Head of policy and public affairs jobs in edinburgh, scotland

The eoa exists to grow and strengthen employee ownership as a force for powering fairer livelihoods, stronger businesses, and a more resilient economy. With 800+ member businesses and a community of thousands of employee owners, we are the national voice for employee ownership in the UK.

Our refreshed strategy is focused on accelerating impact through people powered growth. We’re here to make employee ownership a mainstream business model choice—by expanding the sector, setting the standard for excellence, and building a connected, values-led ecosystem. We do this through sharp insight, high-impact advocacy, and a thriving member experience.

For founders and business owners exploring employee ownership, or for leaders and managers building Great EO businesses, the eoa offers tools, knowledge, experience and connection. We facilitate powerful peer learning, codify what works, and champion the stories that inspire others to choose EO.

Together with our members, we’re creating the conditions for employee ownership to thrive—seizing the political, cultural, and digital opportunities ahead. and this is where you come in.

As Director of Partnerships and Growth, you’ll be the driving force behind the eoa’s external influence and reach. you’ll lead our advocacy and external affairs strategy, build meaningful partnerships, and deliver powerful events programmes that accelerate adoption of Great EO. You’ll also shape the narrative—ensuring our insights, policy recommendations and thought leadership land with impact.

This is a high-profile, senior leadership role at a pivotal time for the EO community. It calls for someone with a track record in advocacy or external affairs, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to lead high-performing teams. It also needs a big-picture thinker - someone who can champion EO, influence change, and help us build a more inclusive, resilient economy.

If you’re excited about the opportunity to grow an economy that puts people at the heart of business, we’d love to hear from you.

Role Details

At the heart of this Director of Parnterships & Growth role is the opportunity to shape the external environment for employee ownership, champion the voice of our members, and lead high-impact strategies that grow both our reach and the sector itself.

You’ll lead on policy, advocacy, external affairs and events—crafting compelling narratives, building powerful partnerships, and delivering programmes that drive commercial sustainability and sector-wide change.

From shaping relationships with key stakeholders and securing strategic sponsorships, to overseeing the delivery of thought leadership, content, and events, you’ll ensure that the eoa is not just part of the national conversation—but leading it.

Your ability to influence, convene, and inspire will be critical to removing barriers to employee ownership and unlocking the potential of our £1.7m organisation to deliver even greater impact.

Join us on this exciting journey where your leadership will shape policy, grow influence, and contribute to our mission of unlocking the potential of people, businesses, and the economy through employee ownership.

This role is remote, however regular travel to our HQ in Brough and across the UK is expected.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead external affairs, collaborating with stakeholders to shape policy, advocacy and best practice that removes barriers and expands EO.
• Establish relationships and secure commercial partnerships and sponsorships, generating revenue to support advocacy, events, and sector growth initiatives.
• Engage key stakeholders to co-produce content that positively influence EO practice and policy and amplify the eoa’s voice in public affairs.
• Oversee delivery of an effective content strategy that delivers our commercial objectives and positions the eoa as the leading EO authority.
• Oversee events programmes, ensuring they drive knowledge-sharing, sector development, and commercial sustainability.
• Represent the eoa at industry forums, policy roundtables, and public affairs events, championing the employee ownership model.
• Collaborate with the Director of Membership & Operations to align advocacy efforts with member needs and engagement.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering innovation and delivering measurable impact across advocacy, policy, event activities.

Success in this role

Success in this role means having a positive impact on the growth rate, influence and adoption of great EO across the employee ownership sector. Strengthening and expanding stakeholder relationships, driving advocacy impact and securing commercial sustainability through a diverse mix of sponsorships, partnerships will also be indicators of success.

Key outcomes for the role

• Growth of the employee ownership sector. Measured by increased number of EO businesses, heightened sector awareness
• Strengthened corporate engagement. Measured by growth in strategic partnerships, corporate and government engagement
• Strong Commercial Sustainability. Measured by increased sponsorship revenue, secured long-term commercial partnerships
• Increased policy influence. Measured by policy recommendations adopted, increased government engagement
• Enhanced sector insight and intelligence. Measured by utilisation of high-quality data and insights for regular sector related content outputs.
• Development and adoption of best practice. Measured by creation, adoption and promotion of best practice across the EO network.
• Successful events programmes. Measured by iIncreased participation, sponsorship growth, positive feedback.

