Head of policy jobs

Job Title:                                                   Head of Policy & Campaigns

Grade and Salary:                                     Team lead - £56,000 to £60,000 (depending on experience)

Reporting To:                                             Director

Number of direct reports:                           Three (currently)

Location:                                                    Brighton/Hybrid (At least two days per week in Brighton Office)

Contract:                                                  Full time, permanent (35 hours a week)

Travel Requirements:                                The post involves some UK travel and may include occasional travel to Europe.

Background

Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) is the only charity in the UK focused solely on tackling the problems caused by pesticides and promoting safe and sustainable alternatives in agriculture, urban areas, homes and gardens. It is an independent, non-profit organisation, which works nationally and internationally to eliminate the use of the most hazardous pesticides, reduce dependence on pesticides overall, and to increase the adoption of sustainable alternatives to chemical pest control.

Our Head of Policy & Campaigns leads our work in the UK which aims to better protect both the environment and human health from pesticide harms. Through policy work, lobbying, research, media and strategic communications, we aim to influence a range of decision makers, from the UK government and devolved administrations to local councils and the country’s biggest supermarkets. The role also includes working alongside PAN UK’s Director to secure funding to cover the UK team’s salaries, overheads and activities. It is an incredibly varied role, involving everything from leading on strategy development for the UK team while also being intricately involved in writing and editing publications and executing other activities such as events and mobilising the public.

The Head of Policy & Campaigns is part of PAN UK’s Senior Management Team (along with our Director, Head of Finance and Governance and Head of International Programmes) which sets the direction of the organisation and ensures it is well-managed and delivering on our mission. 

Specific responsibilities

1.       Advocacy, policy and campaigning

• Lead the UK team in developing advocacy strategies, and fully utilising opportunities to make progress towards achieving PAN UK’s mission.

• Conduct high quality research and analysis aimed at influencing decision makers. Ensure it is presented in a way which is both technically accurate and compelling.

• Develop and/or maintain expertise in pesticide policy with the aim of being able to represent PAN UK credibly in a range of external fora.

• Build relationships with a wide range of decision makers including government ministers and civil servants, parliamentarians, devolved administrations, local councils and supermarkets.

• Ensure that the organisation’s policy positions on UK pesticide issues are clear, well thought out and will lead to positive change.

• Find creative ways to involve the UK public in PAN UK’s work, including enabling members of the public to contact decision makers directly.

2.       Communications

• Secure media coverage for PAN UK outputs, including writing press releases and liaising with journalists. Provide written quotes for media outlets and give interviews for radio and TV.

• Write materials including policy reports, political briefings and public-facing communications such as blogs and supporter emails. Edit and sign off all outputs from the UK team, ensuring they are both well-written and accurate.

• Conduct public speaking at a range of events, from high-profile events in parliament to community gatherings (and everything in between!).

• Work closely with PAN UK’s Communications Manager to provide content for the organisation’s website and social media channels. Support the Communications Manager in their broader work which includes raising PAN UK’s public profile and leading on individual giving.

3.       Fundraising and financial management

(Please note that PAN UK does not employ fundraisers).

• Raise sufficient funds to cover the UK team’s salaries, activity costs and contribution to organisational overheads.

• Contribute to efforts to raise core funds, which are led by PAN UK’s Director.

• Identify and build relationships with new funders, particularly trusts and foundations, with the aim of securing funding.

• Maintain excellent relationships with existing funders, making sure to meet reporting deadlines.

• Follow PAN UK protocols to ensure that the UK team’s finances are well-managed.

 4.     Leadership and strategy

• Manage a high-performing team, leading on strategy development and implementation and ensuring that the team runs effectively.

• Line manage the staff of the UK team, running regular 121s, annual appraisals and generally making sure they are happy and productive.

5.       Contributing to the organisation

• Contribute to the effective and smooth running of the organisation through membership of the Senior Management Team.

• Report to the PAN UK Board of Trustees as and when required.

• Other duties as may reasonably be requested by the Director and commensurate with the post.

Person specification

Essential

• At least eight years’ advocacy experience, including experience of designing, developing and implementing both policy work and public campaigns.

• Experience of developing, implementing and reviewing strategies designed to create change. 

• Excellent writing and editing skills and experience of producing both technical and public-facing materials. Exceptional attention to detail and a personal commitment to accuracy.

• An understanding of the political context, actors, and processes relating to key policy areas that intersect with pesticides such as food, farming, environment and/or health.

• Experience lobbying decision makers and knowledge of how the UK political system works.

• Demonstrable experience of preparing successful funding applications and building relationships with funders.

• Experience of managing, leading and motivating staff.

• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice.

• Proven ability to work on own initiative, meeting objectives and tight deadlines under pressure.

• The right to work in the UK.

 Desirable

• Knowledge of problems and solutions associated with pesticides and/or other chemicals. 

• Experience working in sectors related to pesticides including environment, health and/or social justice. 

