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Do you want to change the world for vulnerable children?
The Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies UK (CVAA) aims to improve adoption policy and practice across the UK for the benefit of children, challenging the adoption system to deliver for children and work in their best interests. Alongside advocating for system change, CVAA works to support our member voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) across the four nations of the UK, stimulating innovation and ensuring they stay at the leading edge of practice. The active engagement of members and the building of collaborative alliances with others who seek positive change for children are essential to the effectiveness of our work.
The Head of Policy is a vital member of the small CVAA team, working closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to champion the voluntary adoption sector and put children at the heart of everything we do. Due to maternity leave we have an exceptional and unique opportunity for someone who shares our passion to change the world for children, to gain valuable experience working at national level with senior stakeholders to contribute to system change, advocating for the power of adoption to change lives.
You will need strong people skills, experience of developing policy in consultation with stakeholders and using data to transform services and strengthen lobbying work. Most of all you need a cast iron commitment to change the world for vulnerable children.
CVAA works to challenge discrimination and disadvantage and welcomes applications from all communities, particularly those who are underrepresented in our sector, which includes but is not limited to people from Global Majority backgrounds, adoptees, men and those who identify as LGBTQ.
Key information
- Maternity Cover 1 year from July 2026
- Location - remote contract with occasional travel
- £40 – 45K depending on experience
- An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.
Applications
Please send a CV and letter of application, outlining your motivation for applying and the skills you offer, to Satwinder Sandhu (CEO) by 5pm on Friday 8th May 2026.
Both Satwinder (CEO) and Alice (Director of Strategy and Policy) are happy to have an informal chat about the role. Please email to arrange a convenient time to speak.
Initial online interviews via Microsoft Teams will be on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th May, with final in-person interviews scheduled for Thursday 28th May 2026 in London. Please let us know whether you cannot make any of these dates in your application.
Registered Charity 
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Head of Policy & Public Affairs
Business Disability Forum is the leading business membership organisation in disability inclusion. We are trusted partners, working with businesses, Government and disabled people to improve the life experiences of disabled employees and consumers, by removing barriers to inclusion.
- We work with over 600 members employing over 20% of the UK workforce and an estimated 8 million people worldwide.
- We advise, support and encourage businesses (many of them global) to become more disability-smart.
- We influence policymakers by representing the voice of employers and disabled employees.
- We provide evidence-based thought leadership on how business affects the lives of disabled people.
- We help effect changes in business practices, products, services and policies that positively impact the life experiences of disabled people, and also benefit business.
The role
We are looking for an exceptional individual to fulfil the role of Head of Policy and Public Affairs. We are looking for an experienced public affairs professional who can design and implement a public and parliamentary affairs strategy and support the team’s projects across public and parliamentary affairs, research, law and legislation, and UK Government consultation and inquiry work.
The requirement
- Demonstrable experience of working at management level in a public policy role in a topic related to disability, diversity and inclusion in the UK.
- Strong experience in setting and delivering a public and parliamentary affairs strategy.
- Strong experience of developing of new insights and policy positions within a team in an organisation working with other internal teams (such as comms and media) to communicate and promote those positions.
- In depth knowledge of the disability and reasonable adjustments element of UK legislation, and equality law as per the Equality Act 2010, the Employment Rights Act, Health and Safety at Work.
- Experience of acting as public facing spokesperson for an organisation.
For the full job description-person specification and additional information for applicants of this role and instructions on how to apply please visit our website below via the button below:
How to apply
We are asking applicants to send their CV and covering letter to apply for the role. Writing to a high standard in English is key to this role, as is writing to tight specifications and word count. A mistake is fine – we all make them. But your covering letter and CV should be well-written, with accurate use of English spelling and grammar. Your covering letter should tell us why you want to work in BDF’s policy and research team and why you think you would suit the role. Your letter should not exceed 400 words in total. Applications should be sent to jobs @ businessdisabilityforum .org .uk.
- Closing date for applications: 19 April 2026
- First interviews are planned for the 27, 28 & 30 April.
- Second interviews are likely to take place in the week commencing 5 May 2026.
Business Disability Forum is committed to ensuring that all its information, products and services are as accessible as possible to everyone. If you wish to discuss anything in regards to accessibility or if you require alternative formats please contact Barnaby Powell by email at the address above or by telephone on 020-7403-3020.
For further information on Business Disability Forum please refer to our website via the link on this page.
Equal opportunities
We are committed to becoming disability-smart and an employer of choice irrespective of race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, or pregnancy and maternity. The ethical and business case of ensuring that our workforce is representative of wider society is at the heart of what we do. When we are recruiting, disabled candidates who meet all of the criteria will be offered an interview.
