Head of communications and external affairs jobs

Title:     Engagement Manager

Salary:     £42,000–£52,000 (depending on experience)

Contract:     Permanent

Hours:     37.5 per week (Monday to Friday) 

Holiday:     25 days per year plus bank holidays 

Location:     Home based with regular travel within / to London and across the UK

Probationary Period:     3 months

Reports to:     Head of Department 

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

Line Management:     Depending on experience, may line-manage the Senior Engagement Coordinator. 

We are River Action

We are a small and agile campaigning organisation on a mission to rescue Britain's rivers from a toxic cocktail of agricultural, sewage and industrial pollution and water shortages. We support community action, galvanise and mobilise public opinion, influence government policy, take legal actions and call out destructive industrial practices to incentivise changes that end river pollution and secure freshwater. 

We are building a talented team of positive disrupters and stakeholder mobilisers to deliver our strategy to urgently protect and restore our rivers for the benefit of communities, rivers and wildlife.

Britain’s rivers are our life support system and they are dying. We need urgent action to bring them back to life.

Who we are looking for

As River Action’s profile, influence and policy impact continue to grow, we are expanding our Public Affairs function to strengthen engagement with decision-makers, regulators, businesses, NGOs, strategic partners and local communities.

The Engagement Manager will play a critical role in helping River Action influence change by developing high-level relationships, building strategic partnerships and providing strategic leadership across River Action’s engagement programmes to advance our policy, legal and campaigning objectives.

This is a senior engagement leadership role responsible for providing strategic oversight of both stakeholder engagement and community engagement activity, ensuring River Action’s grassroots campaigning and external influence work are mutually reinforcing

What you’ll be doing

The Engagement Manager will lead River Action’s overall engagement strategy, providing strategic oversight of both stakeholder engagement and community engagement activity across the organisation.

Building and managing relationships with senior leaders across government, regulators, NGOs, businesses, financiers, academia and civil society, the postholder will identify opportunities to increase River Action’s influence, support policy and advocacy objectives, and help position the organisation as a leading voice on river protection and environmental reform.

The role will provide strategic direction and oversight to River Action’s community engagement work, including the River Rescue Kit, Community Toolkit and catchment-based campaigning activities, working closely with the Senior Engagement Coordinator who will lead day-to-day delivery, community support and programme implementation.

Working closely with colleagues across Public Affairs, Campaigns, Communications, Legal and Development, the Engagement Manager will ensure engagement activities contribute directly to organisational priorities and campaigns and that community insights help shape River Action’s policy, legal and campaigning work.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and deliver River Action’s stakeholder engagement strategy.

• Manage relationships with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Develop and implement engagement or public affairs strategies.

• Identify, map and prioritise key stakeholders across government, regulators, business, NGOs, academia and civil society.

• Build and maintain productive relationships with senior external stakeholders.

• Create opportunities for strategic collaboration that advance River Action’s mission and objectives.

• Monitor stakeholder developments and identify opportunities and risks.

Managing Stakeholder and Community Engagement

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of River Action’s stakeholder and community engagement programme.

• Ensure effective delivery and continuous development of the River Rescue Kit and Community Toolkit as key resources supporting grassroots campaigners and community groups.

• Oversee catchment-based engagement strategies that strengthen community-led action, advocacy and campaigning.

• Work closely with the Senior Engagement Coordinator to identify opportunities to expand and strengthen River Action’s network of stakeholder and community groups, campaigners and partners.

• Ensure insights, evidence and priorities emerging from stakeholders and local communities to inform River Action’s public affairs, policy, legal and campaigning work.

• Monitor the effectiveness and impact of community engagement activities and ensure learning is shared across the organisation.

• Support the development of engagement frameworks, systems and processes that enable effective community mobilisation at scale.

Public Affairs and External Influence

• Support the delivery of River Action’s Public Affairs strategy.

• Build relationships with parliamentarians, political advisers, local authority leaders and relevant government officials.

• Support engagement with regulators including the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Ofwat and other relevant bodies.

• Represent River Action in external forums, roundtables, conferences and stakeholder meetings.

• Coordinate stakeholder engagement around key campaigns, policy initiatives and legal actions.

Strategic Partnerships

• Develop partnerships with environmental NGOs, think tanks, academic institutions, financiers and businesses.

• Identify opportunities for joint initiatives, campaigns and advocacy activity.

• Strengthen River Action’s position within the wider environmental and public policy landscape.

• Convene strategic partnerships to support policy and campaigning objectives.

Organisational Leadership

• Work closely with the Head of Public Affairs to support delivery of organisational objectives.

• Provide strategic direction, support and oversight to the Senior Engagement Coordinator, ensuring community engagement activity aligns with organisational priorities and objectives.

• Provide stakeholder intelligence and strategic advice to senior leadership.

• Contribute to organisational planning and public affairs priorities.

• Support cross-team working between Public Affairs, Campaigns, Communications, Legal and Fundraising.

• Ensure strong integration between River Action’s community engagement, public affairs, campaigns, communications and legal work.

Communications and Representation

• Act as an ambassador for River Action externally.

• Support media opportunities through stakeholder engagement and relationship building.

• Prepare briefings, stakeholder reports and engagement plans.

• Help identify influential voices and advocates who can amplify River Action’s work.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Maintain stakeholder engagement plans and CRM records.

• Monitor engagement outcomes and report against agreed KPIs.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement activity and recommend improvements.

What you’ll bring

Essential Experience

• Significant experience in stakeholder engagement, public affairs, external affairs, partnerships or advocacy.

