Policy jobs

Summary

WE ARE SEEKING A POLICY OFFICER

About the Department/Role

The Church of England is continually striving to improve its safeguarding practices. The 2020 report by IICSA on the Church highlighted failures in respect of child sexual abuse and, more broadly, the challenges facing the Church to get safeguarding right.

The Church's aspiration is that safeguarding is not experienced and approached as a matter of administrative compliance. Rather, it should be what the Church is - something that flows from its core beliefs and values, part of its DNA.

The Church has made important and positive strides over recent years. There is, however, still much to be done to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, and to promote their well-being. The Church is a complex collection of different bodies. Most of the safeguarding work is carried out locally within the 42 dioceses and cathedrals in England. This work is supported centrally by a National Safeguarding Team (NST).

The Church of England seeks a committed and collaborative Safeguarding Policy Officer to join the National Safeguarding Team. This role is central to developing, revising, and implementing national safeguarding policies that protect and support all members of the Church community.

Working closely with Safeguarding Policy and Development Leads, you'll ensure policies are grounded in academic research, aligned with legislation and canon law, and informed by survivor experiences and Church-wide learning.

• Co-manage the development and roll-out of safeguarding policies, codes of practice and guidance
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including survivors, bishops, Diocesan Safeguarding Officers, and Church bodies
• Ensure policy relevance across dioceses, parishes, cathedrals, religious communities, and theological institutions
• Lead the coordination and improvement of the safeguarding e-manual
• Engage with NCIs departments to embed safeguarding policy into wider initiatives
• Support the NST's learning and review cycle to refine policies over time
• Represent survivor perspectives within policy, training, and quality assurance activities
• Provide briefings and respond to safeguarding queries from Church bodies
• Take ownership of non-legislative content creation related to safeguarding
  

Key role requirements

• A basic DBS check will be required as part of our pre-employment checks.
• This is a hybrid role, and working arrangements can be discussed with the hiring manager.
• Please note: This is a fixed-term opportunity, and we are seeking to appoint three candidates across the following contracts:
  • 1 position: 2-year fixed-term contract
  • 2 positions: 15-month fixed-term contracts

You will need to be/have:

To thrive in this role, you'll bring a unique blend of analytical skill, emotional intelligence, and commitment to safeguarding excellence. Below are the essential and desirable qualities we're looking for:

• A degree is not required for this role; however, the candidate will need to evidence at least 5 years of relevant experience in a similar field
• Strong written communication, able to tailor content for diverse audiences
• Skilled in analysing complex and conflicting information and distilling it into clear policy or guidance
• Confident working collaboratively across internal and external partnerships
• Able to lead and facilitate stakeholder groups to achieve outcomes
• Able to build trusted relationships with varied stakeholders, including survivors and Church colleagues
• Ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with individuals from all backgrounds, both written and verbal
• Experience in producing clear, effective policy and guidance for a range of audiences.
• Knowledge of national safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and policy (e.g. Children Acts, Care Act, Working Together, criminal justice legislation), both current and historical, as relevant to non-recent abuse.

• A salary of £48,557 per annum, plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of your salary.

• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus eight bank holidays and three additional days (pro-rated if working part-time).
• We welcome all flexible working arrangement requests. This is looked at in a case-by-case scenario, and if this fits within the department's needs. We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.
• We offer many services and initiatives under our Family Friendly Programme, some of these include enhanced Maternity Leave initiative, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave, & Shared Parental Leave. Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships.
• Automatic enrolment and access to Medicash (one of the UK's leading health cash plan providers), providing you with many services including reimbursements of routine dental treatment, optical, specialist consultations, and therapy treatments. Unlimited access to virtual GP & Private prescription service and health & Stress related helplines.
• Access to Occupational Health and an Employee Assistance Programme 
• Access to the Department of Education Restaurant and Westminster Abbey with a plus-one guest.
• Apply for eligibility for an Eyecare voucher.
• Opportunity to join the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies.

• Strive for Excellence
• Show Compassion
• Respect others
• Collaborate
• Act with Integrity

Are you passionate about making a real difference in children's lives through impactful policy and public affairs engagement? Are eager to develop your skills working with Welsh Government, Members of the Senedd, or other key decision-makers in Wales? If so, we want to hear from you.

Barnardo's Cymru is looking for a Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Wales) to help shape our influencing work and strengthen our presence in the world of Welsh policy-making. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone eager to build on their existing knowledge and experience with policy influencers in Wales while playing a pivotal role in creating positive, lasting change for children, young people, and families.

