Policy and research manager jobs

Do you have a good understanding of a range of qualitative research methods? Do you have a demonstrable understanding of, and interest in, health and social care policy in the UK? Are you a strong critical thinker, with good oral and written communication skills and an enthusiasm for further developing these skills?

The Nuffield Trust is looking for a Researcher to contribute directly to our mission by delivering high-quality research, evaluation, and policy analysis. You will work across a diverse range of projects and topic areas and have the opportunity to learn from colleagues who are experts in both content and methods.

In this role, you will work as part of project teams, undertaking research and policy analysis tasks to contribute to the successful delivery of our work. Supported by peers and more senior team members, you will contribute to writing and presenting work, disseminating findings and achieving meaningful impact.

We’d love to hear from you if you can bring:

• Skills consistent with experience of working in government, think tanks, or applied academic research – some of which may have been gained via a university-level qualification.
• Experience of qualitative research, evaluation, or policy analysis within health or social care.
• Strong analytical ability to synthesise evidence and turn complex information into clear, persuasive arguments.
• Proven reliability in meeting deadlines, producing high-quality outputs, and managing your time effectively.

Review the Application and Selection process in the attached Candidate Brief (page 11) for details on what your application should include.

The Partnerships Manager will play a pivotal role in delivering Youth Futures Foundation’s Employer Strategy.

You will embed and scale evidence-based practice across employer networks to create systemic change in how employers recruit, develop and retain young people.

This role suits someone skilled at translating strategy into delivery — influencing employer behaviour and embedding Youth Futures’ evidence into employer practice.

• You will bring experience of driving behaviour or practice change through partnerships, combined with a passion for tackling youth unemployment and a strong interest in equity, diversity and inclusion issues.
• You will need solid relationship-building and collaboration skills, and the ability to manage people and performance to deliver measurable impact.
• An understanding of how inclusive employment practices and workplace cultures can improve outcomes for young people — particularly those facing disadvantage.

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

For more information on this role, please download our recruitment pack.

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

Join Isabel Hospice as our new Senior Philanthropy Manager and play a leading role in shaping the future of our high-value fundraising.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraiser to lead and inspire our Philanthropy Team, driving income from corporate partners, charitable trusts and foundations, and major donors.

You’ll combine strategic vision with hands-on relationship management, developing long-term, meaningful relationships that help ensure every person in eastern Hertfordshire receives the compassionate end-of-life care they deserve.

Working closely with senior leaders, trustees, and colleagues across the hospice, you’ll lead by example: crafting compelling proposals, inspiring engagement, and ensuring every donor feels valued and connected to the impact of their support.

About you

You’ll be a confident, emotionally intelligent leader with a proven track record of securing significant income and building trusted partnerships. You’ll bring creativity, warmth, and the ability to motivate others, both your team and your supporters.

You’ll also have:

• Experience leading high-performing fundraising teams and delivering ambitious income targets
• Excellent relationship management and influencing skills at a senior level
• Strong strategic and organisational ability, with a collaborative mindset
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• A deep commitment to the mission and values of Isabel Hospice
• A driving licence and own car

What we offer

• A supportive, values-led environment where your work truly matters
• The opportunity to shape and grow high-value fundraising at a respected local charity
• The chance to make a tangible difference to local families when they need it most

Benefits

• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension and life assurance schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme for health and wellbeing support
• Cycle to work scheme
• Health Service Discounts
• Refer a friend bonus

We reserve the right to close this job earlier if sufficient applications are received, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

Successful applicants will be required to undertake a DBS check. 

Do you want to manage the fundraising strategy for the only charity dedicated to building a global community that supports board directors to advance climate and nature governance? 

Chapter Zero Alliance is at an exciting inflection point, supporting a high-impact chapter network active in over 70 countries through our programme: the Climate Governance Initiative. We are looking for a Senior Manager, Global Development to play a pivotal role in diversifying and growing our income, ensuring the long-term sustainability and impact of our mission. This is a unique opportunity to help us translate a critical global need into tangible, well-funded programmes that drive measurable change on corporate boards worldwide. 

