Policy and public affairs manager jobs

The Public Affairs Manager will be a key member of our busy External Affairs Team within the wider Policy and External Affairs directorate.

Reporting to the joint Heads of Public Affairs & Stakeholder Relations, and working closely with communications and public policy colleagues, you will play an essential role in enabling and driving engagement with parliamentary, government, political and sector stakeholders.

You will be politically astute, with experience engaging across Westminster and Whitehall with competent written and communication skills, able to both brief and prepare senior leaders within the organisation for key engagement activities as well as meeting stakeholders independently as appropriate.

Strong organisational, people and project management skills are essential; you will be responsible for managing dedicated key influencing ‘moments’ with stakeholders and partners, such as organising and managing panel events, roundtables, webinars and showcase programme visits. You will also lead the co-ordination and secretariat activity for the Youth Employment Group (YEG), working closely with the Director of Policy and External Affairs as one of the five co-chairs.

This role can be based at any of our hubs located in Birmingham, Leeds or London. We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

For more information and a full job description, please download the Recruitment Pack.

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.

Join us on this exciting journey and help shape the future of allergy care! As a Policy and Influencing Officer. You will work closely with internal and external partners to increase the charity's profile, influence key opinion leaders, and drive policy changes that improve the lives of those with allergies. Your responsibilities will include:

• Contributing to the planning and delivery of influencing, engagement, and campaigning activities.
• Monitoring and horizon-scanning the external policy and public affairs environment.
• Supporting the National Allergy Strategy Group (NASG) by providing secretariat services.
• Engaging with politicians, government departments, and external agencies to galvanise support for allergy-related initiatives.
• Drafting accessible communications on policy issues for various audiences.
• Representing Allergy UK at external meetings and events.
• Coordinating engagement with the allergic community and volunteers to ensure advocacy activities are informed by their priorities and experiences.

About Us:
Allergy UK is the leading national charity dedicated to supporting the millions of people in the UK living with allergic conditions. We are passionate about raising awareness, providing trusted advice, and advocating for better healthcare and support. As we embark on our 2025-2030 strategy, we are looking for a dynamic and dedicated Policy and Influencing Officer to join our team and help drive meaningful change.

What We Are Looking For:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar role with a proven track record of influencing public affairs and policy change.
• Strong understanding of local, regional, and national government policy-making processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage a varied workload.
• Passionate about making a difference for people living with allergies.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and annual leave entitlement.
• Pension contributions.
• Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program and wellbeing resources.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.

Help shape science policy that tackles the biggest challenges of our time.
From tackling the health impacts of climate change and supporting healthy ageing to advancing medical innovation, physiology – the science of how the body works – underpins some of the most urgent and exciting frontiers in research and policy today. At The Physiological Society, we bring together scientists from around the world to champion evidence-based policy and support a thriving research ecosystem. We’re looking for a Policy and Public Affairs Officer to join our team and help ensure science plays a central role in shaping policy for healthier, longer lives. Whether your background is in health, biomedical research, the environment or science policy more broadly, this role offers a unique opportunity to make an impact across a wide range of issues. You will join us at an exciting time, as we host the Global Climate & Health Summit.

About the role
You’ll play a vital role in delivering an ambitious programme of policy and public affairs activity, influencing government, engaging key stakeholders and championing evidence-based policy informed by physiology. Working closely with the Policy and Public Affairs Manager, internal teams, Society members and global experts, your work will span issues such as precision medicine, climate change and health, and research funding. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the broader R&D and policy landscape while supporting a dynamic scientific community.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing policy positions and crafting impactful responses to government consultations
• Monitoring political developments and advising internal stakeholders
• Building strong relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians and external partners
• Organising events such as policy briefings and parliamentary receptions
• Supporting funding proposals for policy-related initiatives
• Writing engaging briefings, statements and communications tailored to diverse audiences

About you
You’ll be passionate about policy and science, with a strong understanding of how public affairs can influence change. You’ll also bring:

• A degree in life sciences, public policy, political science, or a related field
• Proven experience developing and advocating for policy positions
• Excellent communication and writing skills, including the ability to translate complex ideas clearly
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects
• Confidence engaging with senior stakeholders and representing the organisation externally

Desirable:

• Familiarity with the UK and Ireland’s research and science policy landscape
• Experience using digital tools for public engagement and stakeholder management
• Event planning experience
• Understanding of climate, health or biomedical research policy

Why join us?
At The Physiological Society, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented communities.

You’ll be part of a supportive, mission-driven team making a real difference in how science shapes society.

We offer excellent benefits, including private medical insurance and a generous pension scheme.

How to apply
To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining how your experience aligns with the role.

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK. We do not offer sponsorships.

