Policy and communications officer jobs

We are looking for an experienced and connected Policy and Public Affairs Adviser to lead the development of this function within the organisation. Reporting Directly to the CEO you will engage with teams and partners to design both an on-going influencing strategy and the future shape of this work in coming years.

Key Responsibilities:

· Undertake internal opportunities review to identify key work strands.

· Undertake external opportunities review to identify both short term and long-term areas for influence.

· Develop long term policy and influencing strategy in conjunction with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

· Review and recommend future staffing structure and reporting lines as part of the above.

· Act as lead for existing activity in this area including attending meetings with MPs, Peers and civil servant, working with internal teams to provide accurate briefing information and supporting other appropriate spokespeople across the organisation.

· Identify and Lead on the formulation of appropriate evidence-based policy positions and responses.

· Work with staff and our growing Public and Patient Network (PPN) to ensure those with lived experience have a meaningful voice in the above activity.

Key requirements:

Required:

• Experience of developing and delivering campaigns that include influencing and engaging with policy makers, MPs, Peers and other relevant stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the legislative process in England (Scotland and Wales desirable).
• Ability to quickly develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrable ability of analysis of information that can be communicated to a variety of audiences.
• Experience of developing policy positions and briefings, along with responding to consultations.
• Ability to effectively manage competing interests and views to achieve the aims of the organisation.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Depending on location, this role will require regular travel to the Leeds Office and Westminster.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in a charity.

Personal Attributes:

• Strategic thinker
• Passionate about our cause and mission.
• Organised and reliable with a collaborative mindset.
• Open to feedback and committed to continuous improvement.

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to contribute to a respected national charity.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment.
• Professional development and learning opportunities.
• Flexible or hybrid working options (where applicable).
• Generous holiday allowance and staff benefits package.

Caritas Social Action Network

Policy and Public Affairs Officer (maternity leave)

Location: office in London, with mostly working from home, regular travel in England and Wales, and rare travel overseas.

Contract: full-time, to cover a team member’s maternity leave

Salary: £30,00

Closing date: Tuesday 26 May at 12 noon

Interview date: Thursday 11 June in person, in London

CSAN is the official agency of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice affecting people who live in England and Wales. We’re facing a steep rise in poverty and significant pressures on social, economic and church resources. Currently, the Church is called to raise a prophetic voice against poverty and the rhetoric of division and work for the building of a more just society.

Over the last 20 years, CSAN has built up a network of 50 diocesan and direct service charities with a combined annual spend on social mission estimated at £400m, excluding the work of schools and religious congregations. Our members build up local community life in diverse ways, and many of them support individuals in difficulty, including with housing, prison and detention, social isolation, ill-health, violence, disability, employment, care, therapeutic and welfare support.

The key responsibilities of the post are:

1. To scan the social policy environment to capture developments in legislation, consultation papers and Bills relevant to the Caritas network for the purpose of comprehensive tracking and briefing.

2. To deliver an effective programme of Catholic advocacy and political campaigns that contributes to the common good, with particular attention to the priorities of the dignity of workers, child poverty, social care and end of life; supporting and connecting well with the team’s other activities, and where possible with the CSAN membership’s priorities,

3. To draft campaign and advocacy materials for the range of media channels used by CSAN and support the CEO in engaging with the press and approaches from campaigning organisations including contributing to CSAN’s social media networks.

4. To provide admin support and contribute to CSAN’s Alliances as required, especially the Advocacy Alliance and the Criminal Justice Alliance with information and education on policy and legislation.

5. To ensure that our advocacy is consistent with the Bishops’ understanding of the Church’s role in society and supports the priorities of the Bishops’ Conference, especially the Department for Social Justice.

6. To act as a conduit of information and communication between the Bishops’ Conference and the CSAN members, under the guidance of the CEO, assisting CBCEW where possible in gathering information and the lived experience of poverty.

7. To develop and contribute to practice materials for the network, especially in the areas of campaigning, advocacy, social policy and formation for mission.

8. To oversee monitoring of the Catholic press and relevant wider networks for relevant articles, developments and campaigns.