Offer and Benefits 

• Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum 

• Contract: Permanent, Full-time 37.5 hours per week (0.8 part-time considered) 

• Location: Office-based / Hybrid within the UK (Central Cambridge-based office) 

• Annual Leave: 27 days, plus Bank Holidays and discretionary Christmas shutdown 

• Pension: Generous 8% employer pension contributions (no match required) 

• Wellbeing: Group life assurance, employee assistance programme and health cash plan 

The Role: Senior Manager, Global Development  

You'll bring significant development experience, strategic leadership and hands-on delivery to the identification, securing, and management of significant grants from philanthropic foundations, institutional donors, trusts, and statutory funders globally. You'll build and nurture high-value relationships, coordinate fundraising initiatives, and establish the robust infrastructure for effective grant management across our global network. 

Key Responsibilities - Drive Strategy and Deliver Impact 

• Fundraising Strategy and Pipeline Management: Contribute to the design of an ambitious global grant fundraising strategy and manage its implementation. You'll conduct market research, qualify new opportunities, and maintain a robust prospect pipeline to expand our existing funding base. This will involve the coordination and project management of outreach and engagement activities. 

• Proposal Development and Budgeting: Lead the creation of compelling, high-quality concept notes and multi-year funding proposals, aligned with funder priorities and including accurate, transparent budgets. 

• Donor Stewardship and Reporting: Be a key representative for Chapter Zero Alliance with funders, serving as a key liaison for funder-related operational queries. You'll work with the wider team to ensure timely and accurate narrative and financial reporting, managing communications to foster long-term engagement.

• Grant Management and Administration: Oversee our current funding portfolio, manage grant administration, collaborate with Finance on forecasting. 

• Internal Coordination: Facilitate and support our Development Working Group as well as manage core systems: CRM, funder contacts and documentation. Work closely with senior leadership, including the CEO, and project teams across our global network to align fundraising with programme delivery and provide critical performance analysis.

Who We're Looking For 

This role requires a dedicated fundraising professional with a proven track record of successfully securing significant grant funding. You're a strategic thinker and relationship builder with exceptional bid-writing skills and an innate ability to translate complex programme needs into compelling proposals. 

Essential Expertise 

• Significant experience working in institutional fundraising or partnership management within the non-profit or development sector. 

• Knowledge of the climate-related trust and grants sector internationally and in the UK. 

• Demonstrable track record of successfully achieving income targets (minimum six-figure funds, including multi-year grants) from philanthropic foundations, institutional donors, trusts or statutory sources. 

• Strategic relationship-building skills working with grant makers and partners. 

• Effective bid writing, delivering clear, persuasive, and well-structured proposals and reports tailored to align with grant priorities.

• Strong financial and strategic planning skills, including KPIs, grant compliance and reporting. 

• Sound understanding of the legal and regulatory framework governing fundraising within the charity sector, including the standards set by the Fundraising Regulator, the Charity Commission’s expectations around fundraising practices, and data protection obligations under GDPR. 

• Exceptional organisational and project management skills - you can navigate multiple deadlines and competing global priorities with ease. 

Desirable Skills That Will Set You Apart 

• Experience coordinating cross-departmental or cross-regional working groups. 

• A genuine passion for the global climate, development, or social impact sectors - understanding the urgency of our mission. 

• Experience using CRM/project management/fundraising databases. Core Competencies 

• Strategic thinking, planning and analytical skills, able to translate complex programme needs into compelling proposals. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities. 

• Project management. 

• Able to balance short-term priorities with longer-term strategic activities. 

• High attention to detail and highly accurate. 

• Collaborative working style and proactive attitude. 

• Commitment to our mission, values, and ethical fundraising principles. 

The principles of diversity, inclusion, respect, responsibility and sustainability are at the heart of our charity. We want to support our people to balance their personal and professional lives and we believe our range of benefits encourages this. Nothing beats face time with our colleagues to promote creativity and collaboration; we’ve therefore adopted a blended working model of home and office arrangements.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to ensuring that all candidates are given the same opportunity to succeed regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, age or disability.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure you are eligible to live and work in the UK. 

Any information given will be processed for employment selection and statistical purposes in line with our Data Protection Policy. 