• Relevant degree in a related discipline (science or social science).

• Experience of dealing with the media and acting as a spokesperson.

• Experience in managing project budgets.

• Knowledge of UK libel laws.

Charity People is delighted to be partnering with AdviceUK to recruit for an interim Head of Policy, Programmes and Media. Joining the organisation as a maternity leave cover contract, this is a role where you will have the opportunity to achieve significant impact across some key priority areas.

Since 1979, Advice UK has been supporting advice organisations by helping them to be efficient, competent and effective, and by campaigning for a policy environment that supports advice agencies and people needing advice. A small but mighty - and growing! - charity that supports its members to provide advice to upwards of 2.5 million people each year. The organisation is working towards a world in which every individual, regardless of means, is able to access the advice they need in order to exercise their rights and address any legal and social welfare challenges they may face.

Contract: Interim maternity cover role, nine to 12 month contract

Salary: £70,000 to £75,000 per annum

Location: Hybrid role which will be predominantly home-based with travel to London for either office days or meetings expected around one day per week

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week or part time, 28 hours per week considered with flexible working options fully supported

Closing date for applications: 9am Friday 30th January
Interviews: Interviews will be held in person at the charity offices in London on the 11th and 12th of February

The Head of Policy, Programmes and Media position is a senior position within the organisation. Part of the SLT and reporting to the CEO the postholder will take the lead on all policy and public affairs initiatives to secure policy change and funding to benefit people seeking advice and the communities served by the organisation's members.

Core responsibilities within the role will include:

• Develop and oversee the implementation of effective strategies for policy and funder influence that enable Advice UK to achieve its purpose
• Identify new audiences and develop innovative approaches to sustain and grow Advice UK's stakeholder and funder network and achieve its strategic priorities
• Be accountable for Advice UK's policy, public affairs and funded activities, reporting to the Chief Executive and Advice UK Board
• Lead the development and coordination of clear, concise and authoritative policy positions on key issues
• Identify actionable and achievable policy influencing goals to achieve change on the highest priority issues and develop strategic influencing plans to achieve these goals
• Alongside the Chief Executive, be Advice UK spokesperson and representative at external events including policy roundtables, steering groups, conferences, meetings and other events
• Oversee and deliver a proactive public affairs strategy to achieve policy change on the issues of priority concern to members
• Identify and build effective relationships with key contacts across UK and devolved governments and parliaments, including Ministers, MPs, civil servants and local and regional decision makers
• Lead a stakeholder engagement programme for Advice UK working strategically to identify, develop and manage relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including policy influencers, funders, sector partners and other organisations
• Oversee the development of effective press and media campaigns, mobilising support and leveraging media opportunities to raise awareness and drive action on priority issues
• Oversee the development and effective delivery of the #AdviceSaves campaign (including Advice Week), ensuring impact is measured and lessons learned
• Oversee development of research and analysis to identify emerging trends, opportunities in support of our policy and campaign objectives, using this to provide evidence-based insights and identify specific policy solutions to inform advocacy efforts
• Lead the development of high-quality research and insight products, including research reports and commissioned surveys to support our influencing goals
• Oversee the delivery of Advice UK's funding strategy to open up funding opportunities for members and their advice services
• As the departmental budget holder, lead on all financial management for the department, including forecasting and measuring financial performance, setting and managing budgets, reducing waste, and taking action to ensure the department achieves its financial objectives
• Provide effective leadership to the Policy and Public Affairs department including line management of a team of four, ensuring their strong performance and supporting their learning and development
• Work with other members of the senior leadership team to develop and implement Advice UK's strategic plan in supporting of its overall strategic objectives and to establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs)

We'd love to see applications from candidates with the following skills and experience:

• Significant experience of delivering within a complex policy environment, ideally within an organisation of similar size and complexity including of developing and delivering impactful policy and public affairs strategies that have led to demonstrable change
• Experience or an understanding of the social welfare advice sector; the issues faced by advice providers and the communities they serve
• Experience of working with suppliers and partners to deliver campaigns, research and funding proposals including tendering, negotiating and contracting, and of working in coalitions and partnerships to achieve shared objectives
• Experience acting as a spokesperson for an organisation
• Experience of strategic leadership of teams and working with CEO, Board and as part of a senior leadership team
• Ability to apply knowledge to new challenges and situations, and to devise solutions
• Strong analytical thinking and decision-making skills, with ability to translate data and evidence into actionable insights to inform decision-making
• Ability to think strategically; working in timescales of between one to three years
• Ability to manage and motivate staff to deliver complex or challenging projects
• Commitment to social justice, equality, diversity and inclusion

If you're interested in hearing more about this opportunity, please send your CV to Alice at Charity People in the first instance. 

