Head of policy jobs in farringdon, greater london

Head of Policy Insights

Hours: 0.8 FTE (four days a week) 

Location: Hybrid, with a focus on London. You’ll need to be in London to work from our office (near Victoria) one day a week and have about two other days per week to attend meetings with policy makers and our members. On other days you can work remotely or come into our office. Some nationwide travel expected for meetings and events. 

After passing probation, you’ll have up to six weeks ‘super remote’ working per year, where you can work anywhere in the world as long as you’re online for four hours of the UK workday.  

Holidays: 38 days per year, including our 3-day winter shut down and eight flexible bank holidays pro rata.

About the Fair Education Alliance

The Fair Education Alliance (FEA) unites 300 member organisations under a shared vision that no child’s success is limited by their socioeconomic background.  

Our members (charities and social enterprises, think tanks, businesses and foundations, youth organisations, unions, universities and schools) are working collectively to create an inclusive system. We exist to close the gap in educational outcomes between children from low-income households and their wealthier peers. 

This autumn, we’re kicking off our next strategic phase, which will take our work from neighbourhood to national, building a movement for systems change towards a fairer future for children and young people. 

Why we need you 

The gaps in educational outcomes between children from low-income households and their wealthier peers are staggering at every stage of education. This goes on to increase the likelihood that young people from low-income households will be out of employment, education, or training. We take a systems change approach to shifting the conditions that hold these inequities in place. With the next phase of our strategy underway—building a movement from neighbourhood to national—we need someone who can help us influence policy and practice with insight, evidence and urgency.  

We aim to bring insights from our diverse and expert membership to policymakers, ensuring that local, regional and national policies best serve children and young people from low-income backgrounds. We support members to organise around themes through our collective action working groups, which have advised Government on topics such as Family Hubs, the Curriculum and Assessment Review, and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, and will continue to contribute expertise to upcoming policy moments related to SEND, Skills England and Ofsted. We also support youth voice in policymaking through our Youth Steering Group, which has contributed independently to major policy developments, bringing valuable lived experience to decision-making. From September, we’ll also support members, young people and government bodies to craft regional policy and practice that benefits children and young people from low-income backgrounds.  

Our Digital Membership Tools (Member Directory and interactive Ecosystem Map) have the potential to play a crucial role in our policy work. These tools help members, funders, and policymakers target their work to where it is most needed. There is a wealth of data in these tools: the Ecosystem Map is the only place that marries up publicly available information about pupil demographics and outcomes with information about all 22,000 schools where our members are working. It shows where there is strong or weak provision related to different types of support, at a school, local authority, constituency, MAT or regional level, together with the outcomes pupils are achieving.  

We now need someone who can harness these assets to produce compelling insights and engage policymakers—from local authorities and combined authorities to central government and funders. This role will turn data into impact: creating clear, targeted reports that support decision-making, identifying gaps and opportunities, and helping us tell the story of how education can—and must—be fairer. 

What we’re asking of you

Develop a strategy to influence policy from neighbourhood to national  

You’ll lead our approach to turning insights into influence—connecting our data, member knowledge and youth voice to shape policy that improves outcomes for children and young people. That means designing a strategy that engages decision-makers at all levels, from civil servants and funders to combined authorities and Parliament. You’ll identify the right stakeholders and entry points, use our Ecosystem Map and Member Directory to generate targeted insights, and align our regional and national work for maximum impact.  

Translate data into insight—and insight into action  

You’ll be responsible for developing reports and briefings that tell powerful stories with data. Working closely with our Data Officer, you’ll design templates and processes to produce timely, high-quality outputs that are tailored to different audiences, and that enable the wider team to do so. You’ll complement our datasets with wider research and trends, and ensure our insights are used by both internal colleagues and external stakeholders to inform programmes, policy and funding decisions.  

Engage senior stakeholders and building meaningful relationships  

You’ll represent the Alliance in meetings, roundtables, and events—sharing evidence and building trusted relationships with policymakers, civil servants, and funders. You’ll understand their priorities, and tailor our insights accordingly. This is a two-way relationship: you’ll also feed what you learn, ensuring that our influencing work is responsive and grounded in both national priorities and lived experience.  

