Policy and public affairs officer jobs in birmingham, west midlands

The For Baby’s Sake Trust is excited to announce that we are recruiting a Policy and Public Affairs Officer. This will be a crucial new role as we grow the Trust's reach and impact. You will be dedicated to developing our policy positions and driving external relationships with parliamentarians and change-makers to help break cycles of domestic abuse and give babies the best start in life.

If you share our passion for breaking cycles of domestic abuse and giving babies the best start in life, and you have at least 3+ years of working in policy and public affairs in a related field (ideally domestic abuse, children’s sector, or early years), this might be the perfect fit for you.

This position offers a wonderful chance to work with a friendly, dedicated team at an award-winning charity that significantly impacts families affected by domestic abuse. This is a part-time role (18 hours per week), reporting to the CEO, and comes with a permanent position and a salary of £17,304 per annum (£36,050 FTE). Plus, you'll enjoy the flexibility of working from home, with travel as required (usually to London).

To apply, please send your completed application form by 11.59 p.m. on Sunday 1st June. We're planning to hold interviews in a central location in London on Monday 16th June.

Once we receive your application, we'll provide you with the link to the equal opportunities monitoring form—this is confidential and voluntary and won't affect the selection process. If you have any questions about the role, feel free to email the recruitment team and a team member will get back to you as soon as possible.

For more information about The For Baby’s Sake Trust, please visit our website.

No agency contact please.

This role will play a leadership role in delivering our ambitious policy influencing programme, helping to shape and implement influencing plans to bring about the changes needed to reduce, prevent and eventually end the need for food banks in the UK.  It will provide management and oversight to some of our strategic projects.

Role responsibilities

· Developing and implementing Trussell’s influencing strategy

Working with teams across the organisation to ensure key groups, including our community of food banks, corporate partners, churches and church-related organisations have a clear role in our policy influencing approach.

· Planning and delivering impactful public affairs activity

Ensuring systems are in place to help plan, monitor and evaluate public affairs activity and maximise opportunities to engage with key audiences, including Parliamentarians, advisers, and UK Government Ministers; and support close working with colleagues in all UK nations and regions.  Managing the development and delivery of public affairs activity to support high profile influencing campaigns.

· Building and managing strong relationships with key external stakeholders

Developing relationships, partnerships and networks to help raise the profile, credibility and influence of Trussell and our policy positions, particularly in the UK Parliament.  Representing Trussell and promoting the organisation’s policy position to key audiences, including in meetings and events with Parliamentarians.

· Developing public affairs support to the food bank community

Working closely with a small team of Network Policy and Research Officers and the Organising and Local Mobilisation team to support our community of food banks to build and maintain strong relationships with their local MPs.  Ensuring public affairs activity is well aligned to campaign strategies involving the food bank network.

· Embedding participatory approaches across our public affairs and wider influencing activity

Supporting further development of a participatory approach to policy influencing to ensure it is rooted in the lived experience of individuals affected by poverty.  This includes ensuring an ethical approach in line with our values.

· Providing advice and line management

Have line management responsibility for individuals within the team, providing pastoral and development guidance along with task management on key projects.  This includes regular 1:1s, objective setting and collaborative monitoring, and support with development needs.

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

· Track record of successfully influencing politicians and key decision-makers to achieve strategic goals at different levels of government.

· Track record of delivering strategic public affairs activity based on robust evidence, from development to evaluation.

· Can explain components of effective policy influencing, including knowledge of the machinery and structure of government (UK, devolved, local) and experience of informing campaigns activity to mobilise support for policy change.

· Demonstrates a good understanding of policies that affect UK poverty and hunger.  Can explain policy motivations of main political parties and can advise on how to influence them most effectively.

· Excellent written and oral communication skills, particularly in demonstrating enthusiasm and experience when communicating complex topics to non-specialist audiences.

· Experience of line managing, including dealing with performance issues and supporting team development.

Behaviours and competencies:

· Works collaboratively, managing challenges in a constructive manner

· Balances competing priorities and work to tight deadlines

· Demonstrates a dedication to the values of Trussell

· Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantages, marginalised or socially excluded backgrounds

· Role models inclusive behaviour, values and leadership

We are looking for a passionate, skilled individual to join our diverse and talented team as Policy and Communications Manager.

