Strategic Policy Manager

London, England, United Kingdom

12/12/2024

Strategic Policy Manager, Permanent, Hybrid, London

The role holder will take responsibility for identifying, assessing, and determining key strategic policy issues. They will do this by developing an extensive knowledge of Pay.UK's strategic initiatives and business operations, combined with efficient negotiation and project management skills. They will create independent recommendations on strategic policy which are consistent with wider directorate and company strategy - and facilitate cross cutting organisational-wide work to create high-quality, insightful and compelling strategic policy positions.

They will provide advice on strategic policy and advocate Pay.UK's positioning to our external stakeholders, including regulators. They will be required to interact with key internal stakeholders, including members of the Executive, Board and colleagues across the business to establish company positions and determine an appropriate approach to selling these to our regulators. .

They will provide guidance and analytical resources to the Head of Strategic Policy to shape the direction of Pay.UK's strategic policy work.

Partnering with senior stakeholders within Pay.UK they will ensure efficient management and communication between Pay.UK and its stakeholders. Ensuring that specific positions are supported by comprehensive analysis and evidence based on internal senior stakeholder strategy and SME advice, and consistent with wider directorate and company strategy.

Key Accountabilities

• Provides extensive subject matter knowledge and strategic policy advice across allocated projects and programmes.
• Takes a primary role in engagement across our ecosystem to address strategic policy issues. Setting the agenda, tone and content of interactions with both on-boarded stakeholders and future influencers and potential new stakeholders to ensure messages are aligned across the eco-system to the benefit of Pay.UK delivering it's strategy.
• Directs the crafting of effective submissions to consultations that allow Pay.UK to highlight its insights on strategic policy issues. Uses a robust process of production, assurance and governance; aligns with regulatory expectations and Pay.UK's strategic goals.
• Identifies significant Pay.UK strategic policy questions through demonstrable knowledge of: the current and emerging public policy issues in payments; Pay.UK's strategic initiatives and business operations; and stakeholder views across our ecosystem.
• Takes the initiative on answering key strategic policy questions. Undertakes analysis, and makes well-reasoned and informed recommendations to the executive and Board-level committees.
• Identifies and assesses options to address, in a priority order, Pay.UK strategic policy issues.
• Promotes engagement within our ecosystem to solve strategic policy issues. Advises the Head of Strategic Policy on setting the agenda, tone and content of interactions. Working to ensure messages are aligned across across the business.
• Advisor and analytical resource to the Head of Strategic Policy and as required the Senior Manager, Strategic Policy.
• Builds constructive relationships internally and across our ecosystem to enable them to engage on strategic policy issues. Engage attentively providing updates on key areas of interest and keeping them informed on relevant risks and issues.
  
  

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Educated to a degree level or equally relevant experience.
• Understanding of payments industry developments both UK and internationally.
• Significant stakeholder and relationship management experience in a regulated environment in the UK. Payments industry experience is beneficial.
• Strong experience in analysing, developing and implementing policy initiatives, within financial services.
• Experience of managing colleagues on projects, ensuring quality work and supporting development.
• Good presentational and communication skills (both oral and written) with the ability to get messages across clearly and concisely, and engage a wide range of stakeholders.
• Problem solving and analytical skills. Seeking clarity from multiple sources of information. Collating large amounts of information and making sense of it.
• Ability to provide high quality and timely outputs to the team.
• Solid analytical skills and a way with directing the delivery of important, evidence-based analysis. The ability to analyse complex issues quickly and propose solutions.
• Experience in designing, implementing, and managing policy projects.
• Experience and understanding of the UK payments industry; Pay.UK's payment systems and / or the UK payments regulatory framework would be beneficial.
• We would also welcome applicants with experience from another FMI and / or other markets subject to a similar regulatory framework (e.g. broader financial services; energy; telecoms etc).
  
  

At Pay.UK, we value diversity and inclusivity. Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented groups may hesitate to apply unless they meet all the requirements listed. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of how closely their skills and experience match the requirements. We are committed to supporting accessibility needs and creating a welcoming environment for all employees. Become part of our team and contribute to the creation of an inclusive work environment that values everyone's unique input.

About Us

Pay.UK maintains and develops the UK retail payment systems and standards that are core to the economy being able to function on a day-to-day basis.

From Bacs to Faster Payments and cheques – we act as the single operator for all UK retail payments. We put the needs of consumers and businesses at the heart of everything we do, working in the public interest to ensure that the systems the country relies on for its banking transactions are safe, open, innovative and resilient.

Our payment systems underpin the services that enable funds to be transferred between people and institutions. In 2023, the UK's retail payment systems processed 11.4 billion transactions worth £9.3 trillion through Bacs Direct Credit, Direct Debit, Faster Payments, and cheques, and our Current Account Switch Service has facilitated over 10.2 million switches since its launch in 2013.

Every day, people and businesses use the services we provide to get their salaries, pay their bills and make online and mobile banking payments. Our vision for the future is to enable a vibrant economy, with Pay.UK delivering the best-in-class payment infrastructure and standards for the benefit of consumers and businesses nationwide.

Benefits & Additional Information

• 12% Non-contributory pension
• Discretionary annual bonus
• 30 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays)
• Private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, health cash plan, dental insurance, Bupa medicals etc
• Employee assistance programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Annual fitness subsidy of up to £500 per annum
• Working from home policy - minimum 40% in the office (eg. 2 days in the office over a 5 day working week)
  
  

Please note:

• Benefits for FTC roles may vary
• Benefits do not apply to any consultancy roles