Job Title: Public Affairs Officer  

Location: Based in Central London with hybrid options 

Salary: £36K 

Reports to: Director of Campaigns and Engagement 

Line Management Responsibilities: None 

Duration: Permanent 

Hours: Full-Time Role (40 hours per week/ some flexible evenings and weekend hours) 

Introduction 

Established in 2008, UK Music is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. The music industry is seriously big business: employing over 220,000 people, the most recent figures from UK Music’s leading economic report, This Is Music 2025, show that the UK music industry generated £4.6 billion in exports and contributed £8 billion to the UK economy. 

UK Music represents all sectors of the music industry – bringing them together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music. Industry leaders value the space we provide to share ideas, concerns and goals, and trust us to speak authoritatively on their behalf. Policymakers, stakeholders and influencers who want to understand the music industry come to us for a clear, objective picture of how they can best serve the collective interests of our members. We amplify our members’ voices across a range of shared issues, and we promote the music industry as a key national asset to central, devolved, and local governments and Parliaments. 

Our work to deliver on this mission focuses on the following areas: 

• UK Music provides a platform for music industry leaders to share ideas, concerns and goals that allow us to speak on their behalf with an authoritative voice. 

• UK Music guides policy-makers towards decision-making in the best collective interests of our membership, now and for the future. 

• UK Music amplifies the voice of its member organisations, consistent with the collective interest, increasing and supporting their political access. 

• UK Music undertakes and publishes research on the economic and social value of music, acting as a resource for its membership and policymakers. 

• UK Music promotes the music industry as a key national asset to central, devolved and local governments and Parliaments, as well as other relevant policymakers, stakeholders and influencers. 

• UK Music advocates for copyright and related rights, which underpin music, to be recognised and valued at all levels of the UK government, throughout the wider economy and by consumers. 

• UK Music supports and encourages initiatives to grow the music industry’s diverse talent pipeline and nurture the development of our future workforce. 

• UK Music works to boost diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality in the music industry through a data-driven approach and supporting its members’ initiatives. 

 Role Overview 

Reporting to the Director of Campaigns and Engagement, this role will inform and support the implementation of the policy and public affairs strategy and campaign initiatives designed to support all sectors of the UK’s world-leading music industry. Working alongside the Policy and Campaigns Manager within the Policy and Public Affairs team, the successful applicant will maintain a high standard of insight and understanding of the UK government and policy landscape to strategically advance our members’ collective best interests and political access.  The Public Affairs Officer will work collaboratively with communications, education & skills, research and diversity workstreams to ensure cohesive information flow across work activities.  

 Role Profile 

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

The key duties and responsibilities for the Public Affairs Officer role include, but are not limited to the following; 

• Lead on the administration and organisation of political engagements from meetings and dinners to political and stakeholder attendance at music events and awards shows. 

• Monitor and prepare reports on developments in Parliament, Government, and devolved administrations relevant to the public affairs strategy. 

• Work collaboratively with the Policy and Campaign Manager to draft publications, briefings, and submissions for external audiences. 

• Attend and contribute to external events and meetings. 

• Assist with data collection and compiling of statistics to enhance a wider understanding of the music industry. 

• Provide administrative and Secretariat support to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Music, UK Music’s internal committees, and any ad-hoc policy-focused committees involving UK Music membership or broader sectoral coalitions. 

• Develop materials to support policy and campaign objectives. 

• Assist in building contacts with parliamentarians, UK Government officials, as well as local and regional government and devolved administrations. 

• Build UK Music’s engagement with external stakeholder groups, including local authorities and public petition-signers, to advance the strategic policy and campaign objectives. 

 Experience and Knowledge  

• Experience working in a political environment in a trade body, trade union, think tank, Parliament, Government (central, devolved, City Region or local authority) or other equivalent public policy environments is essential. 

• Excellent written communication skills and ability to work quickly and accurately to deadlines. 

• Excellent organisational skills, self-management and the ability to juggle multiple projects at the same time are vital. 

• Enthusiasm for music is essential. 

 Desirable Experience 

• An understanding of the music industry or a similar creative sector. 

• Strong existing networks within politics or public affairs. 

• Experience of organising events, even small-scale, is helpful. 

 Skills Required 

• Excellent oral and written skills. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills. 

• Strong analytical faculties and ability to make judgements based on competing evidence. 

• Confident in using a range of research materials and actively seeking new sources of information and data. 

• Ability to prioritise project workloads and to meet deadlines. 

• Collegiate approach to teamwork with the ability to muck in. 

• Strong project or event management and organisational skills. 

• Ability to take the initiative. 

• Strong IT skills – including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams 

 Company Benefits  

• Hybrid working 

• Pension – Employee contribution of 6%, which the company will then pay 9% (max contribution) 

• Annual leave 25 days, plus Bank Holidays 

• Extra holiday entitlement for the Christmas & New Year shutdown period 

• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave 

• Company Sick Pay 

• Specsavers free eye test and contribution to prescription glasses 

• Cyclescheme – salary sacrifice benefit 

• Travel Card Loan 

• Birthday Voucher 

 How to apply 

Please email a copy of your CV, a cover letter (not more than two pages) setting out how you meet the requirements within the role profile and a completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring form to Recruitment@ukmusic.org. 

 The recruitment process for this role will be a two-stage interview process. The first interview will be conducted virtually with a panel. The second interview is anticipated to be in person at a Central London location. Selected candidates will be asked to complete a role-related task. 

 If you would like an informal discussion about any aspect of the role or the application process, or require reasonable adjustments during the application and selection process, please contact Stephanie Haughton-Campbell, Chief Operating Officer, at stephanie.haughton-campbell@ukmusic.org. 

 Download the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form here. 

 Closing date: Tuesday 20 January 2026 

First online interviews:  Late January, early February 2026 

 UK Music is working to build a diverse and inclusive team and is committed to broadening the industry’s diversity. We welcome applications irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, or other personal circumstances. We are particularly keen to hear from those currently under-represented in the sector. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.