Policy and research manager jobs

Employer: Community Rail Network 

Salary: £43k-£51.5k pa, full time 

Location: Home based / flexible or Huddersfield 

We are seeking a dynamic director of policy and communications, to lead and develop our increasingly impactful external affairs activity. You’ll be sharing community insights and evidence with policy and decision-makers at national and devolved level, supporting a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable transport and mobility, while overseeing high-quality, inspiring member communications and thought-leadership, drawing on grassroots experiences.  
  

About us 

Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.

Community rail is made up of 76 community-based partnership organisations, and c.1,300 station friends volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.

Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in different locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support our members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in developing our team and helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.

About this role 

This role is crucial for us, our members and their communities, especially at the current time, with our need to seize on the opportunities of rail reform and devolution, promote wider use of sustainable transport, and bring communities together. You will spearhead our external affairs strategy and plans, building political relationships, influencing decision-making and raising awareness of community rail and its insights, while ensuring effective communications with our members and helping them to have a voice locally and regionally. You’ll be striving to put community rail at the forefront of a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable mobility.

As a member of our senior leadership team, reporting to and working closely with our chief executive, you will manage a passionate team of four, ensuring collaboration with our other teams, partners and funders, and drawing on members’ insights.

 
Main responsibilities 

• Lead the review, development and delivery of our communications, policy and insights strategy, working to position the community rail movement effectively, use its insights to influence policy change, and ensure our members are well-informed and have a voice; 

• Further strengthen our advisory and influencing work with national, devolved and regional government, transport bodies, parliamentarians and other decision-makers, especially around rail reform, transport devolution and integrated, inclusive, sustainable transport; 

• Ensure we’re engaging effectively with policy developments and opportunities, taking forward a programme of relationship-building, and identifying and engaging in relevant consultations, events and speaking opportunities, enabling community rail’s insights and experiences to be shared; 

• Collaborate with partners in rail, government and the third sector to feed in our expertise on community engagement with rail, amplify our campaigns, and build opportunities for joined-up communications and policy work;

• Continually develop and disseminate our evidence base and insights on the social, environmental and economic value community rail delivers, and opportunities to create greater benefits for communities from rail and transport; 

• Oversee high-quality, coherent and inspiring communications with our members and partners, promoting our work, and sharing news, opportunities, and good practice across the movement; 

• Manage production of high-quality resources, case studies and reports that our members can use to enhance their impact and which showcase community rail’s impact; 

• Lead and develop our media relations and awareness-raising PR, championing community rail and its messages on sustainable, inclusive travel and communities at national and regional level, while supporting members on local PR; 

• Develop our online presence and reach, making full use of our website, social media, our Scenic Rail Britain campaign, and partners’ channels to celebrate and position community rail and grow its reach and impact; 

• Oversee a calendar of creative and impactful campaigns that involve and empower our members, creating PR and engagement opportunities, including Community Rail Week;

• Play a key role in collective leadership, strategic focus and organisational development as a member of our senior leadership team, including through internal communications and cross-team working, annual planning, funder liaison and reporting, upholding our strategies and policies, and pursuing opportunities for continuous improvement. 

 
Skills and competencies 

1. Strong leadership and management skills, including experience managing, developing and drawing on a multi-faceted team delivering complex campaigns or projects, and budget management; 
2. Excellent communication and external leadership skills; articulate, assertive, and with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels; 
3. An understanding of public affairs, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, and a demonstrable ability to identify influencing opportunities, deliver thought-leadership, and engage with policy-makers, including sharing community insights; 
4. Politically astute, with awareness of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a good grasp of the importance of public transport sustainable travel, and community-led action, to these agendas; 
5. Understanding of political processes and experience of engaging with policy and decision-making, ideally at national, devolved and local levels; 
6. Sound knowledge of communication and marketing methods and channels, and ability to oversee messaging and targeting of public and professional audiences, and to align content across multiple channels; 
7. A demonstrable ability to think analytically and draw on statistical and qualitative research to construct robust, evidence-based arguments; 
8. Experience of working with the media and achieving coverage at national, regional and local level; 
9. Experience working collaboratively with partners and ideally funders to deliver communications and policy activity and forming professional networks; 
10. Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while dealing with competing priorities, and to support team members to do so; 
11. IT literate with a good working knowledge of Office, the internet and social media; 
12. Appropriate qualifications and professional development demonstrating knowledge and skills in line with the above, and a commitment to ongoing learning and development.

Other information

As you will be home-based, we are flexible about your location. However, you will be expected to travel to in-person full team meetings quarterly (usually in West Yorkshire), and you will need to bring your team together (currently all West Yorkshire based) with similar regularity in between. Attendance at in-person events and meetings is also important. We therefore welcome applications from those with decent public transport links, not too far from a railway station, to enable journeys to be made sustainably.   

