Policy and public affairs manager jobs

Background

We are Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International. Since 1954, we have worked to create a more humane society for animals. Working side by side as the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, we have helped to pass thousands of landmark laws, rescue hundreds of thousands of animals, and cared for and protected millions more.

In 2025, to convey our mission and make sure that everyone understands who we are and the bold work that we do, our organisations are standing together under a new shared name: Humane World for Animals. 

We are dedicated to changing the world for animals. We drive change with human action. We help people, communities, governments, and corporations shift behaviour, providing the right support and advocating for policy change to stem the root causes of suffering and cruelty.

Purpose of role

As the Program Manager, Media and Communications, you will support the Program Director on the design, development and implementation of communication strategies and plans to advance Humane World for Animals UK’s strategic priorities with regard to campaigns, brand-building and fundraising. You will lead on producing and delivering a content strategy for a broad range of channels to increase audience engagement. The position will support campaigns and fundraising stewardship and give strategic advice regarding social media market insights and trends in the UK digital sphere and emerging channels. This will be vital to achieve successful brand building in the UK market through impactful storytelling, campaign activations, fundraising recruitment and stewardship through compelling content on the earned channels and holistic management of thematic work.

If you are results-oriented, organised and creative and have 5+ years of experience as a media and communications professional then we would like to hear from you.

Key areas of responsibility

• Communications strategy and planning:Lead the development and delivery of storytelling and social media strategies to support the UK’s wider communications strategy.Guide public affairs, campaigns, and fundraising colleagues in ideation sessions to develop creative and impactful activations.Provide insights on digital communications trends and opportunities.
• Content creation and storytelling:Produce high-quality digital content, including video, for use on social and digital channels.Turn campaign and policy work into clear, engaging stories.Collaborate with Head Office to integrate global storytelling content.
• Social media:  Plan, schedule and manage day-to-day (and occasional out-of-hours) social media activity, engaging online communities, managing paid social media advertising and delivering campaigns that support advocacy, fundraising and recruitment. Maintain the visual asset library and manage a social media volunteer.
• Influencer and partnership engagement:Identify and recruit influencers and celebrities to extend our reach and support our campaigns
• Administration: Monitor and report on performance using tools like Google Analytics and social monitoring platforms to guide continual improvement.Coordinate activities with colleagues using planning platforms.

About you

Our successful candidate will be confident, creative and positive with a proven track in media and communications roles. A proactive self-starter, you will have demonstrable experience of achieving significant growth and development in regard to audience reach and will take a solution-focused approach to overcoming obstacles. You will have experience of delivering media and communication strategies and plans in a fast-paced environment. You will have ambition and drive for creating positive change for animal welfare; a willingness to constantly learn and develop the most impactful, cost-effective communications for our target audiences; and your work will be solidly underpinned by regular evaluation of progress and impact with a view to further improving strategies.

We are searching for an experienced media and communications professional to make a difference and be part of our ambitious team. If that’s you, please get in touch!

Application Instructions

To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you fulfil the requirements set out in the job ad.

The deadline for applications is Thursday, 30 April 2026, 11pm GMT. Applications without covering letters will not be considered.

You must have an existing right to work in the UK, and you must reside in the UK, to be considered for this role. 

Job Purpose: Lead delivery of a national climate action programme (BELIEVE in Climate Action), managing cross-sector partnerships, stakeholder engagement and programme operations. Oversee youth-led initiatives and knowledge exchange, while also supporting university teams to deliver the ParliaMentors programme and strengthen student leadership and civic engagement.

• Salary: £40,204 (Band D, Point 3, including London weighting) / £36,501 (Band D, Point 3, elsewhere in the UK)
• Contract: 4.2 years (this is a fixed term contract, linked to the BELIEVE project, ending in September 2030)
• Location: primarily hybrid/remote, open to candidates anywhere in the UK. The project is based in England, so the role will involve regular travel to locations across England, including London.
• Hours: 1 FTE (0.8 FTE can be considered)
• Reporting to: Senior Programme Manager, Youth & Universities
• Start date: 3rd August 2026

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Programme Manager to lead delivery of Believe in Climate Action (BELIEVE), an ambitious national initiative at the intersection of climate action, youth leadership and community engagement (3 days per week). This role will also support the delivery of the UN Award winning ParliaMentors project, providing mentoring, training and leadership development opportunities to students across the country, and maintaining strong relationships with University partners (2 days per week).

This is a unique opportunity to lead a complex, high-impact programme that connects schools, communities, young people, researchers and policymakers, shaping a more inclusive and effective model of climate action across England. You would be joining a team that has been running impactful projects for 19 years, which centres the voices, needs and potential of young people to bring about change.

The BELIEVE project

BELIEVE in Climate Action (BELIEVE) is an ambitious and innovative national programme led by the Faith & Belief Forum in partnership with the Cambridge Interfaith Programme. Together, we are building a bold new model for climate action, one that connects grassroots communities, young leaders, researchers and policymakers through collaboration, co-learning and shared purpose.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Project Manager to lead a pioneering, cross-sector initiative that is reshaping how climate action happens in England. BELIEVE operates at the intersection of community engagement, youth leadership and policy influence, requiring strategic oversight, strong partnership management and the ability to navigate complexity across local, regional and national contexts.