We are a unique organisation that supports and champions London’s charities and community groups to contribute to a united, thriving and resilient London.

London Plus is a trusted partner of organisations across all London’s 32 boroughs, as well as key London-level organisations including the Greater London Authority and London Councils. We are looking to the future and planning to grow our strategic impact and effectiveness on behalf of the sector.

We are now looking to fill this brand new role, which will build on the solid foundations in place within the organisation to help us tell the story of London’s charity sector, effect positive change and connect with stakeholders to build our influence.

One of our fantastic clients is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Head of External Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive external affairs strategy. This pivotal role will be instrumental in strengthening societies and changing lives, working closely with senior leadership to lead government relations across the UK and cultivate relationships with elected representatives, the Civil Service, and key partners within the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sectors.

The successful candidate will lead a team of public affairs, policy, and influencing professionals, contributing to the wider communications strategy. They will leverage an extensive network of stakeholders and a deep understanding of policy and public affairs to stay abreast of significant developments, ensuring the organisation remains proactive in its positioning and sensitive areas.

This role requires a leader who can inspire and develop a team of External Affairs professionals, devising and executing projects in a fast-paced environment while ensuring alignment with strategic goals. The External Affairs mandate is exceptionally diverse, spanning devolved governments across the UK and increasing regional devolution within England. Regular travel to attend meetings and spend time with colleagues across the UK will be required.

The Head of External Affairs will provide a professional, consistent, and expert service, supporting strategic activity across the organisation. They will oversee tailoring outputs to effectively reach key external affairs stakeholders and play a senior role in assessing areas of reputational risk.

Key responsibilities

• As a member of the communications leadership team, take ownership of, create, and implement a comprehensive external affairs strategy to deliver the organisation's missions and strategic objectives, including significant activity in the national portfolios, integrated and aligned to its communications strategy.

• Provide strategic oversight of government relations, public affairs, and strategic engagement across the UK, including relationships with sponsor bodies, working closely with the CEO Office and Portfolio Directors. Offer strategic guidance, sound judgement, and advice to senior leadership and other teams, driving a consistent organisational approach to relationship management.

• Take responsibility for strategic horizon scanning for external affairs activity across the mission areas, ensuring information and advice is shared directly with the CEO and senior colleagues, and opportunities for stakeholder engagement and influencing are maximised.

• Devise and lead a programme of external engagement with key policy, political, and mission-related stakeholders for the Chair, CEO, Board Members, and other senior leaders. This includes owning and coordinating key messages and briefings, attending meetings as appropriate, and ensuring actions are followed up.

• Oversee the design and delivery of engagement programmes that measurably increase engagement with key political and other audiences. Identify and manage risks, trends, or opportunities to protect and enhance the organisation's reputation and ensure successful influencing among key stakeholders.

• Plan and deliver a continuous review and evaluation of activities, including external benchmarking, measurement of engagement levels, and performance standards to ensure effective delivery of the External Affairs strategy across the four nations.

• Lead and develop a high-performing team, delegating work effectively, ensuring appropriate use of resource across the team, and providing and commissioning external suppliers and internal stakeholders to deliver high-quality plans.

Person Specifications

• Substantial experience leading government relations, public affairs, policy, and advocacy in a large, matrix organisation, ideally interacting with devolved administrations (national and mayoral).

• Experience in building and maintaining relationships with senior political and other stakeholders, fostering collaboration across diverse communities and perspectives.

• Experience of planning and executing strategic engagement across a range of high-profile audiences and activities, including responsibility for Chair/CEO/Board-level engagement.

• Experience of strategic planning and decision-making at a local, regional, and national level, including with peer organisations and local governments.

• Excellent interpersonal, networking, and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences with clarity and inclusivity.

• Experience of briefing and working with senior leaders in support of organisational and engagement objectives, often at short notice, including providing counsel in times of reputational risk and navigating complex organisational dynamics.

• Demonstrable leadership and project-management ability, with experience developing high-performing teams, resource management, and working in a matrix-management and collaborative environment.

• Experience commissioning agencies and third-party suppliers to work with internal stakeholders to deliver high-quality plans.