This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months.   

Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.  

Are you passionate about helping young people build brighter futures?

We’ve got a brilliant opportunity for you to join our team as a Senior Impact and Insights Manager, at Young Enterprise.

Who We Are

We’re Young Enterprise – a national charity with a bold mission: to give every young person the skills, confidence, and mindset to thrive in the changing world of work.

For over 60 years, we’ve empowered more than 7 million young people through hands-on enterprise and financial education programmes. Whether it’s launching a student business or learning how to manage money, we help young people develop key life skills like teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and resilience.

We’re a passionate, down-to-earth team of 90+ staff and 2,000+ volunteers who believe that every young person, regardless of background, deserves a fair start in life.

Why Join Us?

We think Young Enterprise is a great place to work—and we’re proud of our people-first culture. Here’s what you can expect:

• A friendly and supportive team where your voice is heard
• A strong commitment to diversity and inclusion—we want everyone to feel they belong
• Generous holiday allowance and flexible working
• Cycle-to-work scheme, life assurance, and NHS top-up plan
• Ongoing learning and mentoring opportunities
• A chance to directly impact the lives of young people every single day

About the Role

This is a role where you’ll see the difference your work makes every single day. As Senior Impact & Insights Manager, you’ll:

• Lead the way in showing how Young Enterprise changes lives, turning data into stories that inspire action
• Design and deliver our impact and evaluation strategy, ensuring every programme is measured and understood
• Provide clear, compelling insights that help our teams improve outcomes and our fundraisers secure vital support
• Shape organisational learning by embedding a culture of evidence-based decision-making across YE
• Represent YE externally, sharing our impact with funders, partners, and thought leaders to strengthen our voice nationally

This is a varied, strategic role with plenty of scope for creativity, influence, and collaboration.

You’ll love this job if you are…

• Analytical and insightful: You thrive on turning complex data into clear, actionable insights
• Impact-driven: You want to see evidence of change and use it to shape the future
• Collaborative and influential: You enjoy working across teams and building strong relationships with senior stakeholders
• A natural communicator: You can craft high-quality reports and presentations that resonate with Boards, funders, and partners
• Curious and connected: You keep an eye on external trends, policy shifts, and emerging evidence to inform strategy

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Young Enterprise’s impact, evaluation and research strategy
• Design and oversee monitoring, evaluation and KPI frameworks
• Produce clear, high-quality impact reports for the Board and funders
• Generate robust evidence of impact to support fundraising and partnerships
• Translate data into practical insights for teams and senior leaders
• Lead research activity and external evaluations
• Support strategic planning and organisational learning
• Build relationships with funders, policymakers and research partners
• Represent Young Enterprise externally and contribute to thought leadership

A few practical things

· This is a hybrid role, requiring you to work from a YE office (London or Oxford) at least 8 times per month

Keeping Young People Safe

At Young Enterprise, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All successful applicants will receive ongoing safeguarding training throughout their employment and be expected to uphold excellent safeguarding practice at all times.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter (max 2 pages) telling us why you’re the right person for this role. Applications must be submitted by 23:30 on 14 January 2026. Please note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Interviews will be held in person at our London Office and shortlisted candidates will be invited to be interviewed either on 20 or 21 January 2026. Please note, we are only able to respond to shortlisted candidates.

Full details can be found in the Job Description.

At YE we are passionate and committed to keeping your data safe and secure.  Full details can be found in the YE People’s Privacy Notice.

Join us – and help us give every young person the chance to thrive. Apply today!

Are you passionate about helping young people build brighter futures?

We’ve got a brilliant opportunity for you to join our team as an Impact and Evaluation Manager, at Young Enterprise.

Who We Are

We’re Young Enterprise – a national charity with a bold mission: to give every young person the skills, confidence, and mindset to thrive in the changing world of work.

For over 60 years, we’ve empowered more than 7 million young people through hands-on enterprise and financial education programmes. Whether it’s launching a student business or learning how to manage money, we help young people develop key life skills like teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and resilience.

We’re a passionate, down-to-earth team of 90+ staff and 2,000+ volunteers who believe that every young person, regardless of background, deserves a fair start in life.

Why Join Us?

We think Young Enterprise is a great place to work—and we’re proud of our people-first culture. Here’s what you can expect:

• A friendly and supportive team where your voice is heard
• A strong commitment to diversity and inclusion—we want everyone to feel they belong
• Generous holiday allowance and flexible working
• Cycle-to-work scheme, life assurance, and NHS top-up plan
• Ongoing learning and mentoring opportunities
• A chance to directly impact the lives of young people every single day

About the Role

This is a role where your insights will shape real change. As Impact and Evaluation Manager, you’ll:

• Lead research and evaluation projects that strengthen Young Enterprise’s evidence base and inform strategy
• Turn data into stories that amplify young people’s voices and drive impact
• Coordinate and align data across 15+ programmes, ensuring quality and consistency
• Stay ahead of trends in education and youth research, bringing fresh ideas and innovation
• Work collaboratively across teams and with external partners to share insights and champion best practice

This is a dynamic, insight-driven role with plenty of scope for creativity, independence, and collaboration.

