Parliamentary Manager job description and person specification, June 2015 Page 1 of 5

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1 Job description Job title Parliamentary Manager (maternity cover) Responsible to Head of Policy and Campaigns Responsible for 3 direct reports: Senior Local Influencing Officer, Policy and Campaigns Officer (Wales), Parliamentary Officer. Supervises the Policy and Campaigns Assistant s parliamentary work Department External Relations Section Policy and Campaigns Remit of post covers England and Wales Salary Grade E Hours of work Full time (35 hours a week) Located at Stratford Type of contract: Interim Budget responsibility: 226,000 Main purpose and scope of the job We re Mind, the mental health charity. We won t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. We provide advice and support to empower anybody experiencing a mental health problem and we campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Mind employs over 200 staff and we have a team of volunteers. Our staff are mainly based in Stratford, East London. We also have staff based in Cardiff and a number of dispersed staff working across England and Wales. You will take forward the work of Mind by strategically developing and working with contacts in both Houses of Parliament. You will act as the channel for all Mind s liaison with the Westminster Parliament. You will lead Mind s parliamentary activity including work on relevant Bills, proactively building contact with parliamentarians, identifying opportunities for Mind to have influence, building and sustaining alliances with other organisations, overseeing Mind s presence at political party conferences, and providing opportunities for Mind campaigners and local Minds to have engage with Parliament. You will report to the Head of Policy and Campaigns, manage the Senior Local Engagement Officer, the Policy and Campaigns Officer (Wales), Parliamentary Officer and supervise the Policy and Campaigns Assistant s parliamentary support work. You will work closely with all members of the team, as well as the broader External Relations department (Communications, Media, Information and Legal) and across the organisation. You will work throughout our extensive networks, and Parliamentary Manager job description and person specification, June 2015 Page 1 of 5

2 beyond Mind with politicians, government and other organisations, aimed at harnessing the power of the local and the national working together. Mind aims to ensure that the needs and interests of mental health service users, women, black and minority ethnic communities, disabled people, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender and people of all ages are reflected in all its activities. All staff are expected to contribute to this aim. Key responsibilities Strategic direction and planning 1. Develop, manage implementation of, and evaluate Mind s parliamentary and political influencing strategy, allocating priorities and making decisions about the most appropriate course of actions to achieve Mind s policy and campaigning objectives in Westminster and in the Welsh Assembly. 2. Take the lead on identifying key parliamentary and political influencing stakeholders, and proactively build and maintain effective relationships with MPs, Peers and relevant research staff, and colleagues in ally organisations. 3. Oversee the implementation of Mind's local influencing programme, ensuring that local campaigners and local Minds are factored into current and longer term campaign plans. 4. Working with colleagues in Rethink and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, oversee strategies for the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health. Parliamentary work 5. Produce high quality written briefings, publications and other materials that communicate complex messages clearly and effectively to a parliamentary audience 6. Directly represent Mind externally with key political and parliamentary audiences, including at oneto-one meetings, seminars and events, and frequently take the lead in representing the organisation s interests and views. 7. Advise and support senior Mind staff in their political relationships with ministers and senior advisers. 8. Plan, implement and evaluate the parliamentary activities and events to support Mind campaigns, in close collaboration with the Policy and Campaigns team and Mind Cymru, and lead the staff team involved. 9. Oversee Mind s presence at party conferences, including managing of relations with contractors and organisers, coordinating work with other organisations, and leading staff and volunteers during conference season. 10. Oversee Mind s monitoring of parliamentary activity, keep abreast of the current political climate and advise the organisation on the opportunities these provide to further Mind s objectives. 11. Oversee Mind s contact management system for parliamentary and political contacts Management 12. Manage the Senior Local Influencing Officer, the Parliamentary Officer, and the Policy and Campaigns Officer in Wales, undertaking regular supervisions and prioritising their learning and development Parliamentary Manager job description and person specification, June 2015 Page 2 of 5

3 13. Supervise the Policy and Campaigns Assistant on the post holder s areas of responsibility, and manage temporary staff and volunteers as appropriate. 14. Establish effective working relationships and good rapport with colleagues across the organisation, overseeing or supporting the parliamentary aspects of their work and representing the Policy and Campaigns team s interests. 15. Work closely with Fundraising to seek opportunities to promote Mind s work and secure funding as appropriate. 16. Undertake other duties that may from time to time be necessary, that are compatible with the nature and grade of the post. Expectations: 1. To attend and contribute to meetings, training and other events as required. 2. To attend and contribute to the supervision and appraisal process. 3. To ensure that all responsibilities and activities within this post are in accordance with the terms and spirit of Mind s policies 4. To occasionally travel to meetings in England and Wales, which may require the need to work unsociable hours e.g. attending evening or weekend meetings or for overnight stay. 5. To adhere to relevant legal and statutory requirements including the Data Protection Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act. 6. To use Mind s resources responsibly. 7. To contribute to making Mind a Greener workplace 8. The nature of the post will require flexibility in undertaking the role. Parliamentary Manager job description and person specification, June 2015 Page 3 of 5

4 Person specification: Parliamentary Manager Essential criteria Experience 1. Substantial experience in a parliamentary or public affairs role and established contacts with Ministers, MPs and/or Peers. 2. Experience in managing staff or volunteers. 3. Experience of financial and budget management. 4. Experience of developing, carrying out and evaluating strategies for achieving change. 5. Experience of project management, including planning, implementing, devising and prioritising multiple projects to meet agreed deadlines and targets. 6. Experiencing of planning and delivering events. Knowledge and Understanding 7. Thorough knowledge and understanding of UK legislative and parliamentary procedures and demonstrable experience of using effective and appropriate methods for achieving influence in Parliament. 8. An understanding and commitment to the aims and objectives of Mind. 9. Understanding of what equal opportunities means in relation to this post and the ability to incorporate equality practices into all aspects of the work. Skills and/or abilities 10. Excellent communication skills including oral, written, negotiation and persuasion skills. 11. Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills including being able to influence, negotiate and deal with conflict. Proven success in working with and building productive, professional relationships and partnerships with a wide range of individuals and organizations including those with differing perspectives and in challenging circumstances. 12. Strong political judgment. 13. Ability to understand and analyse complex information including research reports and legislation and pick out salient points for further work. 14. Good team working skills including understanding the role and demands of working with other organisations in coalition. 15. Excellent IT skills including use of MS Office and databases. Desirable criteria 1. Experience of working in Westminster Parliament, a devolved assembly or for a political party. Parliamentary Manager job description and person specification, June 2015 Page 4 of 5

5 2. Knowledge of mental health related policy issues. 3. Experience of involving people with lived experience or stakeholders in parliamentary work. 4. Direct / Indirect Experience of mental health problems. Parliamentary Manager job description and person specification, June 2015 Page 5 of 5