Director of policy jobs in leeds city centre, west yorkshire

Overview

High energy costs are a nightmare for millions of UK households, while huge profits are made at our expense. Poor housing and heating systems are a key part of the problem, along with dependence on polluting, climate-changing fossil fuels. FPA is a campaigning organisation that sets out to attack the root causes of fuel poverty along with the specific injustices facing people and communities. We want to see the UK’s energy system decarbonised as rapidly as possible, with a just transition for communities and workers.that includes affordability. 

Working closely with pensioners groups, trades unions, disabled campaigners, tenants’ organisations and others on the frontline of fuel poverty, we’re using protest and direct action to fight for real, sustainable solutions to the cold homes crisis. We are looking for a committed senior organiser, who shares our passion and values, to bring energy and imagination to developing our base and supporting our members to build their power.

About the role

Fuel Poverty Action (FPA) was started in 2011 by climate activists who wanted to ensure that the green energy transition doesn’t happen at the expense of those with less social and economic power. Rather, they saw the break with fossil fuels as an opportunity to end the scourge of fuel poverty in the UK - a chance to rethink priorities and design inequality out of the energy system.

Immediately, they were drawn into community-based struggles for energy justice, against false, profit-driven solutions and maladministration of ‘green’ measures with no accountability to tenants and residents.

Over the years others joined the fight, growing FPA to a small membership-led organisation comprising people at the sharp end of fuel poverty - people of all ages and backgrounds, mainly located in London. Since 2022, funding has enabled us to employ a small, dispersed team who are accountable to directors and a membership that is now UK-wide. 

We are now looking for an experienced, senior organiser to help FPA grow and evolve our membership network further. We want to reach more people and support members to be active within FPA so that we can build our political impact and remain meaningfully member-led. 

We are seeking a flexible person with significant leadership experience who will be confident working as part of a small team, capable of outward facing work and internal management. You will have experience of organising in collective campaigns,  including digitally, and a background in grassroots or community-based action, with a strong commitment to inclusive and anti-oppressive practice.

As the Organising Lead, you will join our Campaigns Lead and Operations Lead as the third pillar of our self-managing Coordination Team. While line-managing other colleagues and enabling the contributions of members who are unpaid, you will yourself be a member of FPA, and answerable to the group. 

We use the digital platform Action Network to run campaigns and communicate with FPA supporters. Our ideal candidate would have the skills to incorporate ladders, tags and custom fields into our digital campaigns to maximise online to offline impact and convert list growth into membership. They would also actively maintain relationships with existing members who are not always confident with online communication tools. 

There is a lot of scope to bring new ideas and perspectives to shape our work.

What you might find yourself doing:

Strategy development: Leading on creation of a new membership growth and retention strategy in collaboration with existing members

Growing our base: Boosting in-person recruitment and using Action Network to build a digital pipeline into membership

Communications: Ensuring members are connected and informed through one-to-one calls, emails, members’ section of the website, WhatsApp groups and other platforms. 

Member development: Building one-to-one relationships with members, understanding their interests, linking them to opportunities and providing feedback and follow-up

Member activation: Supporting members to participate in our own and allies’ events, actions and mobilisations, digitally and on the ground

Speaker invitations: Representing FPA at events and in media as well as supporting members to do so

Capacity building and training: Providing tools, advice and training to members and supporters, including to FPA’s local groups in Glasgow, Manchester and London

Administration: Managing onboarding systems and securely maintaining records

Organisational management: As part of the self-managing Coordination Team

Line management: Providing light touch management for one or more colleagues

Online meetings: Including prospective member induction interviews and regular members’ meetings which you organise and facilitate

About You

Essential requirements. You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• are highly organised, comfortable self-managing and detail-oprientated in routine admin tasks

• have demonstrable skills in organisational and people management that are relevant for a remote team

• are instinctively collaborative and able to communicate warmly, openly and honestly with colleagues

• are self-motivated, flexible and positive about remote team working, ready to take responsibility for pacing yourself and maintaining your well-being at busy times

• have excellent communication skills, including verbal, written, editing, IT skills, and listening 

• are agile in your use of digital platforms to communicate with different audiences

• have a strong affinity with FPA’s aims, objectives and organisational values of solidarity, empathy and respect

• have a proven understanding of anti-oppression work and commitment to tackling all institutional forms of oppression, bigotry and exclusion 

• have excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and sensitively, and work effectively with diverse individuals, including those directly impacted by injustice and oppression 