• Experience of continued professional, managerial, and personal development within the relevant discipline.

• If this role is based in Wales, or supports customers or colleagues in Wales, an understanding of Welsh language legislation and the Welsh Language Standards of the organisation is required.

What’s on Offer:

• Salary of £54,277-£60,000 outside London or £59,000-£66,500 inside London 

• Full time role 

• 12 month contract

• Immediate start 

How to Apply: To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the “apply now” button via our website.

The process: If your experience aligns with what we're looking for, a member of our team will be in contact to discuss the role with you in more detail before presenting your profile to the client. We will also ensure that all applicants receive an email to inform them of the outcome of their application.

To avoid any potential delays or your application being missed, please apply solely via the 'Apply Now' button.

Commitment to Diversity: The Talent Set and our partner organisation are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, sexual orientation, disability, age, or gender. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

The eoa exists to grow and strengthen employee ownership as a force for powering fairer livelihoods, stronger businesses, and a more resilient economy. With 800+ member businesses and a community of thousands of employee owners, we are the national voice for employee ownership in the UK.

Our refreshed strategy is focused on accelerating impact through people powered growth. We’re here to make employee ownership a mainstream business model choice—by expanding the sector, setting the standard for excellence, and building a connected, values-led ecosystem. We do this through sharp insight, high-impact advocacy, and a thriving member experience.

For founders and business owners exploring employee ownership, or for leaders and managers building Great EO businesses, the eoa offers tools, knowledge, experience and connection. We facilitate powerful peer learning, codify what works, and champion the stories that inspire others to choose EO.

Together with our members, we’re creating the conditions for employee ownership to thrive—seizing the political, cultural, and digital opportunities ahead. and this is where you come in.

As Director of Partnerships and Growth, you’ll be the driving force behind the eoa’s external influence and reach. you’ll lead our advocacy and external affairs strategy, build meaningful partnerships, and deliver powerful events programmes that accelerate adoption of Great EO. You’ll also shape the narrative—ensuring our insights, policy recommendations and thought leadership land with impact.

This is a high-profile, senior leadership role at a pivotal time for the EO community. It calls for someone with a track record in advocacy or external affairs, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to lead high-performing teams. It also needs a big-picture thinker - someone who can champion EO, influence change, and help us build a more inclusive, resilient economy.

If you’re excited about the opportunity to grow an economy that puts people at the heart of business, we’d love to hear from you.

Role Details

At the heart of this Director of Parnterships & Growth role is the opportunity to shape the external environment for employee ownership, champion the voice of our members, and lead high-impact strategies that grow both our reach and the sector itself.

You’ll lead on policy, advocacy, external affairs and events—crafting compelling narratives, building powerful partnerships, and delivering programmes that drive commercial sustainability and sector-wide change.

From shaping relationships with key stakeholders and securing strategic sponsorships, to overseeing the delivery of thought leadership, content, and events, you’ll ensure that the eoa is not just part of the national conversation—but leading it.

Your ability to influence, convene, and inspire will be critical to removing barriers to employee ownership and unlocking the potential of our £1.7m organisation to deliver even greater impact.

Join us on this exciting journey where your leadership will shape policy, grow influence, and contribute to our mission of unlocking the potential of people, businesses, and the economy through employee ownership.

This role is remote, however regular travel to our HQ in Brough and across the UK is expected.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead external affairs, collaborating with stakeholders to shape policy, advocacy and best practice that removes barriers and expands EO.
• Establish relationships and secure commercial partnerships and sponsorships, generating revenue to support advocacy, events, and sector growth initiatives.
• Engage key stakeholders to co-produce content that positively influence EO practice and policy and amplify the eoa’s voice in public affairs.
• Oversee delivery of an effective content strategy that delivers our commercial objectives and positions the eoa as the leading EO authority.
• Oversee events programmes, ensuring they drive knowledge-sharing, sector development, and commercial sustainability.
• Represent the eoa at industry forums, policy roundtables, and public affairs events, championing the employee ownership model.
• Collaborate with the Director of Membership & Operations to align advocacy efforts with member needs and engagement.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering innovation and delivering measurable impact across advocacy, policy, event activities.