Manage projects and continuously improve our tools  

You’ll oversee the systems and processes that make our insights work possible—ensuring reporting cycles are efficient, quality is consistent, and new datasets are brought into our tools where they add value. You’ll help embed insights across the FEA team, supporting colleagues to use data from the Tools in their work and helping to identify emerging opportunities. You will evaluate the impact of your approaches and strategise for the future of the Tools and our influencing work. You’ll also work with our funders to report on the impact of the tools and shape their future development.  

Commitment to equity and systems change  

We’re looking for someone who cares deeply about improving the lives of children and young people from low-income backgrounds. You’ll understand how education intersects with wider social systems—and bring a clear-eyed view of what needs to change. While direct policy or public affairs experience is a bonus, what matters most is that you’re motivated by impact, passionate about equity, and excited by the opportunity to work collaboratively to shift the system. 

See the job description attached for a full job specification and application instructions.  

Head of Policy and Public Affairs

We’re looking for a Head of Policy and Public Affairs to lead our policy and influencing activity at Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the UK’s leading charity uniting for a life unlimited for everyone with cystic fibrosis (CF). Could that be you?

It’s a time of intense and rapid change in the experiences of people with CF and within the NHS and wider external environment. We’re looking for someone with extensive, proven experience of leading high-impact policy and advocacy activity who can ensure that we keep pace with these changes, in support of our mission of a life unlimited for everyone with CF. 

A confident communicator, you’ll need to be able to engage and inspire those around you to develop and deliver planned and reactive advocacy activity that is well-targeted and persuasive. You’ll need to juggle multiple projects from commissioning policy research, to developing and overseeing consultation responses, responding to key moments in the political calendar, briefing senior stakeholders and managing partnership working. 

From tackling the additional costs associated with a lifelong condition like CF, to championing specialist CF care and a vibrant research environment and ensuring swift access to essential new treatments, this is a pivotal role that provides huge opportunity to deliver vital impact for people affected by CF. 

To be the right candidate for this role, you will have:

• Substantial experience of developing and leading integrated policy and advocacy plans
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present to various audiences
• Extensive experience in public affairs and campaigning work
• A strong understanding of the UK policy and public affairs landscape
• Proven experience in leading and inspiring a team

We offer a range of benefits including flexible working, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time staff), opportunities for learning and development, pension, healthcare cash plan and more.

Closing date for completed applications is 9am on Monday 16th June 2025

First interviews expected week commencing 23rd June 2025

Second interviews expected week commencing 30th June 2025

We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date if necessary.  Therefore, if you are interested in this role, please submit your application as early as possible.

Please note you will need to have the right to work in the UK before starting work for us and we will check this. 

How to apply

Please see the job description for more information on the role. If you would like to discuss the role before applying, please contact us.

To apply, please select ‘Apply Now’ and complete our application form and equal opportunities form.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust aims to be an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs, can be themselves and achieve their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain staff with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives; particularly people who have cystic fibrosis; people who identify as being from an ethnic minority group, as LGBTQ+ and people with disabilities.

It is our policy not to discriminate against any person because of their age, gender reassignment, being married or in a civil partnership, being pregnant or on maternity leave, disability (physical and mental), race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation or union membership.

REF-221 789

At The National Lottery Community Fund, we are driven by our strategy, ‘It starts with community’ and its four community-led missions, as well as our equity-based approach to tackling poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. 

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Fund as we expand the UK Portfolio to meet our ambitions in delivering the strategy. We're looking for two people to join the UK Portfolio Team as Heads of Funding, leading a team of just under 40.

The UK Portfolio supports the ambitions and potential of communities across the UK.We focus on scaling projects with a UK-wide benefit, through significant investments, which enable systems-level change for communities. Our funding is intended to complement the work of other country portfolios: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

As one of four Heads of Funding in UK Portfolio you will oversee all aspects of our work and ensure the team is resourced and able to deliver operationally. Heads of Funding are responsible for ensuring our programmes are designed and delivered to the scope, standard and deadlines required and will lead on specific strategic areas and relationships inside and outside the Fund. Heads of Funding are responsible for ensuring an understanding of the external policy, practice and funding context from across the UK is reflected in our delivery. You will provide leadership for the team, supporting the work of the Portfolio Managers.

We are currently evolving our UK Portfolio funding offers and  programmes in response to the strategy, developing a partnerships offer, and how we are more than a funder through our support to communities across the UK.

