Policy and advocacy officer jobs
Imagine playing a key role in transforming the lives of children and young people with visual impairments through the power of a dog. As a Buddy Dog Partnership Specialist, you’ll help them gain confidence, independence, and joy through the unique and powerful connection with a well-matched, well-trained dog. If you have a person-centred approach to care, and the ability to build relationships that truly matter, this is your opportunity to be part of something deeply rewarding.
In this role, you'll work closely with children and their families, understanding their individual needs and aspirations to deliver tailored training, support, and guidance throughout their Buddy Dog journey. From delivering engaging workshops to conducting home visits and offering ongoing aftercare, your insight and empathy will be essential to making every partnership a success. You'll see the opportunity to develop young people's skills though animal assisted interventions and empower families to reach their goals with your support.
Your expertise in dog behaviour and training will also be vital. You’ll assess dogs for temperament and suitability, develop their skills through positive reinforcement techniques, and match each one thoughtfully with the right person or family. You'll consider not just the dog’s capabilities but also the lifestyle, home environment and emotional needs of each service user, ensuring a safe, lasting, and enriching bond.
As a trusted advisor, you’ll provide professional reports, risk assessments, and progress reviews that guide key decisions. You'll be a valued part of a collaborative, compassionate team, working across departments to continually improve how we support people living with sight loss.
This is more than a job — it’s a chance to bring meaningful change to people’s lives every single day, by creating partnerships that heal, uplift, and inspire.
If you're ready to combine your love of dogs, people, and purpose into a truly fulfilling career, we’d love to hear from you.
This role covers the South-West of England and requires regular travel within this region, as well as occasional national trips. You will be linked to either our Bristol or Exeter office on a regular basis, beyond this we offer a hybrid working arrangement that allows flexibility while ensuring strong collaboration with colleagues and teams. You'll be working 35 hours per week, worked 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. There will be requirement within this role to work some evenings and weekends, and due to the travel involved, occasional overnight stays.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The National Lottery Community Fund is recruiting for a Stakeholder Engagement Manager, a key role in our External Affairs Team sat within our newly formed Communications Directorate.
This role is part of our ambitious transformation as we implement a significant pivot in our communications approach – building on our support for grant-making to demonstrate the powerful impact communities have in strengthening society and improving lives.
This role offers an exceptional opportunity to shape our stakeholder engagement during a time of exciting change. You will position the Fund as a convening force in civil society, advancing community priorities through evidence-based advocacy that demonstrates how our funding strengthens communities.
Using your insight into the sector, you will work with colleagues to map and manage priority stakeholder relationships relevant to our missions and the impact of our funding. You will develop targeted engagement strategies to strengthen and diversify our stakeholders, delivering key activities including communications, events, briefings and meetings to support the development of these relationships.
Working with colleagues across communications and funding teams, you will identify and act upon opportunities to demonstrate the impact of our funding on communities and how it aligns with relevant and influential stakeholders and organisations. You will have strong project management experience, with a robust approach to tracking relationships and managing stakeholder data, ideally through the use of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
The ideal candidate will bring a strong communications and engagement background, as well as experience in working with senior level stakeholders. Ideally you will have had exposure to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors. You should excel at building relationships with diverse stakeholders and be adept at navigating complex external environments.
Key responsibilities:
- Map and prioritise the Fund's stakeholder framework, identifying key influencers and decision-makers across sectors, ensuring an effective cadence of engagement (making it clear who are we talking to, when and why)
- Design strategic engagement plans that align stakeholder relationships with our missions and corporate plan, as part of the Fund’s integrated communications strategy
- Lead the creation of stakeholder toolkits and narrative materials that enable senior leaders and colleagues to engage effectively
- Coordinate high-profile events and engagement opportunities that strengthen the Fund's position in civil society
- Build measurement frameworks to evaluate the impact of stakeholder engagement activities
- Provide expert counsel to colleagues on relationship management and influencer engagement
- Maintain the SRM system and support colleagues across the Fund to use appropriately.
- Work with Communications Business Partners to integrate stakeholder engagement into portfolio strategies
Location: You will be expected to be based in the country you will be supporting. We have a hybrid approach to working with work pattern and exact location agreed with the successful candidate. Our offices are in Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Newtown.
Interview date: Week commencing 7th July - virtual
On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below
Essential criteria
- Strong experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership development, with a track record of advising at senior levels
- Proven ability to design and deliver engagement programmes that meet organisational objectives
- Experience building stakeholder mapping tools and evaluation frameworks
- Strong project management, coordinating complex engagement activities
- Experience drafting and delivering high-quality presentation materials, often under tight timeframes
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable criteria
- Understanding of, or background in VCSE, public sector or civil society partnership development
- People management experience
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.
We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)
It starts with community.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Join our friendly and mission-driven team at NFER, where you’ll help bridge the gap between research and classrooms. This is your chance to bring vital insights directly to schools – raising awareness of the NFER Classroom brand and increasing the reach and impact of our research findings within the education community.
Pay: £36,000 - £40,000 (FTE)
Contract: 18-month fixed-term contract
Hours: Part-time (21 hours)
Location: Remote within the UK, with occasional visits to our Slough office (approx. 6 times per year)
Annual Leave: 30 days plus 4 paid closure days FTE
Pension Contributions: 10% employer contributions
Family Support: Enhanced maternity/parental leave and paid compassionate leave
What you’ll be doing
In this role, you’ll be at the heart of our mission to connect schools with powerful, practical research. You’ll take a leading role in shaping how NFER communicates with educators, using your creativity and insight to bring our work to life across digital channels.