• Experience managing relationships with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Experience developing and implementing engagement or public affairs strategies.

• Experience overseeing or managing community engagement, organising or grassroots campaigning programmes.

• Experience translating community priorities and local evidence into policy, advocacy or campaigning objectives.

• Experience working across complex stakeholder environments.

• Experience representing an organisation externally.

Essential Knowledge

• Understanding of UK water-related political, regulatory and policy-making processes.

• Understanding of stakeholder engagement and influence strategies.

• Understanding of community engagement, organising and mobilisation approaches.

• Knowledge of environmental, sustainability or public policy issues.

Essential Skills

• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills.

• Strong influencing and negotiation abilities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong strategic thinking and political awareness.

• Ability to balance strategic stakeholder engagement with community-led campaigning and mobilisation.

• Strong understanding of how grassroots engagement can support policy, legal and public affairs objectives.

• Ability to develop engagement strategies that connect local action with national influence and impact.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex stakeholder relationships.

• Excellent project management and organisational skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of water policy, environmental regulation or agricultural policy.

• Experience engaging with Westminster, Whitehall or devolved administrations.

• Experience developing partnerships with businesses and financiers.

• Experience supporting policy or advocacy campaigns.

• Experience working with community-led environmental campaigns or citizen science initiatives.

Why join us?

• Be part of a mission-driven organisation working to restore and protect the UK’s rivers.

• Work at the heart of political and environmental change, influencing decision-makers at the highest levels.

• Work in an agile, supportive and happy work environment where your ideas and expertise will have real impact.

• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the organisation.

Diversity and inclusion

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. So 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 ‘Engagement Manager’:

• your CV (2 pages), 

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

• a written submission (2 pages) as described below. 

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

Written submission

The Government is expected to bring forward a Clean Water Bill in Parliament. River Action wants to influence the Bill to secure stronger protections for rivers, hold polluters to account, and deliver measurable improvements in river health.

In no more than 750 words, set out how you would approach this challenge. Your response should explain:

• Which stakeholders you would prioritise engaging with, and why.

• How you would use partnerships, community groups and grassroots evidence to support your objectives.

• How you would measure the success of your approach.

• One significant challenge or risk, and how you would address it.

We are interested in your ability to think strategically, prioritise effectively, and demonstrate how engagement can help deliver policy and environmental change.

Application process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until 5pm on Wednesday 15th July.

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. 

Interviews will be held in the weeks commencing 19th July and 26th July via video conference. 

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.

We have a rare opportunity for an experienced policy professional to join as team as Policy Analyst.

In this exciting role you will lead the policy workstream for Head On, a major Wellcome Trust funded campaign bringing together 20 sector leading organisations to build political momentum for mental health reform. You will be a skilled policy analyst and writer, able to coordinate influencing opportunities with MPs, Ministers and No. 10 on the NHS 10 Year Plan and the new Mental Health Strategy. Experience in policy and public affairs, and knowledge of health or mental health policy, are essential.

Centre for Mental Health is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work, to help create better mental health for all. We are taking active steps to become an antiracist organisation, and we value and support staff with lived experience of mental health challenges. We want the team shaping mental health policy to reflect the diversity of people whose lives that policy affects. We are happy to provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process for disabled applicants. We particularly encourage applications from people of colour and trans people, who are often underrepresented in policy roles.

We are also able to offer this role as a potential secondment opportunity. 

The role focuses on building and maintaining strong relationships with partner organisations, supporting firms throughout their participation in the Suicide Prevention Action Lab (SPAL) programme, and ensuring they remain motivated, accountable, and on track to deliver their commitments.

We’re bringing together six representatives from financial services firms to explore ways to improve support for customers experiencing suicidality. The Partnerships Officer will play a key role in supporting the delivery of the SPAL, working closely with participating firms to assist them in developing, testing, and implementing practical changes to help prevent suicidality. 

The Partnerships Officer will manage relationships with multiple firms simultaneously, each at a different stage in their journey to testing and embedding new and improved approaches to identifying and supporting customers experiencing or at risk of suicidality. Success in the role requires excellent organisation, persistence, and relationship management skills, alongside the ability to understand the challenges and competing demands faced by participating firms and to support them in maintaining momentum and delivering results.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop their skills in partnership management, stakeholder engagement and influencing change within organisations. The role offers significant autonomy and responsibility, with opportunities to build expertise, lead stakeholder relationships, and contribute directly to the SPAL’s growth and impact.

While the role will predominantly focus on the SPAL, the postholder will also contribute to the continued development of the wider Action Labs research-to-impact offer.

Key tasks in the role will include:

• Acting as the primary day-to-day contact for participating firms, building strong and productive relationships throughout their involvement in the SPAL. Coordinating and supporting consultancy and coaching meetings with participating firms.
• Developing and maintaining a strong working knowledge of emerging Action Lab research insights. Applying research insights in discussions with firms, supporting them in translating evidence into new or improved tools, processes and communications.
• Supporting a portfolio of firm representatives simultaneously, ensuring each remains engaged, motivated and on track to deliver against agreed objectives and milestones.
• Developing a strong understanding of participating firms' priorities, pressures and operational realities, using this insight to provide effective support.
• Building and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders beyond participating firms, and developing strong internal relationships, proactively sharing insights and intelligence from Action Labs to maximise our organisational impact.
• Identifying opportunities to raise the profile of the Action Lab research-to-impact model, including relevant conferences, speaking opportunities and awards.

Head of Communications & Public Affairs

The Head of Communications & Public Affairs is a pivotal role at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) promoting our world-leading work in science, conservation, horticulture, and education.