All Heads of will lead on a combination of strategic and operational priorities and the roles will involve a variety of responsibilities including:

• Overseeing up to £50m of grant commitments each year ensuring compliance with our operational and governance policies and requirements
• Lead one of the community-led missions in relation to the UK Portfolio’s funding offer
• Lead the strategic development and direction of a combination of our funding programmes and partnership approach
• Responsible for stakeholder management, both internally and externally
• Ensure learning and impact of our work is shared appropriately and informs our practice
• Lead engagement with our decision making Panels, Committees and Board
• Team leadership including culture, resource planning and team development
• Fund wide leadership either relating to one of the missions or as part of cross Fund priorities

You will need to work closely with the other Heads of Funding and each day will be a blend of operational and strategic work, stakeholder engagement, team leadership with lots of opportunities to collaborate with others across the Fund.

We are looking for ambitious, creative and passionate people with experience of the funding environment and brokering partnerships. Excellent leadership and collaboration skills will be essential in building relationships at all levels, from senior management to external stakeholders and funding colleagues across the Fund. You’ll have a keen understanding of the nuances of working within a public body, and a deep commitment to ensuring we are delivering impact through our current funding portfolio whilst also looking to the future and developing new funding initiatives and ways of working to meet our 2030 vision.

If you’re ready to take on a leadership role in an important organisation and have a genuine passion for supporting communities, this is the role for you.

You’ll be joining a dynamic and welcoming geographically dispersed team, working with hugely important and fascinating projects that are responding to and addressing a wide range of topics across the Fund’s four community-led missions.

Due to our dispersed nature as a team, it is expected that there will be occasional travel in order to connect with colleagues, stakeholders and projects. This is likely to be one to two occasions per month.

Interview Dates: 22 and 24 July

Location: 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, these are Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Newtown.

Please note that only one of these roles could be based in London.

Any questions about the recruitment process or if you’re interested in learning more about the role, we’ll be hosting an online briefing webinar on Monday 16 June at 10am. To reserve a spot, please contact recruitment (the email address can be found on the advert on our website) 

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential criteria

• Experience and understanding of grant making and the funding environment, including partnership working
• Proven ability to translate strategy to operational development, including problem solving, organisational and decision-making skills and ability to manage a complex workload
• Strong interpersonal skills, and resilience, with an ability to build relationships and work with a range of people inside and outside of the Fund, including working with Boards and Committees
• Experience of building high performing teams and leading change, as a leader and/or as a team player - creating the culture and structures in which people can thrive at work
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, able to analyse and review complex ideas and information and tailor clear messaging to a range of audiences
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and experience of applying this throughout all aspects of work

 Desirable criteria

• A passion for, experience in and an understanding of one or more of our community led missions and our commitment to equity
• Policy expertise in one or more of our ‘more than a funder’ priorities: partnerships; participation, convening, influencing, supporting grant holders, learning.

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.) 

Civitas Recruitment are delighted to be working with a UK-based charity uniting over 300 organisations—schools, charities, social enterprises, businesses, and youth groups—around a shared vision that no child’s success should be limited by their socioeconomic background. The charity works to close the education gap between children from low-income families and their wealthier peers by influencing policy, coordinating a national network of members, empowering young people to shape change, and scaling effective solutions that tackle educational inequality.

An exciting opportunity exists for a Head of Policy Insights to join the team. As Head of Policy Insights, you will shape how the organisation influences education policy across local, regional and national levels, connecting insights from data, member organisations and young people’s voices to drive system changes. This is a part-time, (four days a week) permanent role, hybrid working 3 days a week within London. After passing probation you will have up to six weeks of ‘super remote’ working per year, where you can work from anywhere across the world.

Who are we looking for?

Ideal candidates will possess a solid understanding of the UK policy landscape, including the roles and motivations of parliamentarian’s local officials, civil servants, and other relevant stakeholders and how to drive change. You will have experience of telling a story with data to capture interest and inspire action and will be comfortable working with raw data and delivering insights. Ideal candidates will also have experience of working in or alongside the education sector in England, with a good grasp of the factors driving educational equality and how education interacts with other parts of the system. Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to engage senior stakeholders and understand their priorities is essential for the role. Experience working directly with educational datasets, particularly from the Department of Education would be a bonus however it is not essential for the role.

