Advocacy advisor jobs in belfast

About you

Do you want to use your skills to make it possible for people with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, to live longer and better lives?

Myeloma UK is looking for a motivated and highly proactive Senior Policy Officer to join our Patient Advocacy team within the wider Research and Advocacy directorate. 

You will have experience in analysing, developing, and communicating complex policy issues, strong communication skills, and the ability to prioritise a fast-moving and wide-ranging workload.

You will also have experience working collaboratively and building relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. 

You will have the ability to present findings and recommendations to a range of audiences and produce high-quality succinct briefings in a timely fashion, underpinned by evidence.

Empathy and sensitivity are required to work closely with patients and their families and friends.

Experience in the health charity sector, public/patient engagement work, and working on the National Institute of Health Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) consultation processes would be beneficial but not essential.

About the role

As Senior Policy Officer you will be part of the Patient Advocacy team who work to ensure that the patient voice is heard and acted upon by UK and devolved nations healthcare policy decision makers. You will represent the charity externally including national meetings with senior healthcare decision makers.

Your role is vital to developing strategic approaches to health technology appraisals (HTA), regulatory pathways (MHRA), clinical development programmes (academic and industry clinical trials) and commissioning routes to broaden access to new myeloma drug therapies and diagnostic technologies.

You will apply your skills flexibly across key policy areas including access to treatment, patient voice, stakeholder engagement and general healthcare policy and work with colleagues in communications and fundraising to make sure our supporters and the wider myeloma community understand the positive impact we make.

About us

Myeloma UK is the only UK charity focused on myeloma and its related conditions.  We provide support and influence access to treatments, while researching a cure.  Thanks to life-extending treatments and support, today many people affected by myeloma are able to live longer and to live well.  Together, we support, so no one faces myeloma alone. 

We are committed to bringing together the best and brightest people to help us ensure that every patient has an empowered present and a hopeful future.

Our ultimate goal is to find a cure and make myeloma history. Until then, our mission is to help every patient live well with myeloma for as long as possible. We are committed to diagnosing myeloma earlier, discovering and sharing knowledge, transforming the patient experience and influencing positive change in care.

Our culture

Wellbeing and staff engagement are at the heart of our culture.  We offer our employees a range of benefits including a pension salary exchange scheme, flexitime, flexible working from home with hub-based office working, health plan, employee assistance plan and holiday purchase scheme and we are committed to providing learning and development opportunities for all our employees.

How to apply

If you think you would be a great fit for this role, get in touch and tell us more about yourself by sending the following:

1. A cover letter telling us more about you and what you think makes you a good fit for this role

2. A CV that sets out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements

Applications close 9am on 6 October 2025 and interviews will be held w/c 27 October 2025.

Myeloma UK is an equal opportunities employer and always welcomes applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of:

· sex

· race

· disability

· age

· sexual orientation

· gender reassignment

· religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity

Please note, you will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK prior to interview selection.

Shape the future of charity tax as Charity Tax Group’s first CEO, leading, influencing and representing charities on tax at the highest level.

Location: Remote with regular travel

About Charity Tax Group

CTG is a small, volunteer-led charity that, for over 40 years, has had a huge impact on the charity tax landscape, saving charities an estimated £10bn during that time, including VAT reliefs, the introduction of Gift Aid and significant policy influence. The cornerstone of that success has been a reputation for technical competence and professionalism, making us ‘the voice of charities on tax’ —engaging with government, HMRC and the wider voluntary sector.

We combine technical expertise with advocacy and education to help charities navigate complex tax challenges.

Last year, we were successful in registering as a charity, which opens up new opportunities such as funding and product savings. We also relaunched our annual tax conference, which was the first we had held since COVID.

About the role

We have recently become an independent charity and are recruiting our first Chief Executive to provide leadership, raise our profile and secure long-term sustainability. There is no handbook for what this role should be, and this will be an exciting opportunity to drive strategy, build influence with government and ensure CTG remains the trusted voice of charity tax.

