Hanover is looking for an experienced public affairs consultant to join the Digital Policy team in Brussels. We are open to considering applicants at either Senior Consultant or Account Director level.

We’re a fast-growing team of political specialists who advise some of the world’s biggest brands on EU politics and regulatory issues in the digital policy and competition area. Our consultants are policy experts, who enjoy becoming genuine extensions of their clients’ in-house teams.

Hanover is an award-winning communications consultancy that advises enterprises, institutions, and individuals on building recognition and enhancing reputation. From our offices across Europe and the Middle East, we adopt an integrated approach that connects the dots across channels, audiences and issues.

We believe very strongly in career development. We offer regular training to all our staff and regular opportunities for promotion.

You will be based at our Brussels office, but may have an opportunity to work on the clients we share with colleagues in our London, Dublin, Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices.

ROLE OVERVIEW

This important role reports directly to the Head of Office of Hanover Brussels and offers the opportunity to develop new business and marketing activity, as well as managing junior team members, client accounts and budgets – and supporting our client work across a wide range of Digital policy issues.

The successful candidate will have proven track record public affairs experience, ideally within a consultancy or in-house team. They will be a keen networker with a passion for public affairs and a nuanced understanding of the relationship between business and politics. We work in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving environment, and our consultants are equally at home in the office, at a pitch or at a networking event.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop close client relationships, lead external client meetings and be the first point of contact across client accounts
• Provide first-hand intelligence and strategic advice to clients and write bespoke policy submissions and briefings
• Supervise the delivery of client work on multiple accounts – by running internal account management meetings and supporting your project managers in reviewing progress, monitoring capacity and allocating tasks
• Project manage activities focused on new business development, including marketing and managing pipelines
• Identify opportunities to cross-sell services between Hanover teams and offices
• Expand your personal network through event attendance and relationship building

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Very strong team-working, collaboration and interpersonal skills
• Prior public affairs experience within a consultancy or in-house team is desirable; an expert background in Technology sector is a must
• Understanding and experience of budgeting, managing pipelines and developing new business
• Excellent knowledge of EU policy and decision-making process and a passion for politics and current affairs – with a demonstrable understanding of their impact on business objectives
• An existing network of either/or business, policy or political contacts
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills

Role Overview

The Account Director will be working for a portfolio of clients that currently includes Sky, Time Warner, Apple, Liberty Global, WME-IMG, Wiley and Lexmark.

We require someone who has experience working in this sector, preferably with consultancy experience, with a deep understanding of the EU digital policy and policy formulation processes with a particular focus on telecommunications, e-privacy and cybersecurity. The successful candidate will take on significant responsibilities within the team, and will directly support the Director of Digital Policy of the Brussels office.

For the right person this will be an exciting role, with the opportunity to manage interesting accounts and build a market-leading team that provides valued strategic advice and insight to clients.

Primary Responsibilities

The Account Director provides support to the Director in advising Hanover’s existing clients, in the overall management of key client accounts and junior team members. The Account Director also leads on new business activity including identification of business opportunities, lead generation and development, and pitching.

Client handling:

• Provide timely and relevant support in advising key clients and prospective clients, informed by sector knowledge and broad intelligence-gathering on policy developments
• Develop close client relationships and take full responsibility for Hanover Brussels’ cluster of clients related to the execution of advocacy and communication campaigns
• Oversee and lead all contact programmes, and represent clients with stakeholders
• Conduct client or topic-specific environmental analyses and write bespoke briefings, including strategic advice on action
• Lead client meetings and internal account management meetings supporting the Director in reviewing progress, monitoring capacity and allocating tasks
• Responsibility for managing budgets related to the portfolio of clients
• Approval of all contracts related to the portfolio of clientsManagement and New Business work closely with the Brussels Director to build a competitive, best-of-class European digital policy team and offer; this entails coaching of junior colleagues and supporting the Director in identifying and recruiting the best talent
• Project-manage new business activity, including preparation of credentials, proposals and pitches
• Demonstrate an active and ever-expanding new business network that can provide significant opportunities for Hanover
• Support the Director in the implementation of the marketing strategy for the digital policy practice, working closely with the Hanover Director of Marketing and Hanover Brussels Director
• Regularly contribute timely and newsworthy articles to the Hanover website and other relevant media
• Expand personal network and, by extension, that of the Hanover Brussels team through event attendance and relationship-building
• Identify opportunities to cross-sell services between Hanover teams, offices and across the Ecosystem network

Skills & Experience

We are looking for an experienced professional with the following skills:

• Thorough understanding of EU digital policy, with focus on telecommunications, e-privacy and cybersecurity
• Knowledge of the interaction between EU, international and national policy and the business impact that this can have on clients
• Strong entrepreneurial drive and business acumen
• Effective time-management and ability to meet deadlines, strong organisational and project management skills
• Ability to take initiative and autonomy in carrying out tasks
• Strong creative writing skills
• Good presentation skills
• Recognised ability to bring creative flair and ideas to new business proposals
• Ability to operate effectively and collaboratively as part of a team
• Excellent verbal communicationThe ideal candidate will be degree-level educated and have experience working in either a public affairs consultancy, in-house at a relevant company or in a European trade association.