Policy And Public Affairs Officer Jobs in Reading, England
At Independent Age, we believe that no older person should face financial hardship. That’s why, by 2027, our goal is to have improved the lives of one million older people. Our impact across policy, campaigning, information and advice, grant-making and partnerships improves lives by increasing the financial well-being of older people in financial hardship, enabling greater choice and independence in wider areas of life. We want to find talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.
Responsibilities and Person Specification:
This role will form an integral part of our three person Policy and Public Affairs team based in Scotland, working as part of a UK-wide Policy and Influencing team. The role will drive forward our policy projects to reduce poverty in later life, conducting expert research and policy analysis and turning this into persuasive evidence to catch the attention of decision makers and persuaders. The postholder will create opportunities to amplify the voices of older people in poverty and work to secure support for our policy recommendations in Holyrood.
You will have strong research skills with experience of turning quantitative and qualitative data into high quality, persuasive policy outputs. You will have experience developing credible, evidence-based policy solutions, informed by the perspectives and insights of people with lived experience.
You will be a skilled verbal and written communicator with the ability to engage different audiences. You will build strategic relationships with a variety of stakeholders to advance the solutions needed to address poverty in later life, using your knowledge of the political landscape in Scotland and passion for our cause.
For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification. If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway.
This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9-day fortnight.
Location: Homebased in Scotland (with occasional travel required)
What it’s like to work at Independent Age:
We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.
We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.
We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working.
You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age by visiting our website.
Application Process:
To apply, please visit our website to submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by clicking the Apply Online button below (please do not hesitate to contact us if you have specific requirements and need support to apply in an alternative format).
To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Therefore, please do not include your name, photo, or information to indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement. Please do not omit dates of employment. Please ensure the title of any uploads does not contain your name.
Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Basic Disclosure Scotland Certificate will be required for this role.
Closing Date: Sunday 14th April
Interview Dates: Wednesday 24th April & Thursday 25th April
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We have an opportunity for a Customer Communications Specialist to join the Corporate Affairs Team on a 12 month fixed term basis, working 30 hours a week.
You'll be based from our Basingstoke office, although with offices in Bristol, Christchurch, Exeter and Newbury, we can be flexible on your base location.
The role will combine both home and office working to ensure a positive work/life balance.
The Role
You'll support the business in achieving its priorities through effective customer communications, advising on the right channels and messages to keep SNG's customers informed and engaged.
As a Customer Communications Specialist you'll create, develop, execute and project manage strategic and tactical communication plans. This will involve producing and delivering creative, engaging content and campaigns for our customers through multiple channels, including web, social media, email and SMS, direct mail and more.
It's an exciting time at SNG as we integrate our communications for former Sovereign and former Network Homes customers and establish a Community Foundation. You'll be part of supporting the transformation and change programme as we move forward together.
Other key responsibilities include:
- Working closely with key stakeholders, listening to and understanding their communication requirements and providing them with expert support.
- Working to align customer communications with external and internal communications, and with our strategy and values.
- Managing and measuring the effectiveness of our communications, including external benchmarking and best practice.
- Understanding the pressures and issues facing the social housing sector and keeping up to date with best practice in Communications and PR, particularly changes to communications innovation, legislation and codes of practice and sharing this insight with colleagues.
What we're looking for
This position would suit candidates who have previous Customer Communication experience, possibly in a housing association, local authority or similar non-profit organisation.
- Excellent written communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to adapt your tone and write copy/create campaigns designed to generate a response or change in behaviour.
- Demonstrable experience of producing engaging customer content and campaigns.
- Experience of briefing and working with designers and creatives.
- A good understanding of MS Office packages, including Word, Excel and Publisher.
- Use of email marketing and social media management platforms and tools.
- Experience of working to deadlines and achieving targets through own work and the work of partners.
- Work well within a small team and on your own initiative.
- Be highly organised with a methodical approach.
You may need to travel between our offices and attend external events on occasion, so you'll need access to transport and be happy to travel.
What we can offer you
As a member of the Corporate Affairs Team, you will be part of a friendly, innovative and dynamic working environment.
We invest in our people, and you will be able to develop your skills and be part of something that makes a real difference to people's lives. This role can give you the opportunity for a career within a successful and diverse organisation.
Some of our benefits include:
- £450 yearly flexible benefit pot to use against benefits of your choice
- Flexible working
- 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays (with an extra day every year up to 30 days)
- A chance to buy or sell holiday as part of our flexible benefits package
- A generous pension scheme matching up to 12%
- Life cover as soon as you join us
- You will be a part of our Recognition scheme where you can be gifted retail vouchers
- A range of wellbeing discounts including Gym Memberships
- A wide selection of other benefits available
About us
It's an exciting time to be a part of the team as Sovereign have joined forces with Network Homes to form SNG (Sovereign Network Group). Together we provide over 84,000 homes and invest in communities across London and the South of England. Our purpose is to provide good affordable homes in thriving communities that people love for generations.
