Job Description

White Collar Factory (95009), United Kingdom, London, London

Public Affairs Lead

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced public affairs professional to help lead the design and roll out of our external affairs strategy. Reporting to the Director of External Affairs, you would support the Director, the UK Chief Counsel, the CEO, the senior leadership team and Board in the promotion and protection of Capital One UK\xe2\x80\x99s reputation, business and customer interests.

Capital One UK\xe2\x80\x99s External Affairs function is a small team that has overall responsibility for the company\xe2\x80\x99s external stakeholder engagement strategy in support of our wider business strategy. This includes: all public policy, government and policy-maker engagement, including some regulatory interactions; trade association and consumer advocacy relationships; corporate media and reputation management, including the operation of day-to-day press office/issues management; thought leadership, external events and roundtables; and the company\xe2\x80\x99s responsible business and Environmental, Social and Governance agenda; and charitable and philanthropic work.

What you\xe2\x80\x99ll do

Help create, shape and implement our external affairs strategy, working alongside the Director of External Affairs.

Influence and achieve positive change for our company, our customers, and our associates by delivering a compelling external engagement strategy.

Influence, engage and advise senior leaders to help guide strategy and direction for Capital One\xe2\x80\x99s external activity.

Partner with key parts of the business including legal, compliance, brand, marketing, business analysis and customer management/operations to help achieve key external and business objectives.

Lead on aspects of our external influencing and engagement agenda, identifying opportunities to partner with and engage externally on public policy issues to affect positive change.

Creating opportunities to be thought leaders and to convene events and roundtable discussions that promote industry understanding and dialogue.

Identify, track and assess policy issues, and appropriately engage and escalate internally, and develop creative proposals and strategies to promote and protect the interests of Capital One and its customers.

Help lead on the promotion and protection of Capital One\xe2\x80\x99s reputation with all stakeholders, being a first point of contact within the business on reputational advice and support.

Support on proactive and reactive media and reputational issues, providing support and counsel to senior leaders, including on issues/crisis management, whilst also providing day to day press office support in partnership with our Consumer PR team.

Build and maintain strong external relationships, and support business leaders who hold senior positions on key UK external bodies and government-led initiatives.

Represent Capital One UK and act as a key ambassador with external stakeholders, and lead on trade association and other key external relationships.

What you\xe2\x80\x99ll bring

Proven experience in policy, government, political, media/reputation management and/or regulatory environments - with experience and strong potential in creating and leading on public affairs strategies/campaigns.

Ability to work autonomously on your own projects, showing initiative and proactivity and the ability to be creative in thinking, to problem solve and to execute programmes that deliver results and achieve change.

Ability to quickly grasp and communicate relevant policy issues, effectively explain why those issues matter, and advise the business on implications and potential opportunities and challenges.

Demonstrable experience at networking, with a gift for building and maintaining internal and external networks and creating partnership opportunities.

A \xe2\x80\x98reputation focused\xe2\x80\x99 mindset - i.e. the ability to put yourself in the shoes of others and think strategically about how what we are proposing or doing externally may be perceived by key decision makers, opinion formers and consumers.

Excellent written and presentation skills and ability to provide insight and challenge to senior internal stakeholders and be an articulate and credible ambassador for Capital One.

Experience of financial services is desirable but not essential - what is more important is someone who has proven ability, a results mindset, ability to stay calm under pressure and the potential to be a future senior leader in our company.

We are committed to creating a level playing field and seek to create teams that are representative of our customers and the communities we serve. We\xe2\x80\x99d love to hear from you if you identify with a typically under-represented group in our industry and are particularly keen to hear from women, the LGBTQ+ community and ethnic minority candidates.

Where and how you\'ll work

This is a permanent position and can be based in either our London or Nottingham office.

Our hybrid working model offers you the flexibility to work from our offices and from home, when you need to.

We\'re big on collaboration and connection, and so generally encourage our associates to use our offices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The number of days you spend in the office will usually be led by the type of work you\xe2\x80\x99re doing, and the hybrid working patterns of the people you partner most closely with.

Many of our associates have flexible working arrangements, and we\'re open to talking about an arrangement that works for you.

What\xe2\x80\x99s in it for you

Bring us all this - and you\xe2\x80\x99ll be well rewarded with a role contributing to the roadmap of an organisation committed to transformation

We offer high performers strong and diverse career progression, investing heavily in developing great people through our Capital One University training programmes (and appropriate external providers)

Immediate access to our core benefits including pension scheme, bonus, generous holiday entitlement and private medical insurance \xe2\x80\x93 with flexible benefits available including season-ticket loans, cycle to work scheme and enhanced parental leave

Open-plan workspaces and accessible facilities designed to inspire and support you. Our Nottingham head-office has a fully-serviced gym, subsidised restaurant, mindfulness and music rooms. In London, you can heighten your mood with a run on our rooftop running track or an espresso at the Workshop Coffee caf\xc3\xa9

What you should know about how we recruit

We pride ourselves on hiring the best people, not the same people. Building diverse and inclusive teams is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. We want to work with top talent: whoever you are, whatever you look like, wherever you come from. We know it\xe2\x80\x99s about what you do, not just what you say. That\xe2\x80\x99s why we make our recruitment process fair and accessible. And we offer benefits that attract people at all ages and stages.

We also partner with organisations including the Women in Finance and Race At Work Charters, Stonewall and upReach to find people from every walk of life and help them thrive with us. We have a whole host of internal networks and support groups you could be involved in, to name a few:

REACH \xe2\x80\x93 Race Equality and Culture Heritage group focuses on representation, retention and engagement for associates from minority ethnic groups and allies

OutFront \xe2\x80\x93 to provide LGBTQ+ support for all associates

Mind Your Mind \xe2\x80\x93 signposting support and promoting positive mental wellbeing for all

Women in Tech \xe2\x80\x93 promoting an inclusive environment in tech

EmpowHER - network of female associates and allies focusing on developing future leaders, particularly for female talent in our industry

Capital One is committed to diversity in the workplace.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact All information will be kept confidential and will only be used for the purpose of applying a reasonable adjustment.

For technical support or questions about Capital One\'s recruiting process, please send an email to

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Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).

Capital One