Associate (Advocacy)

GK Strategy is seeking an Associate to join its advocacy and government relations practice. You will support senior colleagues in providing day-to-day management of corporate advocacy, public affairs, and strategic communications programmes for clients. You will also support on our political due diligence offering on M&A activity where required.

The role suits someone with demonstrable experience, a strong interest in UK politics, and confidence in building professional networks. Experience in education policy, or a clear interest in developing expertise in this area, is desirable.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day delivery for retained clients, including stakeholder engagement, campaign activity and reputation protection
• Act as a primary contact for selected clients, leading small delivery teams, and managing agreed objectives and priorities
• Maintain your own ongoing knowledge of policy and political developments, advising clients on emerging risks and opportunities and helping them crystallise their policy asks
• Contribute to the development and delivery of client strategies alongside senior colleagues
• Play a leading role in client meetings and calls, confidently presenting updates and ensuring delivery of client objectives and priorities
• Deliver research, analysis, and written outputs for GK’s political due diligence work with private equity clients
• Support business development and marketing through research and organisational input
• Play a supporting role in new business including networking and proposal drafting. Developing marketing and policy content.
• Ensure compliance with GK client service standards, internal processes, and PRCA + ORCL standards
• Manage projects effectively, including accurate daily timesheet recording
• Act as an ambassador for GK externally

Skills and Experience

• A demonstrable interest in UK politics and public policy, and an ability to speak with confidence and authority on these subjects to clients and businesses
• Excellent organisation and time management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to build good relationships and professional networks
• An enthusiasm for developing GK’s commercial research offering and supporting new business initiatives
• A commitment to your own professional development, including a desire to learn from others and pursue training or development opportunities of your own
• Commercial awareness and understanding of how policy developments could impact on clients
• Application of creativity and the use of initiative/problem solving
• A self-starter, able to work autonomously and across teams

Our offer to you

• Salary £40,000 – £45,000
• 28 days holiday, including bank holidays
• Sabbatical policy after four years of service
• Flexible – work from anywhere – policy with minimum two days a month in our Westminster office
• Two hours to take out of your working week for personal time
• Personal training and wellbeing budget
• Free office snacks, breakfast and fruit
• Social committee organising regular funded socials and team drinks
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discretionary bonus and new business scheme
• WeCare teledoctor service

We lead with vision, backbone and heart. We have the highest of expectations – of the team, our work and the ‘contract’ we make to each other. We are one team, with different skill sets and specialisms, serving one client base.

We welcome applicants seeking flexible, hybrid, job-shares or part-time arrangements. Flexible start and finish times available.