AddressAre you an experienced Public Affairs professional, based in Northern Ireland, with a passion for dogs? This could be the perfect role for you!
With the return of Stormont, this is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to animal welfare in Northern Ireland as Regional Public Affairs Officer.
About this role:
As Regional Public Affairs Officer, you will:
- implement our Public Affairs programme in Northern Ireland, raising awareness of the charity, our policies and positions amongst key opinion formers, including local government and Stormont,
- represent Dogs Trust in meetings, stakeholder, and sector groups, ensuring that our messaging is consistent,
- organise and attend political events and politician and stakeholder visits to our Ballymena rehoming centre,
- complete research to underpin political decisions and activity.
About you:
To be successful in this role you will have experience in Public Affairs, ideally including at a local government level, and an understanding of the political landscape in Northern Ireland and the UK. You’ll have excellent communication skills, with the ability to listen actively, respond assertively and communicate complex positions to policy makers effectively. This role works quite independently, so the ability to work without supervision is essential.
About Dogs Trust:
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.
About this team:
The Public Affairs Team works across Westminster, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the EU, to ensure the health and welfare of dogs is always taken into consideration by policy makers. In addition to our direct political engagement, Dogs Trust chairs the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) which aims to combat growing concerns regarding the irresponsible advertising of pets for sale, rehoming, and exchange. We also provide the secretariat for the EU Dog & Cat Alliance, through which we engage with EU policy makers, and call for EU action to build a better Europe for dogs and cats.
To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you complete an application form and a covering letter explaining your interest and suitability for the role. Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive enough suitable interest, so to avoid disappointment early application is encouraged.
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Feel free to send us an email at jobs@dogstrust.org.uk. We're here to support you every step of the way.