BELIEVE is also a platform for sector leadership. It offers the opportunity to influence how climate engagement is understood and delivered, particularly by centring voices often excluded from mainstream climate discourse, including young people and those from diverse faith and belief backgrounds.

About the Faith & Belief Forum

For nearly 30 years, the Faith & Belief Forum has worked to build connected communities, a society that celebrates diversity, and to tackle faith and belief based hate, discrimination, division and polarisation.

We are a dynamic organisation, who puts the voices of our beneficiaries at the forefront. We work in schools to build connection, understanding and empathy, in universities to build confidence, skills and connection in the next generation of interfaith leaders, and in communities to celebrate the role that faith plays in society, and pilot new, innovative approaches to tackling hate and division at the local level.

Our team is diverse, talented, sensitive, and creative. We value building meaningful connection amongst ourselves, and with our partners and stakeholders.  We believe that a central solution to tackling division, polarisation and hate is connection, that is both expertly facilitated and heartfelt. In our projects this takes place through education, dialogue, social action projects, mentoring, training and development, public engagement events, and community led responses to local issues.

Key Responsibilities

Programme leadership & delivery

· Lead the strategic and operational delivery of BELIEVE across its three interlinked workstreams

· Ensure effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of a multi-year national programme

· Manage programme timelines, budgets, reporting and risk

Stakeholder engagement & partnerships

· Build and maintain strong relationships with cross-sector stakeholders, including schools, community organisations, funders, academic partners and policymakers

· Act as a senior point of contact for programme partners, ensuring alignment, accountability and collaboration

· Convene and facilitate high-level stakeholder spaces, including national workshops and knowledge-exchange forums

Team & youth leadership oversight

· Line manage the BELIEVE project Coordinator, ensuring timely and high quality delivery of workplans, supporting their development and training, managing any performance issues, and helping them to grow and thrive.

· Oversee delivery of the youth leadership strand, including internship programmes and youth-led climate action projects

Strategy, learning & influence

· Design internal evaluation frameworks and processes, in collaboration with University of Cambridge academics

· Translate research, learning and evaluation into programme development, communications and external influence

· Contribute to shaping national conversations on inclusive climate action

· Responsible for delivery, and ensuring programme outputs (reports, toolkits, events, digital platforms) are high-quality and impactful

Manage 2 teams of ParliaMentors students

· Support with delivery of the ParliaMentors programme, including facilitating workshops, having meetings with students, organising the logistics for various events throughout the year

· Mentor and support two teams of students at two universities as they work together to deliver a social action project

· Contributing to communications for the programme on social media, LinkedIn, and newsletters

· Support with delivering trainings for university staff

Person Specification

Essential Experience

· Significant experience managing complex, multi-partner programmes (ideally national or multi-regional)

· Demonstrable expertise in stakeholder engagement at a senior level, including building and maintaining strong partnerships across sectors

· Strong track record of delivering complex programmes on time and within budget

· Confidence and proven experience in line management (this role will line manage 1 Project Coordinator, and oversee an internship programme of up to 8 paid interns per year)

· Strong financial management skills, and experience managing large budgets (this role will be responsible for financial management of the BELIEVE project, and reporting to funders)

· Strong experience and understanding of Safeguarding, in charities and/ or school settings

Skills & Competencies

· Excellent project management skills, experienced in using project management tools

· Excellent relationship management and influencing skills

· Strategic thinking combined with strong operational delivery

· Ability to navigate complexity and work across different sectors and perspectives

· Strong written and verbal communication skills

Desirable

· Experience in climate action, sustainability or environmental programmes

· Understanding of faith, belief and/or intercultural engagement

· Experience working with research partners or translating evidence into practice

· Project management qualification

· CRM development experience

How to Apply

Please submit:

· Your CV (Max 2 pages)

· A cover letter detailing what motivated you to apply for the role, and how you meet the person specification.

Application deadline:

6th May 2026, 9:00 AM

Benefits include:

· Opportunity to work mainly remotely from home, with occasional travel to London and other locations across England required for schools, events, and activities.

· Generous annual leave from 25 days (pro rata) plus UK bank holidays, increasing with length of service and including a birthday day off after three years.

· 2 days paid volunteer leave (pro rata)

· Generous pension scheme to help you save for the future.

· Interfaith and intercultural learning opportunities

· Access to internal learning sessions on topics relevant to our sector

· Team events / away days / annual retreat

· Supportive and inclusive work environment with a focus on staff wellbeing 

Who we encourage to apply

We value sensitivity to the issues at the heart of our work and a strong commitment to The Faith & Belief Forum’s goals. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities, as well as from faith or belief communities currently underrepresented in our organisation, including Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Zoroastrian communities. We warmly welcome applicants of all ages and experiences who share our vision and values, and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace, regardless of protected or unprotected characteristics, including but not limited to gender, disability, sexual orientation, and religion or belief.

We recognise that valuable experience can be gained through work, study, volunteering, or community involvement.

Unfortunately, we can only consider applications from individuals who have the unrestricted right to work in the UK, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship. Applicants must also already be resident and based in the UK at the time of application.

