Governance and policy officer jobs

About us

We’re Breast Cancer Now, the research and support charity. We’re the place to turn to for anything and everything to do with breast cancer. However you’re experiencing breast cancer, we’re here. 

The brightest minds in breast cancer research are here. Making life-saving research happen in labs across the UK and Ireland. Support services, trustworthy breast cancer information and specialist nurses are here. Ready to support you whenever you need it. Dedicated campaigners are here. Fighting for the best possible treatment, services and care for anyone affected by breast cancer.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering technology change across the organisation. As an IT delivery officer, you’ll support the successful delivery of IT projects and change initiatives that enable teams across the organisation.

You’ll act as a bridge between business areas and IT, helping colleagues articulate their needs, translating these into clear requirements and support the planning, coordination and governance of delivery activity.

Working closely with colleagues and external partners, you’ll support the structured delivery of IT initiatives. You’ll keep project documentation up to date, support backlog management and help provide clear updates on progress.

You’ll also play an important role in supporting user adoption, coordinating and delivering training sessions to ensure colleagues feel confident and well supported when new systems or changes are introduced.

This is a fantastic role for someone who enjoys variety, thrives on collaboration and wants to develop their career in project management, business analysis and change management.

About you

You’ll have experience supporting the delivery of projects, change or improvement initiatives or be able to demonstrate transferable skills from a similar environment.

You’ll be confident working with a wide range of stakeholders, translating conversations into clear requirements and well-structured documentation. You’ll have experience maintaining delivery documentation such as plans, trackers or reports and you’ll be comfortable working with tools such as Microsoft 365 and project management tools like jira, asana, trello or similar.

You’ll be friendly, engaging, with a natural ability to connect with others. Comfortable striking up conversations and building rapport, you’ll enjoy building relationships across the organisation and working closely with colleagues at all levels. You’ll be someone people feel at ease approaching, helping to create trust, openness and strong collaboration.

Organised and analytical in your approach, you’ll be comfortable managing multiple priorities and adapting to changing demands. You’ll bring a collaborative, proactive mindset and a genuine interest in how technology can improve services and outcomes across the organisation.

Job description and benefits

Please download the job description and our attractive benefits package.

Primary location of role and hybrid working

This role is primarily based in our London office. Our hybrid working model allows you to work up to 3 days per week at home.

When applying

We hope you choose to apply for this role. To support your application, you’ll be asked to submit your anonymised CV and a supporting statement. Please refer to the essential criteria on the person specification and clearly provide as much information as you can with examples, to demonstrate how and where you meet the criteria.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We’re committed to promoting equity, valuing diversity and creating an inclusive environment – for everyone who works for us, works with us, supports us and who we support.

We reserve the right to close this advert early. Therefore, to avoid disappointment please submit your application as soon as possible, if you’re interested in this opportunity.

Closing date Thursday 12 March 2026 9 am

Interview date week commencing 23 March 2026

A new role, the Finance Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of the charity's day-to-day finances, contracts and risk management. As a member of the senior leadership team, they will support the CEO with strategic planning. A key part of the role will include financial planning and administrative support for the charity’s fundraising efforts as part of a £6.5m conservation and renovation programme. They will lead the preparation for, and presentations at the charity’s Board and related finance committees.

The postholder will ensure that the charity’s budget and out turn are closely monitored and that established financial controls, spanning the procurement to payments cycle, are firmly adhered to. They will lead budget setting, forecasting, and financial reporting (including management of the external audit and production of the annual report and accounts) and will support wider work programme-planning for the charity, setting the foundations for financial success and sustainability. In addition, the postholder will act as the central finance liaison with the Inns of Court of Inner and Middle Temple – TCT’s principal funders – as well as with other stakeholders, donors and cross-departmentally.

Candidates should meet the following essential criteria:

CIMA, ACCA or ACA qualified accountant

Experience in a senior/ management financial position in a charity/ not for profit

Experience of managing cash and investments.