9. To support the general work of CSAN as required by the CEO, including leading in the development and organisation of the charity in specific areas subject to skills and experience.

The work of the small national team requires a high level of integrity and teamwork, respect for and capacity to navigate complex civil and church contexts at pace, and a stable commitment to personal formation and training. Our Policy and Public Affairs Officer (maternity leave) will bring a professional track record of relevant research and analysis, production of compelling communications, and diligent administration. A satisfactory basic DBS check and references are required.

CSAN is a member of Caritas Internationalis, one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world, with national agencies in over 160 countries, and among the most successful examples of organised Catholic social action in modern times.

Independent Age is the national charity focused on improving the lives of people facing financial hardship in later life. We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life. 

The Senior Media and PR Officer will undertake communication projects to support all areas of the charity to raise awareness and understanding of Independent Age, to secure policy change to tackle poverty in later life, and to drive potential supporters to our activities. 

Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free, practical support to older people without enough money to live on. Through our grants programme, we support hundreds of local organisations working with older people across the UK.

We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change. 

We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification: 

This role supports the charity’s media and PR programme, helping to secure positive coverage and strengthen its reputation through proactive and reactive communications. It will contribute to the organisation’s ambition by increasing awareness, influence, and engagement with key audiences across traditional and digital media channels. 

Working within the media communications team, the post-holder will lead on media planning and PR projects, identifying opportunities for both short-term campaigns (such as report launches) and longer-term storytelling by spotting future hooks and moments to promote key messages and calls to action. The role will also support wider team strategy development and contribute to a busy and responsive press office. 

You should have experience in media relations and press office activity, including drafting high-quality media materials such as press releases, statements, op-eds and thought leadership content. You will also need strong judgement to respond to enquiries, manage reputational issues in real time, build relationships with journalists and outlets across the UK nations, and monitor, evaluate and report on media coverage. 

For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification.  If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway.

This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9 day fortnight.

What it’s like to work at Independent Age: 

We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included. 

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits. 

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working.

You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age on the careers page of our website. 

Application Process: 

To apply, please submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by visiting our jobs website (please do not hesitate to contact us if you have specific requirements and need support to apply in an alternative format). 

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Therefore, please do not include your name, photo, or information to indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement. Please do not omit dates of employment. Please ensure the title of any uploads does not contain your name.

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Basic DBS Certificate will be required for this role. 

Closing Date: Monday 11 May 2026, 11:59pm 

Interview Dates: Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th May via Microsoft Teams

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. 

About the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS)

The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) is an independent charity dedicated to reducing alcohol-related harm in the UK. We work to advance the use of the best available evidence in public policy, bridging the gap between research and decision-making on alcohol.

Alcohol harm is one of the most significant and preventable public health challenges facing the UK today. IAS works with parliamentarians, civil society organisations, researchers and the media to promote effective, evidence-based alcohol policy that improves health, reduces inequalities and supports communities.

Role summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Policy and Communications Support Officer to join our small but mighty team for a full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract.

This role offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience at the intersection of public health policy, communications and advocacy, working on one of the UK’s key social issues. The post holder will support IAS’s policy and communications work, helping us to progress our long-term vision for tackling alcohol harm.

The post-holder will report to the Head of External Affairs and will be mentored by the Assistant Manager, Policy and Communications, working closely with colleagues across the IAS team.

Contract details

• Contract: 12-month fixed-term contract, full-time (35 hours per week)
• Salary: £30,000
• Location: Hybrid working, split between the IAS office near London Bridge and home working
• Benefits:
  • 14.5% employer contribution pension scheme
  • 28 days’ annual leave (plus public holidays)
  • Life insurance and extended sick pay
  • Access to modern, charity co-working space
  • Opportunities for training and development

Key responsibilities

The Policy and Communications Support Officer will support a wide range of policy, parliamentary and communications activities, including:

• Policy and parliamentary support
  • Assisting with the drafting of clear, concise policy briefings and background notes
  • Updating and maintaining parliamentary monitoring databases to record IAS engagement with MPs and Peers
  • Supporting parliamentary and stakeholder engagement work as required
• Events and engagement
  • Supporting the organisation of IAS events, both in-person and virtual
  • Assisting with logistics such as booking rooms, managing attendee lists, preparing materials, and post-event follow-up
• Communications and media
  • Assisting with the development and production of IAS’s monthly newsletter and podcast, Alcohol Alert
  • Supporting the creation and scheduling of social media content and engaging with followers across platforms
  • Collating and circulating daily alcohol-related news, policy and research updates for key partners
• General support
  • Providing administrative and project support for the IAS team as needed
  • Working collaboratively with colleagues to support IAS’s wider aims and activities

About you

We are looking for an enthusiastic team player who is excited to work in a small organisation where everyone contributes and ideas are valued. You will be curious, motivated and committed to working on one of the most important public health and social justice issues facing the UK today.

Experience and skills we are looking for

• Undergraduate degree, equivalent professional qualification or experience in campaigning, political research or a related field
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to a variety of audiences
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Ability to work independently and manage time while working unsupervised at home
• Good working knowledge of social media platforms
• An interest in politics, parliamentary processes and/or public health

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• A proactive, enthusiastic and collaborative approach to work

Equality and diversity

IAS is committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from groups underrepresented in the public health and policy sector.

Interview process

First interviews for this role will be held online on 11 and 12 June, with a second in-person interview for successful candidates to take place at our offices on 16 June. Please confirm in your cover letter you can be available on these dates.

We hope to find someone who can join our team late July/early August.

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!

Do you want to change the world for vulnerable children?

The Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies UK (CVAA) aims to improve adoption policy and practice across the UK for the benefit of children, challenging the adoption system to deliver for children and work in their best interests. Alongside advocating for system change, CVAA works to support our member voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) across the four nations of the UK, stimulating innovation and ensuring they stay at the leading edge of practice. The active engagement of members and the building of collaborative alliances with others who seek positive change for children are essential to the effectiveness of our work.

The Head of Policy is a vital member of the small CVAA team, working closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to champion the voluntary adoption sector and put children at the heart of everything we do. Due to maternity leave we have an exceptional and unique opportunity for someone who shares our passion to change the world for children, to gain valuable experience working at national level with senior stakeholders to contribute to system change, advocating for the power of adoption to change lives.

You will need strong people skills, experience of developing policy in consultation with stakeholders and using data to transform services and strengthen lobbying work. Most of all you need a cast iron commitment to change the world for vulnerable children.

CVAA works to challenge discrimination and disadvantage and welcomes applications from all communities, particularly those who are underrepresented in our sector, which includes but is not limited to people from Global Majority backgrounds, adoptees, men and those who identify as LGBTQ.

Key information

• Maternity Cover 1 year from July 2026
• Location - remote contract with occasional travel
• £40 – 45K depending on experience
• An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.

Applications

Please send a CV and letter of application, outlining your motivation for applying and the skills you offer, to Satwinder Sandhu (CEO) by 5pm on Friday 8th May 2026.

Both Satwinder (CEO) and Alice (Director of Strategy and Policy) are happy to have an informal chat about the role. Please email to arrange a convenient time to speak.

Initial online interviews via Microsoft Teams will be on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th May, with final in-person interviews scheduled for Thursday 28th May 2026 in London. Please let us know whether you cannot make any of these dates in your application.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Communications Officer to come and join our team in Middlesbrough.

Location – This role is both community-based in Middlesbrough, with the ability to work from home as agreed with your manager. There may also be occasional travel to other programme sites (currently Redcar, Cleveland, Stoke-On-Trent and Scotland) or travel to our London office.  

Salary – Up to £35,000 DOE 

Employment Type – Permanent

Team – Communications team

About you

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following: 

• Significant experience in a communications role, including experience with copywriting and content creation. 
• Experience producing high quality, clear, compelling and audience appropriate content for a range of platforms.
• Empathy, cultural awareness, and sensitivity when communicating with and about communities whose voices and experiences are often underrepresented, including those with English as an additional language or limited literacy in English.
• The ability to clearly demonstrate our impact and inspire collaboration among our partners and stakeholders by sharing compelling and meaningful stories.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the local community, including its strengths, needs, and challenges. 
• Strong knowledge and skills in Adobe Creative Suite such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop or Canva. 