Every childhood is worth fighting for. This is our belief. It drives us. And it motivates our award-winning Policy and Influencing  team to maintain the NSPCC's position as an influential, informed and forceful voice at every level. Join us as a Policy and Public Affairs Assistant (Wales and Child Safety Online) and be part of progress that means more

The postholder will use their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC's impact on public policy and legislation, and in doing so make a significantcontribution to keeping children safe. Theywill be responsible for undertaking a range of work to achieve the NSPCC's strategic goals. This will include: 

•  providing an effective and efficient administrative support service to the team 
•  supporting policy analysis and development, policy research and publicaffairs and influencing activities
• supporting participation work in Wales and across the Child Safety Online workstream. 

The post holder will be based in the Policy and Influencing Team in Wales, assisting with parliamentary monitoring, research and policy analysis, managing engagements with external audiences and organising events. The post holder willalso support colleagues in our UK Child Safety Online work, with a particularfocus on supporting the organisation of participation activities with children and young people and project delivery across the team's work. This is a great opportunity to develop policy and public affairs skills in an authoritative and well-respected children's charity. 

We're looking for someone with a clear commitment to the NSPCC's vision to working together to stop child abuse and neglect, and excellent administrativeand IT skills to support with managing engagements with external audiences and organising events.Our new colleague will also have strong skills in researching, analysing and summarising key information. Finally, we're looking for someone who works well across different teams and can support a range of policy projects. 

Join us and you'll become part of a team that cares about the work they do and the people they work with. You'll discover opportunities to grow, along withchallenges and a shared purpose that'll bring the best out in you. And you'll get to find your own way to make a difference that means more, and that impacts millions of young lives.

If you are interested in applying for this role, we encourage you to apply early. To help us manage the process we may close the vacancy before the advertised closing date should we receive a strong response to the role.

In keeping with our values and our policies, if any individuals who are regrettably at risk of redundancy apply for a role and meet the minimum essential criteria they will be given priority consideration. We hope that you understand our position on this and that this will not discourage from applying.  We cannot predict who, internally, will apply for a role, or whether they will meet the minimum essential criteria.  Where no at-risk candidates meet the minimum essential criteria, all applications will be considered as normal.

London - Hybrid working with 2 days a week from the London Bridge office

We are looking for an experienced Policy and Public Affairs Manager to lead our policy and campaigning work. 

Whizz Kidz: the facts
Over 75,000 young people aren’t getting the wheelchair or support that fully meets their needs. Without the ability to be independent young wheelchair users are restricted in their ability to socialise and participate in society.

We’re here to change that.
As the UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users (9 months - 25 years old), we empower young people by providing the wheelchairs, equipment, support and confidence-building experiences they need, and campaigning for a more inclusive society. 

And we won’t stop until they are mobile, enabled and included.

Our vision
A society in which every young wheelchair user is mobile, enabled and included.

Our values
We are young people focused, ambitious, collaborative and inclusive.

Job Summary
You will have a strong understanding of the UK political system and how to influence it, and will be confident in drafting reports, consultation responses and working with and disseminating data. Ideally, you will have worked within the youth policy or disability policy sector previously and will have strong knowledge of how to influence policy at local and national level (including devolved Governments).

The person
You must be pro-active in your approach to monitoring the external environment and seeking out opportunities for Whizz Kidz to have the most influence. You will be able to work in a small team and understand how we can make the most impact with our limited capacity.

You will be passionate about the rights of young wheelchair users and driving real change within the sector.

Key accountabilities

• Lead on determining how policy analysis, research and data are translated into campaign strategy, focussing on identified themes from Whizz Kidz beneficiary groups, particularly our Youth Board.
• Lead on external evidence gathering, surveys and data analysis including identifying priority campaign objectives, audiences and influencers, and ensuring campaigning effort is focused where it can have its greatest impact.
• Create a strategy and operational plan to widen our reach (including into devolved nations) including a full stakeholder engagement programme.
• Build compelling cases for change to drive national and local policy changes across the UK, and empower political and non-political stakeholders to engage in our campaigns to drive our policy goals.
• Proactively identify and review new research and policies in relation to relevant policy areas to help create a compelling case for change and investment from governments and other stakeholders
• Working alongside the Youth Board, you will ensure the voices of young wheelchair users are at the heart of all of our policy and campaign work. This will often include working with a variety of stakeholders including young people with lived experience, their families, Clinicians, and partners.
• Support the charity’s responses to government consultations and other relevant public consultations, policy developments and announcements
• You will support with ensuring the smooth running of the All-Party-Parliamentary Group on Access to Disability Equipment which Whizz Kidz is a co-partner Secretariat for.
• Ensure beneficiary led advocacy is at the heart of our policy work, including supporting wider team initiatives including the Collective, Family network and Research panel.
• Regularly review impact, ensuring funding requirements and reporting are met.

Please note: This post is subject to an enhanced level DBS Disclosure, which will be sought prior to the confirmation of a job offer.

