Policy manager jobs

Reporting to: Associate Director, Policy and Impact

Location: Central London / Hybrid working (twice a week in the office)

Salary Range: £56,500 - £58,500

Length of Contract: 12 Months

We are the national body for careers education in England, delivering support to schools and colleges to deliver modern, 21st century careers education.

The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) is a great place to work. We operate within a fast-paced and collaborative environment. We are brought together by one thing: our passion to ensure young people get the best possible start in life and are supported to find their best next step.

Do you want to be part of a mission-driven team focused on transforming young people’s lives? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Role Summary

The relationship between careers education and broader education, skills and socio-economic policy remains vitally important. The Senior Policy Manager will report to the Associate Director, Policy and Impact and play a key role in: 

• Leading and contributing to policy and strategy that support CEC’s strategic objective to influence on behalf of careers education to help every young person find their best next step.

• Influencing CEC’s policy response to government priorities related CEC’s agenda including in education reform, NEET prevention, raising awareness and supporting take-up of vocational and technical options, and supporting young people with additional needs. 

The post holder will:

• Bring together evidence from a range of sources and turn complex information into clear, structured advice and options to create evidence-based policy positions.

• Offer knowledge and experience of areas related to CEC’s work, including intersection with education, skills and youth employment.

• Be a highly effective writer with experience of leading on high impact reports and responses to inquiries and consultations.

• Confidently develop strong, supportive relationships with Whitehall policy makers and peers across the sector.

• Help connect policy development to corporate affairs and strategic communications to ensure that CEC can amplify great practice and insight to drive impact for young people.

The post sits within the Policy & Impact team as part of CEC’s Strategy & Communications directorate.

Key Responsibilities:

Support CEC representation at senior levels externally.

Develop CEC’s policy and impact positions, ensuring accuracy and fair representation of progress and opportunities within the careers system, with a focus on:

• Evidence – Filling evidence gaps and understanding of what works, working closely with impact and insight colleagues to analyse and present evidence.

• Influence – Shaping coherent, innovative, high quality and connected solutions to government priorities which amplify and embed the infrastructure and role of CEC.

• Proactive coordination – Leading internal and external efforts to identify opportunities and connect programmes and projects to amplify CEC’s mission, for example on NEET prevention or skills pipelines.

Essential Criteria (see job description):

1. Demonstrable skills at converting policy to impact including proven experience of working on strategic implementation of skills policy and good practice in education engagement.

1. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including building effective relationships and excellent writing skills.

1. Sound programme and project management skills: proactive, organised and able to run effective policy development processes, with clear outcomes.

TO APPLY: Please complete the online application form, on our website, including a copy of your most recent CV, removing any personal details (i.e. name, DOB, address) and a report or publication you have led on, highlighting how you used evidence to inform policy.

For more information and to apply, visit our website via the ‘apply’ button.

Closing date: 28th June 2026

*PLEASE NOTE THAT WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE THIS ADVERT EARLY SHOULD WE RECEIVE SUITABLE APPLICATIONS* 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

At the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) we are committed to fostering a culture of belonging. We know that engagement at work relies on feeling included and valued. Inclusion is both a choice and a practice, for us as an organisation and for individuals within our team. We aim to drive inclusion through every aspect of our work and we understand that diverse teams are essential for innovative careers education and are central to our mission and impact. CEC values the visible and invisible qualities that makes each member of our team who they are. We are a disability confident employer and if you need any help or support through the application process, please contact the HR team and details can be found on our website.

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours per week (1.0 FTE) (We are open to flexible hours and working patterns, including accommodating part-time and compressed hours (0.8 FTE) where possible).
Salary: £44,167 per annum
Location: London Fields, E8. NCB promotes a hybrid, flexible way of working with 2 days working in the office.

The Vacancy

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager will act as a driving force behind our credibility and impact across key policy areas, working to influence national policy development and decision making and help enshrine good practice in law. It will also grow our presence in the sector as thought leaders, drawing on a range of evidence to take richer and deeper positions on the solutions needed to bring improvements.

This position will ensure that robust policy development is translated into effective public affairs and influencing strategies, ensuring that solutions to complex policy issues are understood and acted upon by decision-makers. The role will manage and deliver key elements of NCB’s core work across policy and public affairs, lead the delivery of funded projects and provide robust project management, and actively contribute to project proposals and income generation.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 08:00am, Monday 6th July 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Research and Policy Manager
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours per week (1.0 FTE) (We are open to flexible hours and working patterns, including accommodating part-time and compressed hours (0.8 FTE) where possible).
Salary: £44,167 per annum
Location: London Fields, E8. NCB promotes a hybrid, flexible way of working with 2 days working in the office.

The Vacancy

The Policy and Communications Manager will act as a driving force behind our visibility and impact across key policy areas, bringing lived and learned experiences to the heart of our influencing. This role will work to elevate our profile, transforming our evidence and expertise into impactful communications and influencing strategies to build a momentum for meaningful policy, legislative and social change.