In this role, you'll work closely with our Senior Policy and Public Affairs Lead (Wales) to implement our influencing plan. You'll help raise Barnardo's Cymru's profile among key stakeholders, including Welsh Government officials, Senedd Members, and other policy influencers. You'll be involved in:

• Monitoring key developments within the Welsh policy landscape
• Managing relationships and liaising with stakeholders at all levels
• Conducting research and producing reports to support our policy objectives
• Supporting reactive policy work to respond to emerging issues
• Organising events to showcase Barnardo's vital work and engage decision-makers

Your efforts will ensure that the voices of children, young people, families, and our services are central to our influencing activities in Wales.

This role will be home-based but will require travel to Cardiff and/or other parts of Wales for in-person meetings as required. The position is offered on a 0.6 FTE basis (21.75 hours per week).

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

•  

The National Youth Agency is looking for a new Policy and Public Affairs Manager to join our Policy, Insights and External Affairs Team.
 
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £37,000 - £42,000 per annum, depending on experience
Remote: This role is homebased with travel for meetings, events and conferences and staff residentials.
 
What we do
 
As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.
 
We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work
 
About the Role
 
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of youth work in England. As Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the National Youth Agency (NYA), you’ll play a central role in influencing national policy and driving change that impacts young people’s lives.
 
We’re looking for a dynamic and strategic individual to join our Policy, Insights and External Affairs Directorate. You’ll work closely with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs, line manage the Policy and Public Affairs Officer, and collaborate with colleagues and sector partners to deliver a bold and proactive policy agenda that champions youth work in policy making. Your work will ensure the voice of the NYA and the youth sector is placed at the heart of national policy and funding decisions.
 
This role is central to driving NYA’s policy impact: you will lead high-profile policy projects, build strong relationships with political and policy stakeholders, produce influential written outputs, curate strategic events, and represent the organisation at key external engagements. You’ll also be at the forefront of monitoring and interpreting developments across Westminster - from government consultations to parliamentary debates - using these insights to shape our influencing and advocacy efforts.
 
This is an exciting time to join the NYA. Your work will directly contribute to meaningful change for young people, helping to secure the recognition, investment and support that youth work deserves.
 
Key responsibilities for this role will include:
 

• Work with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, and key internal and external stakeholders to help design, manage and deliver a cutting-edge policy agenda and stakeholder outreach programme
• Line manage the Policy and Public Affairs Officer, delegating work effectively and supporting their professional development
• Identify and build positive relationships with key political and policy stakeholders who are critical to advancing our mission and amplifying the voice of the youth work.
• Manage policy projects, including drafting project plans, timelines and budgets, in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders
• Monitor the shifting national policy and political landscape, including parliamentary inquiries, consultations, political briefings and government announcements, and advise internal and external stakeholders on opportunities and risks
• Provide the secretariat for the National Youth Sector Advisory Board (NYSAB), convening the youth sector with government departments
• Build strong relationships with peer organisations and stakeholders and identify opportunities for collaborative working to further NYA’s mission
• Organise high-quality events and policy seminars to raise the profile of the organisation
• Manage the creation of a range of high-quality written outputs for various audiences, including policy briefings, blogs and consultation responses
• Work closely with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs and Local Policy and Partnerships Manager to connect and align our national and local policy influencing and work
• Represent the NYA at external meetings and events
• Please refer to our Candidate Pack for more information on the role and the requirements.

 
Why Work for NYA?
 

• NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
• NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
• A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
• NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
• We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

How to Apply:
 
To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Sunday 14th September 2025:

• A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
• A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the About You section.
• We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.

 
Please note: the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 30% AI generated content with be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.
 
The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.
 
At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.
 
We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.
 
REF-223415

Do you believe that it is possible to change the rules of the economy so that it works better for people and planet? Are you driven by a commitment to make the UK more equitable, sustainable and democratic? Are you an expert in social policy? If so, we have the job for you.

For 40 years NEF has turned bold ideas, robust research and community power into real-world change to build a new economy that works for people and planet. At this critical moment in global and domestic politics, we are looking for someone to head up our social policy team, leading visionary flagship programmes on public service reform, housing and social security. NEF has always been a pioneer of cutting-edge research, big ideas and effective campaigning. We work at the interface between economic, social and environmental policy and we are looking for a Head of Social Policy that can help us push this frontier. 

Working with a talented team of researchers and economists, directors and other heads, you will develop a strategy to steer NEF’s social policy work, lead the development of and fundraising for programmes of research, policy and influencing and help ensure new and existing work delivers clear, high quality and rigorous outputs and outcomes.

You will need a strong track record of leading research, policy development, a keen sense of how change happens and strong relationships with partners across politics, civil society, trade unions and business. And you will need a passion for economic, social and environmental justice and a belief that we can make change happen.