About you

• Proven expertise in advocacy, public affairs, or policy leadership, ideally within a business, trade body, or membership association.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience influencing government, media, and corporate partners.
• Demonstrated ability to drive sectoral or policy change, leading successful advocacy initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience in sponsorship acquisition, revenue generation, and developing financially sustainable initiatives.
• Exceptional strategic communication and storytelling skills, able to engage and mobilise diverse audiences.
• Experience in event programme development, ensuring high engagement and sector impact.
• Passion for employee ownership and economic models that promote shared prosperity.
• Innovative, creative, and proactive in problem-solving and strategy execution.
• A confident and transparent leader who fosters collaboration and inclusivity through teamwork.
• Self-aware with emotional intelligence, resilience, and integrity.

Role Summary

• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
• Location: Remote, with regular travel to eoa offices and national events
• Salary & Benefits: £65,000 p/a + 7% Pensions. 30 Days leave + Bank Holidays.
• Reports to: CEO
• Management: TBC

About you

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

Myeloma UK is looking for a motivated and pro-active Policy Officer to join our Patient Advocacy team within the wider Research and Advocacy directorate.  You will have experience of analysing, developing, and communicating policy issues, excellent communication and influencing skills and the ability to present findings and recommendations to a range of audiences.  The post holder will have excellent attention to detail and the ability to prioritise and work under pressure.

The successful candidate will be a highly regarded ambassador for Myeloma UK with a desire to continuously improve and to make a difference while working flexibility and using their own initiative.

Experience of public/patient engagement work, participating in government policy consultations and patient advocacy campaign work would be beneficial but not essential.

About the role

As the Policy Officer you will be part of the Patient Advocacy team who work to ensure that the patient voice is heard and acted upon by UK and devolved nations healthcare policy decision makers. You will support Myeloma UK’s ambition to deliver personalised medicine, such that every person living with and affected by myeloma and associated conditions has access to the best diagnostics, treatment and care services and quality of life experience.

Your role is vital to developing strategic approaches to UK health policy legislation and consultations to ensure that UK government and devolved nations healthcare policy supports the needs of people living with and affected by myeloma and associated conditions. 

You will support the Policy Manager to assess existing healthcare policies, regulations and legislation to understand their implications for myeloma-specific healthcare systems, providers and patients

About us

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

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

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

Our culture

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

How to apply

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

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

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

Applications close on 12 May 2025 and interviews will be held w/c 19 May 2025.

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

· sex

· race

· disability

· age

· sexual orientation

· gender reassignment

· religion or belief

· marital status

· pregnancy and maternity

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

Job Title: Marketing Manager

Location: Remote

Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £45,000

Contract: Permanent

Interviews will be held on 27th May via Teams

What we are looking for:

A skilled marketing professional to join our team and help us improve our brand awareness and reach our target audiences. We’re a charity that delivers services locally but has a national impact and this role will help us grow our reach nationally while supporting the wider team in connecting with our audiences at a more local level.

We’re looking for someone who can put strategy into action and, importantly, track performance. You’ll have experience in line management or have led a similar-sized marketing team, so you’re comfortable providing support and guidance to develop people and help them achieve their KPIs. As a small team, you’ll be comfortable being hands-on and able to deliver impact with limited resources.

You’ll take the lead on developing concepts for campaigns to achieve our goals and support your team to deliver projects that optimise and improve our channels. As a creative thinker, you’ll know what makes compelling content. As you keep up with marketing trends and use data insights, you’ll know when to shift strategy to drive channel performance. You’ll be responsible for our estate of digital assets and you’ll manage the day-to-day relationship with our digital agency. You’ll work with them to ensure we’re making the most of our Google Ad grant and that our website is optimised.

Passionate about accessibility you’ll use your marketing skills to co-produce campaigns and content with our lived experienced experts that help encourage people to join our services, work in our teams and advocate for the rights of the people we support.

Key Purpose of the Role:

To develop and lead marketing strategies and plans to support our organisational aims

Essential Criteria

To thrive in this role, you must have:

• Previous experience in a marketing role
• Line management experience where you’ve supported someone to meet objectives and KPIs
• Adept at using data and insights to devise effective strategies
• Experience of delivering marketing, digital and communications campaigns
• Experience of delivering against and reporting on KPIs
• Demonstrable experience of SEO, PPC, social media and email marketing
• Strong knowledge of GA4
• Proven track record in utilising paid channels, including Google and Meta Ads
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to manage the needs of both internal and external stakeholders
• Experience of managing multiple projects whilst still meeting deadlines
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to develop creative solutions with limited resources
• A flexible approach to working and a willingness to support colleagues across the organisation
• Alignment with United Response’s values and a commitment to delivering our vision and mission

Desirable

• Experience of working in a marketing or communications role in social care
• Experience of the management and development of brand strategy
• Experience leading and coaching a similar sized team

Benefits

At United Response, we recognise and reward your contribution with:

• Annual Leave: 25 days of paid leave plus 8 bank holidays (pro-rated for part-time roles).
• Career Development: Fully funded training and recognised qualifications.
• Financial Security: Pension and life assurance benefits, alongside enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
• Wellbeing Support: Free access to occupational health, physiotherapy, and counselling services.
• Recognition Programs: Celebrate achievements through our UR Stars Recognition Scheme.
• Discounts: Savings at over 3,500 retailers via our online shopping platform.
• Travel Support: Season ticket loans for commuting.
• Referral Incentives: Rewards for introducing friends to our team.