One day you might be crafting social media content that sparks conversation among teachers, the next, you’ll be writing an email newsletter that lands just right with a headteacher seeking evidence-based ideas. You’ll help turn research into engaging, accessible summaries, so schools can quickly grasp key insights and put them into action.
You’ll also update and improve our For Schools website pages, ensuring every word is useful and user-friendly. Behind the scenes, you’ll track performance using analytics, learning what works and what could work even better. And throughout it all, you’ll collaborate with researchers, designers, and communications experts to deliver thoughtful, impactful campaigns that schools actually want to read.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential skills and experience:
- Experience in marketing communications or a related role
- Excellent writing skills and creative flair
- Confidence using digital tools such as social media platforms, Canva, Google Analytics and CRM systems
- Strong time management and the ability to work independently
- A collaborative approach and a clear focus on impact
- Experience working in or with schools is a bonus, but not essential.
If you meet only 70% of our essential skills, still apply; you may have skills we didn’t know we needed.
Other roles you may have experience of include: Marketing Executive, Marketing Officer, Marketing Assistant, Marketing Coordinator, Marketing Specialist, Brand Executive, Communications Executive, Digital Marketing Executive, Social Media Executive, Content Marketing Executive, Email Marketing Executive, SEO Executive
WHY NFER?
At NFER, we are recognised globally for providing trusted research, resources and insights that drive meaningful change. By joining us, you’ll contribute to a mission that prioritises impact over profit, working in an environment where collaboration, flexibility, and inclusion are valued.
What we offer:
- A supportive and inclusive workplace culture.
- Opportunities to develop your skills and advance your career.
- Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance from day 1.
- The chance to make a real difference in the education sector.
APPLICATION PROCESS
We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis and encourage you to apply early. Shortlisting will commence from 23rd June 2025.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any adjustments or accommodations at any stage, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to support
you and ensure a positive experience. For further details, please review the Job Information Pack.
If you’re ready to bring your skills and passion to a role that makes a difference, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and start your journey with NFER.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Women in Prison
Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation. We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.
Job Purpose:
To provide reliable and essential administrative support to the WomenMATTA team; ensuring accurate data capture and the smooth running of WomenMATTA’s office. Act as a front of house staff member to the WomenMATTA office, mailbox and phone line; providing advice and signposting to enquiries and greeting visitors. Working closely with management, frontline staff and volunteers to develop streamlined processes to the administrative side of daily operations.
Key Responsibility Areas:
- Provide prompt and effective administrative support to all WomenMATTA staff; being a key contact around IT and case management systems and assist with the day to day running of the Programme:
- Maintain case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording across all monitoring systems:
- Provide office management and diligent support to the operations of the Programme:
- Act as the first point of contact for service users and external parties; drawing on a trauma informed approach when communicating to parties.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Reports To: Recovery Programme Manager
Place of Work: London - Streatham, Clapham, Croydon
Salary: £31,990
Transform lives with The Nehemiah Project! We are seeking a dynamic and compassionate person to join our team as a Recovery Practitioner. For this recruitment cycle, we particularly welcome applications from men, as they are currently underrepresented in our team, and this role involves close work with a male-only client group. We also actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including those with lived experience of recovery.
This is a full-time permanent position, working Monday to Friday with additional monthly on-call duties. In return, you will receive a salary of £31,990 per annum, be enrolled into our staff health and wellbeing package, and become part of our Nehemiah culture that is supportive, honest and incredibly rewarding.
What we are looking for
- Someone who is skilled in delivering a person-centred and trauma-informed approach to their work
- Experience working with people in recovery from addiction, including voluntary or lived experience. We are open to a range of experiences that demonstrate understanding and empathy in this area.
- NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social or equivalent experience in a support setting. We value transferable skills, even if gained outside of formal qualifications
- Excellent communication skills and an understanding of Customer Relationship Management systems (such as Salesforce) to ensure accurate record-keeping
Please look at our Job Description and Person Specification for more details.
Perhaps most importantly...it is our expectation that anyone who is a part of Nehemiah aligns with and can demonstrate use of Our Values:
Belief: We believe in everyone’s potential for positive change
Respect: We value each other’s choices and differences
Kindness: We show empathy through our actions
Honesty: We build trust through integrity
Empowerment: We help each other find our own purpose
What you can expect from us
- A 35 hour working week Mon-Fri, with an additional monthly paid on-call requirement
- 25 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays
- A contributory pension scheme: Nehemiah will contribute the equivalent of 3% of your annual salary
- Staff Health Plan that includes insurance and wellbeing packages
Why Nehemiah?
- Make a direct impact on the lives of those in need and bring positive change to the local community
- Work with a passionate and talented team committed to our mission
- Benefit from opportunities for skill development, leadership growth, and career advancement
- Experience a culture that values innovation and always looks to refine our best practice
- We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.
Application Process:
- 30 minute video call with a member of our recruiting team
- A two-part interview
- In-person interview with relevant members of the management team (45mins-1hr)
- Facilitate a group session with a selection of residents on a set topic that we provide two days before (40-45mins)
AI in Applications
We are fully aware that some candidates may use AI to help structure their answers. However, we strongly encourage you to ensure that your application reflects your own voice and experiences. It's usually easy to spot when response are fully AI-generated without personal input. We are much more interested in who you are and how you connect with our values and mission than a perfectly worded answer.
To be considered please submit a CV and Supporting Statement/Expression of Interest
We understand that not everyone expresses themselves best on paper. If you would prefer to submit your expression of interest in another format (eg short audio or video file), we welcome this.
Interviews to be held on a rolling basis
Any offer for this post is conditional on references and passing an Enhanced DBS check
REF-222007
To be a centre of excellence for rehabilitating men from crime and addiction through the transformation of their lives