Reporting to: Director of Policy and Engagement 

Direct reports: 1 x Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager and Legislative Lead, 2 x Policy and Public Affairs Officers, 1 x England Policy and Public Affairs Manager 

Location of work: Home-based. The post holder must be easily and quickly commutable to London and will require frequent meetings in London. The role may involve some irregular travel throughout England and Scotland to attend events and meetings.

Contract type: Full-time, 35 hours per week,  flexible hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work 

Contract Length: Permanent 

Salary: £54,500 - £56,500 

BACKGROUND

Our work has never been more needed. The latest research suggesting that the number of children and young people at risk of hunger has rocketed to 2.6 million* means that one in five children don't have enough to eat.When a child is too hungry to learn, when they’re aching for something to eat, they can’t concentrate. They can’t absorb information. Big feelings and worries can be impossible to control. They fall behind in their studies.

Magic Breakfast provide a nutritious and filling breakfast to over 300,000 children and young people every school day. We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target the children most in need without barrier or stigma.  Magic Breakfast are ambitious to grow our impact to remove hunger as a barrier to learning for all children and young people in the UK.

 This is an exciting time to join Magic Breakfast if you wish to make a difference to the lives of children as we work to influence both policy implementation, with the national rollout of primary-aged universal school breakfast, and legislative change, through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. There has also been commitment from the Scottish Government for a national breakfast scheme and we are seeking to expand our advocacy work into Wales. Magic Breakfast’s influence will be instrumental to ensuring school breakfasts are implemented in a way that is hunger-focused and barrier free.

In addition, thousands of secondary school children are at risk of losing their free school breakfasts from September next year. For many of these students, this is their only opportunity to have a nutritious meal before facing a demanding school day, including taking exams.  And for the very youngest, we know that the disadvantage gap begins before they even reach reception. With the Government commitment to another 100,000 places in school-based nurseries, early years is also a critical part of our advocacy work.

 Being part of the work of Magic Breakfast is your chance, together with parents, teachers and people across the UK, to demonstrate the power of school breakfasts and to shape the way forward to end morning hunger for good.

*Food Foundation Insecurity Tracker Jan 2025

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Policy & Public Affairs will review, develop and implement our advocacy strategy and lead a team to influence the devolved legislatures across the UK to address child morning hunger, with a view to the underlying systemic causes of child poverty and hunger, by driving change through policy and legislation. The role operates at our ‘Head of level’ which is the most senior operational specialist level and provides both operational and strategic leadership.

This role will also provide wider leadership across the charity and input into organisational strategy development and planning as part of the Core Management Group. This role will ensure that the Policy and Public Affairs function is aligned to the wider strategic aims and outcomes of Magic Breakfast as well as the internal operational systems and delivery.

The strategic leadership will ensure an external and long term view, with an outward looking and forward thinking approach that builds thought leadership, relationships and partnerships, with positioning to anticipate and build on new opportunities to end child morning hunger for good.

It will require an experienced Policy and Public Affairs professional, with significant experience of high impact and demonstrable outcomes at a senior level in the field. The postholder will lead the policy and public affairs team to influence the Early Adopters Scheme, the national rollout of primary school breakfast provision in England and breakfast legislation in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill (CWB).

They will also develop, guide and lead plans to influence the Scottish government, particularly in the run up to the election in May 2026 and the influencing of manifestos; and will lead Magic Breakfast’s upcoming influencing work in Wales. 

In the external leadership that the role provides they will build relationships with politicians, political influencers, special advisors and civil servants to establish long-term, sustainable solutions to child morning hunger in the UK.

As a compassionate, people centric and inspiring leader they will work to enable their team to grow and develop in their skills ensuring they can step away from the detail whilst retaining accountability, build effective resource management and progression pathways. This role may manage external consultants where necessary, and work collaboratively with external organisations to amplify our voice and asks and strengthen our position as a thought leader. 

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Review and define the advocacy strategy for 25/26 in line both with moving political environment and Magic Breakfast’s influencing agenda, considering the systemic barriers to ending child morning hunger for good.

· Develop and maintain close relationships with the Department for Education and other key departments including Department for Health and Social Care and Treasury, to secure hunger and child focus as key priorities for breakfast provision.

· Develop, monitor and evaluate influencing plans for each devolved nation

· Support the development of influencing plans with coalition groups and organisations to influence school breakfast policy, commitments and implementation

· Review policy positions in Wales and Northern Ireland and define our advocacy approach, gaining external insights and analysing available research and data to shape the plan

· Develop a vision for advocacy beyond current demands, considering political appetite and gaining insight from lived experience communities and relevant sectors, to ensure that we are clear on future asks, and can build the foundation towards them.

