Policy Manager - Sustainability

at  techUK

techUK, the industry body for the tech sector has a great opportunity for an experienced policy and public affairs professional to come in and work across our sustainability policy initiatives and helping our members become more sustainable.

Essential knowledge and experience

• A good understanding of how government and politics impacts business, preferably with those sustainability
• Experience lobbying for political and regulatory change
• An understanding of data centres and the role of digital infrastructure in the UK
• Experience in public speaking, writing for external audiences and drafting high quality written work
• Experience managing event

Desired knowledge and experience

• Knowledge of trade associations and dealing with complex businesses
• Being able to broker consensus and iron out differing views
• Commercial awareness and business development experience
• Experience taking part in panels and presenting at public events
• Public affairs and political awarenes

ABOUT THE ROLE

The tech sector faces a range of sustainability challenges, from climate change and the move to net zero, to circular economy, ESG disclosures, biodiversity and human rights in supply chains. techUK members, primarily the largest tech businesses are exposed to a range of challenges and rules, while also trying to become more sustainable and using their solutions to help others become more sustainable.
This role will be sitting primarily with our Climate, Environment and Sustainability Programme, and for 25% of the time applying the sustainability policy knowledge to sector-specific challenges, by supporting our data centre members on their ESG challenges.

ROLE PURPOSE

This role will be sitting primarily with our Climate, Environment and Sustainability Programme, and for one day per week supporting our data centre members on their specific sustainability challenges. The role holder will convene member meetings, develop policy positions, engage policy makers and overall aim to both help create a helpful policy and regulatory environment for members while making the case for digital tech as a solution to the variety of sustainability challenges in the UK.
Away from policy, the role holder will help members understand the latest trends and industry developments on sustainability, from new standards, voluntary initiatives and new ways to help firms strategically approach sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading on key sustainability topics and working groups, namely ESG disclosures and corporate reporting, data centre sustainability, biodiversity and nature
• Informing members of new policies, regulations, voluntary standards and cross-industry sustainability initiatives
• Supporting members and the team in helping members and develop policy positions across our sustainability topics which are human rights, supply chain due diligence, e-waste, climate change and the move to a circular economy
• Deputising for the Associate Director and Head of Data Centres at events, government meetings and member workshops
• Drafting briefings for MPs, officials and Ministers on key sustainability topics
• Co-ordinating techUK and member responses to government consultations, summaries of government announcements/legislation, parliamentary responses
• Away from policy, the role holder will support members with regulatory compliance, and sharing best practice and knowledge of emerging issues
• Speaking at external events and conferences on issues relating to sustainability and data centres
• Managing webinars and in person events on a range of topics
• Writing content for the techUK website and external publication to promote digital tech as a solution to the UK’s sustainability challenges
• Longer term aim of becoming a subject matter expert on digital sustainability

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Core Competencies

• Strong interpersonal skills and good at building relationships
• An effective communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information effectively to a range of audiences
• A self-motivated / self starter who is comfortable coming up with ideas and seeing these through into deliverable projects with a complex range of organisations
• A team player who is comfortable and able to work with relevant teams across techUK
• Has a can-do approach and comfortable working in a high pressure, fast paced environment with competing demands

Essential knowledge and experience

• A good understanding of how government and politics impacts business, preferably with those sustainability
• Experience lobbying for political and regulatory change
• An understanding of data centres and the role of digital infrastructure in the UK
• Experience in public speaking, writing for external audiences and drafting high quality written work
• Experience managing events

Desired knowledge and experience

• Knowledge of trade associations and dealing with complex businesses
• Being able to broker consensus and iron out differing views
• Commercial awareness and business development experience
• Experience taking part in panels and presenting at public events
• Public affairs and political awareness

Additional Information
This is a full time role based out of techUK’s London offices, however techUK operates a flexible working policy.
This role profile is a guide to the work that is required but does not form part of any contract of employment and may change from time to time to reflect changing circumstances.
The successful candidate must have permission to work in the UK prior to the commencement of employment.
The salary range for this role is £32,000-£44,000 per annum based upon experience plus discretionary bonus and comprehensive benefits.
About techUK
techUK is a membership organisation that brings together people, companies and organisations to realise the positive outcomes of what digital technology can achieve in collaboration with our sister company TechSkills.org. We collaborate across business, government and stakeholders to fulfil the potential of technology to deliver a stronger society and more sustainable future. By providing expertise and insight, we support our members, partners and stakeholders as they prepare the UK for what comes next in a constantly changing world.