Policy and public affairs officer jobs in Edinburgh
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Air Ambulances UK
Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) is the national charity supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities, enabling them to save even more lives every day.
Purpose of Post
The Policy and Public Affairs Officer will play a key role in supporting the development and delivery of AAUK’s policy and public affairs strategy, aligned with its manifesto.
The role will support engagement with Government, Parliament, and key stakeholders, contribute to policy development and analysis, and help coordinate AAUK’s public affairs activity, including APPG engagement, parliamentary events, and sector-wide influencing work.
The postholder will ensure that AAUK’s policy positions are evidence-based, clear, and impactful.
Key Responsibilities
Policy Development and Analysis
- Support the development of AAUK policy positions across health, emergency services transport, aviation, infrastructure, and other related policy areas supporting AAUK’s manifesto.
- Monitor Government consultations, legislation, and policy developments, producing clear briefings and summaries.
- Contribute to policy papers, consultation responses, briefings, reports, and parliamentary materials.
- Gather insights from stakeholders to inform policy development.
- Support horizon scanning and identification of policy risks and opportunities.
Public Affairs and Parliamentary Engagement
- Support engagement with MPs, Peers, Special Advisers, Civil Servants, and regulatory bodies.
- Assist in the coordination and delivery of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Air Ambulances, including meetings and secretariat support.
- Support planning and delivery of parliamentary events, receptions, roundtables, and stakeholder meetings.
- Track parliamentary activity relevant to AAUK priorities (debates, questions, committees, inquiries).
- Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders across Westminster and devolved governments.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communications
- Work closely with the UK's air ambulance charities to align messaging and policy priorities.
- Prepare briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.
- Liaise with communications and fundraising colleagues to ensure consistent and accessible policy messaging.
- Support campaigns and influencing activity across priority policy areas.
- Maintain accurate stakeholder engagement records and tracking systems.
Research and Intelligence
- Conduct research into relevant policy, legislative, and sector developments.
- Monitor political and media developments, providing timely updates and insights.
- Contribute to evidence gathering and analysis to support policy positions.
- Support evaluation of policy and public affairs activity.
Other Responsibilities
- Represent AAUK professionally in internal and external meetings where required.
- Support AAUK’s vision, values, and strategic priorities.
- Undertake any other duties reasonably required to support the organisation.
- Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of work.
- Comply with relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including GDPR and Charity Commission guidance.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Experience in policy, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, communications, or a related field.
- Experience producing policy briefings, reports, consultation responses, campaigns, or stakeholder materials.
- Experience engaging with stakeholders such as MPs, civil servants, regulators, sector bodies, or partner organisations.
- Strong written communication, research, and analytical skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work to deadlines.
- Ability to build effective working relationships across a range of stakeholders.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Understanding of the UK political system, Parliament, and Government processes.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small team.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and maintaining accurate stakeholder records.
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Experience supporting parliamentary engagement activity or an APPG.
- Experience delivering events, receptions, or stakeholder roundtables.
- Experience within health, emergency services, aviation, transport, or infrastructure policy.
- Experience using CRM or stakeholder management systems.
- Knowledge of the third sector or the wider emergency healthcare environment.
- Awareness of how influencing, campaigning, and lobbying activity is delivered in practice.
Key Attributes
- Politically aware with sound judgement and discretion.
- Proactive, resilient, and self-motivated.
- Collaborative and flexible approach to work.
- High professional standards and attention to detail.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Interest in policy development and system change.
Other Requirements
- Ability to work remotely while maintaining confidentiality.
- Willingness to travel across the UK, including London/Westminster.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (desirable).
Benefits
- 36 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays FTE).
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Access to Blue Light Card and Blue Light Events.
- Pension contributions.
- Training and development opportunities.
- Life Assurance policy cover.
- Development opportunities.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
AAUK is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work. We actively encourage applications from under-represented groups and are committed to building an inclusive workplace.
