Stakeholder Engagement Lead
This is an exciting opportunity to work on a high-profile EU Delivery Programme and help deliver one of the most important transformations in how the UK manages animals, plants, food and related goods at the border. The EU Delivery Programme ensures the UK's border regime meets the requirements of the EU/UK Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) arrangements. Our mission is to protect the UK's biosecurity while enabling smooth, safe and efficient trade. This work is high-profile, fast-paced and vital to the resilience of the UK's supply chains.
As the Stakeholder Engagement Senior Officer, you will be at the forefront of shaping how SPS controls operate across Great Britain. This is a rare opportunity to lead strategic engagement with Control Point operators and key stakeholders, gathering insight and evidence that will directly inform ministerial decisions. Initially, your focus will be on building a clear picture of the operational, commercial and strategic impacts of SPS requirements on Control Point viability. As the project progresses, you may transition into broader policy development-helping craft the recommendations, options and products that will guide future border operations.Key ResponsibilitiesIn this role, you will:
- Lead structured engagement with Control Point operators across Great Britain, assessing the real-world impacts of SPS requirements on their facilities.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with operators, port authorities, APHA and colleagues across the organisation.
- Gather, analyse and synthesise evidence to provide clear, actionable insights for senior officials and ministers.
- Develop policy options grounded in operational reality, financial considerations and biosecurity priorities.
- Produce high-quality policy products, including impact assessments, ministerial submissions and cross-government updates.
- Collaborate closely with programme and operational teams to ensure your findings shape delivery planning and align with wider border transformation work.
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the below:
- A confident and credible communicator who enjoys external engagement
- Skilled at analysing complex information and turning it into clear insights
- Experienced in stakeholder management and navigating cross-government landscapes
- Comfortable working at pace on high-profile, evolving policy issues
- Collaborative, curious and committed to delivering outcomes that matter
- Experience of working on programmes and projects in a stakeholder engagement role from government regulators, agencies or non-departmental bodies.
- Experience delivering programmes or projects in a stakeholder-facing role, ideally within government, regulators, agencies or non-departmental public bodies.
If this role is of interest, please apply ASAP with an up-to-date word version of your CV highlighting all your relevant experience. Please do get in touch for more information.
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