About the role

The responsibilities of this role include: 

• Actively identify opportunities where communications can strengthen programme delivery, support parent outreach and increase engagement with families and communities. 
• Develop the local stakeholder engagement approach in line with agreed objectives, proactively identifying opportunities to strengthen relationships and using data and team insight to increase engagement.
• Support effective communications with stakeholders across sectors including community, health, education and local organisations. 
• Develop and produce compelling, audience focused content for a range of channels, including newsletters, case studies and promotional materials. 
• Work closely with the Head of Communications, Programme Leads and colleagues across the organisation to align communications priorities with programme and organisational objectives. 

About us

Thrive at Five is a national charity focused on giving every child the best possible start in life. We know the foundations for life and learning are built in the earliest years, from pregnancy to five. By working alongside families, communities and local partners, we help build stronger, more connected support for parents, so more children get what they need to thrive and reach a good level of development by age five.
 

Thrive at Five is a relatively young organisation but with an already strong national and political profile, having been called out in Parliament for our ways of working in Stoke-on-Trent and invited to be interviewed at the 2025 Civil Society Summit by the Secretary of State for Education. We have grown rapidly in our first four years, with a growing team of nearly 40 across the country. 2026 will be a year of further growth and milestones for the charity as we celebrate our fifth-year anniversary and expand into our third and fourth regions. This will involve recruiting for a new teams, establishing our programmes and beginning to co-design and implement our work in partnership with communities. 

About our benefits

• Pension contributions – We will contribute 3% and you can contribute 5% towards your pension through NEST. 
• 25 annual leave days per year plus bank holidays.
• £100 contribution towards your professional body membership.

Please note that as this role is subject to a successful Basic Level Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). If you have any unspent convictions, but wish to apply for this role, please advise us in your application. The successful candidate will also need to provide satisfactory references and current right to work in the UK. 

To apply for this role, please submit your cover letter and CV by following the Apply Now button. Closing date for applications is midnight on Friday 8th May 2026.

WHO WE ARE

We are Zarach, the children’s bed charity, and we’re on a mission to end child bed poverty, helping children get a good night's sleep, and the chance to thrive at school.

In our nearly seven years as a registered charity, we’ve captured the hearts and attention of many individuals, community groups, businesses and funders who want to support us on our mission. We’ve also been given an incredible media platform from which we have raised awareness of child bed poverty at local, regional and national levels. This support and awareness has seen us deliver over 17,000 bed bundles to children to date. 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

As we grow, we are looking to recruit a Communications Officer to join the Communications team.

As our ideal candidate you will need to be in commuting distance to our Leeds warehouse, meaning you can travel regularly to meet with the team. This is a hybrid role based between the Leeds warehouse and home, with at least one day per week at the warehouse. Some travel to other locations may be required occasionally for events.

You will be someone who has good experience of the broad range of day-to-day communications admin and management activities that working in a small team brings and someone who enjoys the busyness and variety of this.

Alongside your Communications Officer-related skills and experience, we’ll be looking to see that you have a genuine care for our mission and, as such, are self-motivated to do a great job and be a values-led member of our team.

Ideally, you’ll have experience of engaging and growing audiences in the charity sector, due to some of the specialities that come with this, such as understanding the donor experience as opposed to commercial endeavours. But charity experience is not essential if you can demonstrate an appetite and track record for continual learning and development across your working life to date. 

WHAT WE OFFER

• Starting at £26,000 with progression up to £30,000 p/a (FTE) 

• 28 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays (prorated for part-time work)

• Healthcare Cash Plan

• Quarterly Staff Recognition Award

• A great working environment! One of our colleagues described us as- “Zarach is a wonderful place to work with the mission at the core of all that we do” 

To decide if you’d like to bring your skills and experience to bear in the pursuit of our mission, please have a look at the job description, our website and the coverage of us across social media.

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your CV and cover letter as soon as possible.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Communications Officer to come and join our team in Redcar & Cleveland. 