Effective communications skills both written and oral

Excellent IT skills including MS Office and Finance Systems

About us

Temple Church is located in the Temple, City of London. Known as the “Mother Church of the Common Law”, and birthplace of Magna Carta, the Church serves the legal colleges of Inner and Middle Temple, two of the four Inns of Court responsible for calling barristers to the Bar of England and Wales.

How to apply:

Please email your CV and a covering letter of not more than two A4 pages (demonstrating how you meet the role’s essential criteria) by 15th March 2026.

All appointments are subject to acceptable background checks including a basic DBS Disclosure.

Sahir has been on an incredible journey over the past four years. We have grown, strengthened our services and deepened our roots in the communities we serve. We are proud of what has been achieved and excited about what comes next.

Our CEO is stepping on to their next chapter, and we are taking the time to recruit the right permanent leader for what comes next at Sahir. In the meantime, we are looking for an Interim Chief Executive to help keep things steady, support the team and maintain the momentum we have built.

We are looking for someone who leads with empathy and compassion, works in partnership and brings the confidence and drive to support the organisation through a period of change.

About Us

Sahir is the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ+ charity in the Liverpool City Region. We are dedicated to fostering a brighter, healthier future for our communities.

We provide practical and emotional support, camaraderie and connection to:

· LGBTQ+ people

· People living with or affected by HIV

We actively confront injustice, combat discrimination and address inequalities. Through advocacy, partnerships and service delivery, we work to create a fairer and more equitable society for the people we serve. Our work is insight led and co-developed with our communities.

About the Role

This is a key interim leadership role focused on stability, continuity and care for Sahir during a period of transition.

The Interim Chief Executive will work closely with the Board, staff and partners to ensure Sahir continues to deliver safe, effective and person-centred services, maintains strong relationships and remains financially and operationally secure.

The role is not about changing direction. It is about protecting what has been built, supporting the team and helping Sahir move confidently towards the appointment of its next permanent CEO.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking a senior leader who brings:

· Significant leadership experience in the voluntary, community, health, social care or equalities sector.

· Experience working with a Board of Trustees and supporting good governance.

· Strong financial oversight and organisational management experience.

· A calm, steady and values led leadership style.

· The ability to lead people well through transition and uncertainty.

· Strong relationship building skills and a partnership approach.

· Knowledge of issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities, people living with HIV and people seeking asylum is highly desirable.

What It Is Like to Work at Sahir

We want people to enjoy working at Sahir and to feel supported, valued and able to thrive. As a health and wellbeing charity, we place strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, reflective practice and work life balance.

We offer a friendly, inclusive and supportive working environment built on trust, openness and shared purpose.

Equality, Inclusion and Accessibility

Sahir is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.

Lived experience is valued at Sahir, but it is not a requirement. We are interested in people who share our values and want to contribute positively to our communities.

You do not need to meet every requirement listed to apply. If you feel aligned with our values and excited by the role, we encourage you to apply.

We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process.

Z2K has a clear 2025–2030 strategy and a strong reputation for principled, evidence‑led campaigning rooted in frontline experience. The external environment is volatile: rising poverty, political contestation around welfare and housing, and tightening funding conditions.

After a long‑standing Chief Executive stepped down in late 2025, the organisation has been led by an Interim Chief Executive. The permanent appointment is therefore a moment of consolidation and renewal. The next Chief Executive will provide long‑term stability, sharpen strategic focus and define the organisation’s next phase.

Z2K faces structural pressures common to many charities of this scale: rising costs, reliance on grant funding, growing demand and increasing scrutiny. The Chief Executive must do two things at once:

• Increase measurable impact of our advice services and advocacy work on inadequate incomes and high costs.

• Build a financially resilient, well‑run organisation capable of sustaining that impact.

This is not a figurehead role. It requires leadership with grip, political judgement and commercial realism.

Prospect Research Officer
Contract type: Permanent
Full time: 34.5 hours, we are open to a conversation about how you work these hours
Location: Hybrid between home and our London office (typically 1 day per week in office)
Salary range: £37,000 - £40,000

Are you a naturally curious researcher who loves turning insight into opportunity? Do you have a talent for writing high‑quality briefs and building strong, collaborative relationships?

