This is an exciting opportunity to lead Field Studies Council's Digital Learning & Publishing unit.
You'll develop strategy, build partnerships, grow income streams and lead a talented team delivering biodiversity training, digital learning and natural history publishing across the UK.
Success in this position will come from strong commercial leadership, strategic thinking and the ability to deliver sustainable growth while supporting our charitable mission.
- Permanent full-time contract
- Starting salary circa £36,973 - £44,091 per annum DOE + excellent benefits
- Flexible base location with remote / home working welcomed
- Make a visible, lasting contribution to environmental education across the UK
Work with purpose
At the Field Studies Council, our mission is to create outstanding opportunities that inspire everyone to engage with and care for the environment.
As our Digital Learning & Publishing Manager, you will lead a commercially focused business unit responsible for a diverse portfolio of biodiversity training, digital learning and publishing products. Working closely with the Commercial Director, you'll help form the future direction of the unit, ensuring sustainable growth, strong customer experience and meaningful impact.
In this key senior leadership role, you will:
- Lead the Digital Learning & Publishing unit, with accountability for its commercial and operational performance, budgeting, forecasting and P&L delivery.
- Develop and deliver commercial strategies that drive sustainable revenue growth across digital learning, publishing, partnerships and e-commerce.
- Identify new commercial opportunities and build relationships that expand our reach and impact.
- Use data, insights and customer feedback to improve performance, conversion, retention and customer value.
- Lead and develop a high-performing team.
- Oversee the successful delivery of biodiversity training courses, digital learning products and natural history publications.
Further detail regarding the full responsibilities can be found in the vacancy pack attached to the advert on our careers website.
Where you’ll be based
The base location for this position is negotiable, with remote working / home working welcomed. If you prefer working in an office environment, you can work from one of our Field Studies Centres across the UK. Hybrid working options can also be considered.
This role will include occasional travel to our Field Studies Council locations and other venues throughout the UK and will involve occasional overnight stays.
Who we're looking for
We're looking for someone with a commercial mindset who has owned budgets, delivered revenue growth and led business performance before. We're particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:
- Significant experience in a commercial leadership or business unit management role.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing teams in a commercial environment
- P&L accountability and revenue growth delivery, with a track record of developing and scaling commercially viable products or services
- Experience leading delivery project teams and managing vendors/freelancers.
- Effective management and influencing of partnerships and networks
- Budget management expertise, including a proven ability to ensure value for money
- An interest in learning, publishing, environmental education or the natural history sector.
Your benefits whilst working with us will include:
- 28 days annual leave + bank holidays
- 2 extra loyalty days dependent on length of service
- Life assurance 5 x your annual basic salary
- Health and Wellbeing Support App for you and eligible family members to access remote GP appointments, mental health consultations, physiotherapy sessions and financial & legal support
- 24-hour Counselling Helpline Service
- Cycle to work and EV schemes
- Discounts and cashback opportunities
- Flexible working options where roles permit
- Quality learning and development opportunities
If you are looking for a role where your leadership can make a genuine difference to environmental learning, we would be delighted to receive your application.
The closing date for receipt of your completed application is 8th July 2026.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we’re in receipt of sufficient applications. Please apply early to avoid disappointment.
Interviews are scheduled to take place at Field Studies Council online in the week commencing 20th July 2026.
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by email.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and we expect all team members to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will only be confirmed following the successful completion of rigorous pre-employment checks, including appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks / PVG Scheme check with Disclosure Scotland.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Location: Remote, with some travel to Cannock, London and other locations as required
Reports to: Charity Director
Team: Charitable Service
At Newlife, we’re entering an exciting new chapter - we’re on a mission to empower disabled children and their families, to live life to the fullest and champion the joy of childhood.
So we’re investing in our people and building the team we need to deliver our new strategic ambitions.
Newlife is looking for an experienced and values-driven Policy and Public Affairs Manager to lead our policy, influencing, public affairs and campaigning work. This is an exciting opportunity to shape national conversations and drive meaningful change for disabled children and their families across education, health and social care systems.
In this role, you will ensure that lived experience is at the heart of Newlife’s influencing work, developing evidence-based policy positions, building strategic relationships and delivering campaigns that challenge barriers, raise awareness and improve outcomes for families.
About the role
As Policy and Public Affairs Manager, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across Newlife’s policy, campaigns, public affairs and lived experience activity. You will identify opportunities to influence policy and practice, develop compelling cases for change, and represent Newlife with decision-makers, sector partners and external stakeholders.
You will also oversee the delivery and development of the APPG for Access to Disability Equipment, working with parliamentarians, government departments and sector organisations to increase awareness of the issues affecting disabled children and families.
Key responsibilities
o Lead the development and delivery of Newlife’s policy, public affairs, campaigning and influencing strategy.
o Develop evidence-based policy positions informed by research, service insight and lived experience.
o Ensure the voices of disabled children and families shape Newlife’s policy, campaigning and influencing work.
o Oversee the APPG for Access to Disability Equipment and build relationships with parliamentarians, policymakers and sector partners.
o Lead campaigns and influencing activity that raise awareness, challenge barriers and support policy change.
o Build strategic partnerships and coalitions to strengthen Newlife’s influence and collective impact.
o Represent Newlife externally at parliamentary events, conferences, roundtables and sector forums.
o Provide effective leadership for policy, campaigns and lived experience activity, including line management of the Lived Experience Coordinator.
o Contribute to organisational strategy, planning and growth as a member of the Charity Leadership Team.
About you
We are looking for someone with significant experience in policy development, public affairs, campaigning or influencing, ideally within the charity, public or not-for-profit sector. You will bring strong knowledge of policy and influencing processes, excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.
You will be confident developing policy briefings, consultation responses, reports and position papers, and able to use evidence, research and lived experience to influence change. You will also be a collaborative leader with a strong commitment to inclusion, equity and the rights of disabled children and their families.
Essential experience and skills
o Experience of developing and delivering policy and influencing strategies.
o Experience of building relationships with parliamentarians, policymakers, government departments or national stakeholders.
o Experience of managing campaigns, consultations or public affairs activity.
o Experience of partnership and coalition working.
o Experience of using research, evidence and lived experience to influence change.
o Strong understanding of education, health, social care and disability policy.
o Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
o Strong leadership, people management, strategic thinking and analytical skills.
o Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.
For the full person specification, please refer to the attachement below
Why join Newlife?
This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in strengthening Newlife’s voice and influence, helping to create systemic change for disabled children and their families. You will work with passionate colleagues, families, professionals and partners to shape policy, improve practice and ensure lived experience drives meaningful action.
If you are a strategic, compassionate and influential leader who wants to make a lasting difference, we would love to hear from you.
Benefits
In return, you will receive 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, a generous in-store discount, a cash health plan, discounts on restaurants, travel and insurance, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme through Retail Trust.
#Policy and Public Affairs Manager #Policy and Public Affairs #Policy Manager #Public Affairs Manager
Registered Charity
101 - 500
The UK’s largest charitable provider of specialist equipment for disabled children.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.