Person specification

Skills and knowledge

• Acutely political aware.
• Able to think strategically with excellent attention to detail.
• Exceptional communicator
• Strong understanding of the operation of Central Government, Local Government and Devolution.
• Deep understanding of at least one policy area: disability, health, youth services
•  An ability to work under tight deadlines
• A positive ‘can-do’ attitude and the ability to work on own initiative with limited supervision
• Able to work flexibly and creatively to respond to the emerging needs of Whizz Kidz

Experience

• Significant demonstrable experience of policy development for short, medium and long term impact
• Proven track record of interpreting national changes and developments into local and organisational context
• Provision of responsive and robust advice to leadership
• Experience of working within a policy / campaign environment
• Successful development and maintenance of policy frameworks and strategy
• Proven track record of maintaining appropriate networks and communities of practice for policy development best practice
• Degree or degree-equivalent qualification (desirable)
• Experience of working with young people / within the youth sector either in a policy or delivery capacity (desirable)
• Knowledge of how the health and care system works locally, regionally and nationally in all UK nations, and experience of how to influence these (desirable)
• Understanding of the barriers faced by young wheelchair users (desirable)

Personal qualities

• Alignment with our values – young people focused, ambitious, inclusive and collaborative
• Passionate about supporting young wheelchair users and creating societal change
• The ability to enthuse and engage others in the potential benefits of an engaging project
• Goals driven and creative problem solver
• We’re interested in you as much as your experience so we will welcome your application even if you don’t fully meet the ‘person specification’

A few perks
The wellbeing of our colleagues is of paramount importance to our success as an organisation, and we want to ensure that our benefits package provides something of value for everyone, whether it is our generous holiday entitlement, wellbeing days, Healthcare cash plan, long-service awards. We hope you agree!

Annual leave
25 days of annual leave per annum plus Bank Holiday (pro-rata for part time colleagues).

Christmas closure
In addition to annual leave, employees get three days of paid Christmas leave.

Pension
Automatic enrolment for all colleagues with the option to opt out. Contributions of 5% gross salary made by both Whizz Kidz and employees. We will match higher contributions of up to 6% of gross basic salary.

Simply health
Automatic enrolment in a fully paid for cash plan that assists you with everyday health costs. This scheme is also available to your families for an extra charge.

Season ticket loan
An interest free loan of up to £5,000 following the successful completion of the Probationary Period.

To apply, please visit our website via the Apply Button. 

Policy and Public Affairs Manager - National Charity
£37,000 to £39,000 per annum.
Fixed term contract until 30th April 2027.
 
Happy to talk about flexible working such as part-time working or flexible working hours.
 
ABOUT US
Somebody goes missing in the UK every 90 seconds. Missing People exists to ease the heartache experienced by those missing someone, and to help people who are away from home find their way back to safety. Our vision is for every missing child, adult and family left behind to find help, hope and a safe way to reconnect. We are a non-judgemental, highly skilled team of staff and volunteers working for everyone who needs us. We provide free, confidential support, help and advice by phone, email, text and live chat.

Missing People’s Policy and Research Team is a small team with a big impact, both within the charity and externally. We aim to create local, regional and national change to improve the response to missing people. We work in an evidence-based way, centring the experiences of those who have been or are affected by missing. As the Policy and Public Affairs Manager, you will lead work to influence improvement in the response for missing children, adults and their families at a national and local level.

THE IMPACT YOU WILL HAVE 
Make a national impact on the lives of missing children, adults and their families.
 
Joining our Policy and Research Team, you will help influence local and national policy, ensuring that the voices and experiences of missing people and their families are heard at the highest levels. Your work will directly shape how the UK understands and responds to missing people — and will help protect those at greatest risk of harm. You will learn from and work with people who have been missing, and people who have reported a loved one missing, to shape workplans and to call for change.
 
You will act as Co-Secretariat for the APPG for Missing Children and Adults, and build relationships with key stakeholders in government, parliament, the police and safeguarding agencies, finding ways to engage and motivate policy makers to better understand the issues affecting missing people and their families, and to make positive changes.
 
You will become expert in the issue of missing, including the risks that cause people to go and the harm they experience while away. This will also involve monitoring the policy landscape for opportunities to influence changes in the response to missing people, and provide expert insight and guidance to help shape improvement.
 
You will represent issues facing some of the most marginalised and vulnerable communities. This might include people who face sexual or criminal exploitation, people experiencing mental health problems or people who face discrimination in the response they receive from statutory services when they seek help in relation to the issue of missing, amongst others. This will sometimes include engaging with and challenging professionals in organisations and systems that exist with embedded discrimination.
 
ABOUT YOU
You will have:

• Right to work in the UK.
• Previous experience of working in a policy or public affairs role;
• Experience of successfully influencing change at a local and/or national level;
• Experience of building and maintaining relationships with politicians and other policymakers, including quickly building rapport and establishing trust;
• Experience of working with Parliamentarians in All Party Parliamentary Group/s
• Experience of sensitively representing complex issues in communications with professionals or the public, particularly issues which impact on marginalised people;
• An understanding of political systems across the UK and how to influence policy within those systems;
• Knowledge of missing or linked issues, for example mental health, care experience, exploitation, homelessness, or adult social care;
• Understanding of the experiences of marginalised communities and how to ensure that those who are marginalised are included and given the opportunity to influence change;
• Proven ability to communicate complex information in a clear manner to different audiences, including some information that might challenge existing perceptions and perspectives;
• Able to work autonomously, with proven ability to move projects forward when working independently.