If the above role description sounds of interest and you feel like you meet the criteria; please apply immediately or for further information, please contact Syed at Civitas Recruitment for a full JD and informal discussion. Early applications are encouraged as we will be reviewing on a rolling basis and roles may closer earlier than initially indicated.

Homeless Link are seeking a Head of Fundraising to develop our fundraising strategy and support us to achieve our goals by securing sustainable funding.

Homeless Link is the national membership charity for frontline homelessness services. We work to improve services through research, guidance and learning, and campaign for policy change that will ensure everyone has a place to call home and the support they need to keep it. Our mission is to develop, inspire, support and sustain a movement of organisations working together to achieve positive futures for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. The Head of Fundraising will play a crucial role in helping us to achieve that mission and ensure that we have the resources available to make the biggest impact on behalf of our members. 

With budgets and funding opportunities being squeezed in both the public and charitable sectors, the competition for organisations to remain able to develop and positively support vulnerable people experiencing homelessness is getting harder and harder. This is a great opportunity for someone who loves a challenge and is motivated to make a real and lasting difference. 

We need someone who shares our values of having Ambition, Boldness, Curiosity, Diversity and Empowerment to drive forward our fundraising strategy and ensure that as a membership body we are at the forefront of ensuring valuable resources continue to strengthen and develop the sector. 

We are actively seeking to increase diversity within our organisation, and would welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness, from a black or minority ethnic background and/or with a disability.

For full details of the role and how to apply visit our website.

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for policy, public affairs, and media? Do you thrive on influencing change at the highest levels and leading impactful campaigns?

The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) is seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of External Affairs to lead a high-performing team and drive our external engagement strategy. This is a pivotal role in a respected medical charity, where your work will directly support doctors and improve patient outcomes.

The Head of External Affairs will lead a talented team of experts with focus on building the RCR’s influence, authority and impact across government and the health sector. Bringing together policy, public affairs, campaigns, AI, census and insight and media, the external affairs team will drive the agenda for change in our key policy areas, ensuring that our positions on workforce, cancer, AI and more are heard and listened to by decision makers; that the RCR is seen as the authority on all things radiology and oncology; and that our positions are clear and unequivocal.

What you’ll do:

• Policy – Lead the development of evidence-based, clinically informed policy outputs that influence change through public affairs, media, and stakeholder engagement.
• Census and Insight – Oversee the delivery of impactful Censuses and ensure all external affairs work is grounded in robust data, insight, and real-world case studies.
• Public Affairs – Drive strategic engagement with parliamentary stakeholders and build partnerships to amplify the RCR’s influence on key health policy issues.
• Press and Media Relations – Secure high-profile, targeted media coverage aligned with RCR priorities; support Officers as expert spokespeople and foster strong media relationships.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Build and maintain influential relationships across the health sector, government, and within the RCR to extend reach and impact.
• AI Strategy – Secure the RCR’s place as a leading organisation in the healthcare space by driving the development of expert thought leadership, impactful programmes of work and a solid AI strategy for the College
• Leadership and Management – Manage and inspire a multidisciplinary team across data and insight, policy, public affairs, media and AI, ensuring strategic alignment and high performance.

What you’ll need:

• Significant experience of delivering high profile external affairs strategies for complex organisations.
• Experience of influencing and effecting change in government policy through public affairs.
• Experience in developing high impact campaigns across a wide stakeholder landscape
• Demonstrable experience of turning evidence-based policy into compelling asks through both targeted and broader campaigns
• Experience leading a policy team.
• Ability to translate complex policy into succinct and clear messages.
• Ability to lead and motivate a cross functional team 
• Ability to influence others
• Good interpersonal skills.

Why join us?

• Make a difference to the lives of Doctors and the specialities they work in every day!
• Hybrid working (60% working week can be done remotely)
• Modern working environment
• Equipment provided to work from home
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Excellent pension scheme
• Interest free season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

As the first Head of Operations, you will provide strategic oversight, work with staff to translate our strategy into actionable, measurable plans for efficient and effective work, which will enhance the impact for people in immigration detention.  Your management of the team’s operations will support our growth, resilience, and sustainability.

