Strategic Engagement and Communications Advisor

About the Role: The UK is committed to tackling global deforestation and promoting sustainable forest management. As agriculture accounts for approximately 90% of global deforestation — largely driven by internationally traded commodities — the Government is introducing legislation to eliminate illegal deforestation from UK supply chains. This role plays a central part in shaping and delivering the Division’s strategic engagement and communications function. The postholder will support consultation and implementation of secondary legislation, ensure clear and consistent messaging to industry and stakeholders, and help manage key bilateral and multilateral relationships that underpin the UK’s approach. The role requires strong coordination across teams, delivery at pace, and the ability to provide high-quality briefing and engagement support to Ministers and senior officials.   As a Strategic Engagement and Communications Advisor your main responsibilities will be to: Support planning and delivery of Ministerial, senior official, and parliamentary engagement, ensuring alignment with wider programme objectives Prepare briefings, agendas, speaking notes, and stakeholder summaries for senior engagement and visits Draft stakeholder messaging, reactive lines, short communications products, and forward-look communications moments Support the development of clear, accessible external guidance for businesses, civil society, and international partners Help manage bilateral relationships with key international partners (e.g. Brazil and Indonesia), ensuring consistent messaging and follow-up actions Coordinate divisional inputs to align with International Biodiversity and Climate (IBC) priorities, multilateral fora, and Ministerial visits Deliver structured engagement with businesses, industry groups, commodity traders, civil society organisations, and devolved administrations Maintain stakeholder databases, track engagement commitments, and produce concise engagement reports Contribute to a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture across the division and wider government   Essential Criteria: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft clear and compelling briefings and stakeholder-facing materials Demonstrable experience supporting stakeholder engagement or communications activity Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver at pace Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and build constructive working relationships Confidence analysing information and presenting clear, concise summaries for senior colleagues   Desirable Criteria: Interest or experience in sustainability, deforestation, responsible supply chains, or environmental policy Experience working with industry, NGOs, parliamentary stakeholders, or international partners Familiarity with programme or project delivery approaches (e.g. RAID, milestone tracking) Understanding of communications strategy, stakeholder mapping, or international engagement