 
WHAT WE OFFER
Working for Missing People means living our values. It’s a place where people are encouraged to ‘let fly’ so you can ‘make things happen’. We know you’re more than just a job title, and ‘be human’ is an important value here. Missing People is an independent charity that relies on donations.

For further details, please see attached job description/person specification and letter to applicants.
 
HOW TO APPLY
Please include your CV and a brief supporting statement that demonstrates how you are a good fit for this role. We look forward to receiving your application. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert early if we receive sufficient applications, so please apply promptly.

Closing date: 23:59 on 19th April 2026
Interviews: 22nd April 2026
Start date: 11th May 2026
 
You may have experience of the following: Public Affairs Manager, Policy Manager, Policy and Campaigns Manager, Public Policy Manager, Policy and Parliamentary Affairs Manager, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Policy and External Affairs Manager, Government Affairs Manager, Public Affairs and Engagement Manager, Policy and Influencing Manager, Parliamentary Affairs Manager, or Policy and Research Manager.

REF-227 878

We are looking for a Policy Public Affairs Manager for a fixed term contract unitl April 2027. You will build relationships with key stakeholders in government, parliament, the police and across safeguarding agencies, finding ways to engage and motivate policy makers.

The role is based in South West London, Hybrid working and the charity are happy to talk about flexible working such as part-time working or flexible working hours.

The Charity
You would be joining a welcoming team at a passionate social welfare charity dedicated to helping people in very difficult
circumstances, from family support and counselling, to a free helpline and specialist services.

Benefits include
28 days annual leave per annum/pro rata plus bank holidays
Company pension contribution - Employees contribution 3% salary (net 2.4%) / Employers contribution
5% salary
Employee Assistance Programme
Generous family friendly benefits including

The role
Directly influence the development of national and local policy and guidance, including through written communication such as consultation responses or briefings, and through inputs at meetings and events.
Lead and support evidence gathering including APPG Inquiries (This may include direct engagement with people with
lived experience).
Plan and oversee campaigns, events and other activities to inform key policy makers and practitioners, and to drive improvements in guidance and practice including in policing and social care.
Represent the charity at external events and meetings including Advisory Groups.
Proactively create opportunities to engage and influence politicians and policy makers on the charitys briefings, research and campaigns, including at events and meetings.

The candidate
Previous experience of working in a policy or public affairs role.
Experience of successfully influencing change at a local and/or national level.
Experience of building and maintaining relationships with politicians and other policymakers, including quickly building rapport and establishing trust.
Experience in coordinating and leading events and meetings with influential stakeholders.
An understanding of political systems across the UK and how to influence policy within those systems.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you havent been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful, but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

Senior Public Affairs and Policy Manager 

London 

£50,956 to £53,000

Working hours – full time (35 hours a week) - you’ll agree your working pattern with your manager (core working hours are 10:00 - 16:00).

Location – London and homeworking (minimum 6 days a month in the London office, anchor day in the office every Wednesday)

Purpose and scope

Are you looking for a policy role where you can make a difference? Our client is looking for a Senior Public Affairs and Policy Manager to grow their influence with government and in UK parliament to ensure the voice of physicians effectively influences the national policy agenda.

You’ll be part of the policy and campaigns team, responsible for ensuring they maintain its position as a credible, influential stakeholder in the eyes of government, NHS systems and their physician members.  

You’ll join the organisation just as it publishes a new strategy and decides new areas of policy focus. You’ll play a critical role in developing and delivering the public affairs strategy to ensure that the organisation is an effective advocate for its members.

You will lead and manage our public affairs work, designing and delivering influencing strategies and contributing your expertise to policy development and campaign planning for a range of policy issues. You’ll maintain a proactive awareness of issues within the UK health sector, politics and the media and identify opportunities for influencing and policy development. You will have demonstrable experience of developing and delivering successful influencing strategies, using a range of parliamentary influencing tactics to achieve policy change.

You will lead and manage the organisation’s stakeholder engagement. You will ensure we have the right relationships at the right level to achieve our influencing aims and maintain a network of contacts across the sector, in parliament, including political advisers, and the civil service.

You will be as comfortable speaking to parliamentarians and briefing senior leaders for meetings as you are writing consultation responses and policy briefings. You will be able to engage with the policy detail, while appreciating the bigger political picture and the organisation's place in it.

You’ll need a sharp eye for detail and be able to quickly and accurately interpret and communicate complex information. You will provide the president, senior officers and senior staff with public affairs advice, brief them for meetings and play an active role in engaging external stakeholders in NHS systems and the wider sector yourself.

The policy and campaigns team – which is part of the wider communications, policy and research directorate – is a fast paced, collaborative and innovative environment. You will help us shape our objectives and continuously improve how we work.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining a proactive awareness of issues within the UK health sector, politics and the media and identifying opportunities for influencing and policy development
• Working proactively to identify opportunities for parliamentary engagement to grow the profile of the organisation.
• Building and owning relationships with Ministers Parliamentarians, their staff and civil servants, arms-length bodies and other sector stakeholders organisations relevant to their policy and campaigns aims.
• Providing public affairs advice to senior officers and staff, as well as their boards, committees and other activities as appropriate
• Managing a robust horizon scanning and political intelligence monitoring service to the senior officers, senior staff and the organisation as a whole.
• Owning a policy portfolio and developing proactive and reactive policy positions, working in partnership with senior officers, their members, communications colleagues and other staff and organisations. 
• Working flexibly and proactively without close supervision, undertaking a range of work such as writing briefings, letters, policy positions and consultation responses.
• Working with the media team to develop our client's voice with communications approaches that ensure high impact for their influencing and campaigns work.
• Preparing senior officers and staff for stakeholder meetings, supporting them in those meetings and yourself representing the organisation at meetings and events.
• Managing an adviser and developing them to the best of their ability.
• Any other duties commensurate with your post, including deputising for the head of policy and campaigns and executive/deputy directors of communications, policy and research, and managing budgets.