For futher information see the Application Pack

What they say about Medical Justice;

“What Medical Justice did was absolutely remarkable. They sent two specialists to see me in Harmondsworth and they did the most amazingly thorough job documenting all my scars. Then I got my medico-legal report which was over 40 pages long. They did thorough, professional work – there is nothing more that they could have done and ultimately this work got me out of detention.” – former detained person and Medical Justice client

“[Medical Justice] has strong characteristics and a highly respected reputation. It is regarded as principled, expert and evidence-based, tenacious in its casework and policy work, fierce and ferocious when needed and brave in the way it speaks truth to power.” – fellow non-governmental organisation

“Medical Justice has an outsized impact for its size – it is highly effective and the team is absolutely terrific, which is all the more impressive in the difficult political context.” – Medical Justice funder

Informal online information sessions

An opportunity to ask questions about Medical Justice and its work as well as about the Head of Operations role ;

12.30-1.30pm Thursday 22nd May

12.30-1.30 Thursday 5th June

We are looking for an ambitious senior marketing/communications professional to lead our external affairs function, to develop and deliver the charity’s media strategy, build and maintain strategic relationships and identify opportunities to improve external impact. 

Making The Leap is an innovative social justice charity that aims to make a big difference. From direct delivery, to advocacy and leadership, we refuse to stay in our lane and believe passionately that those we exist to serve have the right to be anything they want to be. To say that this is an exciting time for the organisation would be an understatement, as our incredible funders, donors, partners and supporters have given us the chance to move to the next level, and have further influence and delivery nationally.

The shared soul of the organisation is to be passionate about helping young people from less-advantaged backgrounds; build up other charities and community groups and want to partner with them or support them; want to work with businesses and organisations to get things done; and care deeply about addressing racial inequity.

The organisation has a number of strands: core Making The Leap; the UK Social Mobility Awards; the Social Mobility Podcast; The Social Mobility List and Black Charity Leaders. 

ID: 1476

Deputy Head of HR, Human Resources
Family Action Head Office, London (N1) with hybrid working
37 hours per week (full time)
Grade 4 (upper) point 34-38: £42,140 - £46,240 per annum* (plus £3,827 Inner London Weighting if London based or £480 if home-based)
Permanent contract

We are flexible on hours of work and where this work is done. This role can be based in our London office (N1) with hybrid working but can also be done part-time and/or from home. If home-working is agreed, the ability to travel semi-regularly to London (i.e. around once per month) is desirable but not essential.

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action, we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

In this newly created Deputy Head of HR role, you will lead our Business Partnering & Advisory function by developing the HR Business Partnering model, managing a team of HR professionals, and ultimately embedding excellent people management practice across the organisation. You will also have a direct business partnering relationship with Relate at Family Action; providing strategic advice, coaching and operational HR support to senior managers, to support culture change post-merger (in January 2025).

If you have significant experience managing complex employee relations and organisational change processes (including TUPE and large-scale restructures) and leading a team of HR professionals, we would like to hear from you. The ability to think strategically while also delivering operationally, alongside strong influencing and coaching skills will make you an ideal candidate.

We are a supportive and inclusive organisation, and we want to break down barriers to people joining us. If you don’t feel confident applying because you don’t meet every single requirement on the Person Specification – please don’t let that stop you; we want to hear from you. We encourage you to use the application to highlight what you can bring to the role – your skills, knowledge, and experience as well as your values. At Family Action our 4 core values are incredibly important to us and underpin all we do. We are a 'people focused', 'can-do' organisation, which strives for 'excellence' in all we do and operates with 'mutual respect'.

Benefits:

- an annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days plus bank holidays
- up to 6% matched-pension contributions
- flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment
- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
- eye care and winter flu jab vouchers
- cycle to work scheme
- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

Closing Date: Sunday 22nd June 2025 at 23.59 pm

For direct queries, or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the selection process or the potential for flexible working arrangements, please email Katie Milne, Head of HR. Contact details can be found when you click the 'Redirect to Recruiter' button.

All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role, and will reimburse your travel cost if you attend an in-person interview.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.

Please note that we will be reviewing applications as they come in. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found, so we encourage you to submit your application without delay. We are also ideally looking for a candidate who can join us as soon as possible (i.e. on a short notice period), however if that is not your situation please do not hesitate to apply as applications will not be assessed on this basis.

This newly created role is part of a strategic restructure designed to strengthen our management team and deepen our impact. As our services have expanded in scope and complexity, we’re dividing a previously broad role Programme Manager) into two part-time positions to bring in more specialist expertise.