Location – This role is both community-based in Redcar & Cleveland, with the ability to work from home as agreed with your manager. There may also be occasional travel to other programme sites (currently Middlesbrough, Stoke-On-Trent and Scotland) or travel to our London office.  

Salary – Up to £35,000 DOE 

Employment Type – Permanent

Team – Communications team

About you

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following: 

• Significant experience in a communications role, including experience with copywriting and content creation. 
• Experience producing high quality, clear, compelling and audience appropriate content for a range of platforms. 
• The ability to clearly demonstrate our impact and inspire collaboration among our partners and stakeholders by sharing compelling and meaningful stories.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the local community, including its strengths, needs, and challenges. 
• Strong knowledge and skills in Adobe Creative Suite such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop or Canva. 

About the role

The responsibilities of this role include: 

• Actively identify opportunities where communications can strengthen programme delivery, support parent outreach and increase engagement with families and communities. 
• Develop the local stakeholder engagement approach in line with agreed objectives, proactively identifying opportunities to strengthen relationships and using data and team insight to increase engagement.
• Support effective communications with stakeholders across sectors including community, health, education and local organisations. 
• Develop and produce compelling, audience focused content for a range of channels, including newsletters, case studies and promotional materials. 
• Work closely with the Head of Communications, Programme Leads and colleagues across the organisation to align communications priorities with programme and organisational objectives. 

About us

Thrive at Five is a national charity focused on giving every child the best possible start in life. We know the foundations for life and learning are built in the earliest years, from pregnancy to five. By working alongside families, communities and local partners, we help build stronger, more connected support for parents, so more children get what they need to thrive and reach a good level of development by age five.
 

Thrive at Five is a relatively young organisation but with an already strong national and political profile, having been called out in Parliament for our ways of working in Stoke-on-Trent and invited to be interviewed at the 2025 Civil Society Summit by the Secretary of State for Education. We have grown rapidly in our first four years, with a growing team of nearly 40 across the country. 2026 will be a year of further growth and milestones for the charity as we celebrate our fifth-year anniversary and expand into our third and fourth regions. This will involve recruiting for a new teams, establishing our programmes and beginning to co-design and implement our work in partnership with communities. 

About our benefits

• Pension contributions – We will contribute 3% and you can contribute 5% towards your pension through NEST. 
• 25 annual leave days per year plus bank holidays.
• £100 contribution towards your professional body membership.

Please note that as this role is subject to a successful Basic Level Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). If you have any unspent convictions, but wish to apply for this role, please advise us in your application. The successful candidate will also need to provide satisfactory references and current right to work in the UK. 

To apply for this role, please submit your cover letter and CV by following the Apply Now button. Closing date for applications is midnight on Friday 8th May 2026.

Are you a strategic, purpose-driven leader? Ready to shape policy, influence public discourse, and make a real impact? If this sounds exciting, then this could be the role and organisation for you! Day One is on an exciting journey of growth and expansion as we increase our impact and reach more people affected by serious and life changing injury. We are looking to recruit an experienced Head of Policy and Public Affairs to join our team who can shape and help lead the charity’s external positioning, policy engagement and thought leadership activity across the UK. You will work closely with the CEO, other Directors and Heads of Service to develop and execute a three-year plan to develop our voice, influence and reach. 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone committed to supporting the charity in its next phase of growth. Day One has always punched above its weight as a start-up charity, and now, into its fifth year of operation as a national charity, our voice is becoming more important than ever. 

Day One’s development has been fast-paced, roles broad, and the culture has fostered autonomy and flexibility in senior roles. As the needs of the organisation evolve, this remains important but it is also now essential that we build a team with the capability and capacity to carry out robust, longer term scoping and planning in order to implement our new strategy and to create further opportunity for influence around the impact, care and support needs of people affected by serious and life-changing injury. 

More About You 

You’ll be an ambitious, dynamic, politically astute changemaker with: 

Senior experience in public affairs, policy, or government relations. A strong record of delivering successful, outcome-driven campaigns. Excellent communication skills with a flair for impactful messaging. A collaborative, tenacious attitude and drive to make a difference. An established network and the credibility to influence. Willingness to travel as part of your role. 