About Us

United Response is a leading national charity, passionate about empowering individuals to lead fulfilling lives. We are committed to promoting independence, inclusivity, and equality for all, breaking barriers to ensure everyone can live, work, and socialise in their communities.
Our core values Creativity, Strength, Honesty, Responsiveness, and Unity drive everything we do.

Equal Opportunity Employer

As a Disability Confident Leader, United Response is committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process. We guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria. 

As Individual Giving and Appeals Manager, you’ll deliver integrated fundraising campaigns across direct mail, email, and digital channels — helping us grow our individual giving base and strengthen donor loyalty. 

Alongside driving individual and regular giving, you’ll help shape a new in-memory giving offer, build our legacy giving programme from the ground up, and grow our Named Funds programme.

Working closely with teams across the charity, you’ll design inspiring donor journeys and stewardship plans. You’ll also use data and insight to refine our approach and ensure every supporter feels truly valued. 

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a small charity making a big impact – for a fundraiser who’s not only motivated by results, but by the chance to help change the story for children with cancer.

Who are we looking for?

We’re looking for a creative and strategic fundraiser who is passionate about delivering impactful campaigns and building meaningful supporter relationships. 

The ideal candidate will have: 

• Demonstrable experience in managing individual giving campaigns, legacy fundraising, and / or in-memory fundraising. 

• Proven experience developing compelling propositions that drive results and generate income/supporter acquisition.

• Strong planning and organisation skills, with the ability to handle multiple activities simultaneously. 

• Proven record of being results-driven and achieving agreed fundraising targets ad outcomes. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication as well as relationship-building skills with an ability to inspire and engage supporters.

See our Recruitment Pack for the full role description and specification and for more information about the charity.

Location: Home-based within England with regular travel to London and elsewhere in the UK as required 

Interviews: 19 May 2025 (London Office)

Safeguarding: As a safeguarding charity whose work and practice are underpinned by safeguarding principles to protect children and young people and enhance their welfare, we always work in accordance with legislation, statutory guidance, and best safeguarding practices. All our roles require a basic criminal record check.

Promoting equality and diversity: We actively encourage applications from those with lived experience of neuroblastoma and/or other childhood cancers. As an equal opportunity employer, we also welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with a can-do attitude to join our Fundraising & Engagement Team and help raise vital funds for children with cancer. You don’t need previous fundraising experience—just strong organisational skills, creativity, a talent for building relationships, and a genuine passion for making a difference and raising money for charitable causes. 

In this varied role, you’ll support the planning and delivery of fundraising events, care for our amazing supporters, and assist with individual, community, and corporate fundraising activities. You’ll gain hands-on experience across multiple fundraising areas, playing a key role in ensuring the smooth delivery of the team’s work through excellent administrative and project support. 

This is a hugely rewarding opportunity for someone looking to take their first step into the charity or fundraising sector, or to build on existing experience. If you’re ready to learn, grow, and be part of something meaningful—we’d love to hear from you! 

Who are we looking for? 

To succeed in this role, you will need to be passionate about fundraising and demonstrate key qualities that will help you thrive in a dynamic and supportive environment.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A keen interest in fundraising with a willingness to learn and develop as a professional fundraiser (and if the opportunity arose, a willingness to study for a Level 3 Fundraising Apprenticeship over 13 months)

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to provide excellent supporter care and build relationships. 

• A positive, enthusiastic and results-driven attitude with the ability to work on your own initiative or as part of a team. 

• IT literacy with knowledge of Microsoft packages.

See our Recruitment Pack for the full role description and specification and for more information about the charity.

Location: Home-based, ideally located in London or within a short commutable distance. Regular travel to the London office is a key requirement of the role, with occasional national travel also expected. 

Interviews: 20 May 2025 (London Office)

Safeguarding: As a safeguarding charity whose work and practice are underpinned by safeguarding principles to protect children and young people and enhance their welfare, we always work in accordance with legislation, statutory guidance, and best safeguarding practices. All our roles require a basic criminal record check.  

Promoting equality and diversity: We actively encourage applications from those with lived experience of neuroblastoma and/or other childhood cancers. As an equal opportunity employer, we also welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.