Policy and evidence manager jobs

Lead change. Shape policy. Amplify the voices of bereaved families.

Child Bereavement UK is looking for an accomplished Head of Policy & Research to lead our evidence and policy agenda at a pivotal time for the charity.

You'll bring a strong track record of leading policy and research activity, developing influential partnerships, and translating evidence into meaningful change. With an established understanding of the policy landscape and the credibility to engage senior stakeholders across health, social care, government and the voluntary sector, you'll play a key role in shaping policy and practice for bereaved families across the UK.

You'll lead our research programme, develop evidence-based positions, build strategic partnerships, and ensure the experiences of bereaved children, young people and parents bereaved of a baby or child are reflected in policy and practice across the UK.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience and established networks in policy and research.
• Can translate complex evidence into compelling recommendations for change.
• Is an exceptional relationship-builder, communicator and strategic thinker.
• Is passionate about improving outcomes for bereaved children, young people and parents.

This is a rare opportunity to shape national conversations, influence decision-makers and ensure lived experience is at the heart of policy and practice.

Please note, the role will involve regular travel to London based conferences, events and network meetings as required, plus occasional travel to team meetings in Birmingham.

Join us and help create lasting change for bereaved families across the UK.

About the role: AMRC is looking for a policy officer to join our small but highly influential policy and public affairs team, working at the heart of the medical research community. You will support our influencing and advocacy work, helping build a thriving research environment that facilitates innovation. We work with government and policy makers to ensure that our charities can invest in a healthy and sustainable research system across universities and the NHS. You will undertake analysis and horizon scanning to enable us to keep our members up-to-date, and you will support the development of AMRC’s policy activity. You will support activities in many areas of work including improving the sustainability of charity-university research; enhancing research careers, translation and infrastructure; maintaining a facilitative legislative and regulatory environment; and enhancing charity-industry partnerships, helping research findings to be translated into treatments, policy and practice more quickly. There will also be a public affairs dimension to the role that includes work with the APPG for Life Sciences, for which AMRC is part of the secretariat. 

Please see our website for the job description and application instructions. 

This is an exciting opportunity to join an influential small charity to design, implement and embed a new approach to project management over a year’s contract. 

You’ll be working with teams across the organisation to ensure we’re effective and robust in our approach to projects from the design to the monitoring and completion stages. 

You’ll have in depth knowledge and experience of project management and being able to adapt methodologies to fit the needs of the organisation, ideally in a small influencing environment. 

You will be able to bring others at all levels with you with a collaborative and approachable style with a strong focus on solutions and delivery.

Youth Employment UK is seeking a Senior Policy Officer to join our Policy and Research department at an important moment for youth employment policy.

The Senior Policy Officer will strengthen Youth Employment UK’s policy and insight capacity by helping gather, analyse and communicate evidence from young people, employers, members and the wider youth employment system.

Working with the Policy and Research Director, the role will support Youth Employment UK to develop high-quality policy positions, recommendations, briefings and reports, and to strengthen our reputation as a leading source of insight and practical solutions for youth employment.

This is a policy-focused role with strong research literacy. It is not a technical academic research post, but the postholder will need to be confident in interpreting evidence, drawing out implications, writing clearly, and translating insight into practical recommendations for different audiences.

Summary of responsibilities

• Monitor, analyse and respond to youth employment-related policy developments through written briefings, articles, guidance and formal evidence submissions. 

• Support the development of Youth Employment UK policy positions, recommendations and messages

• Work with Youth Ambassadors and young people to gather insight that informs policy positions, reports and recommendations

• Support delivery of our Youth Voice Census by writing up findings for a wide range of audiences

• Support Youth Employment UK’s Good Youth Employment Benchmark by conducting employer interviews and writing employer-facing reports.

• Support Youth Employment UK’s public affairs activity, including APPG, Connected Communities and other policy forums.

• Work closely with the Policy and Research Director, Policy and Research Coordinator and wider team in an agile, fast-paced working environment 

About you

We are looking for someone with strong policy judgement, excellent writing skills, professional curiosity and a commitment to improving systems for young people. 

You will bring:

• Experience in policy, public affairs, research, youth employment, education, skills, employment support, social policy or a related area

• Research literacy and confidence working with evidence, data, reports and lived experience insight

• Ability to turn complex information into clear briefings, recommendations and practical outputs

• Confidence in engaging with a range of stakeholders, such as young people, employers, members, policymakers, charities, NGOs, think tanks or public bodies.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to adapt communication to a wide range of audiences 

• A high level of self and project management skill, able to work effectively as part of a team and independently 

• A clear passion for improving education, employment and transitions outcomes for young people through policy activity. 

A full overview of responsibilities in the role and person criteria can be seen in the attached job description. 

What we will provide to you

• Competitive salary.

• Standard company pension.

• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 26 days after 12 months’ service.

• 2 volunteering days per year.

• 2 additional wellbeing days per year.

• Onsite parking, available on a first come, first served basis.

• Personal development opportunities.

• Free breakfast and lunch options when in the office.

• Team activities and events.

• Dog-friendly office.