As CEO, you will:

• Act as a credible spokesperson for CTG with government, HMRC, charities and the media
• Work with our Technical Advisor to sustain CTG’s authority and expertise
• Lead on fundraising and income diversification to ensure financial sustainability
• Help establish a vision and operational plan for the future of CTG

Who we are looking for

We are seeking an agile, outward-facing leader who can represent CTG at the highest level.

• Excellent communication, emotional intelligence and influencing skills
• Strong stakeholder and relationship-building ability
• Knowledge of charity tax, or the ability to learn and communicate complex detail quickly
• Fundraising or income generation experience
• Flexibility and motivation to make a difference

We are open to recruiting a leader who might be working towards some of the skills we are seeking, and have an excellent board of Trustees, and a strong technical advisor who can support any new CEO to develop.

We can provide exceptional levels of flexibility to the successful candidate, with most of the role being able to be fulfilled remotely; however, there will be instances where we also require flexibility, such as when we need to provide time-sensitive responses to the media.

If you are interested in this role, we encourage you to get in touch with Bill Yuksel at Peridot Partners for a conversation.

Please click 'redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Wednesday 8th October 2025.

Title:  Legal Coordinator

Reports to:  Head of Legal 

Salary:  £30,000-40,000 (depending on experience) 

Contract:  Permanent

Hours:  37.5 per week over 5 days (Monday to Friday) 

Holiday:  25 days per year plus bank holidays 

Location:  Remote with regular travel to London and across the UK

Probationary period:  3 months

Benefits:  An additional 3 days holiday between Christmas and New Year, Flexitime policy, 5% pension contribution, Cycle to Work scheme

Start date:  As soon as possible

We are River Action

We are a campaign organisation on a mission to rescue Britain's rivers from the impacts of agricultural, sewage and industrial pollution. We take a creative and bold approach to campaigning, blending sharp strategy with positively disruptive tactics to inspire real action. We support grassroots movements, galvanise public opinion, influence government policy and drive industry change.

We are a small, dedicated and talented team of positive disrupters and community mobilisers who work collaboratively to deliver our strategy to urgently protect and restore our rivers for the benefit of people and nature.

Find out more about our mission and our team on our website. 

Who we’re looking for

Do you want to be part of a movement making waves to clean up the UK’s rivers? Are you passionate about using the law as a tool for change? Do you have the legal and research skills to amplify our impact? If so, we want you to join our team. 

We are looking for a highly capable, ambitious, well-organised, energetic, proactive and diligent individual with legal experience (academic or professional) to play an integral role in developing and delivering our growing legal, policy and advocacy work.

You don’t need to be a qualified or practising lawyer, but you do need to have a law degree or equivalent and familiarity with environmental law. You’ll understand the importance of winning in both courts of law and of public opinion. You’ll be passionate, eager to learn and committed to making change happen quickly. 

If you’re committed to River Action’s mission and want to be at the forefront of environmental law, policy and advocacy, we’d love to hear from you.

Essential experience and skills

• Demonstrable UK legal experience (academic and/or professional), ideally including environmental, public and administrative law. A law degree or equivalent is required.

• Excellent legal research, drafting and communication skills.

• Ability to translate complex legal issues into accessible and impactful messaging.

• Strong organisational and interpersonal skills with demonstrable experience of coordinating multiple projects, working flexibly and at a fast pace.

• Good understanding of strategic litigation and using the law as a tool for change.

• Proven ability to produce high quality work under pressure.

• Excellent IT skills. 

• Commitment to River Action’s mission and to working collaboratively across the sector.

Desirable experience and skills

• Qualification as a solicitor or barrister.

• Experience working in a similar role.

• Experience working in the UK’s environmental sector.

• Experience with strategic litigation and using the law as a tool for change.

• Experience with instructing and managing external lawyers. 

• Experience working with parliamentarians and of UK parliamentary procedures. 

• Media/spokesperson experience.

What you’ll be doing

As Legal Coordinator, you will play a crucial role in shaping River Action’s fight for cleaner rivers by acting as the link between legal expertise provided by external lawyers and River Action’s day-to-day campaigning, policy, advocacy and operational work. 