· Work with Impact and Insights team to define future research needs to meet our longer-term advocacy plans

· Enhance and establish internal processes and ensure good internal information dissemination 

· Work closely with key internal stakeholders to shape advocacy work and support broader organisational objectives

· Embed learnings and develop a fail fast, learn fast culture in the team

· Coach, support and lead direct reports enabling increased professional development, strategic decision making, proactive project management and robust political influencing

· Contribute to and help shape the work of the Core Management Group to ensure ongoing alignment for in year implementation of the strategic plan and create integrated future year plans which meet organisational goals

· Monitor and review KPIs to monitor and measure both team and cross organisational performance, using the results to guide teams and surface learnings

· Assess areas of risk and escalate where necessary and according to policy

· Develop and monitor annual team budgets

General

• Work collaboratively across the organisation, building good working relations and providing ad-hoc support to other teams and members of staff

• Passion and commitment to Magic Breakfast’s aim of alleviating morning hunger as a barrier to learning for children in the UK.

• Help to maintain a positive working environment; keeping the vision of Magic Breakfast at the heart of everything we do. 

• Share Magic Breakfast’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

• Establish and ensure existing Ways of Working are adhered to across team

• Adhere to all Magic Breakfast policies and procedures and ensure that all activity is compliant with current legislation, GDPR, data protection and child safeguarding requirements

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role

 PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

· Strategy development, demonstrating a deep understanding of how to craft, implement, and evolve strategies that align to operational outcomes for the Policy and Advocacy function as well as enabling our organisation strategy in our aim to end child morning for good.

· Stakeholder management and partnership building with extensive experience of engaging, influencing, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including senior political figures, policymakers, funders and sector leaders.

· Ability to confidently and flexibly deal with volatile political environment, anticipating potential developments and adapting to emerging situations to meet aims

· Highly experienced in developing and shaping policy positions, using insights, research and data sets to inform and guide decision-making

· Understanding and experience of the role of the broader external environment to shape policy asks and political influencing, including the implications of a policy ask in one sector on another.

· Experience of influencing key political events such as budgets, national elections and the legislative process.

· Significant experience of coaching, supporting and managing the development of a team, with the ability to make difficult decisions and challenge where needed to deliver the organisational strategy.

Desirable

· Experience of education, food insecurity, child poverty or childcare sectors

Skills and Abilities

• Effective leadership mentality with confidence to step away from the detail and delegate responsibility, enabling others to use judgements, make decisions, learn from failures and continuously improve.

• Analytical and evidence based decision making, with the ability to turn data and analysis into policy and advocacy related recommendations or outcomes for action.

• Effective planning, prioritisation and project management skills. Able to organise self and team to meet planned objectives and strategic direction with the ability to pivot and manage the unexpected.

• Strong, influential and impactful interpersonal and communication skills and to advocate for own specialism, department and Magic Breakfast's mission, effectively conveying the organisation's impact and needs to a wide range of audiences.

• Operational and financial acumen and analysis: understanding and practical application of knowledge as required around funding considerations, budget development and management, risk management, and ensuring systems in place for efficiency by setting and maintaining policy and procedural frameworks.

• An outward looking and forward thinking approach that drives a sense of curiosity, innovation and continuous improvement. Always thinking what can we learn from others, what new developments can be explored and what are the opportunities for the function to improve and grow with others too.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Magic Breakfast we value our employees and work hard to develop offer a supportive, respectful culture which enables everyone to bring their whole self to work.

Please find attached our job pack

APPLICATION PROCCESS

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team, recruitment @ magicbreakfast. com

Shortlisting - w/c 5th May

Interview 1 - 15th and 16th May

Interview 2 - w/c 21st May

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Background

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is a trade body which represents the independent schools’ sector in the UK. It comprises seven stakeholder associations who represent over 1,400 independent schools, educating more than half a million children. ISC schools are diverse, spanning day and boarding, single sex, SEND and faith provision. The great majority of children in UK independent schools are in ISC schools. ISC is strictly independent of all political parties and acts to support member schools in the interests of all children. 

Debates over the taxation of independent schools has meant the sector having a high political profile. With a new government, it is important the sector continues to build relationships with Ministers, civil servants and politicians of all parties to highlight the positive work of our schools in supporting pupils across the independent and state sectors and addressing the challenges facing education.

The role will be a permanent, full-time contract operating out of our London offices near St James’s Park underground station. Staff are able to work from home for part of the week.

Main purpose of job

Reporting to the Head of Policy, the successful candidate will deliver our public affairs workplan and support the development of policy positions. In particular, they will be responsible for building political relationships at national level while supporting schools to build local relationships with their MPs.

Person specification

· At least three years relevant political or public affairs experience.

· Ability to deliver public affairs work independently, working under the strategic supervision of the Head of Policy.

· Compelling, credible and confident communicator, able to:

o Write persuasively and with clarity

o Represent ISC in meetings with MPs, peers, civils servants and externals stakeholders at senior level

· Excellent working knowledge of Parliamentary and Whitehall processes.

· Ability to provide political counsel to senior ISC staff and member associations.

· Ability to build and develop a portfolio of external contacts and advocates.

· Can analyse policy documents and highlight issues of concern for member schools.