We invest for the long term - in individual homes, our customers and work with partners, to make a lasting difference to our neighbourhoods. Sovereign Network Group's financial strength will enable us to meet housing needs, regenerate places and build on the existing strengths in our communities.
We are committed to our Equality Diversity and Inclusion strategy and believe that you can truly be yourself at SNG. Take a look at our careers site to learn more about us and our values.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Title: Senior Local Public Affairs Manager
Salary: £43,250 - £48,048 per annum (plus London weighting if applicable. Salary negotiable depending on experience)
Hours/Contract: 35 hours per week, 1 year Fixed term contract
Based: Flexible
Closing date: Sunday 14th April 2024
Interview date: w/c 22nd April 2024
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Marie Curie's growing Policy and Public Affairs team on a 1 year fixed-term basis as our Senior Local Public Affairs Manager. The post holder will lead our local public affairs programme in England, manage relationships with senior local government and integrated care system leaders, and influence policy change at a local level to deliver a better end of life experience for people affected by terminal illness.
Marie Curie Benefits Package:
- Season ticket loan -for travelling to and from work
- Defined contribution schemes for Pension
- Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme
- Loan schemes for bikes; computers and satellite navigation systems
- Introduce a friend scheme
- Help with childcare cost (TC apply)
- Entitled under Marie Curie Blue Light Card
- Entitled to Benefit-Hub Discount Scheme
- Life assurance - for all employees
- Eye care - (under Display Screen Equipment (DSE) regulations, Marie Curie will pay towards sight tests if you use computer screens and other displays as part of your job)
What's in it for you:
- Annual leave allowance:
- England and Wales = 25 days plus 8 public holidays (pro rata)
- Northern Ireland = 25 days plus 11 public holidays (pro rata)
- Scotland = 25 days plus 10 public holidays (pro rata)
- Competitive Policy for parental/sick leave
- Continuous Professional Development - (Marie Curie supports and encourages personal and professional development)
- Industry leading training programmes
- Flexible Working
- Free DBS/PVG/Access NI
What we are looking for:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to synthesise and present complex and varied material in a range of formats
- Political astuteness and judgement, including track record of success in campaigning and lobbying and demonstrable ability to manage senior level relationships
- Excellent understanding of local and devolved government
- Outstanding organisational and project-management skills
- Ability to effectively line-manage staff
- Knowledge of health and social justice issues in the UK
- Familiarity with, and a commitment to equal opportunities
- Educated to degree level or with equivalent knowledge and experience gained in the workplace
The Senior Local Public Affairs Manager will design and lead the delivery of our local public affairs programme, and line-manage a team of officers responsible for delivering this work, engaging public policy decisionmakers in localities across England. The post holder will design and manage the delivery of significant internal and external projects, initiatives and campaigns which seek to improve the care and support available to everyone with a terminal illness. The holder will be responsible for managing relationships with senior Local Authority and Integrated Care System leaders, and ensure local public affairs activity contributes to the development of Marie Curie's relationships with local MPs and other key decisionmakers, working with them to improve end of life experience for everyone across their locality.
To apply, please send us your most recent CV and a cover letter detailing your experience, how you meet the person specification and why you would like to work for Marie Curie
Marie Curie is committed to its values, which underpin our work. We take stringent steps to ensure that the people who join our organisation through employment or volunteering, are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. This includes our staff, volunteers and all those who use or come into contact with our services. We are dedicated to creating not just a safe place to work but also a supportive and rewarding one.
We believe that diversity makes us stronger. Join Marie Curie and be part of an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone's unique perspectives and experiences are valued. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and walks of life. Apply today to bring your talents to our diverse and inclusive charity.
This role will be subject to receiving a satisfactory disclosure check.
About us:
Every day of your life matters - from the first to the last. When you work for Marie Curie, you understand that better than ever. We're a passionate, committed and diverse team of more than 4,400 staff and 12,000 volunteers, here for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. We offer expert care, guidance and support, to help them get the most from the time they have left.
Everyone knows our daffodil, but it's our warmth, creativity and care that touch lives. Here, we take the time to really get to know the people we care for and those who love them. And we do whatever it takes to give them the final days and hours they deserve.
Closing date: 8th April.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
We have an exciting new opportunity sitting within Alzheimer’s Society’s National Influencing team, as our new National Influencing Officer (Public Affairs) you would be involved in delivering innovative, engaging, collaborative, and evidence-based influencing work. Ensuring that political stakeholders are acting on the biggest issues affecting people living with dementia, working closely alongside other teams to ensure our work is integrated locally and nationally.
While this role is predominantly focused on delivering national influencing activity in England through engagement with the members of Parliament, you’ll also be part of a fluid and flexible team that operates across boundaries and supports within our political work in Wales and Northern Ireland too.