Success in this role

Success in this role means having a positive impact on the growth rate, influence and adoption of great EO across the employee ownership sector. Strengthening and expanding stakeholder relationships, driving advocacy impact and securing commercial sustainability through a diverse mix of sponsorships, partnerships will also be indicators of success.

Key outcomes for the role

• Growth of the employee ownership sector. Measured by increased number of EO businesses, heightened sector awareness
• Strengthened corporate engagement. Measured by growth in strategic partnerships, corporate and government engagement
• Strong Commercial Sustainability. Measured by increased sponsorship revenue, secured long-term commercial partnerships
• Increased policy influence. Measured by policy recommendations adopted, increased government engagement
• Enhanced sector insight and intelligence. Measured by utilisation of high-quality data and insights for regular sector related content outputs.
• Development and adoption of best practice. Measured by creation, adoption and promotion of best practice across the EO network.
• Successful events programmes. Measured by iIncreased participation, sponsorship growth, positive feedback.

About you

• Proven expertise in advocacy, public affairs, or policy leadership, ideally within a business, trade body, or membership association.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience influencing government, media, and corporate partners.
• Demonstrated ability to drive sectoral or policy change, leading successful advocacy initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience in sponsorship acquisition, revenue generation, and developing financially sustainable initiatives.
• Exceptional strategic communication and storytelling skills, able to engage and mobilise diverse audiences.
• Experience in event programme development, ensuring high engagement and sector impact.
• Passion for employee ownership and economic models that promote shared prosperity.
• Innovative, creative, and proactive in problem-solving and strategy execution.
• A confident and transparent leader who fosters collaboration and inclusivity through teamwork.
• Self-aware with emotional intelligence, resilience, and integrity.

Role Summary

• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
• Location: Remote, with regular travel to eoa offices and national events
• Salary & Benefits: £65,000 p/a + 7% Pensions. 30 Days leave + Bank Holidays.
• Reports to: CEO
• Management: TBC

Department: Communications and Public Affairs 
Contract type: Permanent  
Hours: Full time
Salary: £36,000 – £38,000 per annum
Location: Home Based with UK wide travel as required
Reports To: Media and External Affairs Manager

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is seeking a proactive and skilled Media Officer to join our Communications and Public Affairs team. This is a newly created role, offering the opportunity to help shape and strengthen NFCC’s voice in the national conversation around fire and rescue services.

Reporting into the Media and External Affairs Manager, you will play a central role in growing our media presence and positioning NFCC as the go-to source for journalists covering national fire and rescue issues. You will help to ensure our messages are clear, timely, and authoritative across all platforms.

Join us and help ensure that fire and rescue services have a strong, consistent voice on the national stage.

Key responsibilities:

Serve as a point of contact for incoming media enquiries.

Draft high-quality, publication-ready communications content – including press releases, news articles, opinion pieces and other engaging content. 

Support NFCC’s campaigns and policy initiatives by securing media coverage and developing strong relationships with journalists and editors.

Take ownership of key communications tools and systems, including media monitoring and audit of coverage. 

Act as the lead Comms officer on at least one area of NFCC’s work in partnership with the relevant NFCC teams and lead officers (but will also work on a wide range of our issues and areas).

Participate in an out-of-hours communications rota as part of NFCC’s communication support function (with some out of hours support – see job description for more information). 

What we are looking for:

Experience in a media, journalism or communications role. 

Excellent writing skills with the ability to produce accurate, compelling content under pressure. 

Confidence in handling media enquiries and building positive relationships with the press. 

Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively. 

A collaborative approach, with experience working across teams and engaging with senior stakeholders. 

A good understanding of the UK media landscape and wider external environment. 

If this sounds like the kind of opportunity that you would be interested in, please have a look at the Job Description on the NFCC website and apply.

Working with us:

NFCC is a fully remote organisation, and all staff work from home. This role will involve some travel for stakeholder meetings, events, conferences, training sessions and team away days, for which travel expenses are paid.

How to apply:

Please complete the application form linked from the ‘apply now’ button on the NFCC Website. CVs will NOT be accepted for this position. 

Closing Date – Sunday 1 June with interviews being conducted on Teams on Tuesday 17 June. If you are not available for interview on this date, we will try to provide an alternative date, though we advise that we may not be able to do this.