· Experience of responding to government consultations and select committee calls for evidence.

· Used to dealing with complex and changing issues in a challenging environment and able to respond flexibly and quickly as priorities change.

· Excellent planning and project management skills, with ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.

· Knowledge of education policy would be an advantage.

Personal attributes

· Highly literate and well versed in current affairs with excellent attention to detail.

· Motivated and proactive. Able to build productive internal and external relationships through professionalism, earning trust through the quality of work.

· Able to work well under pressure and prioritise effectively.

· Track record of seeing projects through to completion

· Able to communicate with confidence and clarity.

Specific responsibilities

To deliver ISC’s public affairs and policy activity including, but not restricted to, the tasks below:

· A priority is to develop good working relationships and links with association staff in the interests of maximising impact by working together.

· Develop and implement the public affairs and Parliamentary strategy for ISC.

· Implement political contact programme with Parliamentarians and external stakeholders; including attendance at party conferences.

· Advise and support school heads when engaging with local MPs and councillors; produce engagement toolkits.

· Advise the Chief Executive, senior staff and member associations and schools on effective public affairs approaches.

· Become a trusted source of political advice to member associations and schools, present at member meetings and conferences.

· Monitor Parliamentary activity – identifying issues, people to contact and writing weekly political update.

· Write briefings ahead of Parliamentary debates and engage with those taking part.

· Draft submissions to government consultations and select committee inquiries, working with members associations and schools to develop relevant policy positions.

· Work with the ISC media and communications team to ensure messaging is aligned, supporting the public affairs strategy and campaigns.

Other Benefits: 25 days holiday per annum (plus bank holidays) rising to 30 days after one year’s service (and at the commencement of the next holiday year); in addition to the annual allowance the office is closed between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day; 10% employer pension contribution; hybrid working with a minimum of two days per week in the office.

ISC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people.

About Equally Ours:

We’re the UK charity that brings together people and organisations working across equality, human rights and social justice to make a reality of these in everyone’s lives. Our vision is a just and compassionate society, where we are free from harm and can all contribute and flourish, whoever we are, whatever we believe in, and whatever we do and don’t have. A society that is equally ours.

About the role:

We’re on the lookout for a new Director of Policy and Public Affairs, to protect and advance equality and human rights in the UK, by increasing our policy impact and working collaboratively to harness the power of our network.

The Director of Policy and Public Affairs will play an important role in protecting and advancing equality and human rights in the UK. This role will focus on growing our policy and public affairs capacity so that we can achieve the goals set out in Together for Social Justice, our 10-year strategy. 

You’ll develop and deliver high-impact policy influencing strategies on our three big issues of law, climate and investment. This will mean working on vital public policy issues such as embedding equality and human rights in the government’s mission-driven approach, ensuring a strong legal framework of rights protections, improving public awareness of the value of human rights, and creating a work programme to ensure that people’s whose rights are most at risk can lead policy development on climate breakdown.

You’ll have a strong track record of creating innovative policy solutions that influence public policy and secure social change; the ability to forge and nurture constructive dialogue and working relationships across the political spectrum and within civil society, and a deep understanding of how to increase racial justice at systemic level. You’ll be confident communicating complex legal and technical issues in an engaging way that brings their practical impacts to life for a wide range of audiences, including the media. You’ll be skilled at bringing people together and working collaboratively. 

We’re a small team whose strength comes from combining our own lived and professional expertise with that of the leading thinkers and organisations who make up our network. We offer flexible working and lots of autonomy within a collaborative and supportive environment where it’s your job to make things happen. 

Why Equally Ours?

• Generous benefits including enhanced pension, 26 days of annual leave, health and wellbeing support, and more. 

• Flexible working arrangements to help you balance your professional and personal life. 

• A collaborative culture that values lived experience alongside professional expertise. 

If you are looking for an opportunity to use your skills to drive meaningful social change, we would love to hear from you. 

How to Apply: 

Please read through the full job pack and then submit your CV and cover letter (max 2 pages) outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the criteria. Please ensure that you address all the criteria, providing sufficient relevant evidence, including examples, to show how your skills and experience match those required in the person specification. Applications without cover letters will not be accepted.

Closing date for applications: 6th May, 12 noon

About SafeLives

We are SafeLives, the UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good.    

Last year alone, 14,000 professionals received our training. Over 80,000 adults at risk of serious harm or murder and more than 100,000 children received support through dedicated multi-agency support designed by us and delivered with partners. In the last six years, over 4,000 perpetrators have been challenged and supported to change by interventions we created with partners, and that’s just the start. 

Together we can end domestic abuse. Forever. For everyone.

About the role

As part of a team, this post will support the Policy, Public Affairs and Communications Manager to advance internal and external stakeholder communications and the development of, and public and political interest in, a more strategic approach to perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week.

Location: Bristol/London/remote, with occasional travel across UK.