We’re looking for a Prospect Research Officer who can help unlock transformative income to support people living with cancer.

About us

At Macmillan you'll find talented people working together to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. We're going all out to find even better ways to help even more people who need our support. Our values are at the heart of who we are and everything we do, inspiring our thinking and guiding our actions.

Our new organisational strategy sets out how we’ll fight even harder to make every pound raised count for even more. With your help, we’ll transform cancer care for good.

About the role

This is a pivotal role within our newly established Prospect Development and Insight function, giving you the opportunity to shape how we identify, research, and prioritise the high‑value prospects who can make transformational gifts to Macmillan.

You will be responsible for feeding high‑quality insight directly to fundraisers, supporting them to grow pipelines, prioritise approaches, and unlock opportunities across corporate partnerships, philanthropy, and trusts. You’ll use a wide range of research techniques and tools to identify prospects, evaluate their potential, support risk management through due diligence, and provide concise, high‑impact briefings for fundraisers and senior leaders.

Key responsibilities:

• Identify and qualify high‑value prospects using press scanning, wealth screening, network mapping, and research tools.
• Produce clear and concise prospect profiles, briefings and event research for fundraisers and senior stakeholders.
• Conduct due diligence on prospects and donors, assessing risks and escalating where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with fundraisers to support pipeline development, prioritisation and movement of prospects.
• Provide market insight and trend analysis to help shape fundraising strategy and highlight new opportunities.
• Ensure all research activity complies with GDPR, the Data Protection Act, and internal policies.

About you

The successful candidate will bring:

• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to summarise complex information clearly and concisely.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style.
• Excellent IT, database, research, analytical and organisational skills, including the ability to manipulate data to extract insights.
• Good awareness and understanding of the current corporate and philanthropy fundraising landscape.
• An enquiring mind, with the ability to challenge conventional thinking and draw out fresh perspectives on opportunities for donor development.

The following skills are nice-to-have but can be developed in‑role:

• Experience in prospect research, including identifying and prioritising prospects, network mapping, due diligence and developing gift capacity ratings.
• Experience using relational databases, ideally Raiser’s Edge.

In return, we offer a range of benefits including:

• 25 days holiday plus flexible bank holiday options, increasing by 1 day every year of service up to 30 days
• Pension matched up to 7.5%
• 120+ learning and development offers, with access to external professional qualifications
• Flexible working patterns, such as compressed hours, flexibility to work earlier or later around our core working hours of 10am-4pm
• Holiday buying and selling scheme, life insurance, free wills, retail discounts and much more

Recruitment process

Application deadline: 23:59 on Sunday 15th March
Interviews: Virtual Interviews will be held on the week commencing 23rd March (exact dates TBC)

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed.

So we can support you to be your best during the application or interview process, please contact Macmillan TA Team for advice and reasonable adjustments.

We welcome applications from everyone who meet the criteria and strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Macmillan. Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy along with our internal employee representation body, ‘Our Voice’ and 8 Employee Network groups help us promote fairness and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.

Location: Hybrid working - Part London office-based (E14) and part home working. The post holder will work a minimum of one day a week in the office. 

Salary: £43,425 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week 

Closing date: Tuesday 17 March 2026 

Interview date: Tuesday 24 March 2026 over video with a possible second stage in person on Friday 27 March 2026 

This is a permanent role. 

Who we are looking for 

Breakthrough T1D is the UK’s leading type 1 diabetes charity, dedicated to funding research, advocating for change, and supporting the T1D community. A year into our exciting rebrand from JDRF to Breakthrough T1D, we’re looking for a Data and Insight Manager to help us build on this momentum. 

Data and Insights are core to our new and ambitious organisational strategy, enabling us to deliver meaningful, high-quality engagement with our audiences and maximise insight to drive impact as we work to find cures for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and support the community to live well until the day that cures are found. 

You’ll lead our data strategy, working collaboratively with teams across fundraising, marketing, digital, and supporter care, and ensuring we are making the most of our CRM, analytics, and automation tools to drive engagement and income. 