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Liberty is looking for a skilled manager with strong political instincts to step into the exciting role of Interim Head of Policy & Campaigns for a period of twelve months. We will be implementing a bold new strategy in a rapidly changing external environment, where existential threats to human rights and civil liberties give our work a renewed sense of urgency. This is an opportunity to help deliver high-impact campaigns that seek to influence policy at national level. You will be well supported by a highly skilled peer group and senior leadership and will lead a team of four Policy & Campaigns Officers to deliver innovative, politically insightful campaigns.

The Interim Head of Policy & Campaigns will play a key role in successfully implementing parts of Liberty’s new strategy. The role will oversee the development and implementation of Liberty’s policy and campaigning priorities: undertaking high quality research, influencing decision makers, building coalitions, producing policy and campaign materials, providing policy input to strategic litigation, and building public and political support for Liberty’s work.

We are seeking someone with strong political influencing experience who holds Liberty’s values and ambitions close to their heart, as we work to ensure everyone in the United Kingdom is treated fairly, with dignity and respect. This is a key role in securing the long-term policy change needed to protect the human rights and civil liberties of everyone who lives in the UK.

We are looking for a strategic leader who brings a collaborative approach to their work. You will have policy and research experience in human rights, or a related field such as the equality sector or social welfare sector. You will have a strong understanding of how to secure policy change in challenging political environments.

You will have a strong commitment to Liberty’s anti-oppression values and strategy.

Liberty fully embraces flexible working and is committed to employee development. We aim to encourage people from all backgrounds to work with us and are particularly interested in hearing from people from minority backgrounds and all socio-economic sections of society. Liberty supports hybrid working, with a minimum of two days per week in the Westminster office.

The deadline for applications is 9am Monday 26 January 2026

Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.

Please be aware that we do not accept CVs for this role. All applicants must complete the application form to apply.

First round interviews will be held on Wednesday 4 February

Second round interview will be held on Wednesday 11 February

Apply via the job board on our website.

Prospectus is pleased to be collaborating with a UK charity founded by families who lost loved ones to gambling-related suicide to recruit for a Head of Public Affairs, Policy and Advocacy to join them on permanent contract to start in 2026. The charity operates as a fully remote working organisation however there will be significant London and UK travel required as part of this role.

The Head of Public Affairs, Policy and Advocacy is responsible for the delivery of the charity’s public affairs and lived experience advocacy strategy. This role is the most senior operational position within a small advocacy function and is accountable for ensuring that agreed strategy is converted into effective, timely and impactful advocacy action by and in support of bereaved families.

The post holder will feed in to overall organisational strategy and will play a critical role in shaping delivery plans, prioritising activity, and personally undertaking significant advocacy work — including drafting letters, briefings, parliamentary questions and amendments, co-ordinating political engagement, and ensuring policy asks are actively advanced within Parliament, government and regulatory processes. The post holder will support and enable bereaved family members to engage in meeting with MPs and Peers and in provision of evidence to committees

The successful candidate will have significant experience in political advocacy or public affairs influencing, with a proven track record of responsibility for delivering policy and political outcomes. You will bring drive and passion to the role, with an empathy for people with lived experience. You will bring experience of hands-on policy delivery and a strong understanding of the UK political system, parliamentary processes and policy-making cycles. You will also have excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, persuasive and politically astute documents.

To apply please submit your CV and a two page supporting statement, preferably in Microsoft Word/PDF format. The statement should outline your motivation for joining the charity and why you feel you would be a good fit for this role. You should also demonstrate your experience and skillset with examples relating to the Person Specification section in the Job Pack. If you have any further questions or would like to know more about this opportunity please contact Steven Fraser from Prospectus.

As a specialist Recruitment Practice Prospectus are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Prospectus invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.

Would you like to join an organisation that is striving for systemic change? We believe it is not enough to reform structures and systems which are foundationally discriminatory. We are calling for a complete overhaul, and for people with lived experience to lead that change.

Migration is one of the most hotly debated political topics with rapid policy changes shaping the lives of millions. We’re looking for a proactive and inspiring leader to join us as Interim Head of Policy and Communications.

In this vital role, you will champion our mission to create a just society for all migrants, ensuring those with lived experience are at the centre of our work and heard by policymakers and supporters alike. You will influence national policies, engage diverse stakeholders, from policymakers to grassroots groups, and build impactful communication campaigns.

Working closely with our CEO and as part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will help shape the strategic direction of our policy and communication efforts during this critical time.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in contributing to a vision for intersectional campaigns that call for systemic change, and for those with lived experience to lead the changes we need.

If you’re passionate about social justice, experienced in policy and advocacy, and a skilled communicator, we want to hear from you! 

As a lived experience and values-led organisation, and diverse team, we are looking for candidates with a:

• Commitment to upholding the rights of ALL migrants

• Real vision as to how this can be done in the current political, social and economic climate 

• A commitment to MRN's vision and values

The salary will be £43,817 per annum, pro-rata. In addition, MRN contributes up to 6% of salary to pensions. We are keen to have someone start in the role immediately.

Closing date for applications: 9am, 14 January 2026

Date for candidate interviews: 26 January 2026