About The Drive Partnership

The Drive Partnership, formed by Respect, SafeLives and Social Finance, is working to transform the national response to perpetrators of domestic abuse. We work to end domestic abuse and protect victims by disrupting, challenging, and changing the behaviour of those who are causing harm. Together we have developed the Drive Project to address a gap in work with high-harm, high-risk perpetrators of domestic abuse. We also work to advocate for systems and policy change- to develop sustainable, national systems that respond more effectively to all perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Benefits

• 34 days' holiday incl. public holidays
• Flexible working e.g. compressed hours
• Cycle to work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Pension scheme with 4% employer contribution
• Childcare vouchers
• Employee assistance programme
• Clinical supervision
• Holiday purchase scheme to buy up to an additional 5 days
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Enhanced sick pay
• Professional development fund
• Individual learning budget
• Restorative practice training
• Time off in lieu 

If this challenge sounds as exciting to you as it does to us and you believe you have the qualities we have described, please take a look over the job description and submit a 500-word cover letter and CV.

Closing date: 9.00am on Monday 5th May 2025.

SafeLives is a committed provider of equal opportunities for all; please see our job description for full details.

No agencies, please.

For 140 years, the Forces Employment Charity has proudly supported Service leavers, veterans, and their families in building successful civilian careers.

We provide veterans with life-long, life-changing support, jobs, and training opportunities, regardless of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving.

Brief role description:

The Communications Manager will play a key role in sharing the inspiring and powerful stories of our clients and the wider military community we support across the UK. They will be responsible for securing high-profile, meaningful media coverage that raises awareness of our mission to provide life-long, life-changing support, employment and training opportunities to Service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families. As we mark our 140th anniversary, this is a pivotal time for the Communications Manager to develop and deliver an integrated communications strategy across PR, traditional and new media, social media, and public affairs. Reporting to the Head of Brand and Communications, you will work closely with the Marketing Manager and the Community Engagement Manager and their teams to ensure consistent and aligned messaging across all marketing and
communication activity.​​

Interested? Want to know more about the Charity? Please visit the Charity Website

Eager to know more the role? Have a look at the Job Description attached.                                                                           

What’s in it for you? Check out the Benefits sheet attached.

Have we convinced you to apply? If so, submit your CV and Covering Letter by closing date Wednesday 14 May 2025.

 

​Please note: Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert; therefore, we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. ​If you are an internal applicant, please ensure you have made The People Team aware before applying.​

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff by fostering an inclusive, supportive environment where everyone, including those with disabilities, can thrive, develop, and achieve their full potential. We actively encourage applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and ensure reasonable adjustments are made to support candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.​

​We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process.

The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Senior UK Policy Manager to support the Policy team based at our London or Glasgow office.

Deadline: 5pm on Monday 5th May
Location: London OR Glasgow
Salary: Starting at £41,800 rising to £48,070 pro rata, plus £3,285 London Weighting if applicable
Hours: Full-time, 32 hours per week (as part of our 32-hour week pilot and may revert to 35 hours after July 2025) [part-time hours may be considered]
Contract type: Permanent

This exciting role will develop and bring together our policy and public affairs work from across all four nations of the UK to drive better understanding and action on public mental health.

What does the role involve?​

• Working with our Head of Policy and Heads of Nations to design and help implement our UK policy and public affairs programme.
• Working collaboratively with teams across the UK to align our policy goals, taking into account different contexts in each of the nations.
• Influence and inform policy-makers, opinion-formers, professional bodies and politicians to support and promote public mental health.

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?​

• Strong intellectual, analysis and influencing skills.
• Experience of working in a UK organisation seeking to shape policy in all four nations of the UK.
• Good understanding of Westminster and at least one of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd or Northern Ireland Assembly.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.

About us

Since 1949, the Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health.

Our vision is for a world with good mental health for all. With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

We will drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

The Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week.

How to apply

If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application form by clicking 'Redirect to recruiter'. Please note that all sections of the application form should be completed as CVs alone will not be accepted. Applications will close at 5pm on Monday 5th May and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned for week commencing 19th May.

We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme. Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.

If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview. Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 / Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing). We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home for full time staff, pro rata for part time staff.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Background:
Established in 2011, Kaleidoscope Trust (KT) is a UK-based charity focused on fighting for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and gender diverse (LGBTI+) people across the Commonwealth and beyond. We fund, fight for and empower those upholding the human rights of LGBTI+ people by working with governments, changemakers and civil society organisations to effect meaningful and lasting change in the lives of LGBTI+ people.
 

The Role:
The UK Policy and Advocacy Manager will lead Kaleidoscope Trust’s UK-focused policy and public affairs activities, in line with the organisation’s strategic objectives, and support, where appropriate, the wider work of the Policy and Public Affairs Team, including with external relations, communications, campaigns and events.