NFCC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and will require a DBS check to be completed prior to commencing in post. 

NFCC is committed to being an inclusive employer. We comply with the Equality Act 2010, and we believe that everyone deserves to work in safe environments that are free from bullying, harassment and discrimination, abuse, and harm, where they feel supported, welcome, and able to thrive. 

NFCC acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice, all staff are expected to share this commitment. 

Since 1979, Advice UK has been supporting advice organisations by helping them to be efficient, competent and effective, and by campaigning for a policy environment that supports advice agencies and people needing advice. They are a small but mighty charity who support their members to provide advice to 2.8 million people in 2024 alone. They are working towards a world in which every individual, regardless of means, is able to access the advice they need in order to exercise their rights and deal with any legal and social welfare challenges they may face.

Charity People are partnering with AdviceUK to help in their search for a passionate Press Officer to help them achieve their vision.

Contract: Permanent role
Salary: 28,733 plus Regional Weighting (up to £4,677 in London). All staff also receive £600 per year work from home allowance

Location: Hybrid role which will be predominantly home-based with some travel and meetings in London
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week with flexible working options fully supported
Closing date for applications: Tuesday 27th May
Interviews: Interviews will be held in person at the charity offices in London on the 10th and 12th June with travel costs reimbursed

Core responsibilities within your role will be to:

• Work with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs to set up a new press office function for AdviceUK.
• Shape proactive, impactful media plans as well as responding to reactive media inquiries.
• Manage relationships with journalists and craft attractive copy for press releases and a range of other communications purposes.
• Support team members to identify media and communications opportunities related to their work.
• Brief and thoroughly prepare senior staff and AdviceUK members for appearances in broadcast media.
• Liaise with the marketing team to identify opportunities to promote policy and public affairs work through social media and other owned channels.

The purpose of this role is to support the policy and public affairs team to raise awareness of AdviceUK, their campaigns and the work of their members through the media. You will be an excellent communicator who can draft engaging copy for press releases and other media. You will be a fast learner, who can pick up new topics and issues with ease, and you'll be data-focused, able to use robust evidence to support press comments.

We would love to hear from you if you have the following skills and experience:

• Previous experience working in a press office environment, working on proactive and reactive comments and campaigns.
• Experience building contacts and relationships with journalists from a wide range of media outlets.
• Experience preparing senior staff for media appearances
• The ability to draft press releases and web copy on a range of issues
• A track record of delivering successful high impact press campaigns.
• Experience working sensitively with case studies and vulnerable individuals

If you're interested in learning more about this opportunity, please send your CV to Alice at Charity People in the first instance. 

Charity People and actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. We match charity needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the charities we work with.

Who are we?

Founded in 1996 as the Sleep Apnoea Trust Association, a charitable incorporated trust, we're a patient support charity run mainly by volunteer patients

Be a part of our mission in working to improve the lives of sleep apnoea patients, their partners and families

Key duties and reponsibilities:

Management Role

· Based on the policies of the charity as defined by the Trustees Board (created Oct 2022 AGM), manage the affairs of the charity with due respect for its heritage, status and independence.

· Within those defined policies, take decisions that allow the development of its business activities, liaising with other Trustees as necessary, and report to the Trustees on a regular basis.

· When necessary, liaise on allocation of duties to other Trustees on a cooperative basis.

· Represent the charity at occasional public events and meetings with collaborative partners and in negotiations, e.g. NICE, ARTP, Sleep Clinics.

· Act as main point of external contact and manage that contact as appropriate.

· Take purchasing decisions within the defined responsibility of the position.

· Modernise and develop the SATA business on as cost efficient basis as possible — goal is generally self-financing.

· Explore business opportunities as appropriate. 

· Identify risk, consult with other officers and recommend action for Board decision.

· Finalise move to paperless operation.

Administrative Duties

· Arrange Trustee Board Meetings.

· Manage Membership Database.

· Administer Membership Renewals.

· Register & acknowledge new memberships.

· Handle resignations, deaths and other membership issues with appropriate respect.

· Acknowledge Donations.

· Administer Gift Aid claim with Treasurer.

For the full job description and further information, please refer to the attachement below.