Head of Public Affairs
Oxford/ Hybrid, GB, OX4 4DQ London / Hybrid, GB, E1 6HU
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Hybrid, with a minimum of 20% in the Oxford or London office per month
About us:
We’re Nominet – a world-leading domain name registry operating at the heart of the UK internet. While we're best known for running .UK domains, our DNS expertise also underpins critical internet infrastructure that government services, including the NHS, rely on.
As a public benefit company, our work has a positive impact on society. We’ve donated millions to projects that use technology to improve people’s lives and have committed to delivering £60m worth of support over the next three years.
The role:
A key part of our work is our outreach to stakeholders to ensure we maintain strong, well-informed relationships.
The Head of Public Affairs will lead our work with political and policy audiences, building Nominet’s reputation and identifying opportunities to increase the positive impact we have on the internet community and the development of the internet.
What you’ll be doing:
Stakeholder relations and engagement
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Act as an ambassador for Nominet with our external stakeholders, with sufficient breadth of knowledge to discuss all aspects of the business.
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Overseeing all company engagement with government and political stakeholders
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Identifying and influencing key developments in internet policy – and ensuring coherent engagement plans and consistent messaging is in place
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Identifying key internet and internet governance debates and ensuring Nominet contributes where appropriate by defining and socialising the company position
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Be the key subject matter expert on key policy areas
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Take the lead in managing the company's relationship with government stakeholders
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Informing our public benefit work with latest insight
Policy development and management
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Lead multi-disciplinary project teams to establish and implement appropriate policy strategies, reviews and changes
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Analyse political and policy developments to identify opportunities and risks for the business
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Shape the development and delivery of Nominet’s strategic approach to policy making, government consultation and stakeholder engagement.
Cross team collaboration
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Be a first point of contact for colleagues seeking information and advice on political or policy stakeholders.
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Participate in cross-company teams to deliver projects that support the company’s strategic and commercial objectives.
Leadership
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Managing and develop the Public Affairs Lead
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Lead and influence across the business to drive action and outcomes
About you:
Essential:
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Track record of successful engagement campaigns in government relations, public affairs, or as a civil servant/government advisor influencing internet policy.
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Strong understanding of the UK political landscape, policy-making processes, and the impact of internet-related issues on organisations.
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Ability to analyse complex policy issues and provide clear, actionable recommendations.
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Gravitas to engage senior management, board members, and external stakeholders effectively.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills, adaptable to diverse professional and technical audiences.
Nice to have:
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Familiarity with the domain name industry.
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Experience in international internet policy organisations
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Technical understanding of internet infrastructure and emerging technologies.
Align with our leadership competencies:
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Being Human - Able to demonstrate empathy, authenticity and ethical behaviour, fostering a culture of trust, respect and inclusivity
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Enabler - Facilitates the growth and success of others by providing resources, support and opportunities, creating an environment where individuals can thrive and achieve their full potential
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Visionary – Demonstrates foresight and strategic thinking, inspiring others with a compelling vision of the future and guiding them towards Nominet’s long-term success
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Goal Oriented - Demonstrates a strong focus on setting, pursuing and achieving goals, ensuring alignment with Nominet’s strategy and driving performance through clear direction and accountability
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Models the way – Demonstrates exemplary behaviours and sets a standard for others to follow, embodying Nominet’s values through actions and decisions
What to expect next:
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1st stage: Introduction call with a member of the TA team (45 mins)
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2nd stage: Hiring manager interview (60 mins)
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3rd stage: Psychometric assessment (1-2 hours)
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4th stage: Presentation, Leadership & Values Interview (115 mins)
Working at Nominet:
Our Values:
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We Make Things Happen
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We Pull Together
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We Bring A Positive Mindset
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We Keep It Simple
Our people make things happen, but our values are our compass as a company, guiding our day-to-day work and building our culture. They reflect that we're strongest when we're proactive and pull together, while underlining the importance of a "glass half full" mindset and aiming to keep things simple for success.
What we offer:
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Hybrid & Flexible Working
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Early Finish Friday – Working week of 34 hours with full-time pay. (Finish at midday on Friday)
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30 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, with the ability to purchase an additional 5 days.
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Private Medical Insurance + Employee Assistance Programme
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Medicash
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Pension Scheme (Matched to 7%)
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Annual Bonus Scheme
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Family Leave (Enhanced)
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Electric vehicle scheme with on-site charging points*
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Rewards platform with access to discounts at hundreds of shops, restaurants etc.*
*Flexible Benefits
Diversity Statement:
We're passionate about creating a workplace where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered. Somewhere we can benefit from all forms of diversity and discover the true value in our differences. If there are any adjustments we could make to the recruitment and selection process to support you, please let us know
Security Statement
Nominet is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of the internet and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment by participating in the relevant security and screening processes. All roles working for Nominet will be subject to a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check. Some roles due to the nature of their work, will require additional security clearance.