Do you have experience of working in the UK Parliament, in an in-house public affairs team or within a public affairs consultancy? Are you looking to drive change to help tackle one of the UK’s biggest killers?
If so, you may be the Public Affairs Officer we’re looking for!
About the role
Our Policy and Public Affairs team exists to build support amongst key decision makers so that we can fund lifesaving research into heart disease. We develop the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) position, engaging and influencing stakeholders to help ensure the UK remains a global leader in heart and circulatory research while advocating for the 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases across the UK.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Public Affairs Officer to join our award winning and high impact team during a very exciting time in politics. You’ll be engaging with Parliamentarians to promote our work at Westminster and in their individual constituencies, while proactively spotting opportunities to build relationships and advance the interests of BHF. You’ll deliver a programme of activity and engagement that contributes to our wider Hearts Need More campaign, which aims to make heart and circulatory diseases a key priority for political parties ahead of the next general election.
Working arrangements
This is a blended role, where your work will be dual located between your home and our London office.
At BHF we believe in the power of being together, so our colleagues on blended contracts can expect to spend some time in their office, at least one day each week, on average. The use of our office spaces is driven in part by your role and the activities you need to do. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause.
Need more help balancing your work and home life? Talk to us about what flexibility is available at the application or interview stage.
About you
With an interest in, and understanding of the external political environment, you'll have a good understanding of the workings of the UK Government and parliamentary procedure. You'll have an understanding of the role of BHF and other health and medical research charities in general, and particularly in the political arena.
You'll have experience of working in the UK Parliament or within a public affairs in-house team or consultancy, and have excellent communication skills. Having previously engaged with political stakeholders, you'll be able to build strong relationships with key internal and external colleagues.
With a proven ability to write clearly, concisely and persuasively for political audiences in a variety of formats, you’ll be able to summarise complex information swiftly and accurately for a variety of audiences. You'll also have strong organisational skills, including experience of coordinating events.
This is an opportunity to make a profound impact for our patients, their families, and our supporters at an exciting time in the electoral cycle.
About us
We value and respect every individual’s unique contribution, celebrate diversity, and make inclusion part of what we do every day.
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy, Igniting Change, along with our internal EDI group, Kaleidoscope, and a growing number of employee network groups (our Affinity Groups), help us create an environment where all our colleagues and volunteers can succeed.
Interview process
Interviews will be held virtually via MS Teams during week commencing 20th May 2024
How to apply
It’s quick and easy to apply for a role at the BHF. Just click on the apply button below. All you’ll need is an up to date CV and a supporting statement, outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the role’s criteria.
Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.
As part of our commitment to be an inclusive employer and ensure fairness and consistency in selecting the best candidate for this role, the BHF will use anonymous CV software as part of the application journey.
Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us.
£34,300 - £37,300 per annum
Permanent, full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Hybrid working with regular travel to our London Bridge Office; occasional UK regional travel
What the job involves
Funding research that will improve the lives of men with, or at high risk of, prostate cancer is one of Prostate Cancer UK’s highest priorities. Prostate cancer is harming too many men, in exchange for too few cures, which is why we are motivated more than ever to deliver a future where lives are no longer harmed by prostate cancer. We invest in the most innovative ideas to accelerate our knowledge and understanding of prostate cancer, and to develop better treatments and more effective approaches to diagnose the disease, so that we can transform the lives of all men with, or at risk of, prostate cancer.
We’re looking to appoint an enthusiastic and proactive Senior Research Impact Officer to join our Research Directorate. You’ll join an existing Senior Research Impact Officer to support the Senior Research Impact and Intelligence Manager to find, communicate and accelerate the impact of Prostate Cancer UK’s funded research. Taking responsibility for 50% of our ‘completed and in follow-up’ portfolio of research grants, you’ll act as their primary contact, assessing the likelihood of, and proximity to, impact.
You’ll use your scientific knowledge to understand the science behind these projects and communication skills to build strong working relationships with the researchers. With your research experience you’ll develop a detailed understanding of the outputs, outcomes and impact arising from the research we funded and support our research community to accelerate their pathway to impact.
What we want from you
Your role is important to the charity, as supporting research that can ultimately deliver a tangible impact to men affected by prostate cancer is a significant focus in our charity strategy.
You’ll need to be passionate about research making an impact and hold a bio-medical science degree (or a degree in a related subject), with research experience. You can understand complex scientific information presented in reports, publications or presentations and explain these complex concepts in a simple and engaging way to a range of audiences including peers within the charity as well as men and their families affected by the disease. You’ll be motivated to consistently perform to the highest standards, with an eagerness to trial new ideas, identify new opportunities and solve problems.