• are confident and creative in your approach to running online and in-person meetings

• have several years of experience in organising or campaigning on issues of poverty and/or the climate, housing or energy 

It is also desirable (but not necessary) for you to have:

• experience of using Action Network or similar platforms to build an activist pipeline

• the skills to craft compelling calls to action and design digital content optimised for engagement

• experience of providing training tools, skills and hand-holding to those at the sharp end of the polycrisis

• links and ongoing relationships with networks and movements with similar aims or values to Fuel Poverty Action

• experience of horizontal organisations and ways to promote staff wellbeing and sustainable remote working 

Compensation Policy 

We’ll compensate team members on the following basis:

• All salaried team members are contracted on the same terms and conditions

• We have a 30 hour week maximum for all team members - most commonly worked as 4 x 7.5 hour days

• Team members are paid an equitable and sustainable compensation rate which is the pro rate equivalent to a full-time (5 day) salary of £40-45,000, regardless of role or level of experience

• Our compensation rates have been set following Platform’s best practice Social Justice Waging System:

Annual salary (30 hours per week):

• Band 1 - No dependents or children and inherited wealth: £32,000 

• Band 2 - One or more children or dependents and inherited wealth OR No inherited wealth but no children or dependents: £34,000

• Band 3 - One or more more children or dependents and no inherited wealth: £36,000 

Further details

• 3% employer-matched pension

• Genuinely flexible working

• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays

• A progressive parental leave policy

•  £15 / month working-from-home broadband stipend 

We have no central office or workspace budget, so it is imperative that you are comfortable working from home

Some costs-paid travel and monthly evening and occasional weekend working will be required

We particularly welcome applications from marginalised groups, especially people of colour and other ethnic minorities, people who identify as LGBTQIA, disabled people and those who identify as working class or have done so in the past 

The appointment will be for one year with a hope of extension, funding permitting, and a four month probationary period

Are you passionate about using your experience gained from the construction sector to help community organisations to manage and develop assets, for the benefit of the wider community and the environment? So are we.

Do you have experience of supporting a wide range of land or building projects in the charity sector as well as strong people management skills and the ability to nurture, coach and empower people?

We are recruiting a Capital Projects Manager to join our capital projects team, who are responsible for working with our regional funding teams across England  to deliver our strategy It Starts with Community and the ambitions of our England Portfolio. The role will advise, support and monitor the delivery of live projects alongside our Funding Officers and Managers working in across the Yorkshire & Humber, North East & Cumbria and North West.

When we support capital projects, by which we mean land, buildings and their improvement / refurbishment, we seek to reflect the needs of local communities and the environment. This means that we will fund a wide range of capital projects, from small scale modernisations to new community buildings or landscapes.

• You will be a key part of a small team providing grant making support to ensure that advice is given where it matters most across our regional teams.
• You will provide in-depth advice on land and building projects throughout the whole lifecycle of our grant making (pre-application, assessment, decision making, grant management and build, and learning).
• You will strive for continuous improvement in a capital grant making processes; working with colleagues from other teams to develop and update guidance and practice within the Fund.
• You will have strong attention to detail as you will be responsible for risk management, budget, decision-making and quality assurance activities associated with supporting the delivery of capital funding by Funding Officers.
• Your excellent people management skills will be important as you work with Funding Officers in England to nurture, inspire and empower them,
• Your project management skills will be equally solid, with an ability to delegate when necessary, and your decision-making will be informed by robust analysis and critical assessment. You will have a commitment to delivering excellent customer service and use feedback to improve what we do whilst also drawing on your own learning and experience.

Interview Date: 30 June, 1 July -face to face -Manchester

Location: Based out of one of our offices; Newcastle, Manchester or Leeds – this role is to support our Y&H, NE&C, NW regions

We have a hybrid approach to working, work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate.

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below:

Essential criteria

• BSc / BA qualification (or equivalent experience) in a construction, property management or another environment related discipline
• Experience of working in an advisory capacity within the field of construction and or community projects
• Experience of building capability and expertise in others and providing ongoing support and communicating technical issues in an accessible way.
• Experience of the full lifecycle of capital projects including planning, design, cost estimates, procurement, project and contract management, risk controls and relevant statutory legislation.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence to operate in all environments

Desirable criteria

• Experience of grant making in the charity sector.
• Experience of developing and managing budgets and projects.
• Experience or knowledge of the following would be useful: accessible environments, habitat creation or management, and energy conservation in buildings.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed. 