Please note that this is a full-time (37.5 hour) role, with some flexibility over working hours. Our main office is in Kettering, right next to the train station. However, we are open to discussing remote and hybrid working arrangements with the right candidate. 

Be part of something extraordinary at Epilepsy Society. We are seeking a values driven Policy & Public Affairs Manager to join a charity that provides world leading support for people with epilepsy through Care, Research and Advocacy.

About the role

Epilepsy Society is a dynamic charity with ambitious plans to revolutionise the lives of people through advocacy, research and care.

We are looking for someone to join our award-winning campaigns team and help us to progress change through political engagement at both national and local level. We have an impressive track record of working with government, locally elected politicians, professional organisations, patient stakeholder groups and other charities in the sector on a range of issues which affect people with epilepsy.

Our recent work includes our successful Zach’s Law campaign. This role is an exciting opportunity to help bring about further change that will make a real difference to the lives of people with epilepsy. 

The postholder will develop an effective programme of policy and public affairs work across the UK to have maximum impact for people with epilepsy and to raise the public profile of epilepsy. 

We seek someone with a degree or relevant experience in political or public affairs, extensive experience of influencing, organising campaigns and major events and negotiating at a senior level. You will be required to have a detailed level of understanding of government politics and the charity sector and an empathy to the cause.

Please download the recruitment pack attached to view the full job description and essential criteria. 

The post holders should demonstrate our people values of CAIRO (Caring, Accountable, Improving, Respectful and Open.

Some information about us

The Epilepsy Society’s Vision is a full life for everyone affected by epilepsy. We want everyone affected by epilepsy to have the best opportunity for a full life - as free from seizures as possible. We set out to make a difference to every person affected by epilepsy whatever their background, however seriously it impacts on their life, and whether they have the condition themselves or are close to someone with epilepsy.

What we can offer

•    27 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the ability to buy and sell annual leave 
•    A generous Employee Referral Scheme (refer a friend and earn up to £150) 
•    Length of service awards
•    Access to shopping discounts and cashback with thousands of retailers through Purple Rewards
•    Staff recognition scheme 
•    Excellent training and development opportunities
•    Group Pension
•    Life Assurance (2x your annual salary)
•    Confidential, supportive Employee Assistance Programme, accessible 24/7
•    Salary Finance, offering you products linked to your salary and tailored to your individual circumstances. Providing services such as loans, advances, savings and financial education

If you have the right skills and experience and are inspired to apply, please do so by uploading your CV and covering letter explaining how you meet the specifications of this role. 

A DBS (Disclosure & Barring) check will be required before appointment is confirmed. 

We reserve the right to close the post early once we have received a sufficient number of applicants: please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

The Policy and Convening Manager helps drive the Foundation’s mission to improve urban health by shaping how the organisation influences policy and decision-making. The role sits within a Policy and Influencing function that works closely with programmes teams to turn evidence from funded projects into strong networks, higher visibility and meaningful policy impact. 

The Policy and Convening Manager develops influencing strategies based on the insights from Impact on Urban Health programmes, builds coalitions and leads a new cross-programme approach to convening – including showcasing evidence from the Foundation and its partners, and delivering targeted policy-focused events. The role involves experimenting with new approaches to deliver impact, spotting opportunities to influence, and leading investment partnerships with a policy angle, which may include commissioning research or designing campaigns. 

The Policy and Convening Manager works with the Head of Policy and Influencing on engagement with key parliamentary and governmental stakeholders and collaborates with Communications colleagues to create impactful policy communications. 

Key Responsibilities

• Working with the Head of Policy and Influencing, develop and deliver compelling influencing strategies for our Urban Health programmes. 
• Lead on development of a new policy convening strategy, encompassing our approaches to building coalitions, delivering policy events, and platforming the work of our funded partners. 
• Develop, lead and manage through our partnership life cycle a portfolio of investment partnerships with a particular influencing focus within these programmes.
• Act as a source of policy expertise and political insight for colleagues across the organisation, proactively briefing on key political events and policy developments.
• Lead horizon scanning to identify proactive and reactive influencing opportunities, and deliver this activity in partnership with internal and external colleagues.
• Working closely with Communications Managers, develop and deliver impactful communications to influence.
• Bring a diversity, equity and inclusion lens to all our policy and influencing activity, whether in how we work with our partners or in our own systems and processes.

Role responsibilities are not exhaustive, and you would be reasonably expected to take on wider tasks that are commensurate with the level of your role. 

Skills, Knowledge and Attributes

• The ability to develop expertise and familiarity with different policy areas quickly.
• Strategic thinking and a strong entrepreneurial approach – being able to spot and distil areas of influencing opportunity within complex programmes of work.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills at all levels.
• Enjoys working in places with a clear and ambitious mission, a matrix structure and ways of working that challenge the norm.
• Willingness to prioritise diversity, equity and inclusion in all our work. 

Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications: 

• Experience working in public affairs and policy in a UK setting, with impact on policy making in Westminster Parliament and/or the devolved administrations (essential)
• Experience developing impactful influencing strategies and delivering activity to achieve these strategies (essential)
• Experience in developing and delivering impactful policy events(essential)
• Experience working with coalitions for policy change (essential) 

Benefits

• Contributory pension
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities. 
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit. 
• Shower facilities and bike lock area. 
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
• Subsidies for glasses
• Employee Assistance Programme

Research and Policy Officer 
Job Description 

About DigitalCare Hub 

Digital technology helps care services spend more time caring. It helps the people we support keep control of their lives, and of their care. Over the last few years, the need for information to be shared securely and efficiently between health and care services has become even moreapparent. But this introduces new risks – for example how information is kept safe and secure, and what happens if a digital system fails. 

This is a shared role across DigitalCare HubandtheBetter Security, Better Careprogramme which wemanage. 

Digital Care Hubis runwithsocialcare,for social care.The Digital Care Hub provides free information,guidanceand support to enable adult social care providers to make the most of digital technology – and to do it safely. 

We are an independent, not-for profit, Community Interest Company, guided by care providers, so we understand the needs and challenges facing the diverse range of organisations in our sector. 

Better Security, BetterCareis a support programme– funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and managed by Digital Care Hub -to help adult social care providers to store and share information safelyby using the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT). The DSPT is a free, online self-assessment for health and care providers to evaluate and improve their data and cyber security. 

The programme is delivered by acentral team and our local support organisations across the country. Most of these support organisations arelocal care provider trade associations. We also work closely with colleagues from the NHS, ADASS, DHSC and local councils. 

About you and the role 

We're looking for an inquisitive, analytical and collaborativeResearch and Policy Officerto join our growing team. 

You'll play a key role in helping Digital Care Hub become the leading source of evidence, insight and practical guidance on digital transformation, data, AI and cybersecurity in adult social care. 

Working across our national programmes, you'll design and deliver research projects, analyse policy developments, engage with providers and partners, and translate complex issues into clear, practical resources that help the sector improve. You'll contribute to consultation responses, produce reports and briefings, support national events and webinars, and help us demonstrate the impact of our work. 

This is a varied role that combines research, policy development, stakeholder engagement and programme delivery. No two weeks will look the same—you could be facilitating a roundtable with care providers, analysing survey data, drafting a briefing for government, interviewing providers for a case study or helping develop new guidance on AI in social care. 

You'll work closely with colleagues across Digital Care Hub and our national partners, taking an entrepreneurial approach to identifying emerging issues, generating insight and turning evidence into action. You'll report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and will have the opportunity to shape the development of our research and policy function as the organisation continues to grow. 

Key Responsibilities 

Research and Insight 

• Design and deliver research projects. 

• Develop surveys and analyse data. 

• Conduct interviews and focus groups. 

• Facilitate provider roundtables. 

• Review policy and academic literature. 

• Produce evidence summaries. 

• Identify emerging issues across digital health and adult social care. 

Policy Development 

• Draft policy papers and consultation responses. 

• Translate research into practical recommendations. 

• Produce briefings for government, boards and senior leaders. 

• Track developments across DHSC, NHS England, CQC and ICO. 

• Support Digital Care Hub policy positions. 

Programme Delivery 

• Support grant funded programmes. 

• Develop guidance and resources. 

• Produce webinar materials and case studies. 

• Coordinate advisory groups. 

• Support monitoring and evaluation. 

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Build relationships with providers and representative bodies. 

• Collaborate with universities, government and sector partners. 

• Engage technology suppliers where appropriate. 

Communications 

• Write reports, briefings and newsletters. 

• Draft articles and presentations. 

• Support thought leadership. 

Monitoring and Evaluation 

• Develop outcome measures. 

• Analyse programme impact. 

• Produce evaluation reports. 

• Identify lessons learned. 

Person Specification 

Essential 

• Degree or equivalent experience. 

• Experience designing research projects. 

• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills. 

• Excellent written communication. 

• Ability to explain complex subjects clearly. 

• Excellent organisational skills. 

Desirable 

• Charity experience. 

• Knowledge of digital transformation. 

• Understanding of AI and cybersecurity. 

• Experience evaluating programmes. 

• Experience working with government. 

 
Main terms and conditions 

• £36,000 per annum including pension. 

• Full timefixed term12 month fixed term contract 

• Homebased,withsometravelacross England 

• 28 days annual leave plus Bank holidays 

Research Manager

Location: Flexible, London Head Office (minimum 2 days per week in the office) or Home Based
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Salary: £44,598 (London, Hybrid) or £40,320 (home-based)
Closing Date: 9.00am, Monday 17 August 2026
Interview Dates: Thursday 3 September and Friday 4 September 2026 (expected)

Join Homeless Link

Homeless Link is the national membership charity for frontline homeless agencies in England. With more than 750 members, we work to improve services and campaign for policy change that will help end homelessness and ensure that everyone has a place to call home and the support they need to keep it.  