It's an exciting time - we want to make a step change in our approach to data to maximise value.If you bring high levels of experience in data management and database oversight, an ability to build reports and analysis to inform activity and a passion for embedding quality data governance, we'd love to hear from you.

This role presents a real opportunity to make your mark.Have you got the curiosity for data and to help us make an ambitious shift? If so, apply for this exciting role. 

Experience required 

You’ll have previous experience of: 

• Turning data into clear, actionable insights that drive business decisions. 
• Collaborating across teams to develop and embed insight into planning and delivery. 
• Using data to support delivery of supporter journeys and donor segmentation. 
• Improving data quality and reliability through cleansing and validation. 
• Ensuring strong data governance and GDPR compliance. 
• Managing a SQL database and supporting integrations. 
• Streamlining processes through automation tools like Power Automate. 

About Breakthrough T1D 

Breakthrough T1D is the world’s leading charitable research funder into type 1 diabetes, improving lives until we find the cure. We are dedicated to our 400,000 strong type 1 community in the UK and work closely with our international affiliates across the world, including the US, Canada and Australia. 

You will find a vibrant atmosphere and spirited team at Breakthrough T1D, always striving to make a difference to people living with type 1. 

Employee benefits 

As an employer we offer: 

• Hybrid working arrangements 
• Flexible working and will consider compressed hours 
• Generous annual leave entitlement – 25 days per year plus bank holidays for full-time staff with leave increasing after three and five years’ service 
• Health cash plan that allows you to claim for some treatments such as dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment 
• Season ticket and cycle loan 
• Pension scheme 
• Family-friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave at enhanced rates 
• Personalised training to suit your career aspirations and professional development 

Breakthrough T1D is an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. 

Role: Policy Manager
Salary Band: £28,000 - £46,015 gross per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Location: Woodstock, Oxfordshire

Plunkett UK is a national charity supporting people in rural areas to set up and run successful community‑owned businesses. These businesses — from shops and pubs to woodlands and farms — provide vital services, create local jobs, strengthen rural economies and bring people together. We’ve championed community ownership for over 100 years because it delivers thriving, inclusive and resilient places.

About the Role

We are looking for a Policy Manager to lead our policy and public affairs work, ensuring rural community‑owned businesses have a strong voice in local, regional and national decision‑making.

You will take a “listen first, act second” approach, building trusted relationships with our members and using their lived experience to shape evidence-based policy positions. Working closely with the Chief Executive and colleagues across the organisation, you will influence political stakeholders, raise awareness of the community business model, and help create a supportive policy, legislative and funding environment.

This role also leads our research output, including our flagship Better Business Reports, and contributes to strategic organisational initiatives.

Closing date for applications: 5pm Thursday 19 March 2026
Interview date: First stage interview to be held via video conference on Monday 30 March.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and our approach goes beyond ‘protected characteristics’ to thinking more broadly about inclusion. Every individual will think and feel differently and we believe that these differences should be embraced, and individual needs taken into account. Additionally, the makeup of the rural communities we work with leads to their own particular diversity and exclusion challenges and opportunities compared to urban areas. Our commitment to EDI, both internally and externally, has been tailored to Plunkett and the communities we serve.

Registered Charity: 313743

No agencies please.

The Trustees of John Wesley’s New Room seek an Executive Director to lead the organisation into the next exciting phase of its development. This role will suit someone who is a generalist, comfortable turning their hand to a variety of tasks and is equally happy contributing at a board meeting or engaging with visitors in the chapel. Most importantly, we are looking for someone with excellent leadership and interpersonal skills who can lead the staff and volunteers with confidence, cultivate a positive working culture, develop relationships with a variety of stakeholders and provide strategic leadership for the next phase of John Wesley’s New Room.

Our small staff team has undergone significant change in the past year to align with the future needs of the organisation. The Trustees expect this to continue in support of the newly refreshed strategy which will see a greater role for JWNR nationally and internationally, as well as playing an increasing role in the new Broadmead community following the anticipated redevelopment works in the local area, from retail to a more mixed residential and leisure offering. Having finalised a vision, we are looking for someone to lead the organisation through this change, laying a solid foundation on a practical and cultural level to then build upon for the future, creating more links with local communities as well as the wider Methodist church.