Working as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team, this role will lead the organisation’s approach to strategic communications, seeking opportunities to engage external audiences, disseminate key messages, and raise RBGE’s profile on a national and international stage through press and media engagement.

With oversight of the communications and publishing functions, this role will also provide key support to the Regius Keeper and the Executive Team in shaping engagement and communication strategies with political stakeholders across the Scottish and UK governments.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact in the next phase of RBGE’s corporate strategy, strengthening key policy relationships and promoting RBGE’s expertise to deliver real impact in the fight against the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Closing date:                            09:00am (BST) on Monday 20 July 2026        
First interview date:               30 July 2026
Second interview date: 5 August 2026

Recruitment information: 

Further details on the job description, person specification, and how to apply can be found in the candidate pack for the role on our website here: Head of Communications and Public Affairs Candidate Pack

About us

Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) is a values-driven organisation working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities to protect the world’s rainforests and uphold their human rights. Since 1989, RFUK has partnered with forest peoples and grassroots organisations to secure land rights, challenge destructive industries, and influence laws and policies that safeguard forests and the people who depend on them.

Our mission is clear: to combine human rights and environmental protection to tackle deforestation. From the Congo Basin to the Amazon, our work has helped communities protect millions of hectares of rainforest. With a growing team of passionate advocates for social and environmental justice, we are committed to scaling up our impact to confront the accelerating climate and biodiversity crises.

About the role

The Head of External Relations is a key senior leadership role at Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) responsible for overseeing effective fundraising and communications strategies to support the organisation's work protecting rainforests and the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this role is responsible for building RFUK’s external profile and support for its ambitious 2033 vision to scale up community-led protection of tropical forests. The position combines strategic communications, outreach, targeted campaigns, and media engagement to connect RFUK’s impactful programmes to its growing audience, supporters and funders.

This a key role in the organisation, managing a small team, working closely with the Programmes team to craft compelling narratives that drive engagement and action, with the Operations team to ensure financial sustainability, and with the Executive Director to create and implement targeted fundraising strategies.

About you

This role requires a strong commitment to social and environmental justice, the ability to form and cultivate relationships with a range of different groups, and the ability to communicate complex issues persuasively.

You’re an experienced leader with a proven track record in both strategic communications and fundraising. You’re a creative communicator who can turn complex issues into persuasive, accessible messages that drive change and support for our mission. You know how to secure significant income from foundations, corporates, individuals and major donors, and you’re confident in building long-term relationships with diverse stakeholders. You thrive on collaboration, motivate teams to achieve ambitious goals, and bring resilience and cultural sensitivity to everything you do.

Job description and benefits

Please download the full job description from our website. We offer 30 days annual leave, 4% pension contributions, Employee Assistance Programme, learning and development allowance, and four weeks of work-from-anywhere flexibility.

Location

This role is offered as a hybrid role based in our Bethnal Green, London office. The postholder will be required to work in the office 2 days per week during their 6-month probation period. This can be reviewed with their Line Manager thereafter.

Application Process

To submit your application, kindly complete the online application form by 9AM, Friday 10 July. Please be aware that the form will be anonymised for review by the panel.

Please note that CVs will not be considered.

We strongly encourage all candidates to read the Recruitment FAQs page on our website before submitting their application.

Regrettably, due to the large number of applications we usually receive, it is not possible to write to you should you not be shortlisted for an interview. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. 

Initial interviews with shortlisted candidates will be held online on Thursday 16 July. Please let us know in your application if you are available to attend an interview.

External Communications Manager

Salary: £40,000–£42,000 FTE
Hours: 30 hours per week
Location: Remote, with regular travel to FitzRoy services, team and stakeholder meetings as agreed. The role requires attendance in London once per month and applicants must be able to commute to services in Norfolk, Nottingham and Hampshire.
Reports to: Head of Communications
Directorate: Business Development and Partnerships

FitzRoy is a national charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs to live lives rooted in choice, meaning and happiness.

We are strengthening our external voice and looking for a confident, perceptive and warm communicator to help more people understand FitzRoy’s expertise and impact and increase our influence.

This is a moment of change for social care. We want to play a more active role in shaping its future, ensuring the people at the heart of it are seen, heard and involved in the decisions that matter.

About the role

As External Communications Manager, you will help build FitzRoy’s profile and reputation by identifying the stories, insight and opportunities that show what good support looks like in real life.

You will work closely with the Head of Communications, fundraising, business development and operational colleagues to turn external communications priorities into practical plans, content and opportunities.

This is a delivery role with real influence. You will be expected to bring ideas, advise colleagues, shape practical plans and turn opportunities into action.

What you will do

You will:

• develop proactive external communications activity that raises awareness of FitzRoy’s work, expertise and impact
• spot opportunities for FitzRoy to contribute constructively to sector conversations
• identify realistic opportunities for media, sector press, partner or local coverage
• gather stories, photos, video and quotes that help people understand what good support looks like in real life
• use social media, website content, audience insight and analytics to strengthen FitzRoy’s external profile

About you

You may come from charity communications, PR, journalism, public affairs, stakeholder communications or another external communications background.

You do not need to have worked in social care before, but you will need to be interested in people, willing to learn quickly and able to handle stories about people’s lives with care, respect and good judgement.

We are looking for someone who is:

• an excellent writer and editor
• confident developing clear, accessible content for different audiences
• warm, curious and able to build rapport quickly
• able to spot strong stories, ideas and opportunities
• confident creating social media and website content shaped by audience insight
• comfortable working independently and managing competing priorities
• able to think strategically about audiences and influence, while being practical about what can be delivered in a small team
• confident gathering content including photos, videos and quotes
• willing and able to travel to FitzRoy services and meetings as needed

A full clean driving licence and access to a car for work travel are required, as some services are not easily accessible by public transport.

