Head of Policy and Public Affairs

I am delighted to be supporting the Motorcycle Industries Association exclusively in their search for a Head of Government Policy, Trade and Public Affairs.

The MCIA is the Trade Association representing motorcycles, scooters and many similar light vehicle types. The MCIA also represent service providers to the sector including; Insurance, Finance, Logistics and Sport, as well as manufacturers and distributors of safety wear, vehicle components & accessories

Today this sector is more relevant than ever, as the efficiency and size of these vehicles provide an obvious solution to the Government's 'Grand Challenges' regarding the decarbonisation of transport and the future of mobility.

The MCIA has been established for over 100 years and in membership are large Global Brands and Manufacturers covering over 90% of the sector new vehicle market in the UK. Vehicles in this sector have evolved from pioneers of the internal combustion engine, to providing clean and efficient personal and family transport that underpins an industry that is now worth in excess of GBP7 billion.

Position Overview:

As the Head of Policy, Trade and Public Affairs, you will report directly to the CEO and will have responsibility for leading the policy agenda covering 2 distinct and high–profile areas:

The Future of Transport and the key role this sector will play
Promoting and Protecting Motorcycling as a Leisure and PastimeYou will have responsibility for taking forwards key policy positions in order to establish the sector as an integral part of Government's thinking and policy making.

Position Responsibilities:

Drive and lead MCIA's Transport policies, Trade and Public Affairs agenda
Establish relationships with the key government Ministers and departments that influence / effect our sector, those primarily being; DFT (and all subsets), BEIS, HMT
To develop and maintain a network of trusted contacts for MCIA, with specific focus on high level contacts within government and media (national and trade)
Provide direct support to members on Trade and Business regulations, both advising of opportunities and potential impacts
Represent MCIA and sit on the relevant committees at the European Trade Body (ACEM)
To manage the development, coordination of and communication of MCIA policy positions, consultation responses and briefings across public policy issues affecting the UK L–Category sector
To improve policy development processes and content, member consultation and internal/external evidence gathering, analysis and research, and project manage any commissioned research and reports Political engagement & stakeholder relations
To liaise and develop relationships with key partner stakeholder bodies (e.g. ZEMO, NMDA, MAG, BMF, ACU) and wider road safety bodies (e.g. RAC Foundation, IAM Road–Smart, ROSPA, PACTS etc.)
Be the point of reference for the press & media concerning our policies and political positionsYour experience & who you are

You do not need to be a motorcycle enthusiast, however, experience in the transport or automotive space will be of benefit. The industry is a fast paced & dynamic environment and as such you need to have high levels of energy and drive combined with a passion to understand what motivates the market and consumer, being able to translate that into a business perspective and use lobbying tools and techniques to communicate policy positions. As the L–Category market evolves from Sport and Leisure to the wider arena of moving people & goods, your understanding / appreciation of these trends will be crucial.

We're looking for a team player with an innovative mindset, prepared to develop a broad understanding of MCIA's work and the services it provides to members. You'll be a senior member of this small but highly committed and productive team, where you'll need to be capable of demonstrating leadership and strategic thinking.

A competitive salary and excellent benefits are on offer.

This can be a home–based role but you'll need to be able to travel to London regularly and to the head office in Coventry on occasion