As part of the Social Change directorate the Policy and Research team lead Homeless Link’s evidence, policy influencing and thought leadership activities. The research team generates robust evidence and practical insight to improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. We exist to contribute to the national evidence base needed to shape policy, challenge narratives, and advocate for system-level change. We deliver applied mixed-methods social research that helps organisations, commissioners, and communities understand needs, experiences, and what works to strengthen responses to homelessness.

About the Role

We’re looking to recruit a Research Manager to support the delivery of our strategic research portfolio. This role will involve managing and delivering research design, data collection, analysis and reporting, while working collaboratively with colleagues across Homeless Link, member organisations, academics, government officials, partners and people with lived experience.

The successful candidate will be an excellent project manager with strong quantitative research skills. They will have communication and relationship building skills, understanding of interpreting research findings in wider policy contexts, and of making strategic recommendations for national and local policy and decision makers.  For full details of the role please download our Recruitment Pack.

About You

We're looking for an experienced researcher with strong project management skills and expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. You'll be comfortable working with data, producing high-quality analysis and communicating findings to a wide range of audiences.

You will bring:

• Experience managing research or evaluation projects from inception to completion.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Experience analysing and interpreting data from multiple sources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work collaboratively with stakeholders.
• Experience using research and data analysis software such as SPSS, R, NVivo or Power BI.

Location and Working Arrangements

This role can be based at our London Head Office or b can be home-based, with flexibility to work remotely. The successful candidate must be willing to travel across the UK when required, including occasional overnight stays.

Employee Benefits

Homeless Link is proud to offers a wide range of generous benefits including:

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Enhanced Maternity, Parental, Adoption and Sick Pay schemes
• Enhanced employer pension contributions and Salary Exchange Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Season Ticket Loan scheme
• Access to the Blue Light Card scheme
• Group Life Assurance scheme (4x Scheme Salary benefit)
• Flexible working arrangements
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Homeless Link is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and actively welcomes applications from people with lived experience of homelessness, people from Black and minority ethnic communities, disabled people and other underrepresented groups. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements of the role to recruitment email. Applicants that do not submit a covering letter, will not be considered. If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, please contact the recruitment team on the above email address.

Please note: All successful applicants will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK and complete or provide a basic DBS certificate.  

We’re looking for someone who makes things happen

We’re looking for a proactive, curious and practical research and evaluation leader who spots opportunities, builds partnerships, and helps us turn lived experience into evidence that improves services, influences policy and drives change.

The Hepatitis C Trust is one of the UK’s biggest lived-experience organisations working in Inclusion Health. With almost 500 staff and volunteers, our teams work in communities and prisons across England, and in parts of Scotland and Wales, reaching people that mainstream health services routinely struggle to engage.

This gives us a unique reach among populations whose voices are too often missing from research, policy and service design.

Our research and evaluation programme aims to:

• Evidence the impact of our programmes and services.
• Understand what works, and what doesn’t, in improving outcomes for marginalised and excluded communities.
• Strengthen our understanding of the value and potential of peer-led and lived experience approaches.
• Improve the representation of excluded populations in research, policy and service design.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has a strong background in research and evaluation, including both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Is proactive, self-directed and comfortable taking ownership of projects.
• Has experience of generating evidence that informs policy, practice or service improvement.
• Is excited by the potential of lived experience and peer-led approaches.
• Builds strong relationships and enjoys working collaboratively.
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Is committed to equity, inclusion and social justice.

Why this role?

You’ll have genuine autonomy to help shape a growing research and evaluation function within one of the UK’s leading lived-experience organisations. Most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to generate evidence that changes services, influences policy and improves outcomes for some of the most marginalised communities in society.

Recruitment timetable

Application deadline: 11:59 PM on Sunday 23rd August

First-round interviews: 7-8 September 2026

Salary: £38-40k

The role can be full-time or part-time, depending on the successful candidate’s availability. Ideally, you’ll work from our London office at least two days a week, although we can be flexible for the right person.

The Hepatitis C Trust is committed to equity and inclusion, and particularly welcomes applications from people with lived experience of hepatitis C, drug use, homelessness, the criminal justice system, or other experiences of social exclusion.

The Opportunity 

As a key leader within our Partnerships and Income Development team, you will be responsible for creating, developing and delivering the Social Mobility Foundation’s Employer Programme – how we inform, influence and positively impact employer-led social mobility, and a source of income generation.

You will champion the Employer Programme internally, forging effective collaborations with colleagues across the organisation to ensure that our work with employers is understood and celebrated, and that opportunities to promote, develop and grow are maximised.

Reporting to the Head of Partnerships and Income Development, you’ll be the custodian of the Social Mobility Employer Index (SMEI) – our annual benchmarking and assessment tool for how UK employers recruit, retain and develop talent from all socioeconomic backgrounds and build inclusive workplaces. A key priority for this role will be a strategic growth plan for the Employer Programme that focuses on growing Index entrants, diversifying employment sectors, progressing employer best practice and maximising revenue.

By collaborating with internal teams and existing partners who offer pro-bono consultancy, you’ll scope, develop and deliver new products, resources and services that equip employers with the knowledge and practical tools to improve social mobility in the workplace.