Working at FitzRoy

You will join a small, friendly communications team with big ambitions. This role will suit someone who enjoys a mix of planning, writing, relationship-building, story-gathering and hands-on delivery.

You will help us show the difference good support makes – and help ensure the voices, experiences and achievements of people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs are seen and heard.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your application and a covering letter.

We do not expect your covering letter to address every point in the person specification. We would like you to tell us:

• what interests you about this role and FitzRoy
• three things you would bring to the role
• a piece of communications work you are proud of and why
• how you approach using social media, website content and audience insight to build external profile
• how you would approach telling stories about people’s lives with care, respect and good judgement

If you are using AI tools to write your application, please use them with caution. We are looking for your own voice and writing style.

Location: The role is national, managing teams in Northern Ireland, Wales and across England. You will need to be able to work at one of our BookTrust offices in London, Leeds, Belfast or Cardiff for an average of 8 days per month whilst some of these collaboration days may be worked in partner locations, at events or stakeholder meetings in any part of the country. The position will require regular travel to BookTrust office bases and to visit and engage as needed.

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. We know that children who read are happier, healthier, more empathetic, and more creative. They also do better at school.

Working with every local authority and across every region in the country, and supported by Arts Council funding, we reach over 3 million families a year via partners in schools, children’s centres, health visitors and libraries. This incredible network helps us to get children reading across the country.

This is a new role within the organisation and the new role holder will have a chance to shape and build the role over time.  You will be a strong leader with great people skills -experience of working with and leading teams working in geographically dispersed locations is advantageous. 

You will have a clear experience the public sector landscape with a track record of relationships building, and an understanding of the local government policy landscape. With a collaborative approach to working across interconnecting complex work areas, you will be comfortable working within a matrix style of management for your won direct reports and those of other teams. 

You may have charity or statutory setting experience, and will have the ability to set out a strategic direction for partnerships team members as well as being hands on in developing new relationships to support our work as well as being able to produce high quality written materials, analyse complex data and respond dynamically to a changing external landscape.

You will be an excellent communicator who manages up effectively and who is comfortable working across a matrixed managed team. You will have the ability to work closely with the Director of Partnerships in building relationships, and developing and delivering on strategies that support impact in our early years programmes by guiding the work of our partnerships team.  You will be working closely with key role holders such as but not confined to the Head of Partnerships Delivery, and Head of Programme for Vulnerable Children.

The Head of Partnerships Development will ensure increasingly effective pathways to families by setting out ways of working that ensure delivery teams can access these routes, influence decision makers and develop and build the right relationships for greatest impact. Along with the Director of partnerships the role holder will aim to both influence and respond to central, local and regional policy initiatives in the sector to support BookTrust’s mission to get all children reading, especially those from low income and vulnerable family backgrounds.
The role holder will ensure internal stakeholders are briefed on the local government landscape and that risks and opportunities are clearly articulated.

This work spans the organisation – from within our partnerships team to our research and impact, communications and external affairs, design and innovation, growth planning, communications, profile-raising and income generation – and requires strong collaborative working to draw on skills and capacity in all these areas. 

The role will work internally and externally to ensure the right inputs to ensure success for our scaled programmes, supporting everything from design to upskilling our team and relationship building across the local government and regional and country landscape.

To apply, please complete the application along with a copy of your CV.

Want to join us? To find out more about who we are please go to our website. 

We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and welcome candidates from all backgrounds and communities,

Please note that this advert may close early should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity

We aim to provide an inclusive recruitment process and actively welcome applications from diverse talent pools: minority ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities and long-term conditions and candidates from underrepresented communities.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and want to ensure we have an accessible application process for all candidates. If you need any reasonable adjustments or would like us to do anything differently during the application process, please contact our HR team (contact details are available on our website).

BookTrust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The recruitment and selection process reflect our commitment to safeguarding therefore, the suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment, and pre-employment checks.

The Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS) is a human rights and feminist organisation led by and for Latin American migrant women in the UK. Our work is dedicated to supporting the immediate and long-term needs of Latin American migrant women exposed to violations of their fundamental human rights; facing violence against women and girls, exploitation or trafficking; enduring difficult living and working conditions in low paid jobs, and facing barriers to social protection.

The Head of Policy and Public Affairs will provide strategic leadership in developing and delivering LAWRS’ key influencing and media priorities and policy positions. The post holder is responsible for maintaining a contextual analysis and overview of key trends and issues in current affairs and the sectors that impact the organisation’s work, brand, profile and external positions. 

This post is open to Latin American women only* in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and LGBTQ+ candidates as they are currently underrepresented within the team.

*women who identify as Latin Americans (1st and 2nd generation) and speak Spanish and/or Portuguese

Please note that only applicants with the right to work in the UK covering the duration of the contract will be considered for this position.

Job purpose:

 The postholder will provide public affairs and policy support for the Association’s Advocacy and Campaigns programme as key elements in the Association’s strategic plan.

This role is based at our head office in 21 Portland Place, London. We offer a hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of 2 days in the office per week.