This role aims to:
▪ Provide the Secretariat function to support the co-chairs of the APPG for Global LGBT+ Rights to deliver the APPG’s strategy and work plan.
▪ Build and maintain relationships with government officials and the wider policy community across the UK, strategically deploying senior organisational staff or representing Kaleidoscope Trust and the APPG in external meetings and civil society forums as directed, and support delivery of events where such stakeholders are to be engaged.
▪ Identify and share insights into relevant emerging international political and policy trends helping to anticipate issues, risks and opportunities and translate these for relevant UK stakeholders.
▪ Draft insightful and compelling policy submissions, briefings and papers under the guidance of KT’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs.
▪ Fulfil the key responsibilities of the job role in a professional manner while adapting to often changing circumstances and re-prioritising accordingly.
 

For more information on the role, please find the Job Description attached.

Are you an established Policy and Public Affairs Manager, with knowledge of health policy, who enjoys both strategic and hands-on work? If yes, I’d love to hear from you! As Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager you will play a pivotal role in positioning the charity as a key voice in influencing policies to improve cancer education, awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of young people. 

As Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager you’ll have the opportunity to lead the function, and set the future direction, ensuring that the charity’s policy and public affairs activities are data- and insight-driven, centring the voices and experiences of young people, those who have had a cancer diagnosis, and healthcare professionals. A key focus of this work will be to highlight the health inequities and unique challenges faced by young people—particularly those from underserved groups—and ensure these are reflected in policy development.

Your experience:

- In-depth experience in a policy and public affairs related environment, delivering impact and notable change

- Experience working in health policy

- Experience of undertaking research and analysing complex data to support policy development

- Experience of leading projects, including producing plans and working across teams to lead their implementation

You’ll join a fantastic team, with a bright, innovative brand! The team are supportive and go the extra mile to affect change. They are proud to foster an inclusive working environment that champions and uplifts marginalised communities.

- This is a full-time, permanent role

- Flexible working- Core hours between 10am and 4pm.

- Hybrid, London office 2 days a week, 3 days from home.

- Salary £45,000- £50,000

Please apply now for more information! Apply now to avoid disappointment, the organisation will review applications on a rolling basis.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Would you like to join the Campaigns, Policy and Research team for a leading UK charity?

We have an opportunity for a Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager (Scotland) to join our team and help shape and carry out Poppyscotland and RBLs public affairs and campaigning activities in Scotland.

Joining us at a busy time, you will grow and manage our campaign activities locally in Scotland, delivering our political engagement for the next Scottish Parliament election and advising colleagues both in Poppyscotland and RBL on political developments.

RBLs Campaigns, Policy, and Research (CPR) team raise the profile of issues affecting the Armed Forces community, and work to influence politicians, officials, and the wider sector, to improve policy and service delivery to address these issues. Poppyscotland, as part of the RBL Group, work to deliver better outcomes for serving and ex-serving personnel, and their families across Scotland. This role will see you as a key part of our wider CPR team working across both RBL and Poppyscotland.

Reporting to our Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns, key responsibilities will include:

- Supporting colleagues with the development of a Public Affairs engagement programme in Scotland - managing day-to-day implementation through regular events, meetings, briefings and attendance at conferences, including local government and party conferences
- Developing and maintaining good working relationships with the Scottish Government, key Members of the Scottish Parliament, Committees, All-Party Groups, the Scottish Veterans Commissioner, and other related stakeholders within Scotland
- Routinely monitoring political developments at the Scottish Parliament and parliamentary business and identify any areas of concern and opportunities to influence
- Working with Poppyscotland colleagues, Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager (UK) and Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager (Wales) on the development of campaign strategies and messages to facilitate positive policy change
- Being the lead point of contact for internal and external enquiries about Poppyscotland and RBL campaigns, managing responses to Scottish public affairs issues and developments

You will be contracted to our Edinburgh Hub with a minimum expectation of two days per week working in person at the Hub and flexibility for working remotely/at home when not on site. There will also be a requirement for travel across the region.

Should you wish to explore a remote/home based working contract, with regular travel to the Edinburgh Hub and across the region, this can be discussed at interview. Due to the nature and duties of the role, it is expected that you will live within a reasonable distance of the Edinburgh Hub.

Employee benefits include –

- 28 day’s paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
- Generous pension contributions, with Employer contributions ranging from 6% to 14%
- Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
- Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!

For more detailed information about the role, please see our Vacancy Information Pack attached to our direct advert.

RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.

We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen at the heart of the Law Society's campaigning and political influencing activity.

Managing a busy in-house team of public affairs professionals, this role will lead our day-to-day engagement and relationships with key political stakeholders, providing oversight of our activity and working closely with senior leadership to support our members.

We lobby on a range of legislation in Parliament - from Bill's you might expect such as the Crime and Policing Bill or the Employment Rights Bill - but also on Bill's such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the Terminally Ill Adults Bill or on recent trade legislation.