The role will involve working closely with River Action’s Head of Legal to use the law and legal strategies to strengthen and improve environmental protection of the UK’s rivers. This exciting role will include scoping, developing and managing strategic litigation to achieve systemic change as well as supporting River Action’s policy and advocacy work. You’ll also support the River Action team to build successful campaigns to challenge polluters, hold government and regulators accountable, and push for policy reform.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Support the Head of Legal in scoping, developing and managing River Action’s legal work, including commissioning legal services from external lawyers and providing instructions on legal matters. 

• Produce legal research and analysis to inform and support River Action’s strategic litigation, policy and advocacy work.

• Work with the campaigns team to develop impactful legal actions as part of creative and positively disruptive campaigns to deliver organisational goals.

• Work with the communities team to identify opportunities for River Action to support communities through legal action, including by developing the River Rescue Kit and other initiatives to extend impact.

• Engage with and obtain information and evidence from claimants, complainants, expert witnesses and other sources to support legal actions and campaigns.

• Develop an in-depth understanding of UK legal and policy frameworks relating to rivers and ensure colleagues are kept up to date with changes. 

• Monitor legal developments including caselaw and legislative proposals, working closely with the Head of Legal to understand the implications and opportunities for River Action’s work. 

• Ensure team members are well-briefed on the latest legal developments (both River Action’s work and wider developments) to support their external engagement. 

• Prepare and contribute to legal and policy briefings for River Action and its eNGO partners and for public and political audiences.

• Contribute to River Action’s policy and advocacy work, ensuring our positions are considered and evidenced. 

• Contribute to shaping River Action’s positions and key messaging so they are relevant and accurate. 

• Provide legal support for River Action’s campaigning and operational activities, including by researching relevant laws and by commissioning external legal advice on non-contentious matters. 

• Support colleagues to ensure River Action’s campaigning and communication activities and outputs are legally compliant and help to protect the charity from defamation, copyright infringement or other claims. 

• Write articles and act as spokesperson for River Action in owned and earned media.

• Work across the team to track, record and report impact.

• Support River Action’s fundraising activities including contributing towards funding proposals, pitching and reporting.

• Review and respond to legal queries that come to River Action, escalating to the Head of Legal or other colleagues as appropriate.

• Administrative duties including developing and maintaining River Action’s legal documentation, processes and systems on the organisation’s shared drive. 

• Build relationships and partnerships across the legal sector and environmental sector to inform River Action’s work and contribute to the wider movement. 

General duties and responsibilities

• Follow all charity policies and procedures.

• Actively participate as part of the team.

• Help to promote a positive, healthy and happy work environment and team culture.

• Actively engage in professional development and training.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across River Action, external lawyers and stakeholders to deliver our mission.

• Undertake any other duties as reasonably required. 

As a small and agile team, we value flexibility. While these are the core responsibilities, staff may be asked to take on additional tasks as needed. If any task becomes a regular duty, the job description will be updated in consultation with the staff member. 

Location

You will work from home with some travel required to London and across the UK. 

The full team meets in person at least four times per year. These are multi-day meetings held in different locations in the UK. Additional UK travel will also be required. The fast-paced nature of our work and small size of our organisation means we are in very regular contact, ensuring a strong connection across the team. 

Diversity and inclusion

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from candidates who are underrepresented in the environment sector. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? We know that long lists can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you like the look of this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description, we’d still love to hear from you. You may be just the right person for this role.

How to apply

To apply, please submit to jobs at riveractionuk dot com with the subject ‘Legal Coordinator’:

• your CV (2 pages), and 

• a cover letter (2 pages) explaining why you want to work for River Action and how your experience and skills meet the requirements of the role.

Only applications including both documents will be accepted. Please provide your documents in pdf format. 

Application process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until 23:59 on Monday 29 September 2025.

Should your application be selected during sift, the next stage will involve an initial 15-minute interview. You may then be invited to attend a second interview with a panel. 

Initial interviews will be held on 1 and 2 October 2025 and panel interviews will be held in w/c 6 October 2025, all via video conference. For panel interviews, some questions will be provided in advance for equity and to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and experience most effectively. 

Please indicate in your covering letter or in a covering email your availability for interviews.

If you have any questions about the role or your application, please contact us on jobs at riveractionuk dot com.