You’ll love this job if you are…

• passionate about making a difference: Using evidence to unlock opportunities for young people
• a natural problem-solver: Finding creative ways to collect, interpret, and communicate data
• detail-focused and curious: Ensuring accuracy while exploring what the numbers really mean
• collaborative and proactive: Working across teams and engaging external networks to make big ideas happen
• a clear communicator: Turning complex findings into compelling stories that inspire action

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage research and insight projects, including quick-turnaround polls and primary/secondary research to strengthen Young Enterprise’s evidence base.
• Coordinate and align data across multiple programmes, supporting colleagues to improve data collection, consistency, quality assurance and reporting.
• Monitor, clean and validate data, ensuring high standards of data quality and completeness.
• Apply creative and innovative approaches to data collection, analysis and visual storytelling, ensuring young people’s voices are represented authentically.
• Stay up to date with external research and sector trends, particularly in education and youth research, building strong peer networks.
• Synthesize and communicate insights clearly through briefings, presentations and the organisation’s Evidence Hub to meet diverse internal needs.
• Support external reporting and dissemination, ensuring funder monitoring and evaluation requirements are met and impact is shared effectively.
• Act as a day-to-day research and insights contact, collaborating across teams and contributing to cross-organisational initiatives.

A few practical things

· This is a hybrid role, requiring you to work from a YE office (London or Oxford) at least 8 times per month

Keeping Young People Safe

At Young Enterprise, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All successful applicants will receive ongoing safeguarding training throughout their employment and be expected to uphold excellent safeguarding practice at all times.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter (max 2 pages) telling us why you’re the right person for this role. Applications must be submitted by 23:30 on 14 January 2026. Please note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Interviews will be held in person at our London Office and shortlisted candidates will be invited to be interviewed either on 26 or 27 January 2026. Please note, we are only able to respond to shortlisted candidates.

Full details can be found in the Job Description.

At YE we are passionate and committed to keeping your data safe and secure.  Full details can be found in the YE People’s Privacy Notice.

Join us – and help us give every young person the chance to thrive. Apply today!

Join an amazing charity that makes a difference for the more than 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.

As part of our safer recruitment and safeguarding responsibilities, this role requires a DBS check and professional/character references. We are committed to inclusion and will consider each application fairly.​

About you:

This is a terrific opportunity to play a fundamental role as Research Communications Manager at Muscular Dystrophy UK’s in developing and shaping our research communications ensuring the timely and proactive communication of our research impact.

• You will have a strong ability for explaining research and science to a lay audience. 
• You  will also proactively identify communication opportunities and ideas for engaging content to promote and publicise our research projects.
• You will work closely with teams across the organisation providing them with information about our research activity to support their work.
• You will manage the charity’s research information service, our Research Line.
• You will work with the Director of Research and Innovation and Director of Marketing and Communications to lead the development of our research communications plan.​

Your Cover Letter Guidance
When submitting your application, please ensure your cover letter provides clear evidence of the following:

• Experience of communicating scientific and clinical information to a range of target audiences
• Proven experience in communicating complex research topics to a lay audience
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to build effective relationships internally and externally
•Proactive and able to identify communication opportunities and ideas for content in a range of formats
• Excellent copywriting, editing and proof-reading skills with ability to write copy for a range of audiences

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

​

About us:

Muscular Dystrophy UK is a charity that connects a community of more than 110,000 people living with one of over 60 muscle wasting conditions, and all the people around them. So everyone can get the healthcare, support and treatments needed to feel good, mentally and physically. ​

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.

Values and behaviours:

• A positive attitude and approach that reflect the charity’s values.
• Seek opportunities to contribute to the development of the charity.
• A commitment to and an understanding of disability issues, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Always demonstrate role model behaviour.
  
   

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 believe in supporting our people both professionally and personally.

​

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to promote wellbeing, work–life balance, and career development. Our offerrange of benefits includes ​great pension contributions, life insurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, employee assistance programme, instant retail and events discounts, and much more...

​

Location: We operate a hybrid model (home and office, London SE1). ​

Closing date: Sunday, 11th January 2026​

NB Interviews likely to be held on Wednesday, 21st January 2026​

Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities

Location (UK): Office Hybrid* - Glasgow
Hours: 35 hours per week, Full-time
Salary: £40,295 per annum (rest of UK)
Benefits: Read more about the
Contract type: Fixed-term until August 2026
Travel: Travel between our Glasgow office and the Scottish Parliament will be required on a monthly basis with additional occasional travel around Scotland.
Closing date: 23:59 hours, Monday 05 January 2026

Join us and use your skills, knowledge, passion and energy to help us achieve a future free from arthritis.