Role: Head of Social Policy

Hours of work: Full Time

NEF operates a Shorter Working Week, with a full-time equivalent of 32 hours per week. As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant, which can be discussed at interview stage.

Salary range: £56,477 to £68,268, depending on qualifications and experience

Location: London (in-office min two days per week)

Contract type: permanent

Responsible to: Deputy Chief Executive

The Head of Social Policy leads the development of our thinking across public service reform, social security and housing.  This role develops - and is responsible for the effective delivery of a NEF-wide social policy strategy and of projects that are delivering on this strategy.  The Head of Social Policy acts as a key spokesperson for NEF and promotes our work at a local, regional and national level.

As NEF has a particular strategic focus on transforming the way policy is made so that it better reflects the lived experience of the people, communities and movements that most need change, we look to heads across our different themes to help develop and test new approaches to policy and advocacy.

The Head of Social Policy generates project ideas, oversees the development of quantitative and qualitative research, leads funding bids and manages day-to-day funder relationships.  This role leads a team which both develops our thinking on social policy and provides expertise to other teams at NEF.

 Deadline for applications: midnight on 14th September 2025

Interviews: 23rd and 25th September 2025

Start date: ASAP

To apply, please send your CV and Covering letter (no longer than 2 pages) outlining how you meet the person specification in Word format.

Please also complete the Equality and Diversity monitoring from.

You must be eligible to work in the UK, we are unable to sponsor visas.

NEF is committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. We acknowledge that people from certain backgrounds are under-represented in research and policy making and we’re committed to doing what we can to correct this. We are particularly keen to receive applications from black, asian and minority ethnic people; people with disabilities; people who identify as being LGTBQIA; people who have a mental health condition; and people who identify as working class or have done so in the past. We are also aware that many highly capable prospective candidates nonetheless rule themselves out of work in research and policy because they underestimate their own ability to do the role. With this in mind, we strongly encourage applications from anyone who is prepared to learn and grow on the job and would like to stress that past experience of working in think tanks is not required.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.  We make use of positive action to select between candidates of equal merit as a way to address under-representation in our workforce.

NEF believes in diversity

Registered charity number 1055254

The Vacancy

Job Title: Policy Manager

Location: London/Hybrid

Salary: £43,294.95 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1130049

There’s a new opportunity for a strategic thinker with a passion for influencing public policy and making a real difference in young people’s lives.  YMCA England & Wales is looking for a Policy Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping the future for communities across the country.

As the largest and oldest youth charity in the world, YMCA is a dynamic federation committed to supporting young people in mind, body, and spirit. In this exciting and influential role, you’ll lead our policy function – ensuring YMCA's voice is heard across Westminster, Whitehall, and beyond.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Policy, Campaigns & Research, the Policy Manager will drive our engagement with government, policymakers, and stakeholders by crafting evidence-based positions that reflect the needs of the YMCA movement and the young people we serve.

You will be responsible for monitoring emerging policy developments, preparing responses to government announcements, and producing high-quality briefings and reports for internal and external stakeholders. You’ll work closely with local YMCAs to ensure our positions are grounded in lived experience and reflect the realities faced by communities across England and Wales.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape public discourse, build influential relationships, and help us champion the issues that matter most – from youth homelessness and mental health to employment and education.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of YMCA’s public policy positions using robust research and insights.
• Monitor, analyse, and respond to government announcements, select committee work, and policy shifts.
• Produce briefings and reports for the Chief Executive, Board of Trustees, and senior leaders.
• Develop strong relationships with government departments, civil servants, and coalition partners.
• Collaborate with local YMCAs to ensure grassroots experiences inform national policy.
• Amplify the voice of young people in all areas of policy development.
• Support and work closely with colleagues across the Policy, Communications & International (PCI) team.

About You

You are a confident communicator with a deep understanding of the UK policy landscape and experience influencing public policy at a senior level. You bring strategic insight, exceptional analytical skills, and the ability to turn complex information into clear, impactful messages.

You’ll have:

• Proven experience in a policy role, ideally in the charity or public sector.
• Strong political awareness and understanding of policy-making processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience producing briefings and reports for senior audiences.
• The ability to build collaborative relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.
• A passion for social justice and a commitment to YMCA’s mission and values.

Why Join Us?

At YMCA England & Wales, you’ll be part of a supportive, inclusive organisation making a tangible impact. You’ll help drive real change for young people and communities, working in a role that offers purpose, flexibility, and professional development.  If you're interested please do not delay, due to recent high volume of applications we may have to close the application window earlier than 24th August.

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check.

