Policy and external affairs manager scotland jobs

Location: Home based within commuting distance of either Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast 

Salary: £32,750 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week 

Closing date: Monday 19 May 2026 at midnight 

Interview date: week commencing 25 May 2026 over video with possible second stage in person week commencing 1 June 2026 

This is a full time fixed-term position for one year (with possible extension subject to funding). 

Who we are looking for  

Breakthrough T1D is the UK’s leading type 1 diabetes charity, dedicated to funding research, advocating for change, and supporting the T1D community. A year into our exciting rebrand from JDRF to Breakthrough T1D, we’re looking for a Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer – Devolved Nations to help us build on this momentum. 

The role of the Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer - Devolved Nations is vital to achieving our UK-wide advocacy mission: to reduce health inequalities in type 1 diabetes, to widen access to type 1 diabetes treatments and technologies and to ensure that people with type 1 get access to emerging new treatments and future cures in the devolved nations.  

You will lead on projects with key stakeholders and high-level Parliamentarians, such as our access to treatments and early detection work, as well as people with type 1 diabetes, policy makers and researchers. You will help to deliver Breakthrough T1D’s influencing plans, improving access to and choice of type 1 diabetes treatments and technology in the devolved nations.  

Experience required 

• Experience of working successfully with politicians, their offices, Government departments, and other public affairs audiences to influence policy and to influence public/stakeholder discourse  

• Experience of leading public affairs delivery in one of more of the devolved nations  

• Experience in analysing Government policy in-depth and creating policy briefings   

• Experience of drafting briefings, reports and policy submissions   

• Experience of communicating across a range of parliamentary and professional stakeholders at all levels  

• Demonstrable knowledge, interest and experience of working in a public affairs and policy-based environment  

• Experience of organising stakeholder events  

About Breakthrough T1D 

Breakthrough T1D is the world’s leading charitable research funder into type 1 diabetes, improving lives until we find the cure. We are dedicated to our 400,000 strong type 1 community in the UK and work closely with our international affiliates across the world, including the US, Canada and Australia. 

You will find a vibrant atmosphere and spirited team at Breakthrough T1D, always striving to make a difference to people living with type 1. 

Employee benefits 

As an employer we offer: 

• Hybrid working arrangements 

• Flexible working and will consider compressed hours 

• Generous annual leave entitlement – 25 days per year plus bank holidays for full-time staff with leave increasing after three and five years’ service 

• Health cash plan that allows you to claim for some treatments such as dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment 

• Season ticket and cycle loan 

• Pension scheme 

• Family-friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave at enhanced rates 

• Personalised training to suit your career aspirations and professional development 

Breakthrough T1D is an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. 

Keeping Young People Safe:

At Young Enterprise, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All successful applicants will receive ongoing safeguarding training throughout their employment and be expected to uphold excellent safeguarding practice at all times.

Are you passionate about helping young people build brighter futures?

Are you curious about policy and public affairs and motivated by creating real-world change? If so, we’ve got a brilliant opportunity for you to join our team as our Policy and Public Affairs Officer at Young Enterprise.

Who We Are

We’re Young Enterprise – a national charity with a bold mission: to give every young person the skills, confidence, and mindset to thrive in the changing world of work.

For over 60 years, we’ve empowered more than 7 million young people through hands-on enterprise and financial education programmes. Whether it’s launching a student business or learning how to manage money, we help young people develop key life skills—teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and resilience.

We’re a passionate, down-to-earth team of 90+ staff and 2,000+ volunteers who believe that every young person, regardless of background, deserves a fair start in life.

Why Join Us?

We think Young Enterprise is a great place to work—and we’re proud of our people-first culture. Here’s what you can expect:

• A friendly and supportive team where your voice is heard
• A strong commitment to diversity and inclusion—we want everyone to feel they belong
• Generous holiday allowance and flexible working
• Cycle-to-work scheme, life assurance, and NHS top-up plan
• Ongoing learning and mentoring opportunities
• A chance to directly impact the lives of young people every single day

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join Young Enterprise at a key moment of growth and ambition for our policy and public affairs work. As Policy and Public Affairs Officer, you’ll help shape how we champion the voices and experiences of young people, ensuring their needs are reflected in decisions about education, skills and financial capability. Working closely with the Policy Lead and colleagues across the organisation, you’ll support the development of evidence-informed policy positions and contribute to impactful influencing and engagement activity.