As Head of Advice, you will shape the strategic direction of our advice services, ensuring they align with Sufra’s wider mission and are fully integrated into our food aid provision. You’ll be our designated safeguarding lead, support fundraising initiatives and maintain compliance with funder requirements, and lead our efforts to remain a trusted, accredited provider (AQS and IAA).

Working closely with our experienced Advice Service Manager, you’ll also provide strategic oversight of Open ARMs, our programme supporting asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants to access language skills, healthcare, training, and volunteering opportunities—helping them build new lives in the community.

This is more than a job—it’s a chance to lead with purpose, influence real change, and be part of a passionate, values-driven team. 

The Head of Media is responsible for the Spokesperson Network and helping people in NEON’s networks make the most of media opportunities. They lead on strategy, developing high-level media contacts and managing staff associated with the programme. 

You will be someone who knows how to land stories and spokespeople in the media, capitalising on media and movement moments to push the conversation in a progressive direction. You’ll have a track record of jumping on opportunities, training spokespeople to deal with hostile interviews and staying calm under pressure. You will be a reflective manager, able to establish a strategically aligned, motivated and committed team. You will have a strong  understanding of the media landscape - including how it interacts with social media. 

On a day to day basis you will manage a team which books spokespeople into broadcast media every day of the week. You’ll pitch and draft comment pieces, build new contacts across progressive spaces and have high level meetings with producers and journalists. 

This project is part of a wider Communications Hub in which you’ll play an active role helping to develop the overall strategy and direction of the project.

Role Purpose 

The Head of Research, Policy and Insights will join the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) alongside the Head of Operations, Head of Programmes and Engagement and Head of Marketing and Communications. This role is pivotal in guiding OKRE’s strategic direction, leveraging research to inform programme and policy development, and advocacy efforts.

You will lead the expansion and application of OKRE’s distinctive research activities (see Playing with Videogame Culture, and Entertainment Industries Taskforce), developing and delivering an ambitious programme of work that helps transform understanding of entertainment media, its impacts, and the ways different communities work with it. 

A key focus will be development of an “Entertainment Impact Index”, a key recommendation from OKRE’s report ‘Delivering social impact in entertainment content – priorities, approaches & challenges.’ This new framework will complement existing impact measurements, supporting cross-sector collaboration and shared learning. 

Engaging with trends in entertainment, including technological developments such as AI and machine learning, and approaches to charity and social impact, your role will involve identifying challenges and opportunities. You’ll develop strategies to measure and assess the impact of OKRE’s work, ensuring data informs both annual planning and growth opportunities. 

Key Responsibilities:    

Leadership and Strategy  

• Work with fellow SLT members to develop and implement organisational strategies that embed a research and insights-led culture within the charity. 
• Craft and execute strategies for OKRE’s research and policy work, broadening the organisation’s reach and impact.
• Lead OKRE’s work with research consultants and work with other senior team members to develop and support colleagues across our staff and associate team working on insights and policy activities.
• Keep abreast of developments in entertainment and media (including tv, film, video games, creator content) as well as social impact, behaviour change and narrative change sectors, to support the dissemination and use of that knowledge across the organisation and beyond.

Programme design and delivery  

• Lead on the development and delivery of a high impact programme of research and policy projects, spearheading major initiatives, such as the Entertainment Impact Index, and running regular convenings with key industry figures to develop actionable tools. 
• Manage research materials, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide quality assurance on research, data and insight-related work in service of the charity’s goals and objectives. 
• Provide insights to the wider OKRE team on key sector trends and opportunities relevant to programmes such as the OKRE Summit and OKRE Fund. 
• Evolve evaluation strategies and provide practical support to team members to assess OKRE’s work, understanding what difference the charity has made, and synthesise learning to inform future activity. 

Communication and Impact: 

• Commission research through internal panels or external agencies and produce tailored briefings and reports. 
• Turn research findings into sharp insights, impactful policy narratives, guides, tools, and training resources for the sectors we work with. 
• Represent the organisation at industry events, advocating on policy matters and advancing the organisation’s thought leadership.

Stakeholder Management 

• Seek out, build and maintain strong relationships with key organisations, funders and partners working in entertainment, charity, research and policy fields.
• Be a passionate advocate for and support the whole team to adopt an insights and evidence-based approach to their work. 
• Define and advance a clear learning agenda based on the needs of key stakeholders in the business. 