About the role

As part of Scotland's policy and influencing team, you will play a critical role in shaping and influence policy thinking, managing time-sensitive projects across our policy priority areas, and building relationships with stakeholders and decision-makers across Scotland.

You will gather, analyse, and share information about external policy developments and their implications for people with arthritis, developing policy positions, producing evidence-based briefings and reports and contributing to consultation responses.

As well as working closely with nation influencing colleagues and teams across the Services and Devolved Nations Directorate, you will work closely with the UK Advocacy and Health Intelligence team, Research Directorate and Strategic Communications teams, including representing us on cross-sector policy groups and participating in events and conferences.

We'll give you autonomy, variety and challenge with opportunities to lead projects, to work together with inspirational campaigners and people with arthritis, as well as collaborate with senior Scottish Government and NHS Scotland stakeholders. We're a supportive team who will value your well-being and professional development.

About you

You will have ready-made resourcefulness, be a creative thinker, with strong analytical, written and verbal communications skills. An enthusiastic, adaptive and flexible approach is important, together with an ability to work with autonomy and across teams as well as:

• Experience of influencing external policy and decision making within Scotland.
• Understanding of current healthcare policy issues relevant to people with long-term conditions or disability.
• Experience of drafting policy papers and briefings, and the ability to understand and articulate academic research and policy papers.

*As a hybrid worker the expectation is that you will spend around 40% of your working time in our office spaces or working in community settings.

As an inclusive employer we will consider home-based working for anyone where office-based hybrid working would be a barrier to being able to work for us, for example for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability.

Application deadline and shortlisting 

• We advise candidates to apply early as we reserve the right to close applications ahead of this date.  
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

We do not wish to receive contact from agencies or media sales. 

Please note that we do not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) during our recruitment and selection processes, and we would respectfully ask that you also refrain from using AI during the selection process. Whilst we do recognise that AI may be a beneficial tool for some when aiding research and preparation for an application or interview, we want to maintain a fair, inclusive and positive recruitment experience at Arthritis UK where candidates can feel supported to demonstrate their experience, knowledge, and skills without the use of AI generated answers.

Interview

First interviews expected in week commencing Monday 12 January 2026 at Edward House, Glasgow.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee you will be offered an interview if you disclose a disability and demonstrate sufficient evidence within your application that you meet the essential criteria for this role. We will also make any reasonable adjustments you may require for your interview.

About us

We have made a commitment in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to increase the diversity of our charity and we welcome candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We want our employees, volunteers and trustees to represent the broad diversity of the communities of which we are a part.

There are over 10 million people living with arthritis. That's one in six, with over half of those living in pain every single day. The impact is huge as the condition slowly intrudes on everyday life - affecting the ability to work, care for a family, to move free from pain and to live independently. Yet arthritis is often dismissed as an inevitable part of ageing or shrugged off as 'just a bit of arthritis'. We don't think that this is OK. Arthritis UK is here to change that.

Arthritis UK is committed to keeping children, young people and vulnerable adults safe from harm. During the recruitment process we will undertake safer recruitment practices and relevant checks to ensure applicants are suitable to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

About the Ri

The Royal Institution (Ri) is an independent charity which has been connecting people with science for over 200 years. Founded in 1799 through the wonderful generosity of 58 patrons, to this day we remain based in our original, magnificent, Georgian home in central London. Thanks to the support of those early philanthropists, the Ri has inspired generations of scientists over the years whose discoveries have helped shape our modern world. 

The Ri has a clear vision that ‘Science is for Everyone’ and it is our belief that everyone should have equitable access to science. Through our packed event programme available in person or online, our UK schools outreach and social impact initiatives, and our global digital reach including almost 1.7m YouTube subscribers we achieve our mission by connecting people with scientists to explore science together. 

About the Role

We are looking for a motivated major gifts fundraiser to join our small fundraising team to contribute to our ambitious goal to raise £20 million across 4 years – our Be the Spark campaign.

You will need to be a collaborative self-starter who wants to make an impact, working at all levels of the organisation to build and develop the relationships that will enable the Ri to succeed. You will be used to identifying, researching and managing a portfolio of major donors or high value clients and comfortable working with donors at the highest levels.

This role is responsible for driving major donor engagement and income by proactively identifying and cultivating new supporters aligned with our mission.