We’re looking for someone who is willing and able to move easily between strategic thinking, marketing and hands-on delivery, and is excited about taking full ownership over this important work. Combining a passion for delivering our mission with keen commercial acumen, high attention to detail and project management skills, this is a unique chance to make a big impact on social mobility in the UK.

Location: We operate a hybrid model of work i.e. a combination of in-person and remote, with flexible days in the office depending on business need and your preferences. We would typically expect in-office attendance an average of one day per week.

When in the office you will be based in one of our regional offices (either Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester or Newcastle – depending on preference and accessibility). This is where you will usually attend in-person events, training sessions etc. though some travel, to other offices and other locations, will occasionally be expected.

Contract: Full-time/Part-time, Permanent

Hours: We are looking for the right candidate and while we envisage this being a full-time role (37.5 hours per week) we are open to flexible working arrangements such as part-time, compressed hours, flexitime and job-shares. 

Occasional/frequent evening or weekend work may be required, for which time off in lieu (TOIL) will be given. 

Key Responsibilities:

1. Customer service and value proposition

• Develop value propositions for the SMEI and other employer products and services to help employers understand and improve social mobility in the workplace 
• Create and develop assets and activities to market the Employer Programme to employers across a range of platforms 
• Define the customer journey for the SMEI and ensure seamless customer experience, with clear and proactive communication and relevant content and resources 
• Actively manage and steward the customer pipeline for the SMEI and broader Employer Programme, reporting on prospects, acquisition and conversion 
• Gather customer feedback and market insights to help improve and develop products and services  

 2. Product ownership and project management 

• Project manage the Programme, with responsibility for key delivery areas yourself, as well as working with the Senior Index Coordinator / Policy Officer and other colleagues/external suppliers to deliver 
• Oversee the day-to-day delivery of the Programme and the annual Index scoring and feedback cycle, working with the Senior Policy Officer to ensure a smooth experience for employers  
• Lead the annual cycle for the SMEI product and other employer products as they are developed: defining the scope of work and setting priorities, survey review and design, data collection, overseeing marking and reporting, product review and evaluation 
• Manage all aspects of the Employer service, including the ongoing development of the digital platform, employer resources and online content   

3. Product and service development

• Develop the Employer Programme by scoping, developing and delivering new products, resources and services that equip employers with the knowledge and practical tools to improve social mobility in the workplace, e.g. a consultancy offer, events, webinars, staff training and off-the-shelf resources  
• Work with pro-bono supporters and existing partners to scope need, and test and pilot new products and services 
• Responsible for the annual evaluation of the programme, drawing on data and policy evidence, customer feedback and sector insights to inform development  

4. Stakeholder Management

• Champion and represent the Employer Programme externally, including attending and presenting at events, acting as spokesperson, meeting prospective entrants and other opportunities to grow connections and reach 
• Engage with external stakeholders, such as employers, policy experts and social mobility practitioners, to understand key issues and trends relevant to workplace and employer-led social mobility 
• Scope and create an external advisory group to support the development of the products and services that form part of the Employer Programme 
• Seek opportunities to collaborate with external partners to share relevant content and tools, and co-create and develop new products and services 
• Ensure that insights and impact from the Index and the SMF’s work with employers are communicated internally and externally 

5. Systems and Processes

• Work with internal and external partners to ensure the Index is as technologically efficient as possible, e.g. automating aspects of the marking and feedback process, ensuring quality monitoring, evaluation and reporting and identifying and progressing other ways to drive efficiency and maximise reach, whilst retaining the quality of the programme 
• Drive best practice and set a culture where digital tools are used effectively for relationship management and fundraising, including Salesforce 
• Maintain accurate and up to date records, using SharePoint and our Salesforce CRM to support pipeline management, income tracking and partner record 

6. Leadership and Development

• Play a proactive role in leading and inspiring the team, fostering a collaborative and creative culture of fundraising, income and product development 
• Champion the Employer Programme internally, forging effective collaborations across the organisation to ensure that our work with employers is understood and celebrated, and that opportunities to promote, develop and grow are maximised. Key relationships will include colleagues working in communications, campaigns and advocacy, data, finance and programme development.  

7. Line Management (Matrix Structure)

• Day-to-day people management  
• Identify training and development needs; employ a coaching approach, and clarify opportunities for skill enhancement and career growth  
• Recruit and induct new team members, and oversee the separation process for any leavers   
• Reasonably support well-being; provide a supportive work environment, and address any issues that may impact the well-being and morale of your reports   

Please see full job description attached for more details. 