Key responsibilities:

•  Assist the organisation with developing its external voice by responding to policy developments and parliamentary opportunities, bringing together members’ views, evidence and information.
• Monitor relevant parliamentary business and produce short summaries of events where appropriate.
• Track the progress of relevant legislation, committee inquiries and consultations.
• Develop briefings and position statements setting out the Association’s views on issues relevant to membership, that support the advocacy and campaigns work and topical issues.
• Prepare briefings in advance of, and attend, where appropriate, meetings with key stakeholders and organise meetings when required.
• Assist with the developing and updating of stakeholder maps and spreadsheets.
• Assist with the development of campaigns by carrying out research and producing supporting briefings.
• Support the Head of Public Affairs and Policy with producing responses to consultations and policy developments, following up on finalised responses and taking forward related actions.
• Produce statements, latest news updates and contributions to the Association’s publications that promote the policy, advocacy and campaigns work.
• Encourage member engagement on relevant policy issues and campaigns via the Association’s website and other online and offline communication tools.
• Build strategic relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external, to facilitate collaborative working on priority campaign areas.
• Work with the Digital Content Team to make sure the website and social media are kept up to date with current policy developments and announcements

Operational management

• To work on individual projects, reports, events and publications within the Association as directed by the Head of Public Affairs and Policy.
• Maintain and improve your own competencies through continuous professional development.
• Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice as described in the Staff Handbook.
• Support and promote the Association’s commitment to diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.

This job description is intended to reflect the main duties and responsibilities of the post and is not an exhaustive list of duties. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties which are commensurate with the role.

Person specification

Skills, knowledge and experience

Essential

Educated to degree level or equivalent (e.g. relevant professional qualifications and/or vocational training).

Excellent oral communication skills and written communications skills, with particular emphasis on attention to detail (spelling and grammar).

Experience of writing policy statements and briefings and articulating these clearly to decision-makers and stakeholders.

Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of people including staff, Board, Council, members, stakeholders from other organisations.

Strong time management skills including an ability to manage competing requests and an ability to prioritise.

Well-developed IT skills, including the Microsoft Office suite of products.

Demonstrable experience in parliamentary affairs and an excellent knowledge of the UK political landscape.

Desirable

An understanding of current policy issues affecting the health sector.

Experience of working in a membership organisation.

Experience of working in a political environment.

Strategic thinking and interest in contributing to innovation and change.

Experience of engaging with political monitoring organisations and database management.

Digital copywriting skills and experience of writing for web or social media, and content management systems.

Applications close on 31 July and interviews will take place on 11 August.

We are recruiting for a Temporary Public Affairs Officer for a professional member body, you will need sound knowledge of the workings of government and parliamentary procedure, you will support the public affairs team in providing a timely, high-quality and professional public affairs service to deliver the organisations aim & objectives.

Hybrid working min 1 day in their London office

The Role
Support the public affairs team to develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in Westminster and Whitehall, particularly MPs and peers with an interest in health, and other national, regional, local and EU stakeholders
Research and develop briefings for stakeholder meetings at request of head of public affairs and senior public affairs officers
Produce parliamentary briefings and submissions
Supervise the public affairs monitoring service, providing daily monitoring support and research material, including monitoring Westminster, European institutions, and other relevant external stakeholders
Cascade monitoring information throughout the organisation
Collate information from a range of public affairs sources for circulation to senior members, relevant colleagues in the Engagement & Communications directorate, policy directorate and the wider teams - including summaries of relevant bills, reports, debates etc.
Provide analytical support to the public affairs team, including collating data on parliamentary/public affairs activity/performance

The Candidate
Previous experience in a parliamentary, political or public policy environment
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Excellent political awareness and keen interest in politics
Strong research and analytical skills
Ability to prioritise and manage own workload effectively but also to be flexible and adapt/respond to emerging issues, short deadlines and other demands or challenges
Knowledge of legislative procedures and policy making processes - across national, regional, local and devolved government and European institutions
An understanding of health policy issues and the challenges and opportunities facing the health and other public sectors

IMPORTANT NOTE

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you havent been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful and your details will not be held further but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

• ​Job Title - Communications & Engagement Lead
• Responsible to - Chief Executive Officer
• Salary - £23,000 actual (based on £31,500 full time)
• Contract - Part-Time (28 hours per week) - From time to time, you may be required to work some evenings and weekends. These are usually communicated well in advance and the time will be given back to you in lieu. We expect team members to work in-person 60% of the time whether that’s at our office in MediaCity or at our delivery locations in Greater Manchester. This is a one-year fixed-term contract, with the likelihood of renewal subject to funding availability.

Important dates

• Applications to be received by 11pm on Sunday 5 July 2026 
• Video Screening to be complete by 11pm on Thursday 9 July 2026 
• Interviews held on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 July 2026.

ABOUT YOUTH LEADS UK

Youth Leads UK is an award-winning charity that believes young people matter. We support young people furthest from opportunity to build skills, create change, and shape the decisions that affect their lives – from classrooms to communities to boardrooms. We run leadership programmes, deliver social action projects, and publish Youth Leads Magazine – a platform for youth voice and creativity.

Working with thousands of young people across Greater Manchester for over a decade, we are experts in enabling young people to step outside their comfort zones, build real-world skills and grow in confidence. We back young people to lead, in our programmes, in policy spaces and in shaping Britain's future.

Please see our website ‘About Us’ page for more information about our vision, mission and values.

WHY WORK WITH US?

At Youth Leads UK, we believe in creating an environment that helps you thrive both personally and professionally. We offer 30 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) and a part-closure over Christmas and New Year. Our wellbeing programme includes regular socials and time for mental health initiatives, and our base at MediaCity, one of Greater Manchester's most vibrant and sustainable locations, ensures a positive and connected working environment.