Charity Operations Manager

 £50,536, plus a generous benefits package. 

About us

AWF was established from a legacy left to the British Veterinary Association (BVA) in 1983 and was set up as an independent charity to directly support the veterinary profession, promote best practice and drive improvements in animal welfare

We are seeking an experienced charity manager to coordinate and manage the activity of the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF), which places animal welfare at the forefront of veterinary knowledge via research, education and debate.

You will have a strong track record of working with a Board of Trustees and associated committees on the successful implementation of a charity strategy, alongside an ability to lead on the implementation of a focused fundraising strategy.

The ideal candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and strong organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise, and work to strict deadlines. Alongside experience of a variety of fundraising activities, event planning, and knowledge of charity governance, this new role represents an exciting opportunity to optimise the unique partnership with BVA and build strategic relationships with key stakeholders to raise the profile of AWF.

Currently there are no direct line management responsibilities but as the charity develops it is likely that line management responsibilities will become part of this role. The role will also involve working closely with BVA’s policy and public affairs, media and campaigns, and marketing and events teams.

This role is pivotal to AWF and will have a lasting impact on the charity. 

Benefits

· Annual leave allowance of 25 days (excluding public holidays), increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30 days.

· One day paid wellbeing day per year to provide you with dedicated time to focus on your own mental and physical wellbeing.

· One day paid leave per year to undertake voluntary work within the community or to support any reasonable charitable institution or cause.

· Enrolment into a pension scheme provided by Aviva (Employer = 6.5% / Employee = 5%).

· Opportunities for learning and development.

· A wide range of discounts from leading brands via Perkbox.

· A number of staff social events throughout the year.

· Well-behaved dogs are allowed to be brought to the workplace on a regular basis subject to agreement and various conditions being met.

AWF is strongly committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we encourage applications from all sectors of society. We would particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups within the not-for-profit/membership sector.

How to apply

To apply please submit your CV and a covering letter describing how your skills meet the role profile and explaining your motivation for wanting to work with AWF via 'CharityJob Apply' . Please also give an indication of your current salary and notice period.

Closing date

The closing date for receipt of applications is 9am on Tuesday 2 December 2025.

Interview dates

First interviews will be held remotely on 9 December with second interviews in person at the charity’s central London office on 16 December 2025.

No agencies please.

Libraries Connected is seeking a Research and Evaluation Manager to join our newly formed Policy, External Affairs, and Research Team. This is a unique opportunity to shape and deliver impactful research and evaluation across the public library sector.

You’ll lead internal research and data projects, provide in-house evaluation for programmes, and manage external research partnerships—including with academic institutions. Your work will directly inform advocacy, communications, and strategic decision-making.

We’re looking for someone with strong research and analytical skills, experience in managing complex data, and the ability to translate findings into accessible outputs. You’ll be collaborative, detail-oriented, and confident working independently across multiple projects.

The Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager will play a key role in positioning Action for pulmonary Fibrosis as the leading voice in improving PF care. The postholder will take a leadership role within the Policy and Public Affairs team, providing strategic direction on our key policy priorities. Working with the Director of Policy, Research and Involvement, you will lead the development and implementation of policy initiatives that align with the organisation’s strategic priorities including OneVoiceILD, our movement to bring transformational systems change to how NHS services are delivered across the UK.

This is a highly visible position, working in collaboration with healthcare and allied health professionals, commissioners, researchers, voluntary sector partners and within the wider respiratory community. As a member of APF’s Organisation Leadership Group, the PPA Manager will collaborate to drive operational delivery of strategic priorities, coordinating cross-team activity, support organisational communication and culture, and review risks, procedures and operational performance.

Key Areas of the Role:

OneVoiceILD: Lead an effective OneVoiceILD movement, our vehicle for transformational systems change in the NHS.
Policy: Provide leadership on our policy priorities across all four nations of the UK.
Public affairs and influencing: Lead a strong programme that brings our policy and influencing priorities to life through targeted engagement with key stakeholders.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end of life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they’re likely to die from.