Land Use Policy Manager 

Salary: up to £40,000  

Location: Hybrid with occasional travel to London, Newark (Nottinghamshire) and rest of UK  

Full time (35 hours per week)  

Permanent contract 

Closing date for applications: 7th September 2025  

First interview: 19th September 2025  

Second interview: 1st October 2025 

About Us 

The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, who believe that we need nature and nature needs us. We have more than 944,000 members, over 38,000 volunteers, 3,600 staff and 600 trustees. There are 46 individual Wildlife Trusts, each of which is a place-based independent charity with its own legal identity, formed by groups of people getting together and working with others to make a positive difference to wildlife and future generations, starting where they live and work. 

Every Wildlife Trust is part of The Wildlife Trusts federation and a corporate member of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, a registered charity in its own right founded in 1912 and one of the founding members of IUCN – the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Taken together this federation of 47 charities is known as The Wildlife Trusts. 

The next few years will be critical in determining what kind of world we all live in. We need to urgently reverse the loss of wildlife and put nature into recovery at scale if we are to prevent climate and ecological disaster. We recognise that this will require big, bold changes in the way The Wildlife Trusts work, not least in how we mobilise others and support them to organise within their own communities. 

About You 

Are you a strategic communicator with a passion for policy, public affairs and making a real difference? Do you dream of using your skills to make a real difference in conservation and farming? We have an opportunity at the heart of The Wildlife Trusts for someone keen to ensure that natures’ recovery is at the heart of UK farming, food and land use policy? If you have experience in UK farm and land policy, with excellent advocacy and communication skills, and would like to work for one of the UK’s bestloved nature charities, then we have an exciting opportunity for you 

Working within our small but highly impactful team, the Land Use Policy Manager will work to influence the development of land use and farm policy, to improve the quality of decisions taken at a project and strategic level to deliver The Wildlife Trusts’ ambitions for natures recovery and nature friendly, climate resilient farming and food systems. 

You will develop and manage strategic relationships to position The Wildlife Trusts as key instigators of change, building climate and nature’s recovery into rapidly changing farm, land and policy. You will also be supporting the Federation of Wildlife Trusts’ work on farming and food. 

We are looking for an organised and resourceful individual who has proven experience of working with various sectors to influence farm policy and strategy. You will have a commitment to wildlife conservation, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and be confidence in communicating to diverse audiences. 

The Wildlife Trusts value passion, respect, trust, integrity, pragmatic activism and strength in diversity. Whilst we are passionate in promoting our aims, we are not judgmental and are inclusive. We particularly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented within our sector, including people from minority backgrounds and people with disabilities. We are committed to creating a movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities. 

RSWT take our Safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously. Please click here to read our commitment statement. The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For applicable roles, applicants must be willing to undergo checks with past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks at the eligible level. 

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to offering an interview to anyone with a disability that meets all the essential criteria for the post. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible. RSWT are committed to increasing the diversity of its staff through its Levelling the Field recruitment pledge and will put any ethnic minority applicants that meet all the essential criteria for the post through to the next stage of recruitment. 

Please do not use artificial intelligence tools to assist you to complete the application form. We may not accept applications that have been completed utilising AI tools. If you would usually use tools such as these to assist you in filling in a form, please contact us to discuss this further and understand other options. 

Job Title: Policy and Influencing Manager
Organisation: Kids
Location: Remote (with travel to London up to once a week for meetings)
Salary: £33,000–£35,000
Contract: Full-time or 4 days/week (Flexible working available)

Make change happen – for every child.

At Kids, we believe every child should have the opportunity to thrive – regardless of disability or circumstance. As our Policy and Influencing Manager, you’ll play a vital role in making this a reality. You’ll help shape policies that amplify the voices and experiences of disabled children and young people, turning insight into influence and ideas into action.

This is a unique opportunity to lead bold, evidence-based policy work that reflects the lived experiences of the families we support. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation and sector, you’ll inform decision-makers, respond to developments in the SEND landscape, and ensure that young people’s voices are at the heart of the change we seek.

We’re looking for a passionate and proactive policy professional who’s ready to help build something powerful – and lasting – at a critical time for SEND reform in the UK.

What you'll do

Policy & Influencing

• Develop accessible and compelling policy briefings, consultation responses, reports, speeches, and presentations for a range of stakeholders, including MPs, government officials, and sector partners.
• Translate complex ideas into clear, persuasive communications that support positive change.
• Collaborate with our Youth Voice Manager to ensure our policy positions reflect the real experiences of the young people and families we support.
• Help deliver and monitor our policy and influencing strategy in collaboration with the Head of Policy, Voice and Influencing.