John Wesley’s New Room is the oldest Methodist building in the world (Grade I listed) and is a small but busy place where no two days are the same. Offering a chapel, museum and cafe by day, we also have meetings rooms and event spaces for hire, and welcome visitors both local and international on a regular basis. An important piece of Bristol’s history, the New Room is where Methodism started and the museum and collection tell the story of John Wesley. In addition, we manage a second museum Charles Wesley’s House, a short walk from the main site, which is mainly used for tour groups.

Since 1960 we have invested more than £500 million in blood cancer research in the UK. Where we’ve invested, survival rates and quality of life have improved. We’ve been working to beat blood cancer for over 50 years, and we won’t stop until we do. Be a part of our story and help us change the world.

We’re looking for a Senior Research Grants Officer to play a key role in delivering and strengthening our research portfolio spanning translational and clinical research. You’ll lead on the coordination and delivery of the Transformational Research Awards Scheme, support clinical trial review processes, and oversee a portfolio of active grants to ensure funding decisions and post-award management are rigorous, transparent and strategically aligned.

You’ll also play an important part in strengthening how we fund and manage research. From supporting the implementation of a new Grants Management System to refining processes and providing expert guidance to researchers, committee members and senior stakeholders, you’ll help ensure our investment delivers maximum impact. If you bring strong biomedical knowledge, grant administration experience and a passion for driving progress for people affected by blood cancer, we’d love to hear from you.

This is a hybrid role with regular anchor days in our London office, alongside attendance at key meetings, conferences and team events throughout the year.

We are committed to actively promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity. In line with our strategy we welcome approaches from individuals from underrepresented groups, including minority communities, and applicants with a disability, to better reflect the community we serve and help broaden our perspectives.

Are you passionate about driving meaningful change in suicide prevention policy? We are looking for a Policy Officer to join our Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns team at Samaritans.  Join our team and help influence public policy to achieve our vision: fewer lives lost to suicide.

This is a meaningful, high impact role where your work will directly contribute to safer, more compassionate public policy.

​

Samaritans is the UK and Ireland’s leading suicide prevention charity. While we are best known for listening to those who need us, we also work to influence change in legislation and policy.  

​

About the Role

​

As Policy Officer, you will lead the development and influencing of policy positions on suicide prevention, using research and evidence to produce high-quality briefings, consultation responses and reports. You will build strong internal and external relationships, monitor the policy environment, and work collaboratively across the charity to communicate and advance our policy work.

​

Contract

​

• £30,000-£33,000 per annum plus benefits
• Full Time (35hrs per week)
• Permanent
• Hybrid working with link to Ewell office
• In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. We work in person around 2 days or more per month.
• We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences 

​

What You’ll Do

​

• Support the development of Samaritans’ policy positions on suicide prevention.
• Produce clear briefings, consultation responses and policy reports.
• Analyse complex evidence to inform policy development.
• Spot emerging policy issues and support research needs.
• Keep teams updated on policy changes across the UK and Ireland.
• Represent Samaritans at policy events and support external communications.
• Work closely with colleagues across nations to ensure cohesive policy approaches.

​

What You’ll Bring

​

• Experience in policy or public affairs and understanding of influencing national/local change.
• Strong ability to turn complex info into clear policy insights.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement experience.
• Understanding of mental health or suicide prevention issues.
• Knowledge of mental health/suicide prevention policy, charity sector experience, familiarity with Samaritans, or experience in research processes (desirable).

​

​

Why Samaritans?

​

At Samaritans, you’ll be part of a people-first organisation deeply committed to inclusion, compassion and learning. You’ll contribute to a team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives.

We welcome applications from individuals with lived experience and encourage those from underrepresented communities to apply. We are committed to creating an environment where all our people feel seen, heard and supported.

You’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission and a collaborative culture. We offer flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland.

​

For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available below. You can also visit our careers website to access this.

​

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.

​

​

Apply now

​​

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You will be asked to answer short application questions (please keep your answers to max 300 words) and to upload your CV (please avoid special characters in the file name).