You’ll join Marie Curie’s Policy and Public Affairs team in our Research & Policy Directorate, working alongside passionate colleagues across the UK to champion better palliative and end of life care. We collaborate with governments, the NHS, social care, the voluntary sector, researchers, and people with lived experience to deliver lasting change.

In this strategic role, you will shape Marie Curie’s policy platform for palliative and end of life care, using evidence from research and practice to drive systemic change. Your work will influence government, health, and social care policy at national and local levels - helping to ensure that everyone who needs palliative care can access it, regardless of who they are or where they live.

You will be responsible for: 

• Leading the development of evidence-based policy positions to improve access, quality, and sustainability of palliative and end-of-life care.
• Analysing complex policy developments, identifying opportunities to influence at national and local levels.
• Building and managing strategic relationships with policymakers, sector leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Acting as a spokesperson for Marie Curie, representing the charity in the media, at conferences, and in political forums.
• Working with research teams to shape policy-relevant research and ensure findings are used to inform decision-making.
• Designing and manage strategic programmes of work, ensuring delivery on time, within scope, and with measurable impact.

Key Criteria:

• Proven experience of leading impactful policy change in palliative and end-of-life care, health, or social care.
• Demonstrable ability to use research and practice evidence for policy development and influencing.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex issues clearly and persuasively.
• Political astuteness and proven policy influencing skills.
• Experience designing and managing strategic programmes of work.
• Understanding of health and social care systems and policy-making processes.
• Commitment to advocate for equity and equality.

Please see the full job description .

Application & Interview Process

• As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV and supplementary information about your motivation and relevant experience. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your skills, experience and knowledge for the role.
• Closing date for applications: 7 December 2025

Salary: £45,000-50,000 per annum (+ £3,500 London Allowance if applicable)

Contract: Permanent, full-time (35 hours per week)

Based: Hybrid. You can work from anywhere within the UK, with regular travel to the London office as required.

Benefits you’ll LOVE:

• Flexible working. We’re happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.
• 25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%)
• Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets
• Continuous professional development opportunities.
• Industry-leading training programmes
• Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes
• Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits
• Access to Blue Light Card membership
• Subsidised Eye Care

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 are committed to a world where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. We are devoted to the social justice imperatives and organisational benefits of full diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace, and are a Stonewall champion. We actively encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We're happy to accommodate any requests for reasonable adjustments. Please email any requests to [email protected]

The Nuffield Foundation is a charitable trust tackling the UK’s biggest social challenges by funding research, generating evidence, and guiding decision-makers to implement solutions that improve people’s lives.​ We are now recruiting to the new role of Senior Policy Officer in order to increase the impact and influence of the research that we fund.

Working within our Policy and Public Affairs team, the Senior Policy Officer will work across the Nuffield Foundation family to enable evidence-based influence among a broad range of stakeholders including Government, parliamentarians, other policymakers at national and regional level and the third sector.

You will contribute to thinking and development of prioritised policy areas with within our strategic review, produce external policy outputs (including reports, briefings, consultation responses, letters and web content) as well as internal briefings on key policy issues for senior colleagues, and teams across the organisation.

The Senior Policy Officer will also horizon scan and monitor forthcoming legislation and policy agendas as well as monitoring parliamentary activity and support our parliamentary engagement strategies to promote Nuffield-funded research.

You will already have some experience of working in a policy or public affairs role, with an excellent understanding of the political climate and mechanisms of the UK political system.

You will have knowledge of social policy issue and be comfortable working with academic research and be able to identify opportunities where the Foundation can achieve real impact with its work.

You will be a strong communicator (both in person and in your written outputs) and be able to work across a wide and varied policy portfolio and engage with a range of policy makers and other stakeholders.

You should have a creative, collaborative, open and inclusive approach to working, with the ability to work well in a team and also independently.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to further develop their policy skills at a time of great shift in the social policy landscape.

About us  

The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable foundation with a founding purpose to advance social well-being.

We achieve this by funding and undertaking rigorous research, encouraging innovation, and supporting the use of sound evidence to improve people’s lives. We tackle pressing, complex questions. Our aim is to open up opportunities and to improve lives for individuals, families and communities, within a just and inclusive society. Our work addresses the inequalities, disadvantage, discrimination and vulnerabilities that people face, and considers the social and ethical implications of scientific and technological advances.