Research & Evidence

• Carry out high-quality research and analysis from both internal and external sources.
•  Centre the experiences and insights of disabled children, young people, and their families in policy solutions
• Monitor policy developments across the SEND landscape and lead on timely, evidence-led responses.
• Track progress against our influencing goals and ensure our actions remain targeted and impactful.

Engagement & Relationship Building

• Build strong relationships with decision-makers across government and the public sector.
• Support the Head of Policy, Voice and Influencing to plan and deliver our strategic external engagement plan in order to focus and drive our wider influencing work
• Represent Kids at meetings and events, including engaging MPs, civil servants, and other key influencers.
• Work closely with internal teams and front-line colleagues to ensure our influencing work is grounded in practice and informed by those delivering services.

Collaboration & Strategic Partnerships

• Work alongside the Head of Policy, Voice and Influencing and Youth Voice Manager to deliver our external engagement strategy including deputising at meetings when required.
• Support collaboration across teams to bring in parent, carer, and young person voices.
• Contribute to external coalitions and alliances – attending meetings, aligning with others’ work, and championing Kids' policy priorities.

What you'll bring

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in a policy role and demonstrable experience of using policy and evidence to influence outcomes– ideally within the disability sector.
• Strong understanding of the SEND system and related policies and legislation (through lived or professional experience).
• Excellent writing skills – able to craft persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses, and reports with clarity and purpose.
• Confident communicator, able to engage a range of audiences in person and in writing.
• Strong research and analytical skills – able to sift through evidence and develop insight-driven policy recommendations.
• Ability to build and manage relationships with senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Highly organised, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Passionate about inclusion, equity, and social justice – with a strong motivation to elevate the voices of disabled children and young people.

Why work at Kids?

We’re a mission-driven organisation, building a fairer world where all children have the opportunity to flourish. You’ll join a growing team in a pivotal role, helping to shape the future of policy and advocacy at Kids.

We’re committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We’re especially keen to hear from people with lived experience of disability or SEND, either personally or within your family or community.

Ready to create change that counts?
Apply now and help us influence a better, more inclusive future for disabled children and young people.

Note: We may close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Please apply promptly

Salary: £67,752 per annum, plus excellent benefits

Contract: Permanent

Hours Per week: 37.5 hours per week you will be required to work in - person a minimum of two days per week In line with our hybrid working model,

Our Foundation

We are an independent charitable organisation working to build a healthier UK. Health is our most precious asset. Good health enables us to live happy, fulfilling lives, fuels our prosperity, and helps build a stronger society. Yet good health remains out of reach for too many people in the UK and services are struggling to provide access to timely, high-quality care. It doesn't have to be like this. Our mission is to help build a healthier UK by:

1. Improving people's health and reducing inequalities

2. Supporting radical innovation and improvement in health and care services

3. Providing evidence and analysis to improve health and care policy.

We aim for excellence across our work and will achieve this by producing research and analysis, shaping policy and practice, building skills, knowledge, and capacity, and acting as a catalyst for change. Everyone has a stake and a part to play in improving our health. By working together, we can build a healthier UK.

About the role

Are you passionate about shaping policy to improve workforce health and reduce inequalities? We are seeking a Policy and Research Manager to join our Healthy Lives directorate and contribute to advancing the recommendations of the Commission for Healthier Working Lives.

In this pivotal role, you will lead the delivery of policy development and research projects, including externally commissioned work, ensuring outputs are delivered on time and with impact. You will support the implementation of a programme testing preventative workplace interventions, synthesise emerging evidence, and develop credible policy recommendations to influence decision-makers.

You will also play a key role in building and maintaining stakeholder relationships, representing the Health Foundation externally, and communicating insights to a wide range of audiences across policy, practice, and research communities.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual with strong analytical capabilities, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to improving health through action on the wider determinants. We are looking for someone who can work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.

The Healthy Lives directorate leads the Health Foundation’s strategic work on the wider determinants of health, focusing on areas such as employment, education, housing, and community. Within this, the Economic Determinants of Health team builds evidence and policy analysis to influence government and employer action. Our independence, supported by our endowment, enables us to innovate and test practical solutions that drive long-term change.

How to apply

Our priority is to find the right individual for each opportunity. We are dedicated to building an inclusive workplace that values diversity and invite you to find out more. If you would like to apply, please submit your CV, and using no more than 1000 words answer the following application questions:

1. Describe your experience of designing a policy research programme. How did you select the questions and research methods? How did you ensure the research was delivered to high quality and had an impact?

