Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Officer

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is the UK’s independent regulator that oversees the relationship between large supermarkets and their direct groceries suppliers. The GCA is a partner organisation of the Department for Business and Trade.

The GCA ensures that the 14 largest supermarkets treat their direct suppliers lawfully and fairly, investigates issues affecting the sector and arbitrates in disputes. The dynamic groceries sector has faced many challenges over the past few years, including supply chain issues as we exited the pandemic and inflation. The GCA team regularly interacts with supermarkets to ensure they treat suppliers fairly, despite these challenges. This is an exciting time to join the team and make a real difference for suppliers.

We are an organisation of around 8 people and are looking for someone who can work effectively in a small team and is happy to work flexibly to support their colleagues in times of high activity across a range of different tasks.

You will sit in the GCA’s communications team, made up of a Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Manager (Senior Executive Officer) and Senior Engagement and Communications Manager (Grade 7).

The GCA is located in a modern office building in Canary Wharf with easy access to public transport and excellent cycle-to-work facilities. The GCA supports flexible working practices and would consider substantial part-time or job share working arrangements. The GCA is committed to providing staff with learning and development opportunities.

Appointment Term

The GCA cannot directly employ staff.

If the successful candidate is currently employed by another government department/public body one of the following options will apply:

• Secondment directly from their home department/organisation to the GCA on level transfer or promotion for 2 years (with a possible option to extend by agreement) on their existing departmental pay scales, terms & conditions. This will be subject to agreement of the home department/organisation
• If agreement cannot be reached with the home department/organisation, a two-year fixed term appointment or loan (subject to agreement of the home department) to Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and secondment for two years from there to the GCA

If the successful candidate is not currently a civil or public servant, the following will apply:

• A two-year fixed term appointment to DBT and secondment for two years from DBT to the GCA, with a possible option to extend by agreement

This 2-year secondment (with possibility of extension) offers you the opportunity to develop your communications and Stakeholder Engagement skills, whilst also contributing to policy development and operational delivery in one of the UK’s most important economic sectors.

The role has a flexible remit, including opportunities to gain experience in broad range of tasks, including:

• Communications: Supporting and drafting content for the website, newsletters, social media and the GCA’s annual supplier survey campaign to contribute to the delivery of the organisation’s communications plan.

• Stakeholder engagement: Monitoring the GCA’s shared inbox and anonymous reporting platform. Drafting responses to enquiries from suppliers and others as part of the GCA’s strategic engagement with stakeholders. Representing the GCA by attending meetings with suppliers and retailers, trade events and conferences.

• Event and meetings planning: Supporting event planning for the GCA’s annual conference, managing the relationship with external providers. Leading the planning of other meetings and events throughout the year, which involves managing the Adjudicator’s diary, drafting briefing notes and speeches, logistics planning and the strategic development of themes and agendas to further the GCA’s objectives.

• Policy and project development support: Supporting the GCA to deliver against its priorities on a range of fast-moving projects and retailer engagement.

• Other tasks: Other tasks to support the wider team, which may include logistical support, media monitoring, record management during any arbitrations or investigations and drafting content for the annual report.