​

We kindly ask that you don’t rely on AI tools for your application answers, or to generate interview answers. We want to see your own unique ideas and writing skills. We want your application to stand out from the rest and showcase your own strengths.

​

​Applications close: Tuesday 3rd March

Interviews: w/c Monday 9th March

Trust Fundraising Support Officer

Hours: Part-time 14 - 17.5 hours per week

Location: Hybrid working

Salary: £26,000 - £29,000 (Pro Rata)

Contract: Permanent

DBS: A basic check will be required

About Us

At Epilepsy Action, we are inclusive, ambitious, supportive, and committed to creating a world without limits for people with epilepsy. 

​As we achieve the goals in our 2024 – 2030 strategy, we are excited to welcome you to our passionate, supportive and committed team.

​We understand the importance of a work life balance, and that's why we have a number of ways to support our people to achieve this. By operating a flexible and supportive approach, we empower people to work in a way that suits them that also meets the need of the charity.

​If you are interested in building a career you can be proud of in an inclusive and ambitious organisation, we might have the role for you!

​About the Role

We are currently seeking a Trust Fundraising Support Officer to join our growing fundraising team. 2025 was our best year yet for income and this role is pivotal in helping us to take the next step in further growing our income.

This new role will play a key part in delivering funding from Trusts, Foundations and other funders across the UK, supporting the Senior Trust Fundraising Officer to maximise our income. You will be responsible for making small-scale grant applications, and for growing our grants portfolio through identifying new funding opportunities.

There will be a range of projects to work on, providing vital support to ensure that we are increasing the number of warm funders who regularly support the charity.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Build up a strong pipeline of prospective funders by researching trusts that align with Epilepsy Action’s vision and strategy
• Secure income from small-scale charitable trusts, foundations, and other grant makers to meet individual and team targets
• Ensure timely thanking, updates and reporting for all grants and donations from our rolling programme of applications
• Use data in the CRM to analyse trends and identify opportunities

At Epilepsy Action we recognise the power of collaboration and teamwork, so our team members with hybrid contracts can expect to work a minimum of 40% at our office in Leeds. On average this is 2 days a week, normally on Mondays and Thursdays, for full-time employees. The expectation to collaborate face-to-face is driven in part by your role and the activities you need to do which may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to help us create a world without limits for people with epilepsy.

About you?

We are looking for a dedicated fundraiser who has:

• Experience in using specialist fundraising research tools
• Proven communication, writing and editing skills
• Proven experience of securing donations, grant income or new business
• Familiarity with CRM systems and digital tools
• Organisational skills, is detail-oriented, and able to work to tight deadlines

Interested?

If you are interested in what you have read so far you can either submit your application via our online portal or alternatively if you still have some questions before applying you can contact us for a friendly informal chat.

Closing Date: 9am on Monday 23rd March 2026

Informal Chat: These will be arranged on an ongoing basis as applications are reviewed

Interviews: Thursday 2nd April 2026

Recruitment Process: We believe that having an informal chat before the formal interview process allows us and you to have an open and honest conversation about the role, our organisation culture and what attracted you to apply. This is why as part of this process we will be inviting people to a 30-minute online chat with a member of our team before inviting shortlisted candidates to a formal interview.​

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications therefore early applications are advised.

Our client, a well-known anti-poverty charity is looking to recruit a Director of Policy & Engagement on a maternity contract of up to 12 months. This great charity provides front-line advice, advocacy and campaigning and policy work on behalf of people in London beneath pension age, who are experiencing issues around benefit payments, disability and housing or who are at risk of homelessness. The services they provide have become even more essential during the current cost of living crisis.

The role:
As Director of Policy & Engagement, you will lead the organisation’s policy, public affairs, and campaigns function, shaping and delivering local and national influencing to drive change on social security and housing issues. You will ensure the voices of people with lived experience are central to all of the organisation’s work, embedding meaningful participation across the organisation, in governance, services, policy and campaigns.

You will also oversee strategic external communications to support the organisation’s influencing, brand and fundraising objectives and will direct all fundraising for your department including managing funder relationships, identifying opportunities and leading on bid writing and reporting.
 