Skills & Experience 

• Proven experience in strategic planning and delivery within research and policy environments. 
• Demonstrable success in identifying emerging policy opportunities and applying research-led approaches to boosting organisational influence. 
• Senior level experience managing research and policy portfolios, with budget accountability in commercial or charity sectors. 
• Expertise in deploying quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, tools, with a track record in informed policy advocacy. 
• Proven ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for a range of stakeholders. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication. 

Ideally you will be: 

• Resourceful with ability to think laterally to problem solve, tracking and reviewing progress to adjust accordingly. 
• Happy to take ownership of projects, managing your own time while communicating clearly with others where deliverables are interdependent.      
• Passionate about entertainment and its potential to shift perceptions.   
• Confident with putting forward ideas, asking for and responding to feedback and coming up with actionable plans to make things happen.   
• Able to establish rapport and build positive working relationships with a variety of people.   
• Delivery focused with excellent attention to detail.   
• Enjoys a fast-paced and evolving environment [complex/start up] 
• Excited about hybrid working as part of a small but growing team, where you can play a positive part in shaping the organisation’s work and its working culture.   

If you believe you have the skills and passion to succeed, we encourage you to apply. We are eager to hear from individuals who are enthusiastic about learning and growing with us. 

What you will receive on top of your salary:    

•  Optional enrolment into OKRE’s workplace pension scheme.    
• Free access to Wellcome’s onsite Nuffield Gym.    
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme.    
• Access to a varied menu of hot and cold food options at Wellcome’s staff food outlets, at prices substantially lower than Central London averages.    
• Great views over the city from our 6th floor central London office opposite Euston station. We are based in the building that houses the Wellcome Collection, a museum and library connecting science, medicine, life and art.    

How to apply for this role:  

To apply please send a CV and cover letter. Together, these should clearly set out how you meet the skills and experience required and why you are applying for this role at OKRE. Candidates will be shortlisted for interview on this basis.  Please send them to officemanager{@}okre{dot}org by Monday 9th June  

 Diversity and Inclusion    

Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do and we actively encourage applications from those at different life stages.    

We are committed to creating an environment where all employees, workers and job applicants can thrive.    

We work to make our recruitment processes as inclusive as possible. If you would like us to make adjustments during the application process, please contact us by emailing officemanager{@}okre{dot}org with the subject line ‘Application Process’.     

  We expect our team to treat others on their merits and challenge any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation, or sexual, racial or any other type of harassment.   

 Feedback & process    

We receive a high volume of applications to our open positions and consequently can’t provide feedback to every application. We will confirm receipt of your application via email.    

 We will invite shortlisted applicants to online interviews on 16th or 17th June.   

Final interviews will be held in person at our central London office on 24th or 26th June.  

 All candidates selected for interviews will receive feedback if requested.    

Global Policy and Campaigns Planning and Performance Lead

Contract: Permanent, Fulltime, 35 hours per week

Location: London, UK, subject to the right to work (other locations can be considered)

UK Hybrid Working: A minimum of 40% of working time is spent face to face, either in London office, or as a result of external engagement or travel for WaterAid. WaterAid is located at Canary Wharf, London and this will be your location and contract base.

*60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid is currently defined as: 60% of an employee’s time in a location of their choice, 40% face to face, defined as in the London office, at conferences or at stakeholder meetings or other location as relevant for the proper performance of the duties of the role. 

Salary: £57,415 - £60,436 with excellent benefits

About WaterAid:

Want to use your skills in planning, M&E and project management to play a vital role in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene for everyone everywhere?

We need passionate, creative and dedicated people. In return, you will be encouraged and empowered to be yourself at your very best. Together, we will make a bigger difference.

Join WaterAid as Global Policy and Campaigns Planning and Performance Lead to change normal for millions of people so they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good.

About the Team:

This role reports directly to the Executive Director of WaterAid’s Global Policy and Campaigns (GPAC) team and is a member of GPAC’s Senior Management Team (SMT). GPAC sets WaterAid’s 10-year policy agenda and positions, supporting colleagues across all levels to advocate on this agenda and bring WaterAid together to advocate for change on a set of global priorities. We also directly influence decision-makers at global and regional levels on these priorities as well as bringing in external political insights into the organisation to increase our collective effectiveness.

