Salary: Circa £40,000
Location: Flexible, will need to travel as required
Reporting to: Director Scotland
Reference: PAMS/NOV/2024
Role information
Provide support to the director Scotland in collaboration with the Scotland team to educate and inform Holyrood members, prospective candidates, local politicians and influential stakeholders regarding shooting sports. Facilitate the development of strategic relationships between these entities and BASC-affiliated clubs, syndicates and members. Furthermore, oversee the management and execution of a range of activities within Scotland to enhance political engagement.
Our vision
All BASC employees are expected to contribute to our vision:
Fight for sustainable shooting and conservation of the countryside.
Key accountabilities and responsibilities
- Contribute to the execution of BASC’s political relations programme in Scotland under the guidance of the director Scotland.
- Advocate for the positive impact of shooting and conservation and BASC initiatives to Holyrood members, ministers, prospective candidates, local politicians and opinion leaders.
- Collaborate with regional teams of other country sports organisations, government and non-governmental bodies, as well as political structures in Scotland.
- Assist in the development and implementation of a comprehensive political engagement programme for BASC Scotland.
- Understand the Scottish parliament legislative process, as well as draft amendments and develop plans for the scrutiny of Bills.
- Maintain and further develop a database of political contacts.
- Identify and cultivate key political contacts, arranging and participating in individual or group meetings to facilitate strategic dialogue.
- Assist in introducing influential political stakeholders to shooting activities and BASC’s conservation work where appropriate.
- Support BASC’s representation at political party conferences in Scotland.
- Collaborate with stakeholders regarding relations with devolved legislative assemblies, as necessary.
- Contribute content to BASC publications related to political engagement and advocacy.
- Design and implement projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing membership retention and recruitment.
- Cultivate and sustain relationships with BASC-affiliated clubs, syndicates and trade members.
- Organise and facilitate membership events and activities, including initiatives related to Young Shots, sustainable ammunition and the promotion of game as healthy food.
- Actively identify and pursue additional opportunities for membership engagement.
- Lead the coordination and setup of the BASC Scotland presence at major events and exhibitions.
- Spearhead Eat Game events and associated activities.
- Establish strategic links between BASC clubs, syndicates, trade members, and key political figures – including parliamentarians, prospective candidates and local politicians – to ensure informed advocacy for shooting sports.
- Collaborate closely with the BASC communications team to identify and leverage media coverage opportunities, employing AI-driven analytics for media monitoring and sentiment analysis.
- Assist in overseeing BASC Scotland’s digital presence, including website content, social media, intranet and newsletters, leveraging AI tools to optimise content dissemination and member engagement.
- In partnership with BASC head office teams, produce briefing materials on shooting-related issues tailored for parliamentarians, prospective candidates, local politicians and opinion leaders.
- Assist in formulating analytical and strategic responses to a diverse range of public consultations in Scotland, utilising AI-driven data insights.
- Engage the broader public to normalise shooting and conservation, and promote game as a sustainable food source, including outreach to schools and youth groups.
- Provide a central point of contact for responding to public and member inquiries, directing them to appropriate channels within head office or regional centres as needed.
- Occasionally serve as a public media contact, identifying stories for publication in collaboration with the communications team.
- Ensure all administrative and financial responsibilities are executed to a high standard and in full compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Attend meetings at head office or other locations, as required.
| Experience | Essential skills, knowledge and achievements |
Degree educated preferable. Demonstrable experience in political affairs and public policy engagement. Proven experience in the development and execution of projects, adhering to timelines and budget constraints. Proficiency in utilising AI tools to enhance communication strategies, including media monitoring, content creation and data analytics. Experience with organisations involved in rural environment and development initiatives is advantageous. A results-driven approach, balanced with a commitment to collaborative teamwork. In-depth understanding of national and international legislative processes pertinent to shooting and conservation. Willingness to adapt working hours, including some weekends and out-of-hours commitments. | Profound knowledge and hands-on experience in countryside management practices, including gamekeeping, biodiversity conservation and shooting disciplines. Strong track record of fostering partnerships with political figures and stakeholders. Advanced analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in complex situations. Superior communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to negotiate and engage diplomatically. Strong problem-solving capabilities, coupled with the ability to work independently. |
General requirements
BASC head office is based in Marford Mill, Rossett, north Wales, with country and regional offices across the UK.
We have an agile working approach, with our core hours being between 8.30 – 5.30 Monday – Friday. We do expect some weekend and out-of-hours working to support our membership engagement. Your working hours are stated in your contract of employment.
You are expected to be flexible and agile and be willing to undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required.
All our employees must always act as positive ambassadors for the association when dealing with members or representing the association in other ways.
| Essential requirements for role | Delete as necessary |
| Driving licence | YES |
| DBS check | YES |
| Firearms certificate | NO |
| Shotgun certificate | NO |