The Law Society is the independent professional body for over 200,000 solicitors in England and Wales. Our members work across all areas of law - and the issues we work on are just as diverse. This is an exciting and varied role where your political expertise and knowledge will be used to great effect to make a real impact for our members.

We have positive access and relationships to policymakers, parliamentarians and ministers, and an excellent reputation in Westminster. As we approach the end of the first year of the new Labour Government, there is huge opportunity to influence the political debate, driving our influencing on important issues such as access to justice, the rule of law and supporting a thriving legal business sector up the agenda and influence on behalf of our members.

As Public Affairs Manager, you will lead the effective delivery of Public Affairs and influencing activity, supporting and advising the work of our officeholders and senior leadership team in developing key relationships and identifying opportunities to influence.

What we're looking for

We're looking for candidates with a keen interest in politics and campaigning, and someone who has:

• Relevant experience in a public affairs role or equivalent in a complex organisation, and experience of designing, implementing and evaluating persuasive influencing campaigns which has delivered positive outcomes
• Strong stakeholder management abilities, with expertise in influencing and developing relationships with senior level stakeholders, while credibly representing the Law Society
• Experience of line management or leading a high performing team that delivers work on time, to brief and to a high standard.

What's in it for you

This is an excellent opportunity to join a team of marketing experts within a fast-paced, progressive membership organisation. The successful candidate will join a strong brand with a reputation for excellence and legal expertise, committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and a culture of trust, excellence clarity and respect.

We offer hybrid working (2 days per week in our central London office), a generous flexible benefits package, a friendly working environment and the opportunity to develop your career within a professional organisation.

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

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

Policy and Communications Manager

Job Description and Person Specification

Job title Policy and Communications Manager

Hours 28 hours per week (can be flexible on work pattern)

Salary £42,000 FTE Actual for this role £33,600 pro rata

Location Hybrid work between home and our Vauxhall office – please read more about our approach to hybrid working in the relevant section below. Please note that our offices are fully wheelchair accessible and that we are committed to making our workplace fully inclusive

Reports to Director of Policy and External Affairs

National Voices

Making what matters to people matter in health and care

National Voices is the leading coalition of health and social care charities in England. We have more than 200 members covering a diverse range of health conditions and communities, connecting us with the experiences of millions of people. We work together to strengthen the voice of people: patients, service users, carers, their families, and the voluntary organisations that work for them.

Our Vision:

People shaping their health and care.

Our Mission:

We advocate for more inclusive and person centred health and care, shaped by the people who use and need it the most.

We do this by:

· Understanding and advocating for what matters to people especially those living with health conditions and groups who experience inequalities.

· Finding common cause across communities and conditions by working with member charities and those they support.

· Connecting and convening charities, decision makers and citizens to work together to change health and care for good.

The Role

The purpose of the Policy and Communications Manager role is to:

• Deliver against our National Voices’ policy and project work through a programme’s life cycle, from inception to delivery and evaluation, and within budget
• Manage our communications work to our members and external stakeholders to successfully communicate all relevant organisational output including policy, improvement, lived experience and insight work.
• Work with voluntary sector organisations and people with the greatest health and care needs to develop National Voices’ deliver our policy and communications positions in line with our strategy and members priorities.

The role will be a mix of policy and communications, with 75% of the role likely focused on policy.

Responsibilities

Management oversight

· Manage projects or programmes which are significant in terms of income, profile or risk, and which are often delivered in partnership with others.

· Identify possible future partnerships, follow-on work and funding opportunities that arise from our policy and external affairs work, including from stakeholder relationships, and proactively work to secure income

· Line-manage staff, in the first instance our Communications and Events Officer, to include appraisals, setting objectives, monitoring performance and supporting development.

· Support the policy and external affairs team to deliver against our priorities and projects, including deputising for the Director of Policy and External Affairs, working in sync with other team managers and holistically supporting junior staff members

 

Deliver against our policy priorities and projects

· Identify, monitor and evaluate policy issues to formulate new policy positions, taking responsibility and action for our position on specific policy areas. This may include developing policy briefings, position papers, consultation responses, blogs, reports, letters and other policy and public affairs documents that capture our policy positions.

· Lead on policy projects from inception to delivery and evaluation including keeping to a set budget where appropriate.

· Develop and collate qualitative and quantitative policy evidence, from analysing previous reports and external stakeholder guidance to developing and delivering against workshops, focus groups, round tables, engagement events and in-depth interviews.

· Work with voluntary sector organisations and people with the greatest health and care needs to understand their experiences, perspectives and ambition using methods laid out above but with a willingness to adapt and flex where needed.