This role is ideal for someone who is curious about how policy is made, enjoys working with ideas and evidence, and is motivated by the chance to create real-world change for young people. You’ll gain hands-on experience across research, stakeholder engagement, campaigns and parliamentary activity, in a fast-paced and supportive environment that values learning and collaboration.

If you’re passionate about social impact, enjoy writing and organising, and want to build a career in policy, public affairs or the charity sector, this role offers a fantastic platform to develop your skills while making a meaningful difference.

You’ll love this job if you are…

• Passionate about improving opportunities and outcomes for young people.
• Curious about policy, politics and public affairs, and keen to learn how change happens.
• A clear and confident writer who enjoys turning research and evidence into compelling messages.
• Organised, proactive and comfortable juggling multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Enjoy designing, organising and supporting engaging events for a range of audiences.
• Motivated by working collaboratively with a wide range of colleagues and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor developments in education, skills and related policy areas, identifying what they mean for young people and Young Enterprise’s work.
• Support the development of Young Enterprise’s policy positions through research, analysis and evidence gathering.
• Help plan and deliver public affairs and stakeholder engagement activities, including events, parliamentary briefings and meetings.
• Contribute to campaigns that aim to influence policy and raise the profile of issues affecting young people.
• Draft high-quality written outputs such as consultation responses, meeting notes, articles and social media content.
• Support policy networks and relationships, including Secretariat support for the APPG for Financial Education for Young People.
• Work closely with colleagues across programmes, research, communications and fundraising to align policy priorities and messaging.
• Coordinate the practical organisation of policy events, meetings and stakeholder communications. 

A few practical things

• This is a hybrid role, with a minimum requirement to work from our London office in Brunswick Square at least 8 days per month.
• The role involves regular travel to Westminster for meetings and events, and occasional travel to other parts of the UK.
• Occasional evening and weekend work will be required for events, with time off in lieu provided.
• There are no specific physical or manual handling requirements associated with this role.

How to Apply

If you’re ready to help shape the futures of young people, we want to hear from you!

Please send your CV and a cover letter answering the three questions below. Applications that do not directly address these questions will not be considered.  Applications must be submitted by 12:00 noon on 22 May 2026.

1.Interest in Young Enterprise (max 250 words)

What attracted you to Young Enterprise and the Policy and Public Affairs Officer role?

2.Experience and Achievements (max 250 words)

Tell us about your personal or professional achievements that you’re proud of which demonstrate your ability to:  

a. organise an activity or event

b. manage competing priorities

c. support others

3.Skills for the Role (max 250 words)

What relevant or transferable skills and experience would you bring to this role?

Should your written application be successful, an optional informal call will be offered to discuss the role with and answer any questions you might have. Following this, an in-person interview will take place in Young Enterprise’s London Office week commencing 1 June 2026, which will include a short written task, and the potential for a follow up online interview with a few colleagues across the organisation. Please note, we are only able to respond to shortlisted candidates. 

Full details can be found in the Job Description.

At YE we are passionate and committed to keeping your data safe and secure.  Full details can be found in the YE People’s Privacy Notice.

Join us – and help us give every young person the chance to thrive. Apply today!

Circa £53,000 per annum

Permanent

Part home/Part office (London) based

UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.

This is a great opportunity to join the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) as a Senior Policy Adviser – Education.

The role provides strategic leadership on UK education policy across the organisation, with a current focus on early childhood learning and development. The role shapes and delivers rights-based policy influencing strategies, research, and analysis, working closely with colleagues in campaigns and political affairs to drive change for children in the UK.

The role requires expertise in UK education policy, clear experience leading advocacy-oriented research, and a history of influencing UK Government. You will bring a strong understanding of UK policy-making processes and a commitment to children’s rights.

Act now and visit the website via the apply button to apply online.

Closing date: 9am, Thursday 14 May 2026.

Interview date: Wednesday 27 May 2026.  