We are deeply committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion. That’s why we are a Living Wage Employer, signed up to the Greater Manchester Good Employer’s Charter, and the #ShowTheSalary campaign. It’s important to us that our staff team reflects the communities we serve. We guarantee interviews for our Youth Leads UK alumni, care experienced or disabled individuals, so please let us know in your application if you meet this criteria. We promote equal opportunities and we value the unique perspectives of diverse team members.

As a youth-led organisation, we prioritise employing individuals under 30, aligning with our mission to foster strong connections and relatability with the young people we support. This is in accordance with the Equality Act and reflects our belief in empowering young voices to shape our work. 
 

ROLE SUMMARY

This is the lead communications role at Youth Leads UK - the person who holds our voice, shapes our stories, and makes sure the world hears what our young people are doing and why it matters.

Working closely with the CEO and eventually supported by two Youth Content Creators, you will own the communications and engagement function across all channels and audiences. You will set the tone, maintain the brand, lead our campaigns, and ensure everything we put out reflects who we are and what we stand for.
 

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Strategy and brand

• Own the Youth Leads UK communications strategy, ensuring our channels, campaigns, and content are coherent, consistent, and purposeful
• Act as the guardian of our brand — maintaining voice, tone, and visual identity across everything we produce
• Work closely with the CEO to align communications activity with organisational priorities and the Generation:NOW strategy
• Analyse performance across channels and use insight to inform what we do next

Campaigns and content

• Lead the development and delivery of youth-led campaigns on issues that matter to our communities - from mental health and civic participation to cost of living and representation
• Oversee the planning and production of Youth Leads Magazine - three editions per year, created by and for young people
• Lead on long-form and strategic content including press releases, impact reports, website articles, and stakeholder communications
• Set the brief for social media content and oversee delivery by the Youth Content Creators, ensuring quality, consistency, and brand alignment
• Manage email communications including newsletters and stakeholder updates

Developing young people

• Provide day-to-day communications direction to two Youth Content Creators — setting briefs, reviewing content, and ensuring brand consistency
• Actively mentor and develop the Youth Content Creators, helping them build skills, confidence, and understanding of professional communications practice. The youth content creators will be line managed by the Head of Programmes, who you will work closely with
• Champion youth voice across all communications output, ensuring young people are authentically represented and genuinely involved in how we tell our story

Media and public profile

• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, and media contacts across local, regional, and national outlets
• Draft and issue press releases, media statements, and reactive comments
• Identify and pursue opportunities to place youth voice in public debate - through opinion pieces, broadcast appearances, panel contributions, and more
• Support the CEO and young people to prepare for media appearances and public-facing engagements

Communicating our impact

• Work with the wider team to translate programme outcomes, data, and young people’s stories into compelling content for a range of audiences
• Produce materials that communicate Youth Leads UK’s impact clearly and powerfully to partners, funders, and the public
• Ensure our digital presence - website, social channels, email - reflects the quality and ambition of our work

OTHER AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Ensure young people play a strong leadership role across our work
• Keep up to date on new developments and trends within the youth sector
• Administrative duties as required, such as minute-taking, arranging travel and booking venues
• Representing Youth Leads UK at conferences and events
• Act as an ambassador for the organisation
• Ensure Youth Leads UK’s Health and Safety and Safeguarding and any other appropriate policies are adhered to where necessary
• Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others who might be affected by your work as required by law and described in the relevant operating policies and procedures
• Be committed to safeguarding principles and be willing to put the welfare of children and young people at the forefront of your work
• An understanding and belief in the inclusion of all staff, partners and young people irrespective of race, gender, sexuality, age, religion, ability, identity and experience
• Actively promotes and embeds an understanding of equality, diversity, and an inclusive culture
• Able to take personal accountability for key work areas

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

ESSENTIAL

• Strong writing skills - able to produce compelling content across formats, from social media captions to press releases to long-form articles
• Experience developing and delivering communications strategies or campaigns
• Solid understanding of brand, voice, and audience - and how to maintain consistency across channels
• Experience managing or overseeing social media channels for an organisation or campaign
• Ability to use analytics to evaluate performance and make informed decisions about future activity
• Experience writing press releases or supporting media and press engagement
• Confidence building relationships with journalists, media contacts, or external stakeholders
• Excellent organisational skills - able to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain quality under pressure
• Genuine commitment to youth empowerment, social justice, and amplifying underrepresented voices
• Experience with video content production or editing
• Understanding of safeguarding principles when working with young people (training provided)

DESIRABLE

• Proficiency in Canva for creating and adapting branded content
• Experience with email marketing tools and understanding of what makes an effective newsletter or stakeholder communication
• Experience using Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or similar tools (training available)
• Experience working in or with the charity, public, or youth sector
• Understanding of civic leadership, social action, or community engagement
• Experience directing, briefing, or supporting others to deliver communications work
• Familiarity with website content management systems
• Experience mentoring or developing junior colleagues or young people

We recruit based on potential, not polish - so don’t worry if one or two of the above are missing - most things can be taught!

ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION

Youth Leads UK has a small yet mighty team, so you may be required to take on other duties and responsibilities from time to time.

All staff are expected to:

• Adhere to the policies and procedures in the Youth Leads UK staff policy handbook.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times in line with organisational policies.
• Successfully complete an enhanced DBS check and provide two independent references before appointment.
• Actively promote an inclusive and diverse culture within the organisation.

The post holder must have confirmation of eligibility to work in the UK (the successful candidate will be required to provide documentary evidence before a job offer is confirmed).

