complex information to share with relevant stakeholders.
  • Naturally collaborative and a team player
  • Ability to use interpersonal skills to build and sustain relationships           

Desirable

  • High level of IT literacy
  • An interest in transport

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