We are the founder and co-funder of Nuffield Council on Bioethics, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and the Ada Lovelace Institute.

We value diversity in background, skills, perspectives and life experiences.

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Policy and Practice Officer to work as part of our Policy and Influencing Team.

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people – regardless of who they are or their background – to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

Rethink Mental Illness is the charity for people severely affected by mental illness. No matter who a person is or how bad their situation has got, we are here to help them get the information and support they need to live a better life. We work tirelessly to ensure people living with mental illness and their carers are listened to, treated fairly and have easy access to services that meet their mental health needs and wider physical health, financial, housing, work and volunteering needs. We do this by providing our own services, campaigning on a local and national level, and working with a wide range of other organisations to create communities that care.

The Policy and Practice Officer role is based within the ‘Policy and Practice’ department which has the overall function of elevating the voice of lived experience and diverse communities to influence systemic change and ensuring it is delivered on the ground.

How you will make a difference

You will be instrumental in supporting a range of activity across ‘Policy and Practice’ including the following teams: Policy and Influencing (where this role primarily sits) and the Lived Experience Insights team. The role also has a dotted line into the Racial Justice and Equity team and may also work with other teams, such as Campaigns and Communications and Evidence and Impact. The post is ideal for you if you are keen to gain a range of experience and develop your skills in an engaging and supportive team environment.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion 

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. 

We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation 

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. You can read more about our progress here. 

Battersea is entering an exciting phase of innovation and transformation as we embark on our new five-year strategy. With increased investment in income generation from 2025, we are expanding our team to drive the growth necessary to achieve our organisational goals. Our fundraising team bridges the journey of the animals in our care with the wider public, demonstrating how their contributions enable us to support every dog and cat.

This is a new role working across Battersea’s Philanthropy, Partnerships and Commercial (PP&C) fundraising team, to help drive income growth and maintain strong funder relationships.

The primary focus of your work will be prospect identification and qualification for an upcoming capital campaign. This will include new major donor prospects and charitable Trusts that support capital projects.
You will also be responsible for undertaking due diligence on individuals, corporations and trusts that are supporting Battersea in order to inform our colleagues about potential financial and reputational risks, empowering them to make informed decisions about our partnerships.
You will be an integral part of the capital campaign, managing the prospect pipelines, tracking prospects as they move through the cultivation cycle and supporting the fundraisers with their cultivation. You will also write and contribute to event biographies for our Special Event program during particularly busy periods.
You will ensure that all research output is compliant with GDPR and will share data protection expertise with other team members.

What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 36 days of annual leave (inclusive of 8 days Bank Holiday leave allowance) per year for full time employees (pro-rated for part-time employees).
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. 

More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:
At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

If you are successful to the interview stage of the recruitment process, we ask that you follow the below guidelines on the use of AI at interview stages:

Acceptable use:

• Researching sector trends, company information, or general interview tips.
• Practicing interview questions with AI tools to improve communication skills.
• Using AI to support with structuring your responses.

Please do not:

• Submit AI-generated responses as your own during the interview.
• Use AI to impersonate or misrepresent your experience or skills.
• Use AI tools during real-time interviews.

Closing date: 28th November 2025
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview date(s): Week commencing 8th December 2025

For full details on the role, please download the recruitment pack.

To apply for the role, click on the "Apply" button below

Join an amazing charity that makes a difference for the 110,000 adults and children in the UK with a muscle-wasting condition. This is a role where you can really make a difference.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience of conditions we represent. We believe that diversity strengthens our work and helps us better support our beneficiaries.

This is an exciting time to join Muscular Dystrophy UK. We recently launched our new 10 year strategy to transform the lives of people living with muscle wasting conditions. Our vision is clear, a world without limits for people with 
muscle wasting conditions, and we won’t stop until we achieve it.

Main purpose of role:
This is a unique opportunity to lead Muscular Dystrophy UK’s policy work to improve access to treatment and shape life science policy for people living with muscle wasting conditions.