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why the National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

About the role

In order to reach and support more kinship carers with these programmes and our other services, we have developed a new Marketing Team to develop and deliver integrated, strategic and creative marketing and engagement campaigns and strategies.  This team is now established with clear plans to engage kinship carer audiences, rooted in insights.

Strategic engagement with professionals from the education sector as a conduit to engage kinship carers in our services offer is a key part of this role, and a relatively new area of focus for Kinship.  Delivering against a strategic plan already in place, you will be managing relationships and marketing approaches to Virtual Schools, select Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and other education professionals through umbrella bodies and associations to execute this.

Who we're looking for

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, senior-level marketeer or engagement professional with a strong track record in further developing and delivering successful multi-channel marketing strategies targeted at a range of audiences to join us as a Head of Marketing and Strategic Engagement to oversee this team.  Experience in working in the education sector, or an engagement role would be advantageous.

We’re looking for someone excited to hit the ground running, able to plan strategically, deliver operationally and take creative approaches to maximising engagement and acquisition with a small in-house team. A strategic thinker and natural collaborator, you’ll be able to work across the organisation to further develop integrated marketing across Kinship’s services and programmes, and ensure these align with our wider external communications, including to our Kinship Community of more than 12,000 carers.

You will have significant experience in leading marketing teams and have demonstrable experience in delivering successful, engaging marketing and engagement strategies. You’ll be comfortable getting very involved in the operational delivery of our marketing and engagement plans, supporting your team and demonstrating an insight and audience-led approach to both digital and offline marketing, thriving in an environment where you’ll be responsible for overseeing the progress of various strands of marketing activity.

Key responsibilities include:

• Using data and market insights, develop and oversee the implementation of high-quality, integrated and strategic marketing and engagement strategies to support Kinship’s awareness, understanding, interest, income generation, engagement and growth amongst key audiences, with a particular focus on marketing our programmes and services.

• Develop an expert knowledge of Kinship’s target audiences for marketing its programmes and services to (e.g. kinship carers, local authorities, education sector organisations and professionals) and devise tailored multi-channel marketing activities for different audiences to meet service objectives.

• Ensure that all marketing plans and strategies align with, and support, the organisation’s brand strategy.

• Lead the ongoing development and delivery of a focused schools engagement campaign and activity through key channels to raise awareness of kinship care within education settings to engage with kinship carers currently unknown to Kinship, including those from under-represented groups.  

• Work closely with leads for Kinship’s different programmes and services, and in the Business Development, Digital and Communications teams to ensure marketing communications and engagement with key audiences are aligned.

• Work in collaboration and co-production with kinship carers and their families to ensure meaningful input and representation in the development of relevant plans and activities.

• Drive forward cross-departmental work to further develop the organisation’s email marketing strategic approach.

• Contribute to the development of performance indicators for all marketing activities, using these to adjust campaigns to maximise effectiveness  and provide regular reporting and analysis.

• Line management of a small team.

Essential criteria include:

• Significant experience (5+ years) in marketing, with demonstrable success in delivering integrated strategic marketing and/or engagement strategies which met objectives around engagement and acquisition.

• Experience in a management role, with line management experience, and accustomed to operating with senior-level colleagues.

• Experience of combining marketing and engagement strategies and plans, with experience of stakeholder engagement and management in order to reach a wider audience/consumer/customer.

• Extensive experience of project management and delivering ambitious plans on time, to budget and evaluating outcomes.

• Significant digital marketing experience strategically and operationally with particular experience in maximising digital marketing tools including email marketing systems and paid and organic social.

• Experience using a Content Management System, such as Salesforce and using insights to inform marketing optimisation and planning.

What we’ll offer you 

Kinship offers 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time) as well as a generous pension scheme. We have an excellent wellbeing offer including the Employee Assistance Programme and clinical supervision. We will invest in your professional development with training and career development opportunities.

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us. 

This is a fantastic time to join a supportive and well-established team within an organisation with rapid growth ambitions. This role will be what you make it and we’re looking for someone to seize this opportunity!

How to apply

Please apply via our recruitment agency partners, Ellwood Atfield, with your CV via the link.   

• Application deadline:  Wednesday 28 May, 9am
• First interview:           Tuesday 10 June (online)
• Second interview:        Thursday 19 June (in-person, Vauxhall)

Kinship reserves the right to close applications early on receipt of sufficient applications. Apply early!