2. Give an example where you have collaborated effectively with stakeholders to deliver a piece of work. How did you engage key influencers and ensure that diverse voices were heard? What impact did this engagement have?

3. Share your achievements in developing ideas that have had an influence on national or local employment or health policy. How did you make the case for change and gain traction for the idea, e.g. media coverage or direct influencing?

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

We are committed to an inclusive hiring process, where every candidate has the chance to showcase their unique skills and experience in an accessible, and supported environment, to ensure that we can make the best appointment for each job on merit. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage those from underrepresented groups in this field to apply to us. We have identified three diverse groups, in particular, we want to achieve a better balance across our organisation between men and women, increase representation of people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and recruit more people with disabilities. As part of this commitment, we particularly welcome applications from these groups. Apply to join our team and let's work towards building a diverse and inclusive workplace together.

Help us work together to make the recruitment process and potential future employment more accessible and enjoyable for you.

Closing date: August 31, 2025, at 23:00

Interview date: September 11 or 12. 2025

Would you like to help create a brighter future for nature?

Wildlife and Countryside Link is a coalition of 90 environmental charities. We are looking for a Policy Officer to help develop, advocate and win policy improvements for nature.

The Government has promised to halt the decline of nature by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, committing to decarbonising our energy systems as a core government mission. Such commitments have been made within the backdrop of a challenging economic environment. The next few years will be critical in securing nature based solutions as part of the drive to reach net zero and in developing our understanding of and engagement with private investment for nature’s recovery as these fledging funding streams evolve.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated Policy Officer to convene environmental policy experts to agree bold shared policy positions. This role will focus on economic systems change, including innovative work on ways to drive private investment in nature; and on the role that nature must play in helping us to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. There will be lots of thinking, lots of writing, and lots of opportunities to shape shared campaigns with excellent opportunities to engage with and work alongside some of the leading experts in these policy areas. You will also play a key role in delivering those messages to key influencers in Government and in Parliament.

So, we are looking for someone with a keen eye for detail, a good networker with the ability to listen and negotiate, and a reasoned and convincing style of written and verbal communication, with a passion for nature conservation.

Please find the full job description and how to apply here. To apply, please send your CV, with a short covering letter and a completed diversity monitoring form by 9am on Monday 15 September.

Drive the policy agenda for a high-profile, mission-led charity representing over 1,150 schools in the North East and a futher 400 specialist schools nationally. Influence education strategy and shape national debate from the heart of the North East.

Make a Difference with Schools North East

Schools North East is a dynamic, purpose-driven charity that champions the education sector across the North East. Representing a collaborative community of over 1,150 member schools, we are recognised nationally as the Voice advocating for North East schools, the Glue fostering collaboration, and the Bridge connecting education with the wider world. Now approaching our 20th year, we are entering an exciting new phase of development, strengthening our influence, expanding our reach, and enhancing the value we deliver to our members.

As Policy Manager, you will be a senior leader responsible for working with Directors to deliver our strategic policy and public affairs agenda. You will ensure alignment between policy, research, stakeholder engagement, and events, using evidence and insight to influence decision-makers at the highest levels. This is a pivotal, high-profile role requiring a dynamic, politically astute, and highly experienced strategic thinker with a deep understanding of how policy is shaped and implemented.

We are looking for a values-led leader who can anticipate long-term trends and align strategies with the organisation’s vision, taking account of the political, economic, and educational policy landscape. You will make bold yet considered decisions, taking calculated risks where appropriate, and responding promptly and effectively to critical events. You will lead by example, actively promoting SNE’s values and vision both internally and externally, and influencing our strategy, direction, and culture to increase organisational effectiveness.

You will bring a collaborative, resilient, and adaptable approach, fostering a culture of learning and development that helps your team grow and succeed, while sharing your own expertise to support others. With exceptional communication skills, you will engage stakeholders with purpose and conviction, and ensure that policy work is evidence-led, impactful, and aligned with member needs. This is an opportunity to join a respected and ambitious organisation at a key point in its journey – and to play a personal role in shaping its next chapter of success.

Salary:            Senior Leader Band 5 – £40,775–£52,196, depending on experience
Location:         Central Newcastle (with flexibility to work from home on Fridays)
Hours:             Full-time, 36 hours per week
Holidays:         30 days plus Bank Holidays
Travel:             Some regional and national travel, as required

Closing Date: 5pm Wednesday 27 August 2025
Interview Date: Tuesday 16 September 2025

Key Responsibilities

Organisational Leadership

• Contribute to the strategic leadership of Schools North East as a senior manager, ensuring policy work supports the organisation’s long-term mission and values.

