Policy Development Lead

The Role
Policy Development Lead
We are looking for a Policy Development Lead to provide strategic leadership, coordination and expertise in proactive policy development across NDCS. This exciting new role will help us think beyond immediate policy activity, identify where system change is needed, and develop longer-term policy positions that are informed by evidence, specialist insight, lived experience and external practice.
The role will initially focus on Education, while retaining the flexibility to support wider policy development across areas such as early years, social care, health, benefits, sign language and other emerging priorities. Working closely with Platform Leads, Policy and Nation Leads, and colleagues across the organisation, you will help ensure NDCS develops strong, evidence-based policy positions that create meaningful change for deaf children and their families.
What you'll do

• Lead and coordinate proactive policy development activity across NDCS, identifying opportunities for deeper policy thinking and systems change.
• Apply systems thinking to identify complex challenges, explore interdependencies and develop practical solutions
• Identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities, using systems thinking and horizon-scanning approaches to inform future organisational priorities.
• Translate complex evidence, research and lived experience into clear recommendations that support organisational decision-making and influence.
• Influence senior leaders and key stakeholders by providing strategic policy advice, insight and recommendations.
• Lead and coordinate policy development activity across multiple teams, ensuring expertise, insight and activity are aligned.
• Build productive relationships with external researchers, policy networks and sector experts to bring innovative thinking into NDCS.
• Identify cross-cutting themes and opportunities for change by bringing together insight from local, regional and national sources.
• Facilitate strategic conversations that help colleagues explore complex issues, understand system interdependencies and develop long-term solutions.
• Champion a proactive, evidence-informed approach to policy development across the organisation.

What you'll need

• Significant experience in policy analysis, development or strategy within a complex organisation, sector or policy environment.
• Proven ability to translate complex evidence, research and lived experience into recommendations that drive organisational action and influence.
• Experience influencing senior decision-makers and shaping organisational, sector-wide or public policy direction.
• A track record of leading and coordinating complex work across multiple teams, functions or stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality briefings, policy positions and strategic recommendations.
• Experience bringing together evidence and insight from multiple sources to identify emerging issues, trends and opportunities for change.
• Strong systems-thinking skills and experience developing long-term solutions to complex challenges.
• The ability to lead through collaboration, credibility and specialist expertise, building alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the policy, practice and systemic issues affecting deaf children and families, and the ability to apply this knowledge to strategic policy development.
• Strong digital skills and a sound understanding of agile values & principles.
• Acriminal record check / DBS disclosure (if offered the position).

What you'll get

• Home-based working with flexible hours.
• 25 days holiday - plus an additional 3 days at Christmas (& bank holidays).
• Pension (5.5% employer contribution).
• Healthcare Cashplan.
• Annual performance-based salary increase.
• Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programmes.

What we do
The National Deaf Children's Society are the leading charity for deaf children. We give expert support on childhood deafness, raise awareness and campaign for deaf children's rights, so they have the same opportunities as everyone else.


Pre-employment checks
As part of our commitment to creating a safe and trusted environment for the children, young people and families we support, all offers of employment are subject to background checks. These include Right to Work verification, Criminal Record Disclosure, and ID and address verification.

To complete an online Right to Work check, you will need a valid UK or Irish passport, or a government share code if you are not a British citizen. If an online check is not possible, we’ll need to verify your documents in person at our London office. Please be aware that travel time and expenses for this appointment cannot be reimbursed.

Disability Confidence
We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to offering interviews to candidates who request to be considered under the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum requirements for the role.

The National Deaf Children’s Society is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1016532 and in Scotland no. SC040779.