Associate Director of Policy and Public Affairs England

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they’re likely to die from.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Associate Director of Policy & Public Affairs England to lead our work shaping policy and public debate on end-of-life care. This is a high-profile, outward-facing leadership role where you’ll play a critical part in ensuring that the experiences of people affected by death, dying and bereavement are at the heart of political and public discourse across England.

The postholder will lead the development and delivery of policy and public affairs strategy in England, using evidence, partnerships and campaigning to influence decision-makers and improve end-of-life care. You will be a visible external voice for Marie Curie—engaging with government, Parliament, the NHS, media, and the wider charity sector to drive meaningful change. Working as part of a UK-wide leadership team, you will also help shape a coordinated policy and influencing approach across all four nations.

Your Impact: 

· Shape the policy agenda in England to ensure that issues of dying, death and bereavement are at the heart of contemporary policy debates.

· Create & lead the delivery of strategies for proactively engaging with and influencing Members of Parliament, Government officials, Local Authorities, health commissioning bodies, and other national and local decision makers.

· Analyse and respond to policy developments within the UK Government, and other relevant public bodies.

· As Marie Curie’s main spokesperson on policy and public affairs issues in England, develop the charity’s public profile, represent and convey its views through media interviews, speaking engagements, written articles, letters and participation at conferences and events.

· Partner and work closely with research teams across Marie Curie, external partners and academia to identify opportunities to inform policy and public affairs activities.

· Lead and manage the Policy and Public Affairs team, supporting their development.

Key Criteria:

· Established experience in a policy and public affairs role with a strong track record of successfully campaigning and lobbying.

· Experience of working with the media, developing relationships with key journalists, giving interviews and securing media support.

· Solid understanding of the structure and working of the Government, health and social care organisations and local authorities. Political astuteness and judgement in dealing with the Government and politicians.

· Comprehensive knowledge of health and social care policy issues and an understanding of the complex issues involved in end-of-life care.

· Excellent, effective and influential communications skills, including the ability to communicate with a wide range of audiences including the media, organisations and public bodies.

· Outstanding organisational skills, including the ability to use initiative, to prioritise workload and work under pressure to tight schedules and deadlines.

· Experience line managing and leading a team.

· Ability to travel across the UK and work out of regular hours on occasion.

Please see the full job description here.

Application & Interview Process

· As part of your online application, you will be asked to submit your CV and answer additional questions. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.

· Close date for applications: Monday 15 June.

Salary: Up to £80,000 per annum depending on experience.

Contract:  Permanent

Based: UK Hybrid, with at least one day per week at our headquarters in Embassy Gardens, London.

Benefits you’ll LOVE:

·         Flexible working. We’re happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.

·         25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays)

·         Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%)

·         Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets

·         Continuous professional development opportunities.

·         Industry-leading training programmes

·         Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes

·         Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits

·         Access to Blue Light Card membership

·         Subsidised Eye Care