Policy and Influencing Lead

Job Title: Policy and Influencing Lead

Salary: £42,500 per annum pro rata, plus 15% ILW if applicable

Hours: Part time, up to 22.5 hours per week, open to discussing working patterns

Location: Birmingham or London

Contract Type: Fixed term contract for 12 months, with plans to review

Reports to: Director of Fundraising and External Affairs

THE CHARITY

Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 35 and three quarters of those who die by suicide are men. James’ Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering clinical services. We are a charity currently offering free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London and Newcastle.

James’ Place was set up by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley in 2008 after their twenty-one-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didn’t find it.   

James' Place was set up to make the experience of finding help as easy as possible. We offer men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment. Men who walk through the door at James’ Place will be in a space where they feel valued and respected.  We provide a calm and peaceful environment both inside the centres and in our outside spaces, accessible to men who visit us as well as their friends and families. We have so far treated over 4,300 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.

In early 2026 we will be opening our fourth centre in Birmingham, which will support suicidal men living in the West Midlands.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a new role in an expanding and dynamic organisation. It responds to our growing ambition to share what we have learned about suicide prevention and delivering services to men who are affected by inequalities.

We understand that for more men to be saved, we need others to take action too. And we need to make this case for change as compelling and impactful as possible to influence commissioners, NHS providers, or policy makers to save more men’s lives.

This role will involve leading the influencing strategy, building evidence-based policy positions, and executing powerful messaging to effectively demonstrate the impact of crisis intervention and the importance of extending this provision to more men across the country.

Overarching priorities

·        To influence national and local systems leaders on the importance of rapid, equitable, accessible and tailored treatment and support for acutely suicidal men.

·        To establish James’ Place as a leading and credible voice in innovative suicide prevention practice, reducing inequalities in access and in supporting men who other services aren’t reaching.

·        To strengthen our evidence base and contribute insight and data to networks and partners who can grow its impact (such as organisations with larger influencing teams, media organisations, policy makers and think tanks).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy

·        Identify key actors and establish, lead and execute an influencing plan for the next 12 – 24 months, in line with the above priorities, emerging insight and changing contexts.

·        Lead effective relationship and network building and management across charity, health and policy sectors.

·        Adopt a holistic perspective with communications and fundraising colleagues, that is deeply informed by clinical practice and aligned with strategies for growth.

·        Explore future partnerships to strengthen evidence base, impact and reach, with academics, think tanks, funders and policy makers

·        Ensure James’ Place responds to emerging policy and influencing opportunities (such as men’s health, inequalities work, neighbourhoods, integrated health organisations, strategic commissioning and so on)
Delivery

·        Represent James’ Place on external groups at parliamentary events and sector forums as appropriate, ensuring the charity’s position and the voices of men we treat are clearly and respectfully communicated.

·        Monitor and respond to legislative and regulatory changes and lead consultation responses.

·        Research and produce compelling policy briefings, consultation responses and evidence-based reports

·        Champion accurate data collection, evaluation and insight across James’ Place, demonstrating how crucial this is for policy and influencing work externally.

·        Fully brief and support the CEO and other senior leaders’ attendance at events, meetings and media work.

·        Engage with researchers, evaluators and campaigners on what James’ Place knows and does so that they can represent and champion James’ Place effectively.

·        Support senior colleagues to engage with the Board on matters of policy and influence.

·        Undertake any other duties as required in pursuit of organisational success.

Charity-wide

·        Work closely with services, clinical, fundraising and communication colleagues to deliver our strategy and business plans to meet our charitable objectives.

·        Play a role across the whole organisation, offering support and demonstrating leadership across the charity, helping colleagues to grow and develop.

·        Recognise the value of review and evaluation and contribute to the on-going development of James’ Place as a respected, effective and sustainable charity.

·        Work with the team to build our understanding of men in suicidal crisis and how suicidal behaviour develops.

·        Promote and demonstrate the highest level of safeguarding best practice.

·        Deputise for senior colleagues and represent the organisation externally as and when required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

·        Extensive experience in policy and influencing work at a senior level on a social or health issue, including mental or physical health, equity, or social justice.

·        A strong track record of building and maintaining external relationships across sectors: government, NHS, public services, charities, academia or think tanks; healthcare experience is highly desirable

·        Substantial experience of preparing and submitting consultation documents, position statements and advocacy materials.

·        Strong communication skills, in writing and in person.

·        Experience of working with quantitative and qualitative research and researchers, work with data and insight to make credible and evidence-based arguments.

·        Practical, resilient, unflappable; an innovator, open to exploring new ways of working.

·        Experience of working with people with lived experience of sensitive and personal issues.

Desirable 

·        Experience of public speaking.

·        Experience of working with NHS commissioners or mental health services.

·        Working with volunteers and people with lived experience of suicidality or inequality.

WE OFFER

·        A 7% employer contributory pension scheme.

·        Family friendly policies.

·        Death in service insurance scheme.

·        25 days plus bank holidays leave entitlement (FTE), including enhanced holiday allowance with incremental rises after qualifying period.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please follow the instructions on the attached document. 

Closing date: Monday 16 March 2026, 5pm

James’ Place is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. Our aim is that no job applicant, temporary worker or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender and transgender status, race and ethnicity, religion and belief (including no belief), marriage or civil partnership status or sexual orientation.

If you have a disability or health conditions which means you'd benefit from any adjustments to the interview process to help you perform at your best, please do let us know in advance.

Any job offers made are subject to the receipt of two relevant satisfactory employment references. We expect this to include one from your most recent or current employer. Any job offers made are also subject to a satisfactory DBS check and a Right to Work in the UK check.