Government Relations Officer

Job Title: Government relations officer

Salary: £36,400

Grade: Band 2

Contract type: Permanent / TFL

Reference: SF4036

Contract details: Full Time

Location: Palestra / Hybrid

Application closing date: Wednesday 27th May @ 23:59

Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.

Internal - All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory right‑to‑work checks, and candidates must be able to demonstrate their legal right to work in the UK. In certain circumstances, TfL may be able to sponsor Skilled Worker visas for roles and individuals that meet the required eligibility criteria, including those covered by transitional rules. Further details can be found here: Our response to visa sponsorship changes.

Overview Of Project/role

The job holder provides effective support as specified and required to the relevant manager to build and maintain TfL's productive partnerships and relationships with the Government, Parliament, other UK cities, the London Assembly and International partners.

Key Accountabilities

The Government Relations Officer will be accountable for:

• Being an effective point of contact to stakeholders in Government, Parliament, other UK cities, the London Assembly and International partners to identify ways to increase awareness and advocacy of TfL 's priorities and the Mayor's Transport Strategy and seek opportunities to collaborate for their delivery. Where necessary, any issues of concern should be sought to be constructively resolved, escalating as necessary and contributing to efficient closure and resolution.
• Providing effective, high-quality and timely draft responses to Mayor’s Questions, stakeholder correspondence and VIP correspondence for the Mayor/Deputy Mayor as appropriate. Ensuring relevant feedback and intelligence from stakeholders is fed back into the business to inform decision-making and service improvements.
• Providing support to manage scrutiny from Government, Parliament and London Assembly including public scrutiny sessions, as appropriate.
• Ensuring senior managers and TfL colleagues more widely are well-informed about the policy and political environment by effectively engaging, monitoring and analysing developments and communicating them in a timely way to TfL senior managers and the wider business.
• Providing support across the Government Relations team to help achieve departmental objectives. Demonstrating and establishing collaborative relationships across CCA and TfL to ensure effective achievement of TfL and Mayoral goals. Representing Government Relations and TfL at appropriate forums as necessary and effective communication of intelligence and insight gathered as a result.
• Role model our values – caring, open and adaptable.
  
  

Key Interfaces

Internal: Increase the effectiveness of the Government Relations team by demonstrating and driving collaborative internal relationships across CCT, TfL, the Mayor's Office and the GLA to ensure effective achievement of TfL and Mayoral goals.

External: Government, Parliament, other UK cities, the London Assembly and International partners.

Essential

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Able to produce and adapt clear and concise written and verbal communication on complex issues often to tight deadlines, including drafting position papers, briefings and correspondence.
• Experience of working with politicians or in a political environment / organisation.
• Relevant experience of, or clear understanding of, transport policy and sector.
• Experience briefing and working with senior leaders.
• Excellent organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Comfortable with, and capable of, representing TfL in external meetings.
• Educated to A-level or equivalent in a relevant subject or with relevant professional experience; Degree level is desirable.
  
  

Desirable

• Politically astute, with a sound awareness of the key policy issues affecting transport decisions in London.
• Understanding of the political environment in which TfL operates, internationally, nationally and regionally.
• Understanding of the way that policy is developed and implemented, and how political engagement influences this.
  
  

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Application Process 

• Please apply with your CV only
• PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images
  
  

Benefits

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow.  Rewards vary according to the business area but mostly include:

• Final salary pension scheme
• Free travel for you on the TfL network
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
• 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
• TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow
• Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
• Discounted Eurostar travel
  
  

Eligibility – Internal employees

Probation

In line with our Resourcing Policy (Feb 2014), internal employees are required to complete their probationary period before applying for internal TfL positions. Please ensure you have successfully completed your probation before applying for this role, otherwise your application may be withdrawn.

Formal Warnings

Internal employees with any current formal warnings are not eligible to apply for internal TfL vacancies until expiry of the warning. Ineligible applications may be withdrawn. Details of what is defined as a current formal warning can be found on Platform: https://transportforlondon.sharepoint.com/sites/Instructions-and-guidance-people-performance-and-rewards/SitePages/Applying-for-a-vacancy-with-a-formal-warning.aspx