Person Specification:

We need someone who will demonstrate our organisational skills-based competencies - as listed below: 

1.  Leadership
2.  Communication
3.  Adaptability
4.  Professionalism 
5.  Decision-making

Technical knowledge, understanding and experience required:

Commercial and customer service:

• Demonstrable experience in managing pipelines and/or stewarding customers, demonstrating excellent customer service skills and a high attention to detail
• Confidence in public speaking, presenting or facilitating workshops with professional audiences 

Project management and product development:

• Demonstrable experience designing, delivering and developing programmes, products and/or services that meet organisational needs 
• Demonstrable experience in project management, shaping long-term strategy while managing day-to-day operations and delivery 

Project management and product development:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience building and managing relationships 

IT skills:

• Experience using Microsoft Office
• Experience of using or understanding of CRM software to effectively support pipeline and partnership management e.g. Salesforce
• Experience of or understanding of managing and using digital platforms for programmes, products and/or services 

Policy and data skills (desirable):

• Understanding of issues related to social mobility, diversity and inclusion, or workforce development
• Understanding of and/or experience in benchmarking tools, indices or assessment frameworks 

See attached job description for more detail on the person specification

Ways of working:

• Most of our work is office based, but you will spend a lot of time collaborating with other teams and clients via email, telephone and other communications channels such as Teams or Zoom. 
• Some travel will be required as part of this role to other offices and locations, as needed for events, work placements and meetings.

Benefits

• 36/37 days' annual leave (England & Wales and Scotland respectively - includes bank and public holidays), with 3 of these days reserved for the annual end of year office closure.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• 5% Salary sacrifice pension scheme with enhanced matching employer contributions
• Employee Assistance Programme available to staff and their family
• Flexible work options such as hybrid working, flexitime, part-time
• Regular staff team building and business planning “away days”

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this role, please head over to our website by 23:59, Thursday 3rd September and provide the following information:

1)    An outline of your previous relevant job roles (job title and dates only)

2)     A cover statement outlining your suitability for the role, with particular emphasis on how your experience, skills and knowledge meet the person specification (max. 750 words)

Thinking of using AI to help with your application? AI tools (such as Chat GTP, Gemini and Copilot) can help you research the SMF and the role you're applying for. They can also help you structure your application. The applications that stand out most are the ones that feel genuine and reflect your unique self and experiences.

Please note that generic applications and CV’s will not be considered.

Are you interested in improving the lives of people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners.

This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence health reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of people with a learning disability and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers. 

This is a 4-day a week position (30 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.

You will: 

You will bring to this role:

If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. Applications close on Tuesday 1st September, 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 7th September 2026.

• Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.
• Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.
• Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the health needs and experiences of people with a learning disability and their families.
• Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.
• Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.
• Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.
• Experience of working on health policy issues.
• Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.
• Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.
• The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.
•  Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.
• Knowledge of the health issues facing people with a learning disability, as well as the health and wider parliamentary system. 
• Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability. 

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated. 

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings. 

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team! 

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. 

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in. 

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues. 

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere. 

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation. 

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes 

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves. 

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies. 

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for. 

Job Title: Strategic Legal Projects Manager

Organisation: Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA)

Duration: fixed term contract of 2 years, with possibility of extension depending on funding.

Location: Remote/Hybrid/London depending on working days (our anchor day is in London on a Tuesday, with occasional other travel within the UK)

Reports to: Director of Strategic Litigation and Advice

Annual leave: 25 days per annum, plus bank holidays, pro rata, and the week between Christmas and New Year off.

Salary: £33,000 to £38,000 per annum salary (actual salary for 2 days a week, £13,200 - £14,800), depending on skills and experience. NB: pension is 5% of salary

Working Hours: 14 hours per week, plus 1 hour lunch break (NB. evening working is required to attend 5 scheduled evening meetings per year, which ordinarily finish no later than 6.30pm).

Application deadline: 9:00 am Tuesday 25th August 2026

Interviews are anticipated to be held on 10 and 11 September 2026 online. Shortlisted candidates will be notified Thursday 3rd September 2026.

Applications from individuals only – no agencies. Please do not use artificial intelligence in completing your application form.

Application:

Please submit a completed application form highlighting why you are applying for this position and how you meet the personal specification, providing examples where applicable. Please return this by 9:00 am, Tuesday 25 August 2026, along with a completed equalities monitoring form. Full details on how to apply can be found on our website (linked). 

Applications should be submitted as a Word document or in another editable format. If an application is not submitted in this format, it will not be considered.

Successful candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.

About the Role

This is a new role which will be pivotal to the work of the Strategic Legal Projects Team. The post-holder will work with the Director of Strategic Litigation and Advice to coordinate the delivery of the Strategic Legal Fund (SLF). This is an innovative programme of grant funding, supporting strategic legal work that benefits people who are disadvantaged or discriminated against because of their immigration status. We define strategic litigation as work where the impact goes beyond an individual case and results in changes to law, policy and practice that will benefit a wider group of people. The fund supports pre-litigation research, and third-party interventions in cases before the courts, as well as advocacy related to the legal activities undertaken. Grants can be awarded to non-governmental organisations and law firms.

The post provides an opportunity to contribute strategically to supporting the legal sector working on migrants’ rights in the UK. You will gain experience of all aspects of the grant-making process in the intersection of legal and policy work on issues facing people seeking asylum, migrants and refugees in the UK today. 

The ideal candidate may be someone wishing to develop a career in philanthropic work in this area or build relationships with esteemed human rights lawyers and social justice organisations. Whatever their interest, they will bring to the work a flair for organising, project management to include building relationships and supporting joint working and the vision to see the separate grants as part of a coherent whole.