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for influencing policy and practice locally and nationally and representing the charity as a spokesperson in the media, with government ministers, MPs, and other senior stakeholders. 
 
You will manage a small multidisciplinary team of four, ensuring integrated effective delivery across the organisation. 
 
The role will cover strategic leadership, policy, public affairs & campaigns, stakeholder & media engagement, external communications, embedding participation, fundraising leadership, team leadership and cross-organisational Integration.

The person:
The successful candidate will be a strategic, politically astute leader with experience of leading policy, public affairs and campaigns at a senior level. They will have experience of integrating research campaigns, participation, external communications and fundraising to deliver impact locally and nationally. They will have excellent media stakeholder and political engagement skills, with experience of acting as a spokesperson for an organisation. This person will value and embed lived experience in all aspects of their work and will have a strong understanding of social security and housing policy. 

This person will also have substantial experience of leading on research for social policy influencing purposes in addition to having developed and shaped policy  for an organisation in a charity which works towards combatting poverty and other social justice issues. Having managed political and media engagement and external influencing activities in the past, this person will be an effective relationship manager both internally and externally, in addition to having provided knowledge based leadership to small teams in the charity sector. In addition to being a highly effective project manager, this person will be a very strong communicator both verbally and in writing, and will be fully committed to the aims and objectives of this anti-poverty charity.
​​​​​​​
This organisation is an equal opportunity employer. People with lived experience of poverty, from global majority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ individuals and disabled people are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome evidence of experience from both work and non-work settings such as volunteering and personal life. 
 

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) (Registered Charity Number 1213337) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people aged eight to 18 years from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records.

There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the post

The Engagement and Involvement Officer will play a central role in supporting meaningful engagement and involvement of young people, families, schools and other interest-holders in the process of designing, delivering and ensuring the best outputs from the Adolescent Health Study.

Primarily, the postholder will be responsible for the stewardship and coordination of the AHS Young People’s Advisory Group (YPAG). The post-holder will provide ongoing support to YPAG members to ensure their active participation in opportunities to inform and shape the work of AHS. This will include working closely with the adults in the YPAG members’ lives, including parents/carers, teachers and other relevant adults or professionals. The postholder will also be required to build positive working relationships with other organisations and institutions that work directly with young people. They will support the Engagement and Involvement Lead to develop mechanisms to reach wider and more diverse groups of young people to take part in engagement and involvement activities at AHS.  

This is a role that requires confidence, autonomy, enthusiasm and skill. The post-holder will be a strong advocate for children’s rights, have a sound working knowledge and understanding of safeguarding practices, and demonstrate experience of co-ordinating youth advisory groups, youth councils or similar.

Main responsibilities

Coordination & facilitation

• Plan, organise, and deliver regular meetings, workshops, and consultation sessions with young people.
• Develop accessible, inclusive and engaging materials to support young people’s participation in activities and discussions.
• Ensure robust mechanisms are in place to facilitate a feedback loop, communicating to young people the impact of their input.
• Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and inclusion are embedded in all activities.
• Lead on and maintain communication with young people, parents/carers (where appropriate), and partner organisations.

Support for young people

• Provide guidance, pastoral support, and clear information to help young people take part confidently and safely.
• Facilitate training and development opportunities to build young people’s skills, knowledge, and confidence.
• Foster an environment where young people feel respected, valued, and listened to.
• Manage mechanisms for reward and recognition of young people’s input and contributions.

Strengthen and enable staff team

• Strengthen knowledge and understanding of youth engagement and involvement across the organisation.
• Enable the wider staff team to plan and conduct activities with the YPAG and wider groups of young people, supporting the design of involvement tasks that are age-appropriate, inclusive, and aligned with best practice.
• Provide feedback to colleagues on how to maximise the impact of youth involvement.

Administration & governance

• Manage recruitment and onboarding processes for YPAG members.
• Oversee consent processes, data handling, and safeguarding requirements.
• Coordinate payments, incentives, travel, and expenses for young people.
• Maintain accurate records, produce meeting notes, and ensure timely communication.
• Support the Engagement and Involvement Lead to track, document and report on outcomes and the influence of young people’s involvement on projects and workstreams.

