Policy and Public Affairs Lead

Policy and Public Affairs Lead

Part time, 28 hours a week
Up to £49,625 pro rata £39,700 + excellent benefits

Leatherhead, Surrey

We are looking to appoint a Policy and Public Affairs Lead will play a key role in our work to make sure policy helps improve quality of life for seriously ill children and their families supported by Rainbow Trust.

About the role:

The post holder will be responsible for developing and leading the implementation of Rainbow Trust’s influencing strategy and plans, ensuring that our policy activity is needs-led, evidence-based and targeted to where change can most effectively be realised. This role will increase understanding, awareness and support for Rainbow Trust’s cause and work, and engage stakeholders including policymakers and elected representatives at a UK-wide, national and regional level.

The Policy and Public Affairs Lead will ensure that Rainbow Trust remains a credible and authoritative voice on the impact of the diagnosis of a life threatening or terminal illness on the whole family and on the needs of our beneficiaries. Working closely with the Director of Care Services and the Head of Care, the post holder will help Rainbow Trust identify the key stakeholders with whom it needs to build relationships and further influence.

What we’re looking for: 

• A socially focused and enthusiastic individual who builds rapport and stimulates others into action – you have a collaborative, motivating approach to achieving goals quickly by engaging the commitment of others, and work with a sense of urgency.
• A persuasive, detail-oriented and effective written and verbal communicator - you have experience writing for a range of audiences, from in-depth policy briefings to web pages and social media posts, and have the ability to interpret policy into meaningful operational language, working closely within established guidelines and procedures.
• Experienced in utilising a variety of campaigning tools (including e-campaigning) and having working in an SME – you’re a proactive, people-focused problem solver that delivers practical timely solutions at a faster-than-average pace, are confident in the use of MS Office, and have an action-oriented working style.
• Politically astute and conscientious with the energy and passion for influencing change in children’s palliative care - you thrive on having ownership of a variety of projects simultaneously and achieving organisational success with and through people
• Applications will be particularly welcome from those who have an understanding of issues regarding children’s palliative care, who have had previous success in influencing and lobbying key stakeholders. 

Why join us?

We’re proud to be a Two-Star Best Companies Top 50 mid-sized organisation and a Top 10 Charity, and we’re committed to creating a great place to work. You will benefit from:

• Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%.
• A life assurance scheme for all employees which provides a death in service benefit of three times’ basic pay.
• Flexible working hours to balance home and working life.
• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 days to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time).
• The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping.
• Time off in Lieu.
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand.
• Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year.
• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts.
• Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes.
• A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme.
• Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth

If you’d like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, please visit our website

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

Apply now:

To apply please send your CV and Covering letter to us via the link.

Your covering letter should highlight why your application should be considered above others and clearly state how your experience matches the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification.

For a full job description and person specification visit our website.

Please disclose in your covering letter if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Interviews will take place at our Head Office in Leatherhead. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful. If you require any adjustments during the interview process, please let us know.

An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.