Job Title: UK Director Strategic Engagement - Government Affairs

Location: Farnborough

Role Type: Permanent – Fulltime

Role ID: 18805

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a UK Director Strategic Engagement - Government Affairs where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

Role Purpose:

As part of the Strategic Engagement Team, build and nurture strategic relationships, provide advice, enable influence and advocacy, and manage public policy issues to shape and support delivery of Company strategy (including designated strategic captures) by:

• Building a network of UK government and parliamentary stakeholders, and facilitating and preparing engagements with them for QinetiQ senior leaders;
• Advising on UK government thinking, policy and implementation, and industrial context and, where possible, provide related insights about other QinetiQ home countries and other countries of interest;
• Advocating the value of QinetiQ’s contribution to defence and security;
• Managing and leading the QinetiQ response to public policy issues; and
  Communicating clearly and quickly the outcomes of engagements and other relevant information to QinetiQ senior leaders.

Key Accountabilities:

The role is accountable to the Group Director Strategic Engagement and, in support of delivering company strategy and sector priorities, seeks to:

• Lead government relations engagement activities with customers and strategic partners, including at designated major company defence and security exhibitions; issue strategic influencing papers (in conjunction Sectors and the Growth Function); and exploit speaking opportunities at relevant conferences and symposia;
• Increase the company’s profile as a major defence and security provider through coordinated shaping and influencing activity with UK political and government stakeholders, and within capacity, specific NATO and AUKUS nations
• Manage and disseminate the continuous acquisition of relevant policy and political information derived from engagements and networking in UK and, within capacity other prioritised countries (including parliaments, embassies, trade bodies, academia and industry) to ensure that customer and policy needs and issues are understood;
• Provide strategic advice and subject matter expertise on defence- and security-related policy and political matters;
• Lead analysis and development of QinetiQ responses to government draft policy and legislation, mobilising and coordinating support across the Group as needed;
• As guided by the Group Director Strategic Engagement, disseminate the outcomes of engagements and plan future engagements for designated company leaders;

Key Capabilities/Knowledge:

Essential :

• Alignment with QinetiQ Leadership Expectations, specifically demonstrating a focus on global mindset, collaboration, performance and enterprise leadership;
• Team leadership skills and the ability to be a good team member;
• Knowledge of UK political and government landscape, legislative process and key government bodies;
• Proven experience in building and maintaining relationships with key government and parliamentary stakeholders, including policymakers, regulators, and industry associations;
• Ability to develop and implement effective government affairs strategies, identify and navigate policy challenges, and influence policy outcomes;
• Experience of working in a large matrixed organisation and influencing stakeholders at senior executive levels;
• Proven ability to analyse and distil complex ideas across a large company into simple, compelling language and easily understandable messages.
  

Desirable :

• Knowledge of Australian and US government structures and defence and security policy and strategy;
• Knowledge of the Australian, UK and US defence and security industrial base;
• Understanding of commercial models related to the defence and security sector, in support of strategy development impacting company performance.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Ex-government role, senior civil service role (probably ~1-star) or government relations role in business;
• Experience working at and with senior levels within UK government, defence or security arenas, and a good understanding of organisational structures and policies
• Advanced business management qualification(s) desirable, e.g. MBA.

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experience enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture. www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq

Our Benefits:

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Competitive holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
• Compressed working option with Friday afternoons or alternative Fridays off
• Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant
• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community

Our Recruitment Process:

We want to make sure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and we aspire to bring out the best in our candidates by creating an environment where everyone feels value, heard and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your Recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. Several roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which mean factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)