In return, we offer:

· excellent pay and benefits (including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, big brand discounts and wellbeing tools)

· outstanding training and learning opportunities and the support to flourish in your role

· impressive open plan office space and facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

· an open culture and workplace with colleagues who share our values, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.

· the opportunity to work in a leading children’s organisation making a difference to children around the world

Our application process: We use a system called "Applied" that anonymises your responses and focuses on your actual skills that are relevant to this role. This benefits you by giving you a greater chance of expressing your skills in this objective selection process.

We anticipate most colleagues will work two days a week in the office on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London and the rest of the time from home.  We will happily discuss other flexible options to suit your circumstances.

We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, and disabled candidates, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level at UNICEF UK. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for children.

UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

We welcome a conversation about your flexible working requirements, personal growth, and promoting a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.

We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.

If you require support in completing the online form or an application form in an alternative format, please contact the Supporter Care line during office hours.

If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.

Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland)

We are seeking an exceptional leader to be our next chief executive, leading a respected and influential membership organisation at the heart of a thriving grassroots movement.

You’ll be working to build on the success we’ve seen and strong position and voice we have established for ourselves and our members, as a leading force for inclusive and sustainable transport and communities.

You’ll bring an impressive track record in values-based leadership, a proven ability to engage and inspire grassroots change-makers, strategic partners and policy-makers, and a deep belief in the importance of community-led change towards a sustainable, equitable future.

About us

Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation, which is in the process of applying for charitable status, supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.

Community rail is made up of 77 community-based organisations, and around 1,300 station volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.

Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in dispersed locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.

About this role, and your main responsibilities

Our current CEO is moving on after nine years in role, leaving the organisation, team and wider movement in a strong and empowered position to deliver on the next phase of our development.

Your opportunity is to lead the organisation, and to deliver on our new five-year strategy setting an ambitious course for the future during a period of major transformation for our railways and the wider transport system. You will ensure that we are:

• clear in our identity and our independence, and seen as thought leaders in our field;
• are supporting our members and stakeholders to meet their changing and diverse needs; and
• ensuring the financial and operational resilience of the organisation in an environment that is undergoing a period of rapid change.

As CEO, you will lead a passionate and experienced senior leadership team with three direct reports, while working closely with and reporting into our Board, key partners and funders, and ensuing an engaging, empowering, tenacious approach across all we do.

Advocacy of community rail and its benefits will be high on your agenda, and you will be working closely across multiple stakeholders including UK and devolved national governments, regional and local authorities as well as forging collaborative partnerships with like-minded organisations.

Maintaining our community-centric ethos, you will need to ensure we're effective in enabling members to unlock greater value from the railways at a grassroots level, while drawing on their insights to affect wider change. With hundreds of member groups and organisations across Britain delivering life-changing, place-enhancing work, you will have a solid foundation to build on, to take community rail forward and expand our impact in the years ahead.

Last, but not least, you will be responsible for ensuring the strong and effective governance of the organisation, modelling our governing principles, values and behaviours, and ensuring that we have robust financial and resource management in place.

Skills, competencies and qualities

1. Exceptional leadership skills, including a proven ability to lead, develop and grow third sector organisations or multi-faceted teams delivering complex activities, projects and campaigns;
2. Excellent communication and external leadership skills: articulate, assertive, with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels;
3. Experienced in acting as the public face of an organisation, such as through the media, public speaking and high-level meetings, and using evidence and storytelling to articulate and champion a cause;
4. Politically astute, with knowledge of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a sound grasp of the importance of public transport, sustainable travel, and community-led action;
5. A proven ability to influence policy and decision-makers, and to identify influencing opportunities, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, including sharing community insights;
6. A strong track record in income generation and development, building strong funder relationships and delivery partnerships, managing programme or organisational budgets and controlling expenditure;
7. Experience of working with and/or reporting to a board, ideally in a not-for-profit and/or membership context;
8. An empowering, engaging approach to leadership, management and change-making;
9. Resilient, pragmatic and determined, with the ability to work under pressure, seize emergent opportunities, manage risk, and support others dealing with competing priorities.

Other information

The role will involve extensive travel within Britain as part of building your profile and that of the organisation with central and devolved government in Scotland and Wales, and increasingly with the devolved regions of England.