The postholder will work collaboratively across the Ri and fundraising team to build strong relationships, develop innovative and compelling proposals, and deliver exceptional account management and stewardship to existing donors. Key responsibilities include researching, developing and cultivating new prospects, building a strong major gifts pipeline, visiting donors and prospects, and advising colleagues on best practice for stewarding major donors throughout their relationship with the Ri.

If you are a warm, professional and engaging communicator, adept at managing a portfolio of high-net-worth donors and able to cultivate and develop influential relationships, we would love to hear from you. 

This role is part time (21 hours), permanent and will require a willingness to undertake occasional travel, evenings and occasional weekends. Requests to work flexibly or part-time will be considered.

Main responsibilities

• Owning and managing a portfolio of major donors, building strong, long-term relationships and serving as their primary point of contact.
• Devising and delivering tailored stewardship journeys for each donor in the portfolio, ensuring personalised engagement
• Securing repeat and increased support
• Proactive identification and researching of new major donor prospects, and building a strong pipeline for cultivation
• Maintaining major donor engagement levels through regular communications and meetings and maintaining CRM records.
• Developing a fledgling giving circle aligned to the Be the Spark campaign.
• Monitoring and managing a budget, reporting to the board and analysing performance against agreed KPIs.
• Supporting and empowering other teams at the Ri to enhance major donor relationships.
• Collaborating with the events teams to ensure that major donors receive an exceptional experience at all Ri events and activities.

About you:

Essential:

• Experience of identifying, researching, pitching to and managing a portfolio of major donors or high value clients and comfortable working with donors at the highest levels.
• Confidence in talking fluently about money in a professional environment and working with donors at the highest levels
• Proven experience of building excellent relationships and networks both internally and externally
• Experience of managing relationships with donors or high value clients
• Demonstrable experience of maximising opportunities from researching prospects to generating meetings, and securing income 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 

Desirable:

• Substantial demonstrable experience working in a fundraising position for a charity or educational organisation. 
• Experience of organising small to medium sized events for major donors and prospects
• Experience leading a giving club or members networking group
• Patron/Major Donor/Legacy fundraising experience, securing 6-figure donations.

To develop policy goals and recommendations in line with Women for Refugee Women’s (WRW) overarching campaigns strategy to improve the lives of women seeking asylum in the UK; to develop and deliver policy interventions such as policy briefings, evidence for parliamentary committees, responses to inquiries and consultations; to plan and carry out research projects for influencing purposes, ensuring that these are informed by and co-delivered with women in WRW’s network.

We are part of the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative. The network supports inclusive recruitment of people with lived experience of the UK asylum or immigration system. If this is your experience, you can find useful resources on the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative website.

Policy Officer

Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre
Salary: £38,000
Working hours: 35 per week, full time but will consider part time applicants

This is a hybrid role

Benefits include 30 days annual leave and significant opportunities for learning and development. Our offices in Hammersmith are on the Piccadilly, District and Hammersmith & City Line tubes.

We require a policy officer for our small, friendly team. We are looking for a confident individual with initiative.

The successful candidate will have the ability to identify policy issues in our local community as well as in the wider social justice space. They will work with local grassroots organisations to make systems change.

Closing date:  5pm on 9 January 2026

Description

Your Role will be to:

▪ Obtain and analyse information about sector trends, threats, and opportunities and use these to help shape our work

▪ Work with the CEO and casework teams to identify, develop and deliver campaigns, particularly around issues in our local community

Devise and Develop policy projects including research and producing reports.

▪ Other duties as required that are reasonable and within your capabilities.

Person Specification

Skills and knowledge:

Essential

Educated to degree level and/or can consistently demonstrate degree level outcomes

Knowledge and recent experience gained from work within a policy team

Knowledge of methods used in policy development and influencing

 ▪ Experience in making, developing and maintaining relationships

 ▪ Excellent writing and speaking skills

 ▪ Excellent Analytical and fact-finding skills

 ▪ Good IT and social media skills

▪ Personal drive, motivation and an ability to work independently

 Desirable

 ▪ Knowledge and experience of social welfare law including immigration, housing, public law and employment

Experience of project management 

Other Answers

Location – W6 7AT

Organisation’s cause/ focus*- Justice

Contract type* - contract

Contract length – TBC

Experience level* - Entry level / Graduate and Experienced (non manager)

Keyword boost* - Policy, Engagement / Outreach, Communications

No, we'll hold off on interviews until the job ad has closed

Posting Dates: 19th Dec 25 – 9th Jan 26

This is an exceptional opportunity to join Belong’s Senior Leadership Team as Director of Policy & Research, a role that sits at the heart of our mission to shape national conversations on cohesion and integration. You will lead Belong’s policy development, research strategy, and national partnerships, ensuring our work is grounded in robust evidence and lived experience. This position offers the chance to influence systemic change, amplify Belong’s voice with policymakers and opinion formers, and ensure our insights drive real-world impact.