Do you want to make a meaningful difference in local communities?

We are looking for a Community Support Coordinator to lead and develop our Community Support Volunteer service. You will ensure support for people living with and affected by MND is accessible, safe and inclusive. You will build strong partnerships with health and social care professionals, recruit, manage and guide volunteers, and help ensure individuals have choice and control in the support they receive.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience in managing and co-ordinating volunteers, strong communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across a range of stakeholders. The Community Support Coordinator will play a key role in strengthening local services and supporting volunteers to feel valued and effective in their roles.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and support a team of Community Support Volunteers, ensuring services are safe, inclusive and meet local needs
• Provide guidance to volunteers on complex care and support issues, including signposting to other services
• Respond promptly to enquiries and referrals, offering information and facilitating access to support and resources
• Build and maintain effective relationships with health and social care professionals and local partners
• Support branches and groups to plan and deliver activities that respond to local needs
• Recruit, induct and develop volunteers, ensuring they are well supported and connected
• Enable effective communication and collaboration between volunteers, staff and partners
• Contribute to service development, sharing feedback and identifying opportunities for improvement

About You:

• Experience leading or co-ordinating groups of volunteers
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present and influence effectively
• Ability to assess and respond to support needs through a person-centred approach
• Understanding of care and support services across statutory, private or voluntary sectors, and the role of volunteers
• Experience of working with people at risk of harm, and an understanding of safeguarding responsibilities
• Ability to build networks and maintain positive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusive practice
• Confident in prioritising, planning and making decisions independently
• Willingness to work flexibly, including some evenings and weekends
• A full driving licence

About Us:

Our vision is a world free from MND. Our mission is to improve care and support for people with MND, their families and carers. We fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments and brings us closer to a cure for MND. The Association also campaigns and raises awareness so the needs of people with MND, and everyone who cares for them, are recognised, and addressed by wider society.

What We Offer:

• 28 days holiday, increasing to 33 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays.
• Access to UK Healthcare, including dental, eyecare, health screenings, and therapies.
• 24/7 GP access via phone and video.
• Life assurance and confidential counselling helplines.
• Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Buy/Sell Annual Leave).
• Access to Benefit Hub for discounts on everyday shopping.
• Enhanced pension scheme.
• Opportunities for training and personal development.
• Hybrid working.

The full job description and information about working for the MND Association is available in the candidate pack.

Salary: £37,300 per annum (FTE) £30,243 pro rata

Hours: 30 hours per week

Contract: 12-month Fixed Term Contract

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We work to remove barriers for everyone affected by MND, employees, volunteers, and stakeholders. As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the role's requirements.

Hybrid Working and Flexibility: This role is home-based with travel expectations across the designated region: Northern Ireland. This role will also include occasional travel to Northampton as required.

Together, the charities Sands and Tommy’s have formed a Joint Policy Unit (JPU) focussed on achieving policy change that will save more babies’ lives during pregnancy and the neonatal period and on tackling inequalities in loss, so that everyone can benefit from the best possible outcomes.

The JPU’s mission is to secure policy change that will reduce rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, pre-term birth and neonatal death, and to work to eliminate inequalities in these outcomes.

While there is widespread agreement on the need for change to improve the safety of maternity and neonatal services, what that change looks like is not clear.  To save more babies’ lives we believe that a continued focus is required, and that governments should set new commitments to reduce perinatal mortality and preterm births, focused on matching the best-performing countries in Europe.

This role will be crucial to the continued success of the JPU unit; leading, shaping and coordinating all the unit’s work. 

We are looking for an independent and assertive problem-solver, a policy expert who can manage multiple priorities, take the initiative, lead the national conversation and is as excited as we are about taking the helm of this venture for both of our organisations.

The successful candidate will need to have a substantial track record of effectively leading and implementing national policy and influencing programmes, driving change and achieving the desired impact.

You will have considerable experience across research, data analysis, policy development, public affairs and communications.  Additionally, you will be well-versed in research and data management, including analysing complex data and evaluating policy developments.

Experience of being a member of a senior management team with successful, significant and relevant management and leadership experience is also essential.