Press & Public Affairs Manager
The WSTA is the UK organisation for the wine and spirit industry representing over 340 companies producing, importing, exporting, transporting and selling wines and spirits. We campaign to promote the industry’s interests with governments at home and abroad. We work with our members to promote the responsible production, marketing and sale of alcohol.
The job will be based in our offices in London, although some travel UK wide may be required. We are looking for a flexible, motivated, all-round communications and public affairs professional, willing to take on a wide-ranging brief and a varied portfolio including:
Communications
- Devise communications strategies to promote the WSTA, with a particular focus on trade press
- Draft press releases, handle day to day media enquiries, promote WSTA stories and develop and maintain trade press contacts
- Implement WSTA campaigns on core policy areas to achieve agreed objectives
- Prepare WSTA policy documents, responses to consultations and commercial publications
- Advise members & provide information to trade press on EU and UK policy developments in a succinct and informative format
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge and awareness of relevant policy issues and issues relating to the wine and spirit trade in general in order to identify threats and opportunities which may affect members
- Represent the WSTA at external events to promote the WSTA and its members
Political intelligence and monitoring
- Monitor parliamentary proceedings and progress of legislation using various political information resources
- Advise team members on areas of political activity relevant to their specialisation
Campaigns
- Build contacts and communicate across the whole political spectrum and at all levels (elected representatives, officials, think tanks, political parties etc)
- Conduct meetings with WSTA members, politicians, government officials, other trade organisations and stakeholders
- Communicate with and brief MPs, Peers and other stakeholders
APPWSG
- Provide support to the All Party Parliamentary Wine and Spirit Group (APPWSG), including organising and managing a programme of events for the group
The Candidate
- Proven experience in a press or public affairs role
- Experience of working in a busy media environment with a good understanding of the UK media (experience of handling trade press desirable)
- Understanding of European and UK political institutions and processes (preferably including knowledge of devolved administrations)
- Knowledge of issues affecting the industry
- Good verbal and written communication and presentation skills
- Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team
Provisional interviews will take place week commencing 3rd September with final interviews week commencing 10th September.
Applicants are required to submit a covering letter and CV outlining how they meet the criteria in the job description.
To apply, click Apply Now.