Continuous learning and development

• Contribute to the development of the organisation’s engagement and involvement strategy.
• Contribute to the evaluation of engagement and involvement activities and gather feedback from young people, parents/carers and other relevant parties we work closely with.
• Maintain an interest and working knowledge of best practice in youth involvement, participation, and co‑production.
• Identify opportunities to share learning and reflections with the AHS team and wider colleagues to continuously improve practice and processes.

Interest-holder and partner engagement

• Build and maintain partnerships with schools, youth organisations, and community groups to recruit and support young people to engage in engagement and involvement activities.
• Provide verbal and written presentations of engagement and involvement work with young people to internal and external audiences.
• Represent AHS in meetings, workshops and events where appropriate.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential criteria

• Experience developing and delivering engagement and involvement activities with young people and other relevant interest-holders (such as parents, families, teachers and schools).
• A proven track record or professional background in working with young people – such as in youth work, counselling, mentoring, education, or a related setting.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, especially with young audiences.
• Understanding and experience of good practice in youth engagement and involvement, including the principles and implementation of safeguarding, data protection, and inclusive practice.
• Experience of co-ordinating a youth advisory group, council, board or similar structure
• Ability to work autonomously, prioritising tasks and manage own workload.
• Ability to design and deliver workshops, focus groups or meetings that encourage open dialogue and collaboration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills - able to communicate effectively and confidently with a range of stakeholders and to summarise and report key information clearly and accurately, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated commitment to children’s rights, youth participation and the meaningful inclusion of young people’s views and perspectives.
• Confidence using online meeting tools (e.g. MS Teams, Zoom), and collaborative platforms (e.g. SharePoint, Microsoft 365).

Desirable criteria

• Relevant qualification in youth participation, youth work, community engagement or similar.
• Understanding of public involvement in research or willingness to develop expertise.
• Understanding of key concepts and challenges in young people’s health and wellbeing and the transition to adulthood.
• Understanding and knowledge of key potential partners across the UK for delivering youth engagement in the sector.
• Experience using digital engagement and facilitation tools for online sessions (e.g. Miro, Mural, Mentimeter, Canva, PowerPoint).

Dimensions

• This has been designed as a full-time role, although part-time work could be considered for the right candidate.
• Flexible working may be required across several geographical locations in the UK.  Travel may be necessary to various AHS locations and partner organisations.
• Willingness to work hours flexibly including some evenings/weekends.

Additional Information

• Enhanced DBS/PVG or equivalent safeguarding check will be required.

Application Process

This post is subject to receipt of satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check and right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available). Please apply with a CV and a covering letter (of no more than two pages) explaining what you can bring to this role, and including your current salary.

The closing date for this position is midnight on End of Day Sunday 29 March.

Interviews are currently expected to be held during the weeks commencing 27 April and 05 May.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Beyond these protected characteristics, we acknowledge the importance of socio-economic background, childcare and caring responsibilities, educational background, neurodiversity, and any other factors that shape an individual’s identity and opportunities. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to contribute fully.

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team and begin to plan the pilot studies. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

We are seeking a professional, confident and compassionate safeguarding practitioner to join our Safeguarding Team. This important role supports the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer and serves as the designated Cathedral Safeguarding Advisor, helping ensure that safeguarding is embedded at the heart of the life of Truro Cathedral.

As with the wider Church of England, the Diocese is undergoing a period of transition and development, and safeguarding remains central to our mission. You will bring emotional intelligence, strong communication skills, and the professional integrity needed to instil confidence and provide high‑quality safeguarding support.

This is a challenging but rewarding opportunity for someone with safeguarding experience who is ready to contribute to a complex and meaningful environment.

At the Diocese of Truro, we really value work-life balance and employee wellbeing, have a friendly and supportive working environment and are committed to encouraging your development.
 

SAFEGUARDING – EVERYONE MATTERS – EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY

The Diocese of Truro strives to be trauma informed, and is committed to developing safer policies, cultures, and practices.