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: London, UK (Hybrid – 50% office attendance)

Summary Purpose - what you will be achieving:

The Policy Directorate brings together the Academy’s policy, analysis and external affairs functions to address major science and health policy issues in the UK and internationally. The Directorate works as a single, coordinated team, focusing resources on priority areas, applying strategic approaches, generating high‑quality evidence and insights, and engaging effectively with government, stakeholders and partners to inform decision‑making and influence policy.

You will work in the Academy’s new Analysis Function, which ensures that policy development, external engagement, and rapid response work are consistently underpinned by high‑quality analytical insight. Reporting to the Head of Policy Analysis, you will lead activities in a team that spans qualitative and quantitative methods, evidence synthesis, horizon scanning, policy modelling and evaluation.

You will work within the Policy Directorate (including the Policy Development and External Affairs functions) to improve the quality and impact of policy recommendations, and ensure decision-makers can rely on timely, trusted analysis.

About the role - what you will be doing:

1. Provide expert advice and guidance in support of policy analysis

• Work with the Head of Policy Analysis to develop the Analysis Function’s strategy, operating model, standards, governance and ways of working.
• Work with Policy Managers to agree strategies for evidence gathering in support of policy priorities.
• Advise on risks, uncertainties, and the implications of emerging scientific and technological trends as they pertain to the conduct of medical sciences and the health service.

2. Lead the Policy Directorate’s ‘rapid response’ function

• Lead the process of developing rapid responses to emerging policy opportunities.
• Oversee horizon scanning activities to ensure opportunities for rapid response are identified and planned for at early stages.
• Work with the Policy Directorate to agree, manage and quality assure rapid response projects.
• Where rapid response work has been commissioned by external organisations (e.g. government, arm’s length bodies), ensure their project needs are defined and addressed.
• Ensure rapid response outputs are underpinned by high‑quality analysis.

3. Project manage analytical activities

• Lead the Academy’s policy analysis projects, determining the best methodological approaches to gathering evidence that will inform policy development and external affairs.
• Manage the design and delivery of evidence syntheses, horizon scanning, modelling, impact assessments, stakeholder insight analysis, and evaluation.
• Lead colleagues in the Analysis Function to coordinate project planning and evidence-gathering activities.
• Support the Analysis Function with commissioning external analysis where appropriate.
• Regularly report on project progress, risks and issues to the Head of Policy Analysis.

4. Build analytical partnerships and external credibility

• Engage with analytical teams across government (e.g., DHSC, NHS England, UKRI, ONS), the charity sector, research funders and national academies.
• Engage with academic experts, methodologists, research networks and data holders to strengthen analytical depth.
• Represent the Academy in analytical or evidence‑focused fora.
• Work with the External Affairs team to support external activities.

Requirements

Essential

• Extensive experience working in analytical or evidence functions. 
• Expertise in a range of analytical methods, such as: evidence synthesis, horizon scanning, behavioural insights, data analysis, evaluation, modelling, or forecasting. 
• Experience in ensuring analytical quality assurance and establishing or applying analytical standards.
• Proven ability to engage with and communicate complex analytical findings clearly for non‑technical system partners, including government and sector representatives. 
• Experience with working at pace and managing a range of projects.
• Good understanding of the UK science, research and health policy landscape and how evidence informs decision-making. 

Desirable

• Previous work in a science, health, research or public policy environment (e.g., government, national academy, think tank, research funder). 
• Experience with managing budgets and commissioning research.

Benefits

We provide our staff with a comprehensive benefits package outlined as follows:

Competitive rewards

• Generous pension scheme with flexible contributions – we contribute between 8% - 13% of your gross salary (with employee contributions of 3% - 8%).
• Life assurance at three times your salary.

Work-life Balance

• Hybrid and agile working. 50% office attendance.
• 26 days annual leave, plus Christmas closure days and bank holidays.
• Buying and selling leave.
• Family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to a qualifying period).

Wellbeing and Development

• Complimentary subscriptions to Headspace and Classpass to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Support through tailored learning and development.

Additional Benefits

• A range of enhanced benefits become available once you’ve completed your probation period.

For more information and to apply, please visit our careers portal.

Closing date: 9:00am on Monday 6 July 2026.

Interviews will likely be held w/c 20 July 2026.

Planning & Integration Manager - 12-month FTC

It starts with community – and so does everything we do at The National Lottery Community Fund (the Fund). As the UK's largest community funder, we will distribute over £4 billion by 2030 to projects that strengthen society and improve lives. Our UK-wide Communications & Engagement Team is at the heart of telling that story, and we're looking for an exceptional Planning and Integration Manager to join us on a 12-month maternity cover basis.

This is a genuinely exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in one of the most ambitious periods in the Fund's history. As we enter phase two of our It Starts With Community strategy, our communications are more important than ever – positioning the Fund as a credible, influential voice on community resilience, cohesion and change. You'll be the operational linchpin that turns our strategic ambitions into coordinated, measurable reality.

Role Expectations

Working closely with the Head of Communications Strategy and the wider communications leadership team, you'll bring together integrated plans for our media, marketing, digital and external affairs functions, ensuring clear milestones, measurable outcomes, and efficient use of resources. If you're energised by complexity, thrive on bringing order and clarity to busy teams, and care about the power of communications to make a difference, this role is for you.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing design and delivery of planning and project management tools and systems across the Communications & Engagement function.
• Acting as the central point of contact/traffic manager between Communications teams and the rest of the Fund, managing incoming requests and allocating resources effectively.
• Developing project dashboards and reporting tools that track delivery progress and highlight risks or dependencies to drive project decisions and provide business insights.
• Establishing, monitoring and evaluating integrated objectives and metrics across media, marketing, digital and external affairs, ensuring our campaigns are based on evidence and focused on outcomes.
• Managing a team of two Communications Assistants.​

Skills & Requirements

You'll bring a strong track record in planning and delivering integrated communications activities in a complex organisation, with proven experience in operational planning, resource management and building effective planning frameworks across multiple teams. You'll be confident using data and analytics to drive operational improvements, and skilled at working across and between teams in a matrix environment.

