Policy and Public Affairs Manager (Northern Ireland)

Policy and Public Affairs Manager (Northern Ireland)
£41,278 pa plus excellent benefits
Home-based with regular meetings in Belfast
35 hours per week, full-time
Fixed-term, 12 months

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking an experienced and influential Policy and Public Affairs Manager to lead our work in Northern Ireland. This is an exciting opportunity to shape policy, influence decision-makers, and ensure the voices of paediatricians and child health professionals are heard at the highest levels.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Policy and External Affairs / Head of Policy and Public Affairs (Devolved Nations), you will lead the College’s policy and public affairs activity in Northern Ireland. You will develop and communicate policy positions that reflect the national context, engage senior stakeholders across government and the health sector, and maximise the College’s influence to improve child health outcomes.

You will work closely with colleagues across the UK to ensure our four-nation advocacy is aligned, while remaining responsive to the specific needs of our members in Northern Ireland. You will also line manage a Policy and Public Affairs Officer, supporting their development and overseeing external-facing outputs.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development of policy positions and public affairs outputs specific to Northern Ireland
• Engaging with Ministers, MLAs, government officials, statutory services, and third sector stakeholders to influence policy and practice
• Producing and overseeing consultation responses and policy briefings
• Acting as a source of expertise on the Northern Ireland political and health landscape
• Supporting College Officers with high-level stakeholder engagement through briefings and policy advice
• Drafting media content including quotes, press releases and opinion pieces in collaboration with communications colleagues
• Managing the College’s presence at the Northern Ireland Assembly and party conferences
• Line managing and developing the Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Northern Ireland)

Essential skills and experience include:

• A primary degree and/or extensive relevant experience in policy and public affairs or a related field
• Proven experience of developing and delivering a measurable and successful public affairs strategy
• Experience of preparing high-quality briefings for political stakeholders and senior leaders
• Strong understanding of the political and health policy landscape in Northern Ireland
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively
• Demonstrable stakeholder management skills, including engagement at senior level
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and project management skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a wider UK team

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows and employs around 200 staff, most of whom work in our London office in Holborn. We have a Devolved Nations team operating from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Our College values: Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire, are important to us. These values ensure we bring out the best in each other, strive forward together to make the College a positive and dynamic place to work. 

The RCPCH champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our workplace is inclusive, offering a supportive environment where staff can thrive. The College is keen to accept applications from people with protected characteristics. We believe that our staff should represent all of the diverse communities we serve. Join us to help realise our vision of a world where every child is healthy and well.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities. The RCPCH expects all staff to share this commitment – we place a high priority on ensuring only those who do so are recruited to work for us. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. 

Closing date: 4 March 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.