The Scottish SPCA, Scotland’s only all animal rescue service, is seeking to recruit a Public Affairs and Strategic Relations Officer.  This will be a hybrid role and applicants must be able to travel to the Scottish SPCA Headquarters in Dunfermline as required. 

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of the thousands of abused, abandoned and injured animals rescued by the Scottish SPCA each year.

Overall Purpose of the Role:

Support the engagement approach with Government and influencers, gather political insight and understand key policy developments that impact the Scottish SPCA. Maintain up to date data relating to Parliamentarians, Parliamentary Committees, Government departments, Ministers, civil servants, and special advisors, and support the implementation of the Society’s Public Affairs and Strategic Relations strategy. Act as the Secretariat for the Society’s Ethics and Policy Committee and Pet Trade Taskforce. Actively monitor National and Local Government policy issues that may affect the Scottish SPCA and support the drafting of policies and briefing papers. Actively monitor key strategic relations and support with management of strategic partnerships. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Model the Society’s values, Committed, Compassionate, Professional, Expert, Collaborative and Adaptable in the workplace at all times.
• Monitoring external policy developments and trends.
• Providing research and analytical support to the development of Scottish SPCA policy positions and drafting initial policy positions.
• Supporting and sometimes leading on the production of briefings for a variety of audiences, including MSPs and MPs and ensuring these are evidence based. 
• Working closely with the communications and marketing teams, support delivery of outstanding, relevant and timely content and communications across all stakeholders including managing and responding to correspondence, enquiries and complaints. This also includes providing effective public affairs and strategic relations content for both internal and external communication not only for the Society’s website but across all of the Society’s communication channels including social media.
• Sourcing the latest data and statistics for use in Scottish SPCA’s key messages and briefing documents to ensure they remain up to date.
• Supporting the development and implementation of public affairs campaigns.
• Supporting with the creation and management of an effective Stakeholder Management System.
• Responsible for the identification, organisation and attendance of colleagues at key events such as conferences, stakeholder round table events and photo calls. This includes liaising with a variety of contacts including suppliers, setting up stands and associated collateral and booking travel and accommodation when required.  
• Supporting the development of an animal welfare legislative toolkit. 
• Supporting the delivery of projects, internally and with relevant external partners.
• Be the secretariat for the Society’s Ethics and Policy and Committee and its three Ethics and Policy Subcommittees (Companion Animal Welfare, Farm Animal Welfare and Wild Animal Welfare). 
• Be responsible for volunteer recruitment and management (minute takers and lit reviewers) that support the work of the Ethics and Policy Subcommittees in particular.
• Be the secretariat for the Society’s multistakeholder Pet Trade Taskforce.
• Responsible for the coordination of visits from key stakeholders including MSPs and Councillors to Society premises or events and taking these stakeholders on tours of Society facilities when required. 
• Keeping the stakeholder lists and contact programme up to date.
• Tracking team budget spend.
• Daily management of the Public Affairs e-mail inbox.
• Monitoring National and Local Government policy issues that may affect Scottish SPCA.

Applicants should have an understanding of the external political environment and political developments as they affect the Scottish SPCA; be highly detail-orientated, with the ability to identify and assess the potential significance of often technical proposals by Government at national and local level on the company; have sound knowledge of the workings of government and parliamentary procedure and good political nous; with a minimum of two years’ experience within a parliamentary office or working as part of a public affairs team.  

Hours of work are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week.  Applicants must be willing to travel away from home including occasional overnight stays when required.  

For further information relating to this position, please click on the job description.

CVs and covering letters will not be accepted.

Please note that applicants who do not meet the above criteria or provide the required information will not be considered.

Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Scottish Charity No SC 006467