Strategic Policy Leadership

• Lead the development and delivery of Schools North East’s policy agenda, ensuring it reflects member needs and is grounded in robust evidence.
• Anticipate and respond to emerging political and policy developments, both regionally and nationally.

Public Affairs & Influence

• Build and maintain high-level relationships between the organisation and government, political stakeholders, and sector influencers to maximise SNE’s influence.
• Represent Schools North East at external events, inquiries, and meetings, speaking with authority on behalf of our members.

Research & Intelligence

• Undertake research where appropriate to inform strategic priorities.
• Interpret and communicate external research to help support strategic priorities and inform policy work.
• Oversee the production of high-quality policy briefings, consultation responses, and position papers.

Campaign Leadership

• Design impactful campaigns that raise the profile of key education issues and strengthen SNE’s role as a thought leader.
• Ensure alignment between policy priorities and marketing/communications activity.

Stakeholder Engagement & Networks

• Develop stakeholder networks, forums, and roundtables to inform policy positions and enhance influence.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and mentor direct reports, setting clear KPIs and fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration.
• Work closely with the Directors, Business, Events and Marketing teams to ensure policy activity supports and enhances core functions.

Organisational Leadership

• Contribute to the strategic leadership of Schools North East as a senior manager, ensuring policy work supports the organisation’s long-term mission and values.

Salary: £50,999 pro rata, per annum. Plus excellent benefits. 

Contract: 12-month fixed term contract, family leave cover.

Hours Per week: 37.5 hours per week. You will be required to work in - person a minimum of two days per week, in line with our hybrid working model,

Our Foundation

We are an independent charitable organisation working to build a healthier UK. Health is our most precious asset. Good health enables us to live happy, fulfilling lives, fuels our prosperity, and helps build a stronger society.Yet good health remains out of reach for too many people in the UK and services are struggling to provide access to timely, high-quality care.It doesn't have to be like this. Our mission is to help build a healthier UK by:

1.Improving people's health and reducing inequalities

2.Supporting radical innovation and improvement in health and care services

3.Providing evidence and analysis to improve health and care policy.

We aim for excellence across our work and will achieve this by producing research and analysis, shaping policy and practice, building skills, knowledge, and capacity, and acting as a catalyst for change. Everyone has a stake and a part to play in improving our health. By working together, we can build a healthier UK.

About the role

As a policy fellow, you will be a key member of our dynamic policy team, contributing to a wide range of projects that influence the national health and care policy in England. Your primary Focus will be on NHS reform, exploring how the organisation of the NHS, regulation, payment systems, and other policy leaders can drive change, improve services, and reduce inequalities in health. Projects include the development of integrated care systems and tracking broader systems change in the NHS.

You’ll also contribute to our broader programme of work including responsive analysis of new NHS initiatives and performance statistics contributing to projects related to longer term policy challenges such as reforming social care preventing ill-health and boosting primary and community care.

• Lead and contribute to high impact research analysis to influence policy

• Conduct robust research using a range of qualitative methods and collaborate with analysts using quantitative methods

• Engage your stakeholders across the NHS academia and policy communities

•  Draft compelling outputs for diverse audiences’ blogs briefings reports and support the communication of our work through meetings events and the media

We are seeking a versatile an energetic person with strong research and analytical skills with experience in synthesising evidence conducting interviews and analysing policy documents

How to apply

Our priority is to find the right individual for each opportunity. We are dedicated to building an inclusive workplace that values diversity and invite you to find out more. If you would like to apply, please submit your CV, and using no more than 1200 words in total to answer the following application questions:

1. In addition to the policy fellow - NHS reform opportunity - we are also recruiting for  Policy fellow - Strategy would you like to be considered for both roles? 

2. What motivates you to work at the Health Foundation, and specifically within the Policy Team? 

3. Describe a recent project or piece of work where you conducted policy analysis or research to influence policy. What was your approach, what methods did you use and what impact did your work have? 

4. Describe your experience of working in a multi-disciplinary project team, with people from different professional backgrounds (e.g., analysis, researchers, communications, partners etc.) how did this collaboration achieve a greater impact? 

5. Describe your experience of communicating the findings from policy analysis/ research to non-expert audiences from a range of backgrounds, how did you approach this and what did you learn about what works, 

Our Commitment to inclusion and diversity

We are committed to an inclusive hiring process, where every candidate has the chance to showcase their unique skills and experience in an accessible, and supported environment, to ensure that we can make the best appointment for each job on merit. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage those from underrepresented groups in this field to apply to us.   We have identified three diverse groups, in particular, we want to achieve a better balance across our organisation between men and women, increase representation of people from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds and recruit more people with disabilities. As part of this commitment, we particularly welcome applications from these groups.