What You Will Bring 

You might come from a charity, public sector or values-led organisation, or from a commercial role where people and purpose have been at the heart of your work. You may already have experience marketing services, campaigns or causes, or be ready for a step up with more ownership and responsibility. What matters most is your ability to work with empathy, bring ideas to life, and help people find, trust and access support when they need it most.

In your first six months, you will develop key relationships, scope the workplan and, in conjunction with colleagues, begin to build the evidence base needed for delivery of the ‘Voice’ element of our new strategy. 

You will use our flagship annual campaign - Major Trauma Awareness week (MTAW) as a platform for expansion of our voice and influence work. You will work closely with the Head of Lived Experienced and Social Research to ensure that we are able to develop a sound evidence base from which to grow our influence and reach. 

Beyond the first 6 months you will: 

• Design and begin to implement an impactful influencing plan, identifying horizon scanning opportunities to influence and raise our profile. 

• Utilise own assets and organisational assets, including the CEO, SLT and Heads of Service, to deliver this element of the new strategy. 

• You will build highly credible and impactful relationships with a variety of stakeholders. This will include policy makers in national and local government officials, politicians, the health and social care sector, clinicians specifically the trauma care and rehabilitation space, as well as other third sector organisations, think tanks and commercial organisations connected to recovery after serious and life-changing injury.

• Play a significant role internally and externally in communicating the organisation’s policy position, raising organisational brand.

• Work closely with others in the SLT and ELT on developing our thought leadership and translating this into published blogs and comment pieces yourself and for others - disseminating our shared ideas, evidence base and compelling stories of impact and recovery.

• Working closely with the Director of Income and Engagement, you will support their team’s expertise and credibility, helping them to generate income though speaking engagements, campaigns and key storytelling pieces. 

How to apply 

Please upload your CV and supporting cover letter to Charity Jobs outlining why you’re interested in the role. Please take your time to explain how your experience is relevant to this post.

For more information, please refer to the attached recruitment pack.

Closing date: 15th May 2026 

Interviews:  

First stage virtual: w/c 25th May 2026 

Second stage in-person (Leeds): w/c 1st June 2026 

Location - Hybrid (based at home or local community) with regular travel in the South of England 

Are you a communications professional looking for an exciting and rewarding new role? Emmaus UK is recruiting for a Regional Communications Officer to help support people on their journey out of homelessness.

About Emmaus

Emmaus (pronounced em-may-us) is a movement of charities that empowers people to overcome homelessness. We provide a stable home and tailored, life-changing support for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. By focusing on each person’s strengths, we help people rebuild their lives and work towards the future they want to create.

As part of a nationwide network of Emmaus charities, we provide skills, training and work experience to help people achieve their goals and regain independence.

Together, we are ending homelessness one person at a time.

About the role

The Regional Communications Officer role is an exciting and varied opportunity to work with Emmaus communities across the South of the UK, helping to raise their profile and engage supporters.

You will work closely with up to four Emmaus communities to identify their communications needs and deliver a mix of activity to help them achieve their goals. As part of a wider team, you will also share ideas and build on each other’s experience to maximise PR, digital and communications opportunities.

This is a hybrid role, offering the flexibility to work from home or from within an Emmaus community.

Building and maintaining strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders will be key to this role. Regular travel to your allocated communities is essential, typically at least once a week, so we are looking for someone based in or around London. You will also attend quarterly team meetings, usually held in Birmingham, although these may occasionally take place elsewhere in the UK and may require an overnight stay.

This is a part-time role, Monday to Friday, with a minimum of 22.5 hours a week (three days) and the potential for the role to be four days a week (30 hours), to be confirmed at interview.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for someone with a strong communications skillset and at least two years’ experience in a busy communications, public relations or marketing role. While not essential, knowledge of homelessness and the charity sector would be an advantage.

Creativity and passion are essential. You will have a broad range of communications skills, enjoy seeing your ideas come to life and be keen to continue developing your experience within a national homelessness charity.

This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity for someone who enjoys working with different people and communities. The successful candidate will be organised, adaptable and able to manage multiple projects, relationships and campaigns.