Application Process
Applications should be submitted via CV and covering letter. Your covering letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience meets the requirements of the role.
Deadline for applications: 12 June 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview w/c 22 June 2026.
This is a fixed-term role, reviewed during the contract period. Future decisions on medium- and longer-term resourcing will form part of our organisational strategy and financial planning.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
We are the national charity supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities, enabling them to save even more lives every day
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
What does it take to lead the national voice for special schools at a time of real change?
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – National Association of Special Schools (NASS)
National – home-based, with regular travel across England and Wales, particularly London
£90,000–£110,000 per annum
Full-time, permanent.
About NASS
The National Association of Special Schools (NASS) is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We bring together independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies, maintained special schools and multi-academy trusts with specialist provision.
We exist to inform, support and represent our members, helping specialist schools improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and secure the place of specialist provision within the wider education system. NASS is known for being accessible, responsive and personal, combining national influence with practical support that members value as timely, human and trustworthy.
This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. In February this year, the Department for Education published a major white paper on SEND reform which will require NASS to both influence national policy on behalf of our members and children and young people, as well as support them to navigate the changes. Our new CEO will need to review our strategy while building on our strong platform and momentum to further deepen our influence and strengthen our internal capacity.
As our next Chief Executive, you will:
- Strategy & Impact: Lead NASS through a period of policy and structural change, ensuring the organisation remains clear on purpose, responsive to members and influential in the SEND landscape.
- Governance & Finance: Work closely with the Board of Trustees to provide strong governance, prudent financial stewardship, robust risk management and clear strategic oversight.
- Operational Leadership: Provide confident leadership to a small, remote team, strengthening collaboration, accountability, resilience and a positive, high-trust culture.
- Income Generation: Oversee budgeting, planning and reporting while developing thoughtful opportunities to diversify income through membership, partnerships, events and related activity.
- Community & Partnerships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with government, parliament, regulators, sector bodies and member schools, ensuring NASS remains relevant and well connected.
- Member Services: Protect and enhance the practical offer to members, from briefings and special interest groups to conferences, webinars, training and peer-to-peer learning.
- Brand & Profile: Act as a credible public ambassador for NASS, helping to modernise communications and broaden the organisation’s voice beyond a founder-shaped model.
- Future Growth: Shape a distributed leadership profile and support a more varied, accessible and engaging approach to membership, advocacy and communications.
- A seasoned senior leader with experience in a charity, membership body, education or public sector setting, and a clear track record of leading through change.
- A strong strategic thinker, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into clear, practical direction.
- A confident communicator with the gravitas to represent NASS with members, staff, trustees, MPs, peers, media and national partners.
- A politically astute relationship-builder, comfortable navigating a complex and fast-moving external environment.
- Experienced in governance, with a sound understanding of working with boards or trustees and supporting effective decision-making.
- Numerate and commercially minded, with experience of budgets, financial planning, income generation or partnership development.
- Credible, approachable and resilient, with the emotional intelligence to lead well in a high-profile, remote and sometimes uncertain context.
- Direct SEND experience would be a significant advantage, alongside understanding of specialist education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.
Why NASS?
- This is a chance to lead a respected, member-led organisation with a strong national reputation and a clear public purpose.
- You will help shape the future of specialist education at a time when SEND reform is high on the agenda.
- NASS has a loyal, experienced and collegiate remote staff team, supported by an active Board of Trustees.
- The organisation offers a genuinely influential platform, with strong connections across the sector and with government.
Application
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th June 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.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community Fundraising Assistant - North
Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?
Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.
After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!
It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraising Assistant - North, to join our Community and Digital Fundraising team.
- Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
- Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?
- Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
- Do you live in either Scotland, North East England, North West England or the East Midlands?
Have you answered Yes to these questions?
Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?
Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack which is included within this advert.
If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application. We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!
We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process. Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.
We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.
We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
To find a cure for all types of brain tumours To increase the UK investment in brain tumour research
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.