With exciting progress in treatment development but challenges with NHS system readiness, you’ll be at the forefront of efforts to ensure everyone in the UK can access the best available therapies—quickly and equitably. 

You’ll build strong relationships with governments, regulators, charities, and industry, lead our technology appraisal work, and grow our influence in life sciences policy, particularly around clinical trials and the implementation of the UK Life Sciences plan, drawing on Muscular Dystrophy UK’s rich history in medical research.

Working collaboratively across teams—including Policy and Campaigns, Research, Marketing and Communications, and our devolved nation leads in Services and Support—you’ll help deliver key strategic objectives. 

Reporting to the Director of Policy and Campaigns and working within a matrix structure with the Director of Research and Innovation, you’ll play a vital role in driving change and improving lives.

Benefits:

We appreciate the range of skills and experience our staff have to offer. In return for your enthusiasm and commitment we commit to actively developing and supporting you. We also offer a range of benefits including pension, life assurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, financial wellbeing and an employee assistance programme.

Cover Letter Guidance for Applicants
When submitting your application, please ensure your cover letter provides clear evidence of the following:
• Experience in research, policy, public affairs, or a closely related field
• Proven ability to influence government, decision makers, or public policy — ideally within the health, life sciences, or disability sectors
• Strong understanding of NHS structures, regulatory frameworks, and health technology assessment (HTA) policies and processes
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly to diverse audiences
•  Robust research and analytical skills, including the ability to gather, interpret, and present information persuasively

Your cover letter should demonstrate how your background aligns with these criteria, using specific examples where possible

Location: Head Office, London, SE1 (with flexibility for homeworking with regular travel to Westminster)
Closing date: Sunday 23rd November 
Interview dates Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd December 2025

Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities​

Contract: 2-year rolling

Location: Remote working (with occasional international travel for events)

(For non-UK candidates, please note that you would be hired via Deel either as a contractor or as an employee with local national benefits)

Reporting to: Policy & Advocacy Advisor

The organisation  

United for Global Mental Health was founded in January 2018. It exists to support and unite the global effort to promote good mental health. Through our campaigning, advocacy and financing work, we aim to create a world in which everyone, everywhere has someone to turn to in support of their mental health. Since 2018, we have worked with a variety of international and national partners to help us reach this goal.

The Initiative:    

The WHO Constitution and several UN human rights declarations affirm everyone’s right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. However, many countries’ laws and policies fall short of enabling this. Human rights violations and barriers to access persist, often due to the prioritisation of institutional care over primary and community-based services, and the existence of discriminatory laws, such as those criminalising suicide. Addressing these issues is a key focus of UnitedGMH’s human rights pillar under its current three-year strategy.

The Role: 

You have the opportunity to join this initiative, working as part of a global policy, advocacy and financing organisation that puts its national partners and persons with lived experience of mental health at the forefront of their advocacy efforts. You will work with the Policy and Advocacy Advisor and colleagues, to develop, coordinate, support and implement policy and advocacy projects including; influencing global, regional and national law and policy, conducting research, report writing, drafting policy briefs and positions, partnership building and management, supporting national partners with their advocacy and representing the organisation at online and in-person events, including at key global moments. You will be working to achieve the objectives of our strategic pillar on rights, delivering on the 2026 strategy and action plan for the project on decriminalising suicide worldwide and supporting the project to deinstitutionalise mental health care, as well as contributing to the work across the organisation. You will also have the opportunity to help shape our next three-year organisation strategy from 2027-2029. 

You:

You have a proven track record in international health policy and advocacy with an eye for detail and an entrepreneurial spirit. Confident to work across the range of advocacy and policy activities you are flexible, competent and take initiative, and have a desire to learn and grow.  You are a true team player; able to take both responsibility in managing important projects and relationships and unafraid to take on essential tasks to support the team.  You have a passion for international development, law and policy and mental health.

Responsibilities:

• Partner Support: Help to build and manage partner relations with external stakeholders including national and global civil society, research institutions, governments, UN agencies, donors etc. Support them with their national advocacy and assist them in developing and managing national coalitions to advance their work at a national level. 

• Stakeholder relations: Support, and sometimes lead, engagement with key governments, the UN and other international organisations. As appropriate, directly engage and manage relationships with key decision-makers and global and regional advocacy organisations.