There is flexibility on location given the requirement to travel and that your office will be home-based. You will need to travel to in-person quarterly team meetings (usually in London or West Yorkshire) and to Board meetings which alternate between online and London. It is expected that travel will be by public transport and easy access to the rail network is therefore required to ensure journeys can be made sustainably. 

This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months. 

Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising up to 30 days, plus Bank Holidays, in line with long service); pension with employer contribution of 7%; and access to Employee Assistance Programme.

Successful applicants will need to provide proof that they have the right to work in the UK and provide two references.

Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.

• Join us at the forefront of public health advocacy as the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance Scotland Lead. This is a unique opportunity to shape the direction of our efforts to combat non-communicable diseases in Scotland. You will work closely with NCD Alliance Scotland members as well as government bodies, politicians, academics and third sector partners to drive impactful policy changes.
  
  If you are passionate about making a difference in public health, this role offers a platform to create lasting change and improve the health of communities across Scotland.
  
  As our NCD Alliance Scotland Lead, you’ll support all joint activity for the alliance, working with the chair, advisory board and members, building consensus within the alliance. Work will span policy development, public affairs and communications to ensure effective evidence-based policy around commercial determinants of health is at the forefront of the political agenda.
  
  About you
  
  With a deep understanding of the policy-making and the political process in Scotland, ideally with some knowledge of health policy and public health policy, you’ll have an extensive understanding of parliamentary procedure and government in Scotland, as well as an understanding of public policy and how it’s developed.
  
  You’ll have a proven track record of building and nurturing excellent relationships and exerting influence over external stakeholder’s agendas. You’ll also have previous 
  experience of having run or managed successful policy and/or public affairs work at a senior level, ensuring expectations, responsibilities and the purpose and vision for the team are clear and delivered.
  
  With experience of leading stakeholder relations in a high profile and/or complex organisation. You’ll also have the following skills and experience:

  • Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, able to present with credibility and gravitas to external audiences.
  • Excellent writing skills, able to provide concise written and oral briefings on complex issues, often at short notice.
  • Ability to work calmly, quickly and accurately under pressure of tight deadlines. 
  • Proven leadership skills whilst being a team player.
  • Ability to develop and implement strategies and plans, ensuring that initiatives and activities are organised, prioritised and delivered successfully.
  • Excellent time management and organisation skills.

  Working arrangements
  
  Please note this is a fixed term contract for 18 months.
  
  This is a hybrid role, where your work will be split between your home and at least one day per week, on average, in our Edinburgh Office. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause.
  
  The work will require some evening and weekend work as well as travel that may require overnight stays. There will also be an opportunity to visit BHF offices in Belfast, Cardiff and London.
  
  Belonging at BHF
  
  By embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment, we strengthen our ability to achieve our mission of saving and improving lives, ensuring our work reflects and serves the needs of every community across the UK.  
  
  To hear from our people, check out Belonging at BHF.  
  
  Our people are at the heart of everything we do. By funding research across six decades, we’ve helped keep millions of hearts beating and millions of families together. We’re investing in ground-breaking research that will get us closer than ever to a world where everyone has a healthier heart for longer.
  
  Benefits
  
  We offer a competitive range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, and opportunities for personal and professional growth and continuous learning.  
  
  To find out more about our benefits you can download the Benefits document at the bottom of this page or check out our Benefits and Development pages.   
  
  Need more help balancing your work and home life? Talk to us about what flexibility is available at the application or interview stage.
  
  Interview process
  
  Interviews will be held in person at our Edinburgh offices on Wednesday 13th May. A presentation element will be included in the interview process. 
  
  How to apply
  
  To apply for this role please use the apply button below. Our process involves submitting your CV and a supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role’s criteria. 
  
  Our recruitment processes are fair, accessible, and inclusive. BHF use anonymous CV software as part of the application journey.  
   
  Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us. 

The role  

As a Senior Researcher, you will take a leading role in our research programmes with parliamentarians and journalists, while also contributing to our work with the general public and bespoke client projects. You will act as a trusted partner to clients and a point of guidance for junior colleagues. 