As Director of Policy & Research, you will:

• Lead the development of Belong’s policy and research agenda, aligning it with organisational strategy and national priorities.
• Produce high-quality policy outputs, including reports, briefings, consultation responses, and thought leadership pieces.
• Oversee the design and delivery of research projects, including commissioning and partnership work, ensuring rigor and inclusivity.
• Translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations and advocacy strategies.
• Foster strong collaboration between the Policy & Research team and Programme Delivery team, ensuring insights inform both policy and practice.
• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians, journalists, and opinion formers.
• Represent Belong externally at high-level meetings, events, and in the media, amplifying our impact and reach.
• Develop strategic messaging and narratives that position Belong as a thought leader in social cohesion.
• Support campaigns and public engagement initiatives that promote Belong’s policy goals.
• Contribute to organisational development, strategic planning, and income generation through proposal development and funder engagement.
• Line manage policy and research staff, providing leadership, support, and professional development.

This is a senior leadership role for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and wants to drive systemic change at scale.

About You
We are seeking a strategic and insightful leader with:

• Proven experience in policy development and research leadership.
• Experience working in or with government, think tanks, or advocacy organisations.
• Strong understanding of social policy and influencing processes.
• Knowledge of cohesion, integration, and community relations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including media engagement and public speaking.
• Ability to translate complex research into accessible policy messages.
• Familiarity with participatory and applied research methods.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities.
• Relevant qualification in public policy, social research, or a related field.
• Experience managing teams and budgets, and supporting income generation through fundraising and proposal development.

Personal Qualities

• Passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK.
• Strategic and visionary thinker.
• Collaborative and inclusive leader.
• Politically astute and intellectually curious.
• Practical, focused, and reliable.
• Committed to personal and professional development.

Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:

• 30 days’ annual leave
• Hybrid working (typically 3 days in the office)
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
• 3% pension contribution
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Join us and help shape national policy and research that builds stronger, kinder, and more connected communities across the UK.

Salary: £65,000–£70,000
Location: UK-wide (regular travel across England and Wales)
Contract: Permanent, Full-time

About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to building a more united and less divided society. Established in 2019, we work across sectors to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience in communities. Through research, policy influence, and place-based programmes, we connect people, places, and organisations to share learning and drive systemic change. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses. Belong is collaborative, evidence-led, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.

Programme Manager (Part-time, 4 days/week — 12-month contract)

Start date: February 2026
Location: Hybrid (East London office + home working)
Salary: £35,490–£38,220 FTE (pro rata) + 3% pension

The Southeast and East Asian Centre (SEEAC) is a community-led CIC supporting East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) migrants and refugees in the UK. We work to build an equitable society where ESEA communities thrive.

We are seeking a Programme Manager to lead our programme team, deliver high-impact community services and advocacy projects, and strengthen partnerships across the sector. This role is central to coordinating multiple projects, managing staff, developing proposals, overseeing budgets, ensuring monitoring and evaluation, and representing SEEAC publicly with partners, media and stakeholders. The post works closely with the Executive Director and Partnership Development Manager, including on fundraising.

About you:
You bring 5+ years’ experience leading programme design, delivery, monitoring and reporting plus people management experience and strong communication, organisational and financial skills. You are confident engaging with diverse communities, funders and public audiences, and committed to safeguarding and data protection. Knowledge of issues affecting migrants and refugees (e.g., employment rights, discrimination, health inequality) and strong writing skills are essential. Experience with ESEA communities or other minoritised groups is highly desirable, as is lived experience of migration-related issues.

How to apply:
Apply via CharityJobs or directly on our website
Deadline: 7 January 2026 (23:59).

Interviews:
• Stage 1: Week of 12 January 2026 (online)
• Stage 2: Week of 19 January 2026 (in person, East London)

All offers are subject to references and DBS checks. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; SEEAC cannot provide visa sponsorship.

We are a charity representing and advocating for people living with dyslexia. Our mission is simple but powerful: to influence government and institutions so that society becomes truly dyslexia-friendly – enabling individuals of all ages to reach their full potential.

This is a key role leading our parliamentary engagement and policy development, ensuring that dyslexic children, young people, families, and adults have a strong voice in Westminster, Whitehall, and across the UK. Working closely with senior leaders, campaigns and media colleagues, and external partners, you’ll help shape policy and drive change in education, health, and employment.