For further information about the Fund and the type of work we support see the website on the job advertisement linked.

Main Tasks:

· liaise with applicants including legal practitioners and organisations working with migrants across the UK;

·  co-ordinate the meetings of an expert panel and decision-making panel;

· carry out financial due diligence checks in relation to potential grants;

· manage monitoring and evaluation, collecting reports from grantees and available data evidencing outcomes, and contributing to reports and updates for ILPA and for the funders;

· communicate updates and successes by grantees on the SLF website and on social media;

· build capacity of groups and individuals working in support of migrants’ rights, including working with the Legal Project Officer to ensure the work of the Strategic Legal Advice Committee (SLAC) and the SLF align and complement each other.

Person Specification

Essential

1. A proven record of project management or grant management;

2. Good working knowledge of the refugee and migrant sector in the UK;

3. Experience of coordinating networks of organisations or individuals, including running meetings;

4. Experience of working and communicating with a range of external stakeholders;

5. Excellent written and oral communication skills;

6. Excellent attention to detail;

7. Excellent planning, coordination, organisational, time management, strategic problem-solving and independent working skills, including:

a. an ability to take a proactive approach to independent working,

b. managing workstreams effectively,

c. confidently taking responsibility for tasks and decisions,

d. meeting tight deadlines, and

e. taking a calm and diligent approach to problem solving;

8. Good IT skills and competency in the use of office IT programmes and equipment and managing and updating a website.

9. Commitment to the principles of a non-racist, non-sexist, just and equitable system of immigration, asylum and nationality law 

10.  Commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and taking a proactive approach to espousing these principles

11.  Commitment to be a champion of ILPA by positively encouraging and collaborating with your team, identifying and encouraging opportunities for growth and celebrating success

Desirable

1. Experience of grant-making;

2. An understanding of strategic litigation and good legal analysis skills;

3. A project management qualification such as PRINCE2 or equivalent;

4. Experience of using accounting packages and CRMs and experience of Quickbooks and Salesforce

About the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association

The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) is a professional association and registered charity, the majority of whose members are barristers, solicitors, advocates and IAA regulated advisers practising in all aspects of immigration, asylum and nationality law. ILPA currently has approximately 4500 individual member contacts.

Founded in 1984 by leading practitioners in the field, and 42 years on, stronger than ever, ILPA exists to promote and improve advice and representation in immigration, asylum and nationality law, through an extensive programme of training and disseminating information and by providing research and opinion that draw on the experiences of members.

Our vision is a fair and effective immigration system that respects human rights and the rule of law. We realise this by empowering members to provide the best possible advice and support for migrants and collaboratively working to improve law, policy and practice.

ILPA is represented on numerous Government, official and non-Governmental advisory groups and regularly provides high-level evidence to Parliamentary and official enquiries. ILPA is at the forefront of engagement with the Home Office, NGOs and other Government departments.

To our members, ILPA is a community where they come to share knowledge, keep up to date with changes and receive high-quality training to enable them to practise effectively. Members also rely on ILPA to be their voice in seeking change for the better to immigration, asylum and nationality law and practice. This we do through the work of our expert legal team, engaging with policymakers and stakeholders, and drawing on the experiences and expertise of our members. 

ILPA is an equal opportunities employer. We acknowledge that the legal and charitable sector can be less accessible to people from minoritised or racialised communities and lower socio-economic backgrounds, and we are committed to unsettling the status quo. In this role you will wear many hats and we recognise that the successful candidate may not have all the skills and experience listed in the personal specification. We welcome applications from you if you can see yourself in this role and have an appetite to gain new skills, knowledge and experience. We particularly welcome applications from individuals who have lived experience of the UK immigration system

We also encourage applications from people who have previously unsuccessfully applied for roles at ILPA. We will consider each application afresh. We appreciate that individuals are always learning, growing, and adding to their knowledge and experience.

About the ILPA Team 

You would be joining a small team, of around 12 team members. Under our current hybrid work policy, we have one anchor day (currently a Tuesday), in London, together with team members living in England and Scotland. On average, once every two months, there will be an online meeting in the evening that you will need to attend. As this is a two day a week role there is flexibility on what days are worked.

ID 1851 HR Business Partner, Human Resources (up to 2 vacancies)
Permanent contract
Family Action Head Office, London (N1) with hybrid working
37 hours per week (full-time)
£37,211 - £41,518 per annum
Plus £3,866 Inner London Weighting (if London-based) or £480 (if home-based)

We are flexible about both hours and where you work. The role is 37 hours per week full-time, but we welcome applications from people looking for part-time or other flexible working arrangements. We are also open to both office and home-based working; for colleagues based at our London office (N1), we operate a hybrid working model with an expectation of office attendance twice per week.

One of the roles will partner with our London-based services, so being based in or within commuting distance of London would be beneficial. However, we don’t want location to be a barrier and we welcome applications from people based elsewhere in the UK.

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action, we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

In the HR Business Partner role, you will partner with leaders and managers across the organisation, building strong relationships and developing a deep understanding of the services and business areas you support. As their key HR contact, you will provide expert advice and coaching on complex people matters, help managers build their confidence and capability, and support them to plan strategically for their people and align their plans with the wider people strategy.