You will lead on our nfpPolitics programmes – quarterly surveys of 100 MPs and an annual survey of 100 members of the House of Lords, plus annual surveys of MSPs in Scotland, MSs in Wales and MLAs in Northern Ireland. These programmes give charity clients clear, evidence-based insight into how they are seen at Westminster and in the devolved parliaments: tracking awareness of organisations and their campaigns, the actions parliamentarians have taken in response, and how effective they consider those organisations to be. Subscribers also receive unfiltered open comments from parliamentarians and access to broader political intelligence data – covering what MPs see as the biggest challenges facing the sector, the factors that influence whether they will support a campaign, and which organisations have impressed them in Parliament. 

You will also oversee nfpPress, our annual survey of 150 UK journalists across print, digital and broadcast media. This gives charity communications teams systematic insight into how the media perceives them and their work – not just whether journalists know who they are, but whether they want to work with them, and what would make them more likely to. 

Alongside this tracking work, you will contribute to a varied portfolio of bespoke projects for individual charity clients – from applicant perception research for funders, to supporter benchmarking and message testing. In practice, this means working across a wide range of topics and methodologies, helping charities make better strategic decisions. 

Description of responsibilities and opportunities: 

· Leading our nfpPolitics Westminster programme: quarterly surveys of 100 MPs and an annual survey of 100 members of the House of Lords, including questionnaire design, fieldwork management, analysis and client debriefs 

· Leading our nfpPolitics Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland programmes: annual surveys of MSPs, Members of the Senedd and MLAs 

· Overseeing nfpPress: our annual survey of 150 UK journalists across print, digital and broadcast media 

· Managing a portfolio of client accounts across the Professional Audiences monitors – advising clients on their results, responding to requests for analysis, and supporting retention 

· Contributing to the design and delivery of bespoke projects for a wide range of charity clients, spanning applicant perception research, supporter benchmarking, message testing and audience insight work 

· Writing and presenting client reports and debrief presentations, with clear conclusions and actionable recommendations 

· Line management of a Research Officer or Research Assistant: writing objectives, conducting appraisals and supporting their professional development 

· Contributing to business development, including helping to scope and write proposals and participating in pitch meetings 

· Contributing to the broader life of the company, including our monthly Knowledge Meeting, company blog and Insights events 

Who we are looking for:  

This post would be ideally suited to a researcher with at least three years’ experience in a market research or social research role, with a strong interest in the non-profit sector and the professional audiences it works with – whether parliamentarians, journalists, funders or specialist communities. 

Essential: 

· Minimum three years’ previous professional research experience, ideally in market research, social research or a consultancy setting 

· Experience of managing research projects or programmes with a high degree of independence 

· Experience of managing clients or other external relationships 

· Experience of presenting in a professional context 

· Strong quantitative research skills, including excellent data literacy, survey design and data visualisation 

· Analytical skills and ability to interpret research, and explain what it means for a range of different audiences – both verbally and in writing 

· A strong interest in politics, media or public affairs, and an understanding of how non-profits engage with these arenas 

· A strong interest in, and preferably experience of, charities and not-for-profits 

Desirable: 

· Experience of research with specialist or professional audiences (such as parliamentarians, journalists, healthcare professionals or funders) 

· Experience of conducting qualitative research (interviews, focus groups or similar) 

· Keen interest or experience of the not-for-profit sector in one of our international markets (Ireland, Canada or the US) 

· Experience of line managing or mentoring more junior colleagues 

· Experience of using R, SPSS or Displayr 

In addition, we also like to see the following soft skills in all our staff:  

· Strong verbal and written communication skills 

· Excellent time management and organisational skills 

· Self-motivated, hardworking and proactive 

· Enthusiastic, personable and with a sense of humour 

· Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly as part of a team 

What nfpResearch delivers to you:  

· A varied and senior role at the UK’s leading research consultancy working exclusively in the not-for-profit sector 

· The opportunity to lead research that shapes how charities engage with Parliament, the media and their audiences 

· The chance to be an integral part of a small and dynamic company  

· 25 days paid holiday per year, plus bank holidays and days between Christmas and New Year 

· Training for the MRS Advanced Certificate qualification and a bonus if you pass the exam