Policy Manager

About the role 

The Motability Foundation is recruiting two Policy Managers to join its newly established policy team, which sits within the Communications department. These roles will lead discrete policy areas, develop robust policy positions, and support the Motability Foundation in improving transport accessibility for disabled people. 

The Motability Foundation is building a future where all disabled people have access to accessible transport options so that they can make the journeys they choose. To achieve our ambitions, the Motability Foundation works closely with a wide range of stakeholders to develop, and then advocate for, policy and legislative solutions which result in tangible, real-world change. These roles are exciting opportunities for applicants who wish to play a crucial role at one of the UK’s foremost charities in doing this. 

The successful applicants will work closely with the Government Relations and Public Affairs team, as well as colleagues within the Motability Foundation and at Motability Operations, to advance our policy priorities, support the integrated communications strategy, and help raise the profile of issues affecting disabled people in their everyday lives. You will also engage regularly with policymakers and external organisations. 

These roles will suit experienced, proactive and collaborative policy professionals who want to strengthen their advocacy experience and help make transport more accessible and inclusive for disabled people. 

What you’ll be doing 

As a Policy Manager, you will lead policy work across agreed priority areas. This will include: 

• Developing robust policy positions, from defining the problem and intended outcomes, to assessing evidence and options, testing discoverability, and making clear recommendations – working closely with colleagues within the Motability Foundation and at Motability Operations, and external stakeholders. 

• Drafting high-quality policy outputs, including policy briefings, consultation responses, calls for evidence, and external correspondence. 

• Collaborating closely with Communications teams colleagues to promote policy positions to government, public and professional audiences, including contributing to campaign development. 

• Tracking political, legislative and policy developments, horizon-scanning for risks and opportunities and adapting policy positions and plans as needed. 

• Building trusted external relationships with policymakers, industry stakeholders and others who shape or influence policy – namely, disabled people and Disabled People’s Organisations. You must be comfortable with effectively communicating complex policy positions to a wide range of stakeholders.  

• Working collaboratively across the organisation to ensure policy work is aligned and informed by wider insight. 

• Contributing to the development of the policy function, including its priorities, ways of working, and culture of collaboration, openness, and continuous improvement. 

Your experience 

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas: disability and welfare, transport, tax and fiscal policy, or growth policy. Where candidates do not have direct experience, they should be able to demonstrate strong policy skills and the ability to apply them quickly to complex issues. 

Must haves:  

• Strong experience in policy analysis and developing evidence-led and creative policy positions - ideally on high profile and pivotal policy. 

• Demonstrable experience of communicating policy to senior officials, Ministers, advisers, Parliamentarians and wider industry stakeholders, both verbally and through high-quality written outputs.  

• Strong understanding of UK and devolved policy-making and legislative processes, and strong political acumen and awareness of UK and devolved governments’ priorities.  

• Understanding of, or commitment to developing expertise in, disability, accessibility, and inclusive transport policy.  

• Ability to work collaboratively within a larger team and a complex matrix organisation, and build effective internal and external relationships. 

Nice to haves: 

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline. 

• Policy experience in the public, charity or not-for-profit sectors and/or in government (particularly HMT, DWP, No 10, BIST or DfT), Parliament, devolved administrations, or local government. 

• Experience helping to establish, improve or professionalise policy processes in an organisation. 

• Experience informing organisation-wide campaigns with policy expertise, insights and advice.