Team: Advocacy
Location: Remote with regular travel - Must be a commutable distance to Edinburgh or Belfast
Work pattern: Mon-Fri, 7 hours per day. Occasional weekend or evening hours required
Salary: Up to £37,565.95 per year
Contract: Permanent
We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.
Will you join us and make life better for cats?
Responsibilities of our Advocacy and Government Relations Officer for Scotland/Northern Ireland:
- This role will cover both Scotland and Northern Ireland, the successful candidate will need to be able to travel between the two nations
- Lead engagement with the Scottish Government, the Northern Irish Executive, UK and local Government
- Support engagement with the UK Parliament
- Monitor parliamentary activity daily and conducting online research
- Preparing position statements and responses to external policy developments
- Developing public-facing charity campaigns including online resources, organising events and delivering presentations
- Media spokesperson for Cats Protection
About the Advocacy team:
You will be working as part of the Advocacy & Government Relations team in the Advocacy & Influence Directorate. The team is made up of 11 members who work across the whole of the UK speaking up for cats. Our campaigns change laws to better protect the health and welfare of cats.
What we’re looking for in our Advocacy and Government Relations Officer for Scotland/Northern Ireland:
- Experience of advocacy, public affairs or influencing work (which may include campaigns), ideally in Scotland/Northern Ireland
- Lives within a commutable distance of Edinburgh or Belfast or willing to relocate to the area
- Experience of policy work and research
- Experience of dealing with high profile/ VIP individuals e.g. Ministers, MSs, MPs, MSPs, MLAs, Government Officials, Local Councillors and officers, corporate executives; professional organisations
- Proven ability to multi-task and work independently on own initiative, accurately and under pressure
- Resilience and an ability to deal with potentially upsetting topics
- Experience of effective use of social media and the internet in an advocacy/campaign context
- A confident communicator with good written and oral skills; and great people skills
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to be flexible and adaptable
- Intermediate skills using Microsoft Office – Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
What we can offer you:
- range of health benefits
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service
- Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing
- Access to a wide range of internal and external learning and development opportunities
- A friendly and supportive team
- We are happy to wait for the right candidate, please still consider applying if you have several months’ notice period
- and much more, which you can learn about
Application closing date: 11th February 2026
Virtual interview date: 5th & 6th March 2026
Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to.
If successful, your recruitment journey will include:
1. Anonymised application form
2. Video screening
3. Virtual interview
Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes.
Please email us if you require any adjustments to be made for you to complete your application or to participate in the recruitment journey.
Registered Charity
501 - 1000
Making a better life for cats, because life is better with cats
Thank you!
About you
We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced individual, who is capable of creating and delivering a strategic approach to commercial partnership development. The role requires an inspiring, solutions-focused and forward-thinking individual, with a proven track record in commercial development. Candidates should have an understanding of the relationship between charities and the healthcare industry, including pharmaceutical companies, and be able to show relevant experience of taking a strategic approach to creating and further developing a commercial development proposition, within either the voluntary or private sectors.
A self-starter, happy working independently, and as part of a team, we are looking for a strategic thinker with well-developed business/commercial skills and the ability to translate strategy into action. The successful candidate will be an accomplished communicator, who is able to create new and build existing relationships, and work in partnership with internal and external stakeholders. As well as creating strategy, you will need to be comfortable delivering all aspects of business development including initial prospecting, preparation, presentation, negotiating, handling objections, closing, and ongoing partnerships stewardship and development.
About the role
After extensive scoping work throughout 2025, we are launching an exciting project to create a step change in the way we deliver our organisational knowledge, clinical expertise and information to add commercial value to potential customers across a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, diagnostic and pharmaceutical companies. This new role of Head of Commercial Development will own the creation, development and delivery of this work.
You will be responsible for leading the creation of a commercial proposition for Myeloma UK, which will deepen relationships with the healthcare industry, pharmaceutical industry and other associated sectors, to promote Myeloma UK’s knowledge and expertise for commercial return. You will lead, develop and deliver our commercial development strategy, to include research, partner development and ongoing portfolio growth and development, to deliver a long-term, sustainably growing income stream from Myeloma UK’s commercial relationships. In addition, you will be expected to develop strong collaborative relationships with all stakeholders, including key individuals across the organisation.
About us
Myeloma UK is the only UK charity focused on the incurable blood cancer, 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 person affected by myeloma 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 person living with myeloma, live well, for as long as possible. We are committed to diagnosing myeloma earlier, discovering and sharing knowledge, transforming the patient experience and influencing positive change.
Our culture
Wellbeing and staff engagement are at the heart of our culture. We offer employees a range of benefits including a pension salary exchange scheme, flexitime, flexible working which includes both home and hub-based office working, health plan, employee assistance plan and holiday purchase scheme. 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 us:
1. A cover letter (no more than 2 pages long) 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 at 9.00 am on 23 February 2026. First interviews will be held on 2 March 2026, with second and third stages taking place on 4 and 9 March 2026.
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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.