Your work will make sure policymakers understand the barriers dyslexic people face - and the evidence-based solutions we champion. You’ll ensure our positions are grounded in lived experience, research, and best practice, and that our engagement is proactive, impactful, and aligned with our mission.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and deliver a parliamentary engagement strategy to advance our policy priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with MPs, Peers, Ministers, advisers, and civil servants.
• Provide timely briefings and strategic advice to senior leaders.
• Monitor political developments and identify opportunities for early influence.
• Lead policy research and produce clear, evidence-informed recommendations.
• Represent the charity at events, roundtables, and forums.
• Work collaboratively across teams to ensure policy insights inform campaigns and communications.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven, up-to-date experience in public affairs, parliamentary engagement, or a related policy-influencing role, with a  strong track record of delivering impact.
• Strong understanding of UK parliamentary and governmental processes.
• Excellent communication skills—able to translate complex issues into clear, compelling messages.
• Political awareness, strategic thinking, and confident networking ability.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and a passion for improving outcomes for dyslexic people.

Please review the full job description for complete details about the role, responsibilities, and person specification before applying.

Why Join Us?

This is your chance to make a real difference – shaping policy, influencing decision-makers, and helping create a society where dyslexic people can thrive. You’ll work in a collaborative, supportive environment with colleagues who share your passion for positive change.

Closing date: 14 January 2026 (5pm). We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received, so we encourage you to apply early.

Use of AI in Applications
We value the unique experience and perspective each candidate brings. While we understand that AI tools can be helpful in drafting applications, they can sometimes result in responses that feel generic or impersonal. This makes it harder for us to get a true sense of you.

To help your application stand out, we encourage you to write your responses in your own words. If you do use AI tools to support your writing, please treat the generated content as a starting point rather than a final answer. Make sure your application genuinely reflects your experience and voice.

Lead policy and research projects that shape national conversations on cohesion and integration. Join Belong and help create lasting change across the UK.

This is an exciting opportunity to take a pivotal role in delivering high-impact projects that inform practice and influence decision-makers. As Belong enters its next phase of growth, we are determined to deepen our impact, strengthen our resilience, and champion cohesion and integration at scale.

About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation focused on building a more united and less divided society. Established in 2019, we work across sectors to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience in communities. Through research, policy influence, and place-based programmes, we connect people, places, and organisations to share learning and drive systemic change. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses. Belong is collaborative, evidence-led, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Role
As Policy and Research Lead, you will design and deliver research and policy projects that inform practice and influence decision-makers. You will produce high-quality outputs, translate evidence into actionable recommendations, and contribute to Belong’s thought leadership. This role combines strategic insight with hands-on delivery and offers the chance to shape national conversations on social cohesion.

Key Responsibilities

• Policy and Research Leadership

  • Lead the design and delivery of policy and research projects, ensuring quality, relevance, and impact.
  • Produce policy briefings, reports, consultation responses, and thought leadership pieces.
  • Translate research findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners.
  • Ensure projects are inclusive, participatory, and informed by lived experience.
  • Monitor policy developments and contribute to strategic positioning and horizon scanning.

• Stakeholder Engagement

  • Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, researchers, funders, and sector leaders.
  • Represent Belong at external meetings, events, and networks.
  • Support collaborative research and policy initiatives with partners and commissioners.
  • Contribute to dissemination of Belong’s work through events, media, and digital channels.

• Internal Collaboration

  • Support the Director of Policy & Research in developing Belong’s policy influencing strategy.
  • Contribute to organisational learning and cross-team collaboration.
  • Assist with proposal development and funder engagement.
  • Line manage junior staff or associates as required.

About You
We are seeking a strategic and thoughtful leader with:

• Proven experience in leading policy and applied research programmes.
• Experience working in or with government, think tanks, or advocacy organisations.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Knowledge of cohesion, integration, and community development.
• Excellent project management and organisational abilities.
• Familiarity with participatory and inclusive research methods.
• Experience in income generation or bid development.
• Relevant qualification in public policy, social research, or related field.
• Ability to translate complex ideas into accessible messages.
• Politically aware and intellectually curious.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.

Personal Qualities

• Passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK.
• Strategic and solutions-focused.
• Collaborative and inclusive.
• Practical, reliable, and detail-oriented.
• Committed to personal and professional development.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:

• 30 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Hybrid working
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Join us and help shape policy and research that builds stronger, kinder, and more connected communities across the UK.

Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.

About Local Voice and Healthwatch

Local Voice is an independent charity delivering Healthwatch services in Waltham Forest and Newham. Healthwatch gives local people a strong voice in shaping health and social care. We gather community insights, identify what is and isn’t working, support improvement, and represent people’s experiences to decision-makers.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and organised Operations Manager to oversee the day-to-day delivery of Healthwatch Waltham Forest and Healthwatch Newham. You will manage operational activity, support staff and volunteers, maintain strong governance processes, and ensure that insight gathered from local people leads to meaningful improvements.

You will work closely with the Chief Executive and Advisory Groups in each borough and help shape annual work programmes based on evidence, engagement, and co-production.