Apply to join our team and let's work towards building a diverse and inclusive workplace together. Help us work together to make the recruitment process and potential future employment more accessible and enjoyable for you.

Closing date: August 20, 2025, at 23:00

Interview date: From September 2, 2025

Thanks to funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, TransActual are recruiting a Policy Officer to join our growing team. You’ll both be working alongside our Policy Lead, Director of Policy and Director for Healthcare to advocate for trans people’s needs in a range of policy areas.

This is role is offered on the initial basis of a 3 year contract, with any extension of that subject to funding.

As a Policy Officer at TransActual you will:

• Engage with elected representatives and civil servants.
• Support with the research for, writing and distribution of TransActual’s Parliamentary briefings.
• Research and write responses to consultations, reviews and calls for evidence.
• Keep our policy database up to date.
• Support the Policy Lead in creating and coordinating a Trans Policy Network.
• Support the delivery of a programme of work to support activists to develop their develop skills and expertise in policy work.
• Work collaboratively with others in the LGBTQ+ sector and beyond on policy matters.
• Work with TransActual’s programmes officer to create information and training resources for trans people on rights and protections.
• Coordinate TransActual’s policy volunteers to ensure they’ve got what they need to be able to support our work.

An in depth understanding of trans people’s lived experiences and an ongoing commitment to bringing about positive change for all trans people in the UK is absolutely essential for this role. This understanding can come from your own lived experience. You will demonstrate a strong understanding of and commitment to equity, particularly in relation to race equity and disability equity.

We particularly welcome and encourage applications from trans people, Black People and People of Colour, neurodivergent people and disabled people.

The successful applicant will be required to attend regular meetings in Central London, but must be able to work from home as well.

Terms and salary: 30 hours a week, a total salary of £21,840 per year (the full time equivalent salary would be £27,300).

The closing date for the position is Friday 5th September 2025 at 5pm. 

The job pack and application form are available via our website.

Educational inequality between the most and least advantaged students is the highest it has ever been. Students from less advantaged backgrounds are 18 months behind their more advantaged peers when it comes to GCSEs and progress to competitive universities at a rate of 2 in 100 compared to 28 in 10.

Our Policy Lead will build The Brilliant Club as a trusted voice within the education sector, so that we can shape decisions being made so that they reduce rather than embed this inequality.

This is a critical moment to be joining the charity as we deliver the final year of our current Join the Club strategy and begin planning our next strategy, launching in September 2026. This role will work closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Director of Marketing and Communications and our Research and Impact Team to identify our policy priorities and bring the charity’s networks, data and stories together to drive them forward.

The Policy Lead will identify opportunities to engage in policy discussions, build relationships with sector stakeholders and education networks, secure conference speaking opportunities and write policy briefings.

The Policy Lead will be part of the External Affairs team and will be line managed by the Director of Marketing and Communications.

The Role

This is an exciting and varied role that will draw on your experience in areas such as communications, project management, research, event planning and administration.

As an International Policy Assistant at the Law Society, you will play an important role in undertaking research and monitoring international developments affecting solicitors' international practice, with a particular focus on Europe and the Americas. 

Your research insights will provide valuable input into consultation papers and briefings, and you will be coordinating our communication outputs across information bulletins, our website and social media. You will be involved in organising events and other stakeholder engagement initiatives.

Another key aspect of this role will involve the International Policy Assistant liaising extensively with other professional bodies, government departments, solicitors and law firms, as well as working with our Media and Public Affairs teams to ensure a strong and consistent voice for the Law Society and its members.

What we're looking for

We are looking for someone who has demonstrable experience of delivering high quality administrative support, project management and communication skills along with a strong commitment and enthusiasm for administration and research.

Given the importance of research in this role, you should be able to conduct reliable and relevant research into complex issues with the ability to translate that research clearly and concisely in reports and policy papers.

To be successful in this role, you will require an understanding of legal practice and knowledge of the legal environment and the role of the legal profession in it, along with experience of working in a policy or business development environment.

What's in it for you

This is an excellent opportunity to work with contemporary thinkers in a progressive membership organisation. The successful candidate will join a strong brand with a reputation for excellence and legal expertise, committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and a culture of trust, clarity, excellence and respect.

We offer hybrid working (minimum 2 days a week working onsite), a generous flexible benefits package, a friendly working environment and the opportunity to develop your career within a professional organisation.

Please note: if you are an internal applicant, Pay Policy will apply. 

The Law Society represents solicitors in England and Wales. From negotiating with and lobbying the profession's regulators, government and other decision makers, to offering training and advice, we're here to help, protect and promote solicitors.