You will also manage, coach and develop a team of HR Advisers, supporting them to build their expertise and deliver a high-quality HR service.

Alongside this, you will lead on complex change processes, including TUPE transfers and restructures, working collaboratively across HR, Services, and Implementation teams to implement change effectively.
If you have significant HR experience, strong applied knowledge of employee relations and experience supporting complex organisational change, we would like to hear from you. You might come from a generalist HR background or have specialised in employee relations or change, and you don’t need to have worked in the not-for-profit sector or held a formal management role before. The ability to build trusted relationships, provide pragmatic and solution-focused advice, deliver through others and contribute to the continued development of our people practices will make you an ideal candidate.

We are a supportive and inclusive organisation, and we want to break down barriers to people joining us. If you don’t feel confident applying because you don’t meet every single requirement on the Person Specification – please don’t let that stop you; we want to hear from you. We encourage you to use the application to highlight what you can bring to the role – your skills, knowledge, and experience as well as your values. At Family Action our 4 core values are incredibly important to us and underpin all we do. We are a 'people focused', 'can-do' organisation, which strives for 'excellence' in all we do and operates with 'mutual respect'.

Benefits:

- an annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days (pro rata) plus bank holidays
- up to 6% matched-pension contributions
- flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment
- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
- eye care and winter flu jab vouchers
- cycle to work scheme
- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

Closing Date: Monday 31st August 2026 at 23:59 pm

For direct queries, or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the selection process or the potential for flexible working arrangements, please email Katie Milne, Head of HR (full email adress located in the advert on our careers page).

All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.

All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse reasonable travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.

Please note that we will be reviewing applications as they come in. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found, so we encourage you to submit your application without delay. We are also ideally looking for a candidate who can join us as soon as possible (i.e. on a short notice period), however if that is not your situation please do not hesitate to apply as applications will not be assessed on this basis.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced and driven policy professional to lead Asylum Aid's external policy and advocacy work at a pivotal moment for refugee protection in the UK. 

The UK asylum and immigration systems are under sustained pressure.  Successive waves of hostile legislation and increasingly difficult political environment have cause serious harm to people seeking international protection and made already complex systems even harder to navigate.  At this time there is an urgent need for effective, well-evidenced voices in Parliament, Whitehall and the courts that keeps human experiences at its centre. 

Our proactive and prioritised policy advocacy is evidence-led, based on the experiences of survivors, collective expertise and/or the HBF group’s research findings. Asylum Aid, as part of the Helen Bamber Foundation group, uses its legal expertise and evidence to secure ongoing policy and systems change by:  

·Providing evidence and recommendations to central government through reports, briefings, consultation responses, oral and written evidence to parliamentary select committees and parliamentary lobbying. 

·Ongoing direct engagement on improvements to policy and practice with civil servants in the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and other relevant departments.  

·Working collaboratively with others in the asylum, trafficking and children’s sectors to highlight issues in the asylum and trafficking systems, and push for recognition and respect for international asylum, trafficking and human rights obligations.  

·Undertaking strategic litigation to secure change that cannot be achieved through policy advocacy. 

As Policy  Specialist, you will be Asylum Aid's policy and advocacy lead - responsible for shaping our policy positions; driving our advocacy strategy; building and managing coalitions across the sector; and ensuring that the voices and experiences of our clients directly inform our external work. You will be managed by the HBF Group Director of Policy, Evidence and Communications, and work closely with AA’s Executive Director and legal team. As well as coordinating and undertaking joint policy work with HBF, you will ensure close working relationships with partner organisations and coalitions and be a visible and credible presence in the wider refugee and human rights sector.

HOW TO APPLY

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 9am on 26th August 2026.

The website form will ask you to:

• Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role. This information can be shared in one of four different ways: 

1. Written A4 (No more than 2 sides of A4)
2. PowerPoint (No more than 3 slides)
3. Audio recording (No more than 5 mins) *
4. Video Recording (No more than 5 mins) *

* if you send in your cover letter in one these formats, please do not upload this to our website but email us.

• Upload your current CV
• Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.

TIMELINE

• Closing date: 26th August 2026
• Preliminary interviews (online): 2nd September 2026
• Final panel interviews (in person): 10th September 2026

At Asylum Aid we want to be transparent about what kind of qualities we are looking for and build trust from the very beginning of your journey with us. The first step is your interview, and we mean ‘your’ interview so we will provide you with your interview questions ahead of the interview. This will allow you time to prepare, and ensure you have your best examples in mind. We will also ask you some questions which you will not have prepared.

SELECTION PROCESS

We will invite candidates to an initial 30-minute online screening meeting week on 2nd September 2026 followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interview on 10th September 2026. We will also ask you to complete a short exercise on the day.

We offer a guaranteed interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they meet at least 50% of the essential criteria, where practical.

EXPERTS BY EXPERIENCE SUPPORT

We are also proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network , which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector.

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network and access other information and resources at their website.