Experience

You will

• a strong background in public affairs, policy development and effective influencing in Westminster and UK government
• significant experience of developing and delivering successful influencing campaigns and having used a range of public affairs tactics, including the media, to achieve policy change
• significant experience of the policy development process and understanding of how to influence national and/or arms-length body policy processes. 
• excellent writing skills and experience of producing briefings, consultation responses and other communications on behalf of an organisation and senior people
• strong experience of giving advice to senior people, getting buy-in for your ideas and influencing opinion internally
• strong experience of successfully managing competing views, priorities and interests to achieve your aims. 
• be able to quickly develop positive and effective working relationships with a diverse range of people, including those at senior level
• experience of successfully managing high profile issues, relationships and events
• acting on your own initiative to develop new work, proposing reasonable and realistic solutions
• understand the importance of and be committed to involving a diverse range of organisations and people in developing and delivering campaigns.

You may have experience of

• health and/or social care policy
• influencing the Senedd
• communications management
• working in a membership organisation and involving members in advocacy
• budget management

Closing date: 05 May 2026

Interviewing date: 18 May 2026

Our client positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity. 

Our client is all about their people – their members, staff, volunteers and leaders. They educate, influence and collaborate to improve health and healthcare for everyone and know they can only do this by being inclusive, encouraging and celebrating diverse perspectives. Welcoming into their community people who represent the 21st-century medical workforce and the diverse population of patients they serve is a priority for us.

Head of Policy & Public Affairs

Business Disability Forum is the leading business membership organisation in disability inclusion. We are trusted partners, working with businesses, Government and disabled people to improve the life experiences of disabled employees and consumers, by removing barriers to inclusion.

• We work with over 600 members employing over 20% of the UK workforce and an estimated 8 million people worldwide.
• We advise, support and encourage businesses (many of them global) to become more disability-smart.
• We influence policymakers by representing the voice of employers and disabled employees.
• We provide evidence-based thought leadership on how business affects the lives of disabled people.
• We help effect changes in business practices, products, services and policies that positively impact the life experiences of disabled people, and also benefit business.

The role

We are looking for an exceptional individual to fulfil the role of Head of Policy and Public Affairs. We are looking for an experienced public affairs professional who can design and implement a public and parliamentary affairs strategy and support the team’s projects across public and parliamentary affairs, research, law and legislation, and UK Government consultation and inquiry work.

The requirement

• Demonstrable experience of working at management level in a public policy role in a topic related to disability, diversity and inclusion in the UK.
• Strong experience in setting and delivering a public and parliamentary affairs strategy.
• Strong experience of developing of new insights and policy positions within a team in an organisation working with other internal teams (such as comms and media) to communicate and promote those positions.
• In depth knowledge of the disability and reasonable adjustments element of UK legislation, and equality law as per the Equality Act 2010, the Employment Rights Act, Health and Safety at Work.
• Experience of acting as public facing spokesperson for an organisation.

For the full job description-person specification and additional information for applicants of this role and instructions on how to apply please visit our website below via the button below:

How to apply

We are asking applicants to send their CV and covering letter to apply for the role. Writing to a high standard in English is key to this role, as is writing to tight specifications and word count. A mistake is fine – we all make them. But your covering letter and CV should be well-written, with accurate use of English spelling and grammar. Your covering letter should tell us why you want to work in BDF’s policy and research team and why you think you would suit the role. Your letter should not exceed 400 words in total. Applications should be sent to jobs @ businessdisabilityforum .org .uk. 

• Closing date for applications: 19 April 2026
• First interviews are planned for the 27, 28 & 30 April.
• Second interviews are likely to take place in the week commencing 5 May 2026.

Business Disability Forum is committed to ensuring that all its information, products and services are as accessible as possible to everyone. If you wish to discuss anything in regards to accessibility or if you require alternative formats please contact Barnaby Powell by email at the address above or by telephone on 020-7403-3020.

For further information on Business Disability Forum please refer to our website via the link on this page.

Equal opportunities

We are committed to becoming disability-smart and an employer of choice irrespective of race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, or pregnancy and maternity. The ethical and business case of ensuring that our workforce is representative of wider society is at the heart of what we do. When we are recruiting, disabled candidates who meet all of the criteria will be offered an interview.