• Engagement of Experts by Experience and young people: ensure experts by experience of mental health conditions and young people are provided opportunities to influence global and national policy through your projects 

• Grant and contract management: Lead in the identification of funders in your program area and develop funding proposals for work on policy, advocacy and financing; track and report on grant deliverables.

• Policy, advocacy & financing strategies: Lead the design and implementation of policy, advocacy and financing strategies for UnitedGMH and in collaboration with, or for, a range of stakeholders.

• Policy reports and papers: Draft policy reports and papers to support high level influencing.

• Briefings, policy packs and influencing language: Preparing briefings, policy packs and influencing language for senior government officials, Ministers, and other decision-makers as well as national partners as required.

• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning: regularly update UnitedGMH’s MEL system with relevant data and information around your projects

• Communications: Support the internal and external communication activities of the organisation and develop project-based communications plans.

• Funder profiles: Maintain updated profiles on key mental health funders.

• Events: Organise meetings, events (including side-events at key global moments), workshops and small gatherings of partners and other stakeholders.

• Represent the organisation: Speak on behalf of the organisation on your project areas at key global moments and in-person and virtual events, webinars and conferences

Experience:

• You will have at least five years of experience working in country and/or global health policy, advocacy and/or financing for a UN agency, non-governmental organisation, think tank or decision-maker.

• You will have undertaken work related to public health and/or human rights and have a track record of advocacy with policy makers, brief/report writing and research.

• A background in health, including mental health, either professionally or through lived experience. 

• Demonstrable experience of having worked on health legislation and policy in low- and middle-income countries, including drafting, reviewing and/or having been part of consultative processes at a government level. Experience working on suicide prevention policies/strategies or the decriminalisation of suicide and/or the repeal of other discriminatory legislation will be preferred. 

• Low-to-middle income country level experience engaging with different stakeholders – persons with lived experience of mental health conditions, governments, civil society, donors etc.

• Experience of representing your organisation at key global, regional or national political gatherings

Skills:

• Project management and reporting.

• Networking and relationship management

• Ability to perform research and report writing 

• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.

• Grant Proposal Writing. 

• Ability to work as part of a team but equally a self-starter capable of devising and delivering work under your own direction

• Experienced in and thrive working in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to respond quickly and effectively to changing agendas

• Strong organisational skills to plan, meet deadlines and successfully deliver events 

• Ability to multitask and prioritise workload over short time frames

• Knowledge of foreign languages is desired but not mandatory.

• A good knowledge of Microsoft Office and other project management tools e.g., Trello, Google Suite, among others.

Qualifications:

• A degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. health, law, human rights) 

• Ability to work remotely and travel internationally

Benefits

• 28 days of holiday a year plus national holidays in your country of residency 

• Possibility of being hired by Deel as a local employee (with local pension and social security benefits) or as a contractor (decision up to the employee based on personal preference)

• Up to £1000 a year of allowance for coworking space

• Up to £500 a year in personal development training allowance

• A minimum of 1 in-person team retreat a year

• Possibility to work from anywhere in the world (where you have the legal right to work)

• Possibility to work compressed hours 

• Access to Employee Assistance Programme via HealthAssured

• [For UK-based staff] You contribute 5% of your salary and we pay for 3% (8% total)

Diversity and inclusion
Equity, diversity and inclusion are central to UnitedGMH’s core mission and values, and the organisation is dedicated to promoting this across our work and also within the workplace. We will ensure that this commitment is embedded in all operational aspects of the organisation and also implemented within our day-to-day working practices.

Reasonable adjustments statement
We aim to ensure that all applicants are provided with the same opportunities during the recruitment process. Should you have a disability and require a particular adjustment to be made to allow you to fully participate in the recruitment process, please ensure that this is made known to the person arranging your interview.

Interviews: There will be 2 interview rounds, and a short task for those who progress to the second round of interviews. Interviews will be arranged between the last week of November to the 12th of December.

Closing date: 9am on Monday 24th November

Application: To apply please submit your CV and a cover letter (800 words maximum) via Charity Job.