· Connect with policy and comms stakeholders both within our membership and in the wider policy landscape, to spot and make connections among members and to deliver against our five-year strategy objectives

· Work with the wider team to consider how our we evaluate and monitor the success of our project work and our wider influencing wins

· Represent National Voices at external events and conferences where required

Deliver on our communications work

· Work with the Communications and Events officer to help them develop engaging content that conveys National Voices messages to members, external stakeholders, and media to maximise the reach and impact of the organisation’s policy messages and funded project work

· With the support of Communications and Events Officer support media relations activity by drafting media statements, liaising with journalists and other media activity as required

· Manage the sign-off of relevant comms materials including social media, member newsletter, blogs, articles and media statements

· Liaise with senior external stakeholders such as from the Department of Health and Social Care, including attending relevant briefings, and supporting larger joint press activity with other stakeholders when required.

· Oversee management of comms and events calendar, which will be proactively compiled by the Policy and Communications officer, especially where there are conflicts or competing needs

· Along with other managers provide a second review of reports we produce including ensuring adherence to brand guidelines

General

• Take a pro-active approach to including our members and people with lived experience in all areas of our work.
• Support the senior team in identifying potential new members and funding opportunities where possible, as well as costing and drafting bids or supporting others to do so.
• Follow processes set out to measure, monitor and communicate the impact of our work.
• Support good project, financial and data management.
• Contribute to the team’s planning activities and undertake other relevant duties as appropriate.
• Deputise for other members of the team when needed.

• Be prepared to take part in full day events, including providing planning and support
• Be prepared to take part in events outside of core hours, when sufficient notice has been given

 

Person Specification

Values, attitudes and behaviours

• Passionate about National Voices’ mission and work.
• Proactive, flexible and responsive
• Comfortable working in a team, as well as under own initiative
• Calm under pressure and able to work to tight deadlines while maintaining accuracy.
• Committed to reducing inequality and embracing diversity.
• Comfortable with a range of views and perspectives and keen to make connections and build relationships.
• Willing and confident to assert views, constructively challenge others and receive constructive feedback.

Skills and abilities

• Excellent communication skills, including written and oral, including stakeholder engagement
• Demonstrable experience in delivering against a policy influencing agenda
• Able to synthesise complex information and present it in simple and impactful ways.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, including demonstrable ability to prioritise workload and maintain quality.
• Excellent people skills, able to work collaboratively and flexibly in a small, friendly team, and communicate and collaborate with a wide range of external stakeholders at all levels
• Experience in Identifying and developing funding opportunities, ideally including costing and drafting bids
• Ability to embed clear and reliable processes amongst a team of creative and busy people
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office programmes, CRM systems, online conference/meeting software and other programmes where required.
• Able to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines while maintaining attention to detail
• Previous line management experience is preferred

 

Our approach to hybrid working

We recognise the importance of coming together regularly, in-person, as a team, so we can share learnings and spend social time with each other. We also recognise that people need flexibility, and that homeworking enables focused work and can fit well in people’s lives.

We ask all staff to take part in pre-arranged team meetings which take place every six weeks in our office space. We also might ask you to meet in-person with members of your team from time to time, or to be available for face-to- face meetings with clients and partners where this enhances the work.

We assume that this would usually not amount to more than one day per fortnight for people who work full time. We are happy to discuss how this sits in your life. This can be agreed by your line manager.

Equality and Inclusion

As reflected in our Equality Action Plan, we are committed to being a truly diverse organisation. We want to ensure that our trustees, staff members, lived experience partners and volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, each bringing their own unique perspectives and experiences. We want to ensure that everyone feels heard and is fully able to participate and thrive.

We are committed to diversifying our team in order to broaden the insight and experiences we can draw on, and to do our work more credibly. So we strongly encourage people from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background, and people who live with health conditions or disability to apply. Our offices are fully accessible and we are an LGBT+ friendly employer. Men are currently underrepresented in our team so we would welcome applications from men and non-binary people.

We welcome applications from people who have been in contact with the criminal justice system. For some roles, you may be asked to undergo a basic or enhanced DBS check, but you will only be deemed ineligible for roles which relate to any offences on your criminal record.

We have a range of benefits in place to ensure everyone can thrive, for example:

· We are a Disability Confident employer

· We offer enhanced parental and sickness leave

· We offer flexible working wherever possible

· We provide our employees with an annual wellbeing allowance

· And much more

Application guidance

Please submit a cover letter along with a CV to apply.

Applications should be addressed to our Director of Policy and External Affairs, Sharon Brennan, and submitted through CharityJob.

Please apply by Monday the 5th May 2025

We will let you know the outcome of your application by Friday 9th May 2025  

Interviews will be held on 22nd May 2025 on Teams

Please note, we will be blind shortlisting all applications, so we ask you not to include your name in your application.

If you are invited to interview, we will ask you about any reasonable adjustments you will need to be able to participate. We will share interview questions in advance of the interview. If you require any adjustments at any stage of your application, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Matthew Haslehurst Director of Finance and Operations

Please specify any access or other requirements of which we need to be aware for the online interview.