• Job title: Policy and External Affairs Manager
• Area of work: Policy, Public Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement
• Contract type: Permanent
• Employment type: Full-time (with part-time and Flexible working options considered)
• Salary: £50,000 - £60,000
• Location: Hybrid working (office base in Wales, with travel across the UK as required)
• Annual leave & benefits: Generous annual leave, employer pension contribution, flexible and hybrid working, wellbeing support, learning and development opportunities, and staff networks
• Closing date: Thursday 30th April 2026

Overview
This is an influentialopportunity for an experienced policy and external affairs professional to playa leading role in shaping relationships, policy engagement and public affairsactivity within a national healthcare and regulation environment.
AsPolicy and External Affairs Manager, you will lead a small specialist team andact as a central source of expertise on the political, policy and stakeholderlandscape in Wales, while also contributing to UK-wide external affairsactivity. You will work closely with senior leaders and colleagues acrosspolicy, communications and engagement functions to anticipate emerging issues,develop responses, and strengthen relationships with key decision-makersand stakeholders.
Thisrole is ideal for someone with a strong background in health policy or publicaffairs, who enjoys operating at senior levels, providing trusted advice, andinfluencing in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Key Responsibilities
Policy Leadership & Strategic Advice

• Provide authoritative advice on the policy, legislative and political landscape, with a focus on healthcare and regulation.
• Lead horizon scanning and political monitoring, ensuring senior colleagues are briefed on emerging risks and opportunities.
• Produce high-quality briefings, policy papers and consultation responses to support organisational priorities.
• Advise senior leaders on external developments, helping shape strategic positioning and engagement approaches.

External Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead and manage strategic relationships with key external stakeholders, including political, regulatory and sector bodies.
• Develop and deliver public affairs and stakeholder engagement plans, aligned to organisational strategy.
• Represent the organisation confidently at meetings, events, conferences and roundtables.
• Work collaboratively across UK-wide teams to ensure a coordinated approach to influencing and engagement.

Leadership & Team Management

• Provide inclusive and supportive leadership to a team of policy and external affairs professionals.
• Support team members' development, performance and wellbeing.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, high standards and continuous improvement.

Cross-Organisation Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across communications, engagement, policy and operational teams.
• Contribute to business planning, evaluation and continuous improvement activity.
• Play an active role in supporting high-profile engagement activity and events.

Skills & Experience Required
Essential

• Strong understanding of the political, public affairs and health policy landscape.
• Proven experience advising senior leaders and producing high-quality briefings and written advice.
• Demonstrable ability to build credibility and influence with senior external stakeholders.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information for varied audiences.
• Strong organisational skills and a track record of delivering complex work to deadlines.
• Experience working independently, using judgement and initiative.
• Leadership experience, with the ability to motivate, develop and support others.

Desirable

• Experience working within a UK-wide or multifunctionality organisation.
• Understanding of health or professional regulation.
• Experience presenting to a wide range of audiences.
• Welsh language skills.

The Team
You willjoin a collaborative, values-driven external affairs and engagement function thatworks closely with colleagues across policy, communications, stakeholderengagement and senior leadership.

The organisationoffers:

• Opportunities to influence nationally significant policy and external engagement.
• A supportive, inclusive working culture.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Strong commitment to learning, development and staff wellbeing.

A Welsh-language version of the job description is availableon request.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

Full time, 35 hours per week

Permanent

Grade DL, Salary £46,949.35 per annum

Location: Euston, London (hybrid working, minimum two days per week in the London office, including Thursdays)

Closing date: 9.00am, Monday 27 April

Interview date: Week commencing 04 May or 11 May TBC

The Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation solely for GPs in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1952, it has over 55,000 members who are committed to improving patient care, developing their own skills and promoting general practice as a discipline. General practice is the largest branch of the medicine and provides a majority of population’s contact with the health service.

We are looking for a senior policy professional with experience working on policy issues related to data, digital and AI to join our policy team, which is part of our Policy, Research and Campaigns department. If successful, you will help to make the case for resources in primary care to meet the health needs of our population, develop policy solutions to improve general practice, and influence decision making at senior levels of government. You will contribute to efforts in overcoming some of the biggest changes and challenges faced by the NHS in its history, with a particular focus on supporting general practice to engage with and respond to dynamic digital developments. You will work closely with our public affairs and campaigns team and our press team, as well as a range of others across the organisation, to ensure that the voice of general practice is heard at the most senior levels.

We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic policy professional who can hit the ground running and help drive forwards our influence in key areas within a fast-paced policy landscape. The successful individual will be responsible for data, digital and AI related policy areas affecting general practice, as well as engaging on a range of policy areas as required.

If you are a driven professional looking for a dynamic role where you will quickly be able to have an impact, we would like to hear from you. You should:

• have demonstrable experience working in policy. 
• be confident in taking a lead on policy development and able to quickly become an expert in complex policy areas of general practice.
• have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with an eye for detail and an ability to explain complex problems to different audiences.
• be a strong self-starter who is confident in taking initiative.
• be confident in using evidence to help make a case for change.

The successful candidate will share our corporate values. In return, the College offers excellent terms and conditions and great working environment.

Please find the full Job Description in the downloadable Candidate Pack.

To apply, please click 'Quick Apply' and complete the application form on the Vacancies page on the RCGP website.

The Royal College of General Practitioners is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

                                            ~ Building a sustainable future for general practice ~

Harris Hill is delighted to be recruiting for a Policy and Public Affairs Manager, to joina dynamic and impactful charity driving change at both local and national levels. This is a maternity cover contract, starting mid-May until end of April 2027.