About the Role:

As GPAC’s Planning and Performance Lead you will help us understand how the department is contributing towards WaterAid’s global strategy and maximise our global impact. The role will support GPAC’s work by leading the planning and performance assessment work, focussing on ensuring that the advocacy activity delivered across the department is aligned and working towards the same outcomes.

The role will work closely with the Directors in GPAC’s SMT and with members of the International Programmes Department (IPD) SMT to ensure that both departments’ plans are aligned. It will also engage with key Federation members involved in global policy, advocacy and campaigns work, with the WaterAid International Secretariat, and with the Global and UK performance, strategy and planning teams.

In this role, you will lead the design of the planning process for the department to deliver annual plans, ensuring alignment with similar processes in key Federation members and other departments, as well as being integrated with the wider organisation’s planning cycles.

You’ll also: 

• Project manage the implementation of the planning process, working in close coordination with GPAC SMT directors as well as and as relevant with other WaterAid, Member and WaterAid International directors.
• Lead the process to deliver an M&E framework for GPAC (including new metrics as relevant), that balances the effort required with the need to drive data informed decisions and actions.
• Run the quarterly and annual reporting cycle, working with senior leaders in GPAC to deliver high quality data, run learning sessions to reflect on the data to enable data driven and effective decision making.
• Manage the regular collation of data across the department and shared to the wider organisation, including to the Executive and Board reporting processes
• Represent GPAC in wider WaterAid UK and global groups around performance and planning.
• Support GPAC to partner closely with IPD to track Country Programme support requests, and use insights to inform strategic planning of the department.
• Be the internal communications lead for the department on matters related to planning and performance, working with the central internal communications function as appropriate.

Requirements

To be successful, you’ll need: 

• Experience of leading performance and planning cycles within complex organisations.
• Background in M&E within NGO or comparable contexts. Understands the complexity around assessing performance.
• Excellent project management skills to optimise the use of resources; manage multiple projects and conflicting priorities using insightful interpretation and resourceful solutions.
• Ability to think strategically across complex and fast-moving environments; able to concentrate on the big picture and respond to trends and shifts in the wider world.
• Collaborative: able to work with teams from a variety of backgrounds and build credibility and trust with key stakeholders.
• Able to facilitate group discussions to develop and drive forward strategic plans and work.
• Organised, efficient, with a high level of attention to detail.
• Comfortable with working with incomplete data and high levels of ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Working style that reflects WaterAid’s values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation.

Although not essential, we also prefer you to have:

• Background in Policy or Advocacy or knowledge of global advocacy M&E.

View full job description here

Closing Date: Applications will close 12:00 PM UK Time on Monday, 16 June 2025. 

Availability for the first round virtual interview is required week commencing Monday 23 June 2025. Availability for the final round virtual interview is required week commencing Monday 30 June 2025.

How to Apply: Click ‘Apply’ to complete the pre-screening questions and upload your CV and an essential cover letter.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre-employment screening: To apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to the applicable laws in the respective countries to comply with our Safer Recruitment policy. All our UK-based vacancies require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Benefits

• 36 days' holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays)
• Option to buy an extra 5 days’ annual leave
• We offer a generous pension plan with employer contribution of up to 10%
• Wide range of flexible and agile-working arrangement
• Season Ticket Loan
• Free annual eye tests
• Pay as You Give charitable giving scheme
• Enhanced Maternity and Adoption/Surrogacy pay, Shared Parental Leave and Paternity Leave
• Sabbaticals
• Volunteer Day

Our Global Commitment:

Our People Promise:

We will work with passion and focus to ensure safe and sustainable water, toilets and hygiene are available to everyone, everywhere. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have.  We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to put the wellbeing of our people first, to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal opportunities:

We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.

Safeguarding:

We are also committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. As a safeguarding measure, WaterAid carries out background checks on all potential employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.

The Head of Operations will be part of the senior leadership team and support the CEO in the leadership, management and day-to-day operations of Sound Minds. They will deputise as required and make a significant contribution to strategic planning for the organisation, with a strong focus on operational activity. They will lead on all operational, health and safety, premises, IT, systems, human resources, governance, reporting and fundraising activity, whilst maintaining key relationships with external stakeholders.

Sound Minds is a creative place and the Head of Operations will need a passion for administration and organisation.