Job profile

Public Policy Manager

Public Policy Manager Job Profile

What is a Public Policy Manager?

A Public Policy Manager is responsible for directing and overseeing how legislative measures are carried out within the local or national government, non-governmental organisations  (NGOs) or within the private sector. Depending on the company that employs them, Public Policy Managers oversee and manage the work of various policy researchers, analysts and officers.

Public Policy is defined as a collection of laws, rules, activities, policies, and a variety of other elements pertaining to a certain issue. Education, advocacy groups, lobbying influence, and clashing interests of special interest groups impact a nation’s public policy throughout time.

As a result, the public policy process is a very dynamic and sophisticated procedure that takes place through public forums. First, the public’s issues are recognised and identified. And the policymaking process helps the resolution of the issues. These policies might be of the political, economic, cultural, or social variety.

Public policies have the ultimate aim to fulfil certain goals the government has in mind. The wellbeing of the nation’s population is the driving force behind the development and execution of these programs. 

Careers in public policy provide satisfaction since you may see your effort having a big influence on communities. Public Policy Managers, particularly those working for non-profits and the government, have been found to be motivated by a sense of public duty.

Responsibilities

As a Public Policy Manager your responsibilities will depend on the policy sector and company that employs you. Some of them will include :

  • Collaborating with the Director of Policy and the Chief Executive to establish the strategic policy goals.
  • Managing and organising activities for Policy Officers
  • Leading the implementation of influencing strategy and building evidence base
  • Developing new relationships with key stakeholders at the national and local levels
  • Managing the delivery of policy programs, with management responsibility for major research and policy activities, and influencing campaigns.
  • Collaborating with the marketing team to design and implement tactics to ensure policy impact.
  • Creating new funding applications and discovering research and policy possibilities that further influencing aims and contribute to policy team fundraising (if applicable).
  • Managing key sector relationships and joint submissions
  • Line management responsibility for the Policy personnel, supporting the delivery of their work and development
  • Speaking publicly on member meetings and events appropriately representing the organisation and working effectively with other organisations on public policy work.

Salary

In the UK, the national average income for a Public Policy Manager amounts to £59,026. Ranging from £38,000 to £92,000. Due to the large number of businesses that seek to employ Public Policy Managers, London salaries are significantly higher than they are in the rest of the UK. London based salaries for Public Policy Managers range from £42,000 to £97,000 with an average of £63,785 per year.

Working Hours and Work Location 

As a Public Policy Manager you’ll be working a typical work week, full-time. 

When it comes to meetings and events or in order to meet deadlines in a high-profile or fast-moving policy field, some jobs may require longer hours or more irregular hours, as well as evenings and weekends.

Most public and charitable organisations offer some form of flexible working, such as part-time positions, flexible hours, or job sharing. The specifics of your agreements will be determined by your company.

The majority of Public Policy Managers duties are office-based, although some travel will be required for meetings, conferences, and events. The level of your involvement will be determined by the nature of your job.

Qualifications

Research, political science, economics, statistics, psychology, and the humanities are all part of the public policy job description. Researching, assessing, and shaping public policy is the focus of any profession in public policy.

To make educated policy suggestions, a Public Policy Manager necessitates knowledge of the social sciences and humanities, as well as statistics.

Because they are continually communicating their work to diverse stakeholders, Public Policy Managers are also good communicators.

The minimal educational qualifications for a Public Policy Manager is a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as: 

  • Public administration
  • Social policy
  • Economics
  • Law
  • Anthropology
  • Business
  • Politics and internal relations
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Master’s degrees are mandatory in some specialised fields of work, and can ensure access to better positions and employment with high profile companies. 

Due to the requirement to comprehend legal factors impacting policy formation and revisions, some Public Policy Managers also pursue a law degree.

Public Policy Managers should also have a thorough awareness of the industry and current market circumstances, as well as strong analytical and organisational abilities.

Graduate certificate programs in the discipline are also available to professionals in the industry.

These short courses are designed for public policy practitioners who want to improve their specialist knowledge and abilities in areas including public management and leadership, government management, and strategic planning and public policy. Some of them include:

  • Public Management and Governance in a Changing World 
  • Policy Formulation and Analysis in Healthcare 
  • Managing Public Money 
  • Democracy, Governance and Participation 

Skills

In order to work as a Public Policy Manager you will have to possess or acquire the following skills:

must have skills:
  • Communication skills, especially public speaking. Strong communication skills are vital if you want to pursue a career in public policy. You need to be able to convey information effectively and convincingly, whether in writing, vocally, or through multimedia.
  • In-depth understanding of legal, political, social, economic, and technical challenges.
  • The capacity to do research in order to acquire or evaluate data and synthesise knowledge.
  • Strategic decision-making and the capacity to work independently on many projects at the same time are required.
  • The capability of working with cross-functional teams and a wide range of stakeholders, as well as implementing plans to achieve solutions
  • Understanding of international, national, and local legislative frameworks
  • Strong interpersonal, negotiating, and conflict-resolution abilities.
  • Excellent organisation and detail-oriented abilities.
  • Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
  • The ability to prioritise tasks and allocate them as needed.
  • IT knowledge

Work experience

Your work experience as a Public Policy Manager will depend on the type of company that you work for and the area of public policy. 

