Alcohol Policy Officer - Edinburgh

The Scotch Whisky industry has responsibility at its core. All member companies of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) sign up to our code of responsible marketing and work to promote responsible consumption. We want to ensure that best practice is shared across the industry and that the industry can contribute to the alcohol policy debate. The Alcohol Policy Officer will support member companies with detailed analysis and clear information on alcohol in society topics. You will monitor both legislation and developing issues and contribute to developing industry policy positions with the Head of Alcohol Policy. You will help represent the SWA and our member companies at external meetings, setting out the industry views on different policy approaches, engaging government and regulatory bodies where needed.

You will lead the monitoring and analysis of alcohol policy developments at the UK and multilateral level. Collaborating closely with colleagues in the International Team, you will provide support on developments in individual markets when required.

You will also support the development of the SWA’s programmes and initiatives to promote responsible consumption and tackle harmful drinking, working closely with the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership (SAIP), Drinkaware and Portman Group.

The role will be based within the SWA’s Strategy & Communications Team, and the post holder will be responsible for;

• Monitoring and analysis of the evolving debate on alcohol in society in the UK and at the multilateral level.
• Stakeholder engagement to clearly and concisely set out the industry’s position on different policy approaches to different audiences.
• Identifying relevant information from complex areas of policy development, research and statistical trends.
• Supporting the development of the SWA programmes and initiatives to promote responsible consumption and tackle harmful drinking, including the Made to be Measured campaign; Community Alcohol Partnership multi-year project; SWA Responsible Marketing Code and SAIP campaigns.
• Policy analysis and development, writing briefings and reports, responding to official consultations, and representing the SWA at external meetings and events as required.

The Scotch Whisky Association works for and on behalf of our members to protect and secure a sustainable future for the Scotch Whisky industry.  We can offer the right candidate the opportunity to join a thriving industry of diverse opportunities, working collaboratively with passionate, knowledgeable colleagues.

Our People and Culture Plan ensures employees are at the forefront of our minds. Some of our benefits are:

• We review salaries regularly, working with external consultants to ensure our people are rewarded fairly.
• We offer employer pension contributions matching employee contributions plus 3%, up to a maximum of 15%.
• We have several engagement days throughout the year as well as activity days to take us away from the office to collaborate, communicate and strengthen our team.
• We offer 25 days annual leave, as well as 3 additional days between Christmas and New Year and 9 public holidays.
• Our people policies reflect our investment in both physical and mental wellbeing.  We provide a cycle to work scheme, BUPA healthcare (after two years’ service), life assurance and group income protection packages alongside retirement and financial planning training.
• We offer personal and professional career development opportunities, with a focus on ensuring our people are equipped with the tools they need to do their job and progress their career.
• Our flexitime and hybrid working policies support our people to find the best individual balance between work and life commitments. Our hybrid working policy requires 2 days per week in the office, we are open to considering flexible working requests.

We strive to foster a workplace which has equal opportunities for all employees.  We want to ensure that each person is included, feels valued and is respected. Every SWA employee contributes to our shared success, and we welcome you no matter your background, how you look or how you identify.

We want to prepare candidates for our recruitment process so you know what will happen next. Our provisional timeframes will see our applications window close on the 13th November 2024 with a first round of interviews to be held on the week commencing 25th November 2024.