If you are passionate about making a difference and creating long-lasting impact, this is the perfect time to join Emmaus UK.
 

What we offer

· Salary: £18,696 (3 days)/£24,928 (4 days)

· Working hours: Part-time minimum of 22.5 hours a week (three days), and the potential for the role to be four days a week (30 hours)

· Contract: Permanent

· Pension: Stakeholder pension with employer contribution

· Annual leave: 25 days + Bank Holidays + 3 concessionary days leave

· Training & development: Individually tailored induction. Ongoing training and development

· Volunteering: 2 days allowance each year

· Employee assistance: A 24/7 employee assistance scheme is available

· Flexible working: Options available, subject to the requirements of the role

· Life assurance: Death in service lump sum of 3 x salary

To apply

To apply for this role, please complete our application form and equal opportunities monitoring form and email them to us, our email address is in the application pack.

Please ensure you refer to the job description and person specification when completing your application form. CVs and posted applications will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is Monday 11 May 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing Monday, 18 May 2026. As part of the interview process, candidates will also be asked to complete a set of tasks.

If you would like to arrange an informal discussion about the role, please email us, our email address is in the application pack.

Equal Opportunities

Emmaus UK is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a working environment free from discrimination. We actively promote an inclusive culture and aim to create a workplace where people from diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, marital status or parental responsibilities.

To ensure fairness and consistency in selecting the best candidate, all applications are anonymised until the interview stage is confirmed. This means shortlisting is based solely on the relevance and suitability of experience.

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.

The Communications team is responsible for informing, inspiring and engaging the public by showcasing Alzheimer’s Research UK’s work, impact and mission across all channels. We lead the charity’s media and strategic communications activity—ensuring consistent, accurate and compelling storytelling that supports research, fundraising and organisational priorities. 

We are seeking a Communications Officer, Research to join the Research Communications Team. This role will support the planning, production and delivery of engaging communications that explain and promote the charity’s research priorities. Working closely with the Research team and colleagues across Communications, the postholder helps highlight key scientific developments, research programmes and organisational priorities. They act as a communications partner to the Research Directorate, helping to shape research narratives and producing high‑quality content that brings our science to life.

Key Responsibilities:

 Delivery & Production

· Produce clear, accurate content about research programmes (e.g., messaging, FAQs, web content, slide decks).

· Maintain and update supporter/public-facing research content on the website.

· Ensure communication materials adhere to brand guidelines and meet accessibility criteria.

 Research & Information Support

· Assist with planning and producing updates from research conferences for internal use.

· Develop researcher-friendly content and impact stories, working with the Content Team.

· Contribute to research-facing social media content and updates.

 Cross-Team Support & Collaboration

· Support communications for research initiatives such as the Biomarker Challenge, Dementia Frontiers Fund, Clinical Accelerator, Brain Bank and partnerships.

· Coordinate content and communications with partners in our research programmes, sharing credit and amplifying reach.

· Work collaboratively with Research, Policy and Communications colleagues to ensure accurate, consistent messaging.

 Administration, Planning & Coordination

· Provide administrative, planning and coordination support for research communications activities as required.

 Quality, Accuracy & Compliance

· Ensure all communications output is accurate, high-quality and aligned with accessibility and regulatory requirements.

 What This Role Delivers

· High-quality research content that increases understanding of the charity’s research aims and work.

· Clear, consistent messaging across research communications.

· Effective support for research programmes, digital content and organisational storytelling.

Knowledge, skills and experience needed:

· Experience in communications, science communication or a related field.

· Ability to translate scientific or technical information into clear, engaging content.

· Strong writing skills and attention to accuracy.

· Background in science, research or health.

· Strong written communication and editing skills.

· Ability to communicate complex ideas simply.

· Organised, reliable and able to manage multiple tasks.

· Collaborative and comfortable working with different teams.

· Sound judgement and willingness to ask for guidance when needed.

Additional Information:

Ways of working:

As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD. 

Salary: Circa £31,000 per annum, plus benefits.

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 10th May 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, particularly from those in the global majority, those with disabilities, men and those from the LGBTQIA+ community. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website. 

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.