This is an exciting time for dementia policy in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We have the chance to ensure that Governments are prioritising dementia and the needs of all those affected by the condition. Our National Influencing Officer (Public Affairs) will be at the forefront of taking on this vitally important challenge.
Would you like to play a key part in influencing national decisionmakers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to drive major, positive change in the dementia policy space? Then this could be the role for you.
Alzheimer's Society have recently been named on the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023! We have achieved excellent scores for workplace happiness, pride, and job satisfaction. This is a fantastic achievement and we're incredibly proud as this is fantastic indication of how far we’ve travelled over the past few years.
About you:
- We’re looking for a motivated, ambitious, curious and naturally collaborative person who’s not afraid to challenge the status quo.
- You’ll need to have a keen interest in politics and campaigning, and experience in developing and implementing political strategies.
- To be able to identify and action what's needed to prioritise dementia nationally in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, working with colleagues to plan, budget, and gather evidence to underpin all the work we do. This role will include working closely with teams across Alzheimer’s Society and ensuring that the insight of people living with and affected by dementia is at the heart of all our political and Parliamentary engagement.
- Previous administrate skills and to be able to organise your own work to ensure that it is accurate and meets quality targets, reasonable deadlines and reporting requirements, and to manage others’ performance and development effectively in line with our People Plan.
About Alzheimer's Society
At Alzheimer's Society, we believe passionately that life doesn't end when dementia begins. We are here for anyone affected by dementia, and we do everything we can to keep people with dementia connected to their lives and the people who matter most.
Everything we do is shaped by people affected by dementia. Their knowledge and experience are critical to bringing about real-world solutions. From choosing the most promising research through to telling their stories to raise awareness; they are the heart of this organisation.
Working within the Policy and Public Affairs team, the Policy Officer will support the implementation of the Trussell Trust’s policy influencing strategy to end the need for food banks in the UK. The Policy Officer will be responsible for delivering activity in key policy areas, with a particular focus on policy development and influencing key decision makers. The role will work with the wider team to monitor and inform policy influencing plans, and the Research team to support policy research planning.
Role responsibilities
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Develop and maintain expertise in key policy areas which contribute to our strategic goal of ending the need for food banks, including policies related to the social security system, housing, communities, and the role of local government.
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Support and deliver policy activity, including briefings, select committee written evidence and consultation responses
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Horizon scan and monitor the policy environment, including attending relevant events and meetings
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Develop networks, including relationships with sector partners and officials working in key policy areas
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Support – as required – the Organising and Local Mobilisation team in equipping food banks in the Trussell Trust network to influence locally
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Support monitoring and planning for the Policy and Research department
Person Specification
Technical skills and minimum knowledge:
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Demonstrable interest in and capacity for policy development and identifying policy levers and opportunities to influence government
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Knowledge of public affairs environment and machinery of UK government
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Proficient writing skills, producing concise outputs for a range of audiences
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Self-sufficient use of I.T., including proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and an ability to use project management processes
Behaviours and competencies:
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Balance competing priorities and works to tight deadlines
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Communicates effectively, working collaboratively across teams and organisations
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Demonstrates a commitment to the values of the Trussell Trust
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Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially excluded backgrounds
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Role models inclusive behaviours and values
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Marketing and Communications Manager
Reports to: Director of Communications and Growth
Contract: Permanent, full or part time
Hours: 28 – 35 must be available to work Tuesdays and Thursdays, other days negotiable
Salary: Circa £40,000 per year
Location: Remote, with attendance at in-person meetings required, around once a month, normally in London
Job purpose
To conceive and execute a best-in-class marketing and communications strategy to position us as the go to organisation on dementia carer support. Your work will underpin our efforts to campaign for change, partner with organisations, and provide practical and emotional support so that no dementia carer feels isolated, invisible or alone.
Key responsibilities
·Lead on the development and delivery of the marketing and communications strategy and activity, working with colleagues in public fundraising, commercial income generation and campaigns, to achieve agreed annual targets in line with DCC’s plans.
·Using primarily digital platforms and working with colleagues in fundraising, campaigns and service delivery, co-produce a suite of activities and assets that deliver relevant prospect audiences into the wide end of the funnel.
·Lead on communications work, including journalist outreach and pitching news stories, content creation, discussion and engagement on current affairs from the perspective of our cause and issues.
·Work with colleagues to gather and curate compelling, emotional stories and to embed a story-led approach in our communications.
·Support the fundraising team to develop assets for DCC’s supporter journey, using data analysis and insights to ensure the effective stewardship of supporters.
·Set, monitor and report on campaign and project budgets, key performance indicators and annual work plans as well as longer term financial forecasts.
·Be responsible for adhering to all relevant legislative and regulatory obligations relating to marketing, digital and communications.
·Establish and document key processes in the marketing function, working closely with colleagues in fundraising and operations to do so.
Carry out other duties commensurate with this post as requested.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.