What we are looking for

• Experience managing projects, teams, and budgets
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to build relationships with statutory, voluntary and community partners
• Understanding of Healthwatch, community engagement, or health and social care
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and high-quality community insight

Full details are in the Job Description and Person Specification.

The Senior Fundraising & Grants Manager will lead the development and delivery of Bite Back's fundraising strategy with a primary focus on trusts, foundations and institutional grants. You’ll oversee the organisation’s grants pipeline, coordinate funding applications and reports, and ensure excellent standards of funder stewardship and compliance. You’ll also play a role in developing early-stage public fundraising activities to diversify income and support the long-term sustainability of Bite Back’s youth-led mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Fundraising and Grants Manager is accountable for:

Fundraising Strategy & Planning

• Design, deliver and monitor a values-aligned fundraising strategy, with a primary focus on trusts and foundations.

• Set annual income targets, track progress against goals, and report performance to senior leadership and trustees.

• Identify new income opportunities to support Bite Back’s strategic growth and impact.

• Develop and maintain a 12–24 month grant pipeline to forecast income and manage funding cycles.

• Ensure all fundraising activity complies with the Code of Fundraising Practice, GDPR, and Bite Back’s ethical standards.

Grants from Trusts and Foundations

• Lead the processes for securing income from trusts, foundations and institutional funders, from prospect research through to submission, reporting and renewal.

• Research, identify and prioritise funding opportunities aligned with Bite Back’s youth-led mission and programmes. Collaborate with internal teams to conduct due diligence to ensure funding sources are aligned with our values.

• Prepare and submit high-quality, evidence-led, and compelling grant proposals in collaboration with the CEO, Director of Finance & Operations, Monitoring & Evaluation Manager, and programme leads.

• Coordinate grant management and tracking: maintain accurate records of deadlines, deliverables, and reporting requirements.

• Work with the finance team to develop accurate project budgets and ensure financial reporting meets funder expectations and our operational needs.

• Produce and submit clear, engaging progress reports to funders that highlight impact, learning, and youth voices.

• Monitor grant income and expenditure, ensuring compliance and timely claims against restricted funding.

• Work with the Operations and Contracts Manager and the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager to develop and improve systems for grant tracking and data integrity within the CRM (Salesforce).

Donor Stewardship and Relationship Management

• Work closely with the CEO to build and maintain strong relationships with existing and potential funders, ensuring high-quality engagement and stewardship.

• Coordinate communications, updates, and thank-you processes for donors to encourage repeat and multi-year funding.

• Lead workstreams, working closely with the Brand Manager and leadership team for support, in order to deliver meetings, presentations, and reports to funders.

• Represent Bite Back at relevant events, funder briefings, and networking opportunities.

• Promote a culture of fundraising awareness and collaboration across the organisation.

Fundraising Development

• Work with the Communications and Operations teams to explore and pilot small-scale public fundraising initiatives (e.g. individual giving, online campaigns, web donation tool).

• Work with the CEO and Communications team to develop a new strategy to build a strong and committed donor network of high net worth individuals aligned with Bite Back’s values

• Develop systems, messaging, and supporter journeys that reflect Bite Back’s youth-led identity.

• Explore opportunities for revenue from the public sector.

• Test new public fundraising channels and evaluate their return on investment to inform future strategy.

Other

• Champion Bite Back’s values - Fresh, Resilient, Respectful, Energetic, and Real - in all fundraising work.

• Collaborate with the youth activism, communications, and policy teams to translate programme outcomes into fundable opportunities and compelling narratives.

• Stay informed about trends in the fundraising and grant-making sectors and share learning across the team.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

We will be looking for applications that demonstrate experience in at least some of these, and evidence of capacity to build skills in other areas. Please don’t be put off applying for one of our jobs because you can’t demonstrate every skill. If you're passionate and excited about working for us, and possess the main skills and experience we are looking for, go ahead and apply. You could be just what we are looking for!

The ideal candidate would have the following:

Essential

• Proven experience in securing income from trusts and foundations, ideally within the non-profit or campaigning sector.

• Track record of developing and managing a grant pipeline and meeting income targets.

• Excellent written communication skills with experience producing high-quality funding applications and impact reports.

• Strong organisational and project management skills with the ability to meet multiple deadlines.

• Understanding of budgeting and financial management for grant-funded projects.

• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Experience using CRM systems for tracking income and reporting (ideally Salesforce).

• Knowledge of fundraising regulations, GDPR, and ethical standards.

• Commitment to Bite Back’s youth-led, systems-change mission.

Desirable

• Experience of developing public fundraising initiatives (individual giving, digital, community).

• Familiarity with youth-led or campaigning charities.

• Experience managing cross-team collaboration on proposals and reports.

• Understanding of impact measurement and evaluation in fundraising contexts.

• Confidence presenting to funders or representing the organisation externally.