Head of Policy and Government Relations

Salary: £77,000-£85,000 p.a DOE

Hours: 37.5 per week

Reports to: Director of Policy and Oversight

Key relationships: Motability Governors and Directors, Motability Foundation Executive Team, Government departments (e.g. DWP, BIS, DfT), Disability Organisations, Academic and research institutions.

Direct reports: Scheme Policy Manager, Non-Scheme Policy Manager, Policy Operations Officer.

Location: Harlow, Essex or London. Harlow is easily commutable from London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale Station. We offer a free minibus service to/from Harlow Town Train Station as well as free parking and EV charging on site.

Extra Information: Open to conversation on hybrid, flexible and compressed working arrangements. Regular travel between London, Harlow and Scotland is required.

Define Motability's policy agenda and lead external government relations to advance mobility outcomes for disabled people. Translate evidence into actionable policy positions and advocate across Whitehall, Devolved Administrations and national bodies, coordinating internal alignment with Oversight, Grants and Communications.

Policy and Planning

• Lead horizon scanning of Government policy affecting mobility, disability, transport and consumer finance; propose Motability positions and options
• Maintain a live policy pipeline and briefing library; align with Oversight and Insight & Evaluation on evidence standards and cycles
• Convene cross‑Foundation Policy Steering to agree priorities and tactics (campaigns, convening, partnerships, insider influencing)
• Lead the development and coordination of clear, concise and authoritative policy positions on key issues
• Identify actionable and achievable policy influencing goals to achieve change on the highest priority issues and develop strategic influencing plans to achieve these goals

Government Relations

• Own relationships across central Government (DWP primary focus in collaboration with Director of Policy & Oversight), devolved Governments, arm's‑length bodies and regulators
• Identify and build effective relationships with key contacts across UK and devolved governments and parliaments, including Ministers, MPs, civil servants and local and regional decision makers
• Prepare senior briefings for CEO/Governors; coordinate responses to consultations and Select Committee inquiries
• Work with the Public Affairs team to co‑ordinate relationships management and activities with Government stakeholders more broadly

Leadership

• Build a high‑performing team culture of openness, integrity, and collaborative challenge; set and monitor KPIs
• As the departmental budget holder, lead on all financial management for the department, including forecasting and measuring financial performance, setting and managing budgets, reducing waste, and taking action to ensure the department achieves its financial objectives

• A successful track record at senior executive level
• Leadership experience in policy and/or public affairs functions and a successful track record working with Government
• Significant experience of delivering within a complex policy environment, ideally within an organisation of similar size and complexity including developing and delivering impactful policy and public affairs strategies that have led to demonstrable change
• Strong analytical thinking and decision-making skills, with ability to translate data and evidence into actionable insights to inform decision-making
• Ability to think strategically; working in timescales of between one to three years
• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative performance standards
  
  Experienced in preparation of complex reports
• Awareness of current government, European, economic and business issues
• Strong communication skills, written, verbal, presentation
• Strong planning skills. Commercially astute. Thoughtful
• High level influencing skills. Excellent team skills
• Understands the importance of personal mobility for disabled people
• Strong relationship‑building skills

• Experience in automotive or consumer finance businesses

If you're interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and…