Experience in people management is essential, as is the ability to build relationships and influence at all levels. A background in communications or marketing agency planning would be an advantage, as would familiarity with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

We have a hybrid approach to working. Work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. The role can be based at any of our UK offices: Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Newtown. The role requires semi-frequent travel to other offices.

Interview details:

• Date: July 22nd and 23rd
• Format: Online
• Location: UK-wide

We will be hosting a briefing session on Thursday 18th June, 11am. To register for the session or for any questions about the recruitment process, please email the recruitment team.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact the recruitment team.

How to apply:

Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement (1000 words) with the following criteria, we will use this to score your application.

Essential Criteria

• Strong track record in planning and delivering integrated communications activities in a complex organisation to deliver against organisational KPIs.
• Experience in operational planning and resource management across multiple teams, with proven ability to build and maintain effective planning frameworks and processes.
• Success in stakeholder management and matrix working.
• Experience using data and analytics to improve operational effectiveness.
• Experience in people management and development.

 Desirable Criteria

• Background in communications or marketing agency planning.
• Relevant project management qualification.
• Understanding of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

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.) 

Purpose of the Role

As the Policy and Campaigns Officer for Scotland, you will be the driving force behind our policy development, political monitoring, and strategic advocacy in Scotland. Your work will champion the strategic interests of dietitians as both a professional membership body and a registered trade union. Alongside core policy work, you will take direct ownership of designing and delivering a high-profile national campaign which is delivered across the UK. This allocated campaign will focus on a critical theme impacting both public health and our workforce.

The role sits within the BDA’s policy and public affairs function, and you will be part of a small team of policy officers and a public affairs officer who work across the other home countries and the UK. You will have access to an established Scotland board, a colleague who covers trade union representation in Scotland and a supportive professional practice, communications and leadership team based at our Birmingham head office.

Key Areas of Responsibility

The post holder will deliver on the following key responsibilities:

Policy development and advocacy (55%)

• Monitoring the political environment in Scotland in our key areas of interest, providing briefs and advice to the Scotland board and BDA senior leadership team on developments within Holyrood, NHS Scotland, STUC and local government.
• Policy development including work with relevant committees and BDA staff in the development of key policy documents and position statements with particular responsibility for policy positions in Scotland which balance clinical standards with social impact, workforce and employment rights.
• Co-ordinate and draft robust, evidence-based responses to consultations from Scottish government, public bodies and parliamentary committees. May also respond to UK consultations where appropriate for a campaign theme.
• In conjunction with the BDA public affairs officer, advocacy for the dietetic profession and the BDA in Scotland by maintaining a network of contacts across the Scottish political spectrum including MSPs, government officials, health board executives, and policy influencers.
• Translate political updates and complex policy changes into clear accessible updates and guidance for BDA members via newsletters, webinars and the website.
• Represent the BDA with internal and external stakeholders including BDA Specialist Groups, AHP policy officer and working groups/networks and other alliances.
• Represent the BDA at Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland (AHPFS) working groups and events, building relationships, contributing dietetic priorities and ensuring the profession’s interests are reflected in shared policy discussions and collaborative activity.

Campaign co-ordination (30%)

• Completion of campaign workplan/s template with the campaign working group/s.
• Co-ordinate campaigns in conjunction with working group/s.
• Monitoring the landscape with regards to allocated campaigns. Provide advice when relevant issues are trending or becoming topical.
• Build appropriate alliances with third-sector organisations, networks and charities, food policy alliances and other health unions to amplify the campaign’s impact.
• Working with colleagues in communications, design and public affairs to create compelling campaigning materials, digital content, and toolkits to mobilise members, the public, and parliamentarians to lobby for legislative and budgetary changes that support dietetic services and interests.
• Establish clear KPIs for the campaign/s, monitoring progress, media coverage, member engagement, and policy shifts, and reporting these to senior leadership.

Cross BDA engagement and communications (15%)

• Help and deliver the BDA’s participation in profile raising events in Scotland, such as NHS Confederation.
• Regular engagement with the Chair of the Scotland Board on policy, political and government matters, resulting in input to Board agendas and support for political engagement.
• Provide expert advice and briefings to senior leadership ahead of high-level meetings or media appearances in Scotland.
• Be a valuable member of the BDA policy and public affairs function, contributing to the evolution of the policy function and contributing to the wider work and objectives of the Trade Union team

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Degree educated.
• Campaign/project management.
• Health policy development.
• Equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Public policy making process, particularly within Scotland.
• Knowledge of the Health and Social Care policy landscape in Scotland and the devolved nature of public services.
• It is also desirable if you have an understanding of the trade union movement in Scotland.

Experience

• Experience of working in a policy, public affairs or research role in healthcare, membership, charity, public sector, or trade union.
• Experience of lone working and being part of a small field-based team.
• Working within a health professional body or trust/board.
• Working in a political environment.

It is also desirable if you have worked as a dietitian or dietetic support worker.

Ideally you should be confident working independently in a small field-based team, able to build relationships and translate complex policy into clear advice, with desirable experience in a professional body, trade union, or dietetic setting.