Recruit Policy Professionals
Discover why respected businesses, trade associations and regulators, trust us to hire their policy staff
Helping you to recruit policy professionals
Policy staff work within government bodies, charities, think tanks and trade associations, as well as in the private sector.
Policy professionals possess excellent communication and analytical skills, and an ability to identify, formulate and present complex information in a clear and concise manner, enabling decision-makers to decide on the best course of action. These policy specialists are diverse, resourceful and reasoned professionals, often working in challenging environments.
Our recruitment consultants understand that the policy recruitment sector is a fast-paced, dynamic environment and much like policy development, our recruitment involves research, consultation, and evaluation to identify high-calibre candidates.
Effective policy development requires a range of communication skills that reflect the agility of the market. Securing the right policy candidate involves an in-depth search of the market and a specialist recruitment process that spans each corner of the industry. Working closely with our clients, we successfully place professionals with the right knowledge and expertise.
As one of the few specialist policy recruitment consultancies, we have access to a diverse network of policy specialists. We continue to add to and enhance our understanding of the sector and work to constantly develop and maintain our talent network. Our consultants draw on years of experience to find candidates best suited for our clients’ needs, values, and industry vertical.
Using an innovative, research-led approach, we have developed a diverse network of talented policy professionals. This enables us to successfully generate referrals and identify the right candidates for clients. From graduate placements and those transitioning through senior roles, to heads of departments, managerial functions and executive-level policy positions we can help you to find the right people, with the skills and experience you require. Our recruiters know how important the role of a policy professional is to your organisation. In mirroring the process of the industry, we have unrivalled insight and awareness of the challenges and opportunities across a range of organisation sizes and sectors. Through this understanding, we develop long-term, successful partnerships with our clients.
We moved ahead with a retained engagement, offering us the most thorough search with a quicker turnaround than other engagement types we had experienced before.
We first contacted Anna in August 2022. We were looking for help to fill a vacant Policy Advisor role within our team. In a tricky market we had been struggling since the start of the year to find the right candidates through our usual channels. Anna took the time to understand the challenges we’d experienced, the support we needed, and nature of the role, before providing a solution.
We moved ahead with a retained engagement, offering us the most thorough search with a quicker turnaround than other engagement types we had experienced before. Given our needs, this approach seemed like a no-brainer! As an executive non-departmental body, we have quite specific supplier terms, which Anna was able to accommodate. This willingness to be flexible and collaborative to get the terms right enables us to work together in the longer term.
Anna worked with us speedily and met for a role brief to define expectations before establishing a strict timeframe to ensure we could close the vacancy before Christmas. We got going at the end of November with a timeframe of 6 weeks. However, following a one-stage interview process with 5 strong candidates, we made an appointment after just 5 weeks, and the successful candidate has now joined the team and is already an asset!
Ben Hardy - Policy & Government Relations Manager at CITB
We will use the retained search again as they demonstrated that their network and market mapping process uncovers a strong selection of candidates.
We have recently placed our Head of Public Affairs using Murray McIntosh, an important hire for us as we are about to enter a period of transition for the organisation so the role is key support to our Director of Policy and Public Affairs. We had engaged another agency but did not see the quality of candidate we needed.
Lauren talked us through the retained search method and explained how this ensures a thorough search, tied to a timeframe. Our PPA Director found this particularly useful, as we could work around his diary in advance.
We met to brief the role and define expectations on both sides, including a check-in point halfway through the market mapping process to ensure a relevant shortlist was coming together. Lauren was insightful, reliable and very transparent throughout and the process proved to be very efficient.
We started in January. The role was placed 6 weeks later after seeing 6 video interviews on The Lobby platform, inviting 3 candidates for first stage interview, and seeing 2 for a final stage.
We will use the retained search again in future as they demonstrated for us that their network and market mapping process uncovers a strong selection of candidates. That being said, they only introduce those who have demonstrated their interest and commitment to the role, so our time wasn’t wasted by dropouts and the offer process for our favoured candidate was very straightforward.
HR Manager - HR Manager at London chamber of Commerce and Industry
Multiple successful placements across our Public Policy team as well as our Communications and International department.
We started working with Murray McIntosh in 2016, and have since made multiple successful placements across our Public Policy team as well as our Communications and International department. From Economists to niche Tech and Innovation policy roles, to our first permanent Government Affairs hire based in Brussels, they’ve shown a real understanding of the market and our organisational needs,
The MM team always make the effort to understand requirements thoroughly and beyond that, appreciate the importance of culture fit, too.
Working on a retained basis, they develop their process to suit our timescales and always produce shortlists of talented individuals who are well qualified on skillset as well as motivation.
Of our most recent process for a Senior Policy Manager, working on trade policy, our Head of Policy commented on an extremely strong shortlist of stand-out candidates from which it was tough to make a choice!
Katie Milbourn - Director of Group HR at The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd
Renewable UK
Case Study
Our partnership with RenewableUK began in 2021, aligning with the appointment of a new Chief Executive. This leading and respected trade association were on the cusp of significant growth due to an increasing political awareness and national demand for renewable energy. As we had continued success within the energy market, we felt it was an exciting time to be working together.
As much of RenewableUK’s external affairs requires robust strategic communications and defined policy development, our first placement was an Onshore Wind Advocacy and Policy Coordinator (who has since been promoted to Head of Onshore Wind). This successful placement went on to spark a series of important hires and the development of new teams during a very competitive market. Our support crossed all functions from Policy to Business Development to Communications, all of which have helped their continued development at a critical time.
We worked entirely with RenewableUK on a retained basis, allowing us to take a dedicated and deep search into a market to secure the right talent.
- Executive Director of Policy and Engagement
- Policy Manager, Networks and Charging
- Onshore Wind Advocacy and Policy Coordinator
- Senior Business Development Executive
- Marketing and Communications Officer
Testimonial
We first approached Murray McIntosh to support the hiring of a key new role within our Strategic Communications teams. With the appointment of a new CEO, we were aware of the imminent changes so wanted to ensure we had a strong agency partnership we could return to. As we continue to grow, Murray McIntosh has provided us with undivided guidance and consultation across many key points above and beyond simply sourcing the best candidates for us - we look forward to continuing our work together!
Complimentary Specialisms
Our work across closely linked specialisms has allowed us to build a network and knowledge base that informs our work, improves our recruitment delivery and has given us insight into strategic and granular delivery.
Recruit Strategic Communications Professionals
Building relationships with key audiences to positively position an organisation through multi-layered communication and ensuring the right message lands with the right people at the right time.
Recruit Public Affairs Professionals
We use insight and influence to identify and recruit public affairs staff. In an environment comprised of disruption, regulation and increased public scrutiny, public affairs professionals are on hand to help organisations assess and navigate the political landscape.
Recruit Economics Professionals
Strategic thinking, research, and assessment to unearth high-quality professionals. Drawing on years of experience, our consultants select economists who will successfully navigate economic policy and offer leading economic analysis.
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Our successful retainer solutions
A retainer is a three-part process based on the key milestones of an assignment; commencement, shortlist and appointment.
We are accountable for a time-conscious, structured process which guarantees results.
Finding you the best in the market, not on the market.
Explore Process