In any one day you could be helping develop an impact case study for the website, interviewing researchers for project updates, supporting delivery of a research event, or using social media to disseminate the work of our funded researchers. Your primary focus will be on the impact of our funded research, but you’ll also work closely with our research funding team, as well as with other teams across the charity.
We encourage applications from candidates who may not completely fit the job description as we are fully committed to help staff develop and progress in their role.
Why work with us?
Every man needs to know about the most common cancer in men – prostate cancer. It’s a real and present danger that takes over 12,000 of our dads, grandads, brothers and friends each year.
Prostate Cancer UK is the largest men’s health charity in the UK. We have a simple ambition – to stop prostate cancer damaging lives. We invest millions in research to revolutionise testing, treatment and care. We’re blazing a trail to a screening programme that could save thousands of lives with regular, accurate tests for all men at risk. And we work tirelessly to spread the word about risk and offer specialist support to people living with the disease.
Work with us and you’ll see your efforts pay off as we give men and their families the power to navigate prostate cancer.
Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
At Prostate Cancer UK, we believe that equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to building a strong and innovative workplace that represents, and can advocate for, the communities we support.
It’s our ambition to become an anti-racist organisation, and our mission to advance racial equity in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
We’re continuously learning more about the needs of our colleagues, and have three amazing People Networks, sponsored by our Leadership team: Pride, Mind & Body and Multicultural.
Ways of working
Our hybrid working approach combines the best of flexible working – a positive work/life balance, inclusive and accessible platforms, and online information at our fingertips.
Next steps
More information on what we offer, as well as the role, can be found on our vacancies page. Please download our job profile document (job description) with our ‘How to apply’ section sharing the key points to refer to in your application and to apply, please visit the website via the apply button.
The closing date is Sunday 12th May 2024. Applications must be submitted by 23:45 UK time.
Interviews: By arrangement. Currently scheduled for the week of Monday 20th May 2024.
Prostate Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1005541) and in Scotland (SC039332). Registered company number 02653887.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Talent Set are delighted to be working with a fantastic Health and Women’s charity to find their Senior Health Information Manager.
The charity offers a flexible working environment, with hybrid working 2 days per week from their London office.
The purpose of Senior Health Information Manager is to ensure that all women, and their partners and families, have high quality up-to-date, evidence-based and inclusive health information for every stage of their pregnancy journey, including pregnancy loss if it happens.
Key Responsibilities:
· Overseeing a cycle of continuous improvement of all health information products.
· Using quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods to implement a framework to measure the effectiveness of health information products.
· Establishing a dashboard and reporting back to the Head of Information monthly on agreed KPIs.
· Owning the information review production schedule and responsible for the development and maintenance of all existing health information products. Establishing deadlines and monitoring the progress of information products.
· Owning the health information SEO strategy and implementation, ensuring that recommendations are followed to achieve maximum reach.
· Owning the PIF accredited publishing and review process, ensuring they are adhered to scrupulously, including taking ownership of processes, templates and guidance that support this.
· Convening and leading expert, stakeholder and service user groups in the development and maintenance of health information to ensure new and existing products are needed, relevant, evidence-based and user-centred.
· Commissioning freelance or agency help where required.
· Managing the information content budget,
· Managing product insight phases from brief development through to recommendations, including formative research.
· Ensuring all health and social care information is up to date, clinically checked, accurate and reviewed by relevant experts.
· Making diversity and inclusion considerations a high priority throughout all activities.
· Overseeing and managing the health information budget, making business cases for resource needed if necessary.
· Leading on internal communications, sharing progress across teams, training staff members and presenting projects and learnings to all staff.
· Analysing data on information usage, engagement and feedback to spot opportunities, make recommendations and prioritise work.
· Bringing together teams across the organisation, and externally if required, to deliver a project.
· Managing 1 content writer and editor.
· Supporting fundraising applications and fundraising teams where necessary.
Person Specification:
· Hands-on experience of managing the lifecycle of health information products.
· Experience of recruiting and managing multiple stakeholders.
· Experience of working within brand guidelines.
· Experience of managing website content using a CMS.
· Experience in a content editing/writing role.
· Experience of implementing SEO practices and writing.
· Experience writing for a wide range of audiences and formats.
· Experience managing delivery of complex digital products, such as apps or tools.
· Experience managing a busy publishing schedule.
· Experience of commissioning content and quality control of commissioned content.
· Experience of commissioning and overseeing user/patient insight and implementing recommendations.
· Experience of building accessibility and inclusion considerations into projects from the very start.
· Experience of managing products that require input from multiple external agencies.
To be considered for this position please apply with your CV as soon as possible, regrettably please note we may not be able to reply to each and every application.
We are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practises that ensure equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and will happily make reasonable adjustments to always ensure a fair process.