Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Manager

Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the National Development Body for Scotland’s museums and galleries. We support a sector of 449 museums and galleries, through strategic investment, workforce development, advice and advocacy. We are a forward facing and inclusive organisation, committed to the ongoing development of a positive culture for our team. 

We are seeking an experienced professional to lead our work to clearly communicate the positive value and impact of the museums and galleries sector. You will do this by developing and leading advocacy campaigns and activity that make a strong case for Scotland’s museums and galleries sector to influence a range of audiences and stakeholders including Government Officials, Government Ministers, MSPs, relevant Committees, relevant funders and other key organisations and influencers. 

Politically astute, the Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Manager possesses strong communication and influencing skills, using information, research and data to build a political and public case for the sector and inform evidence-based advocacy messaging and activity.

Being able to navigate and effectively communicate complex issues that implicate the wider culture and heritage sector in Scotland will be essential. This is especially vital as parts of our sector face profound budget challenges, many navigating rising operational costs and workforce pressures while also striving to adapt to ensure relevance to communities and users. As national development body, MGS needs to advocate clearly and effectively on their behalf. 

This role offers an enriching opportunity to be creative and proactive in developing our organisational voice to highlight pressures on, and make a strong case for, Scotland’s museums and galleries.

The successful candidate will manifest MGS’s core values: collaboration, integrity, passion for museums, and courageousness.

We have a hybrid working approach and are happy to talk flexible working.   

We believe that our work will be stronger with greater diversity. MGS welcomes applications from all sections of the community and is an equal opportunities employer. We are a Disability Confident Employer and hold Living Wage and Gold Investors in People accreditation. MGS is striving to be an anti-racist organisation.

OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic

• Work with the Head of Strategy and Communications and Senior Management Team to develop advocacy and public affairs strategic plans and messaging that meets MGS’s strategic priorities
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to ensure strong MGS and sector profile and reputation
• Contribute to the delivery of the National Strategy for Scotland’s Museums and Galleries and ensure strong awareness of the strategy among key political stakeholders and policy makers
• Contribute to the development and delivery of MGS’s Business and Operational Plans, reporting on progress as required
• Lead on the coordination of the MGS led Scottish Museums Advocacy Group quarterly meetings
• Work closely with a policy network of MGS culture and heritage sector partners to help inform and develop aligned advocacy across organisations

Communications

• Lead on the delivery of Advocacy and Public affairs plans and activity with Marketing and Communications team, wider MGS and sector colleagues
• Communicate the views of MGS to legislators in the Scottish and UK Parliaments, local government and other external organisations, either directly or through joint working with strategic partners to influence decision making
• Lead on MGS’s responses to relevant public consultations co-ordinating with relevant sector partners and MGS colleagues
• Communicate MGS’s advocacy work to the sector through relevant channels including writing content for news items, newsletters and blogs
• Prepare briefings for Ministers, MSPs and Civil Servants in response to sector related matters
• Lead on briefings and speech notes for the Chair, Chief Executive Officer and senior managers for major events and key engagements that reflect sector advocacy messaging and maintains profile and engagement with the sector

Research and analysis

• Oversee and maintain timely monitoring of Parliament, Government, stakeholders, press and media on relevant policy developments in the museums and galleries and wider culture sector and brief MGS colleagues on relevant activity or issues
• Maintaining an understanding of current political priorities within MGS, making opportune connections to the work of the sector and MGS colleagues. Provide advice and guidance, both internally and externally, on relevant policy matters
• Work with Senior Management Team to maintain awareness of museums who are experiencing challenges; coordinating MGS’s response and supporting other organisations with response development when necessary
• Work with the Research Manager to develop advocacy opportunities and messaging from findings from MGS or externally led pieces of research

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS – Travel – occasional regional travel may be required.

To see the full job description and apply, please visit our website