The three types of public policies are:

  • Regulatory- Regulatory policies impose restrictions on sectors, firms, and enterprises, with the private sector bearing the brunt of the impact. Social policies such as health policies, on the other hand, might be included in this category. These policies are laws that impose obligations or limitations on a certain industry.
  • Restrictive- A restrictive policy is one that makes certain conduct unlawful and is accompanied by criminal consequences. Economic policies and Public policies are the two forms of restrictive policies.
  • Facilitating policies-Facilitating policies encourage collaboration and interaction between or among government agencies at all levels, including national, regional, and local, or a combination of the three.


Your work experience as a Public Policy Manager will greatly depend on the policy area that you decide to work in.

As a Public Policy Manager you will be most likely working in one of the following policy areas:

  • Community- Covers a wide variety of policy topics such as growth, housing, culture, regulatory services, and assisting newcomers.
  • Community Safety- Policies that help to make local communities safe places to live, work, and visit by addressing local challenges such as anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, and modern slavery.
  • Culture, Tourism, Leisure and Sport- Policies that cover:
  • Critical planning and infrastructure development for the tourism economy and creative sectors
  • Assistance with business, visitor information, and destination promotion
  • Investments in library services, parks, major sporting events, swimming pools, grass fields, sports halls, health and fitness facilities, museums, theatres, public archives, galleries, monuments, historic buildings, events, and festivals.
  • Devolution- Policies concerning the transfer of powers from central government to local government.
  • Economic Growth- Policies addressing local economic concerns, with an emphasis on economic growth and employment creation. These are critical in promoting a long-term and inclusive economic recovery.
  • Employment and Skills- Policies covering employment, skills, funding and adult education.
  • Climate, Environment and Waste- Policies concerning climate change, natural environment, waste and disposal.
  • Finance and Business Rates- Policies concerning local and government finance systems and financial challenges.
  • Fire and Rescue- Policies that govern fire and rescue areas are crucial in keeping our communities safe and secure. 
  • Housing and Planning- These policies aim to regulate concerns such as housebuilders, housing facilitators, landlords, planners, transportation, and infrastructure, responsibilities towards guardians of the vulnerable and homeless and democratic accountability to communities.
  • Licences, Regulations and Trading Standards- Policies governing trade standards, environmental health, and licensing are critical to keeping communities safe and companies thriving.
  • Severe Weather- Policies aimed towards regulating actions in cases of severe weather conditions. 
  • Social Care, Health and Integration- Policies are set forth in order for people to achieve the best possible outcomes across health wellbeing and social care.
  • Transport- Policies regulating transport networks that play a vital role in our communities, providing access to employment opportunities, healthcare and education, as well as unlocking economic opportunities in tourism and leisure.
  • Welfare reform- Policies that regulate the impact and implementation of the Government’s substantial programme of welfare reforms

Career prospects

Public policy affects every element of daily life and has a significant impact on social capital. The major aim of public policy experts is to influence and, if necessary, modify policy.

As a prospective student and a future Public Policy Manager, you are probably asking yourself: What Can You Do with a Public Administration Master’s Degree? 

There are policy-related positions in every industry.  A Master of Public Administration  (MPA), might lead you to numerous positions within Public Policy Management, covering the areas like law, law enforcement, justice, lobbying, policy research, and advocacy. The evolving public interests, global events, and ever-changing political and economic situations necessitate sound policies that enhance government trust are resulting in larger demand for Public Policy Managers.

Related Courses

This is a full-time program provided at the University of the West of Scotland’s London Campus, in the heart of the UK’s economic core. Students interested in a career in Public Policy Management will benefit from the one-year program, as it will prepare them for work in public and third-sector organisations. This class combines social science and communication.

Other related courses

FAQ Summary

A Public Policy Manager is responsible for directing and overseeing how legislative measures are carried out within the local or national government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or within the private sector. Depending on the company that employs them, Public Policy Managers oversee and manage the work of various policy researchers, analysts and officers.

In the UK, the national average income for a Public Policy Manager amounts to £59,026. Ranging from £38,000 to £92,000

Research, political science, economics, statistics, psychology, and the humanities are all part of the public policy job description. Researching, assessing, and shaping public policy is the focus of any profession in public policy. To make educated policy suggestions, a Public Policy Manager necessitates knowledge of the social sciences and humanities, as well as statistics.

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