You will play a key part in shaping policy and influencing decision-makers, ensuring that lived experiences inform how services respond to some of the most complex social issues in the UK. You’ll work closely with individuals with direct experience, using their insights to inform research, shape workplans, and advocate for meaningful change.

You’ll monitor the policy landscape, identify opportunities to influence reform, and provide expert insight to improve responses within systems and services. The role also involves representing the needs of marginalised and vulnerable communities, including those facing exploitation, mental health challenges, and systemic discrimination.

About you:

• Experience in a policy or public affairs role
• A track record of influencing change at local and/or national level
• Strong relationship-building skills with policymakers and politicians
• Experience engaging with Parliamentarians and APPGs
• Confidence communicating complex and sensitive issues clearly
• Understanding of UK political systems and policy processes
• A commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices
• Ability to work independently and drive projects forward
• Right to work in the UK

What’s on offer:
This is an opportunity to join a values-driven organisation where your work will have real-world impact. You’ll be part of a collaborative team that prioritises humanity, inclusion, and meaningful change.

• 35 hour week. Happy to talk about flexible working such as part-time working or flexible working hours. Fixed term contract until end of April 2027.
• Salary £37,000- £39,000. 28 days annual leave plus bank hols.
• Location- Hybrid- South West London (Central Office is based in Mortlake – 12 mins from Clapham Junction and 23 mins from Waterloo).
• The successful candidate will need to regularly be in London for meetings due to the nature of the role.  There is a lot of flexibility to work from home, but you would be expected to be in central London regularly.

Apply now! Firm closing date- 12noon Friday 17^th April 2026.

Interviews:  22nd April 2026

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.

Longmire Recruitment is our dedicated partner for this vacancy

Public Affairs Manager

Location: Home-based with frequent travel to Westminster and occasional travel to the devolved nations

Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week), with some evening work and travel required*

* The RSB currently offers a four-day working week (32 hours), which is non-contractual and reviewed annually

Position:Permanent

The Royal Society of Biology is a single unified voice, representing a diverse membership of individuals, learned societies and other organisations across the biosciences. Our members study, work and research in fields that encompass humans, animals, plants, fungi, microorganisms, ecosystems and the molecular mechanisms of life. Our vision is of a world that values biology's contribution to understanding and improving life for all.

This exciting new Public Affairs Manager role will sit within the External Affairs department. It will lead the RSB’s political engagement, and maximise the Society's influence on relevant government policy across the UK.  Working closely with the Policy teams, the Public Affairs Manager will champion the RSB's policy priorities in relation to bioscience research, innovation and education, ensuring that policymakers understand the Society's mission and the needs of its members.  You will also deliver an annual programme of engagement in Westminster on behalf of the wider STEM community, and collaborate with partners on STEM-related activity across the devolved nations.

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience in public affairs and parliamentary engagement, ideally within the science, research, health, education or charity sectors.
• An understanding of the UK research and innovation landscape and education system, and knowledge of relevant stakeholders.
• An understanding of evidence-based policymaking and the ability to draft clear briefings on complex scientific or technical issues.
• Experience of building relationships with parliamentarians, civil servants and sector stakeholders.
•  Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into accessible messaging for political audiences.

Longmire Recruitment is our dedicated recruitment partner for this vacancy.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

The RSB is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in the life sciences, and supports diversity throughout lifetimes at school and higher education, in the workplace and training; we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to achieve our mission.

#PublicAffairs

The Role

What we're looking for

Essential criteria:

• Excellent project management, communication, presentation skills, report writing and drafting skills
• High level of initiative, problem solving and decision-making skills
• Excellent organisation skills and attention to detail
• Excellent ability to build, develop and maintain working relationships with other team members and with senior internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent analytical, computer and database skills

Please see the job description for more details.

What's in it for you

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and shape Public Law Project’s advocacy and influencing work at a critical time. 

Following the launch of our new 2025 – 2030 strategy, the successful candidate will develop and implement a public affairs strategy, working closely with research, casework and communications colleagues to shape policy and stakeholder opinion to advance our strategic objectives. 

This role works at the intersection of some of the most pressing issues facing the UK today – from advocating for fair and humane immigration and asylum systems, to championing universal access to justice, and addressing the risks posed by the misuse of AI by government. You will play an important role in ensuring our evidence, casework, and legal expertise translate into meaningful political impact.

You will have experience using a range of advocacy tools to influence senior stakeholders in Parliament and Government, including in the context of legislative development. You will also be a strategic thinker, comfortable working across multiple policy areas, with excellent political judgement.

This role sits in our research team. As you grow our influencing capacity and practice, you will need to develop excellent working relationships internally and externally. You will have demonstrable experience of collaborative, inclusive working practices. 

You will be committed to PLP’s values, have a keen interest in our work, some understanding of public law, social justice and constitutional reform, and a strong desire to affect change.   

This is a permanent post. PLP supports flexible working practices and whilst this post is conceived as a full-time role, part-time hours will also be considered for the right candidate. 

As part of our commitment to recruiting fairly we use anonymised-selection processes until interview. We also offer additional interview opportunities to the highest-scoring candidates from under-represented communities, and use ‘tie-breaker’ provisions at all stages of our selection process.