Senior Public Affairs Manager

About the role

Balfour Beatty is looking for an influential and politically astute Senior Public Affairs Manager to play a key role in delivering Balfour Beatty’s UK Government Affairs and Policy strategy. Reporting directly to the Head of Public Affairs and Policy, you’ll help shape how we engage with government, policymakers and industry partners.
In this strategically important role, you’ll provide sharp political insight, high‑quality analysis and expert advice to senior stakeholders across the UK business. You’ll support the development of clear policy positions, strengthen our external relationships and help ensure our voice is heard on the national infrastructure priorities that matter most.

What you'll be doing

• Monitor political, legislative and policy developments, providing timely, actionable insight to internal stakeholders.


• Develop high‑quality consultation responses, policy submissions and position papers that clearly articulate Balfour Beatty’s expertise and priorities.


• Shape and refine policy positions on key national infrastructure issues to inform our external engagement.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with political stakeholders, senior officials, industry bodies and influential partners.


• Ensure public affairs activity underpins work‑winning priorities and strengthens Balfour Beatty’s profile with government and clients.


• Coordinate ministerial visits, parliamentary events, roundtables and other external engagement opportunities.


• Support delivery of a year‑round political engagement programme—including Party Conferences and major industry events.


• Provide expert advice to senior leaders to support informed decision‑making and high‑quality external engagement.

• Strong understanding of the UK political system, legislative process and government policy landscape.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, persuasive and credible policy content.


• Proven experience in public affairs, policy development, political engagement or a similar advocacy environment.


• Skilled in building trusted relationships across political, industry and business stakeholders.


• Able to manage multiple priorities, deliver to tight deadlines and work collaboratively across teams.


• Confident providing strategic advice to senior colleagues.

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.


• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)


• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave


• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

Balfour Beatty Group Enabling Functions are Legal, Finance, IT and Procurement, Communications, Health Safety and Environment, HR and Sustainability. Together, they support delivery of our Build to Last strategy whilst improving efficiencies and standardising our approach, systems and processes.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long\-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: candidaterecruitmentqueries@balfourbeatty.com

Job Reference: BBUK18114

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