This position will bridge the gap between NCB’s evidence-based policy development and national advocacy, translating complex policy issues into powerful narratives that resonate with decision-makers and galvanise wider support. The role will manage and deliver key elements of NCB’s core work across policy and communications, lead the delivery of funded projects and provide robust project management, and actively contribute to project proposals and income generation.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 08:00am, Monday 6th July 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

Rainbow Migration, the longest-running charity in Europe dedicated to supporting LGBTQI+ people through the asylum and immigration system, is recruiting a Policy and Public Affairs Manage. The Policy and Public Affairs Manager will join our management team and lead on developing our policy positions and engaging with parliament and government.

Responsibilities will include:

· Developing and delivering influencing strategies

· Monitoring and evaluating our policy and public affairs work

· Writing high-quality policy and briefing papers or reports

· Engaging with civil servants, parliamentarians, ministers and other policymakers, influencers or allies

· Working collaboratively with other organisations and stakeholders to achieve change

· Ensuring meaningful involvement of people with lived experience – especially our Refugee Advisory Panel – in our influencing work

· Managing occasional research projects

Rainbow Migration’s vision is that LGBTQI+ people can settle in the UK and lead fulfilling lives. Our values are: 

· Safety: We believe everyone should be safe from persecution and safe to be themselves. We strive to create a safe workplace culture, and we place importance on the wellbeing of everyone involved with Rainbow Migration. 

· Integrity: We are thorough and honest in everything we do, and we take responsibility for our actions. We want to be accountable to our communities and those who support us. 

· Belonging: We welcome and include all LGBTQI+ people, and we celebrate and value their range of experience in terms of gender, religion, race, age, disability status and class. We try to remove obstacles to participation, champion equality and promote a sense of family or home through our services. 

· Respect: We believe that every person is equal and deserves the same level of courtesy, care, and attention. We respect the rights, wishes and feelings of our service users, and campaign for their rights to be respected as they go through the asylum and immigration system. 

Diversity, inclusion and anti-oppression

At Rainbow Migration, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We consider all qualified applicants, consistent with any legal requirements.

We strive to build a team that reflects the diversity of the community we work in. We are also reviewing what we do and how we do it through an anti-oppression and anti-racism lens, and are investing in being more informed and led by LGBTQI+ people who have sought asylum.

We welcome applications from candidates who have been through the UK asylum system and people of colour, who are currently underrepresented among our staff in relation to our service users.

We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for anyone considered as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if they meet the necessary criteria in the person specification.

To support candidates during the interview process, we send a selection of questions in advance. You are welcome to bring notes with you and also take notes in interviews to help process information. If your interview is online, we can also put questions in the meeting chat. If your interview is in person, we will send details of how to get to the building from both local tube stations and a video showing the interview space. Please let us know if we can make other adjustments to support your interview process.

Role overview

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week); working part-time (minimum 21 hours) will be considered. Occasional work in the evenings and at weekends will be required but with plenty of notice. Rainbow Migration encourages staff to maintain a good work life balance and has a TOIL system in place.

Salary: Starting at £46,000 with a potential step increase each year up to £51,253 (pro rata if working part time), plus statutory employer’s pension contribution. We also try to give a separate inflationary increase every April.

Location: Remote or from Rainbow Migration’s step-free offices which are based in London between Vauxhall and the Oval. Hybrid working will also be considered and can be agreed with the line manager as per our hybrid working policy. The successful candidate could work from anywhere in the UK but would be expected to occasionally travel to London and other parts of the country for meetings and events. At the time of posting this advert, staff mostly work from home. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Annual Leave: Initially 25 days per year. After two years of employment, this will increase by one day per year up to a maximum of 28 days (pro rata if working part-time).

Benefits:

· Two days of wellbeing leave to be taken at short notice in each calendar year (pro rata for part-time staff)

· Enhanced parental leave and pay

· Full pay for jury service (up to four weeks), compassionate leave (up to two weeks) and dependants’ leave (up to four days, pro rata for part-time staff)

· Potential for two salary increases a year: a step increase and an inflationary increase

· TOIL system

· Hybrid working policy, including possibility of working abroad for 10 working days (pro rata for part-time staff) each year

· Policy on staff loans or salary advances for difficult times

· Training and learning opportunities

· Occupational health assessments for disabled employees to understand how we can support and make reasonable adjustments

· Employee assistance programme which includes counselling service, wellness advice, legal and money advice, and other matters

· Clinical supervision for staff delivering services (a safe space with an independent therapist to offload and discuss feelings and challenges)

How to apply

Closing date: 9.30 am on Friday 26 June 2026

Interview dates: We plan to do a 30-minute online interview on 6 July 2026 and, if successful at that stage, a further 1-hour in-person interview on 13 July 2026.

Please read the job description and person specification. If you have any questions about the role or would like to find out more before applying, then you can contact the line manager via the email address in the job description.

Please send to the email address you will find in the job description on our website:

1. Your CV

2. A written statement (max 1,000 words). Instead of a written statement you may submit your statement by video or audio recording (max 8 minutes)

We would also be grateful if you could complete the optional monitoring form (please find the link in the job description).

In your statement, please:

1. Explain why you are interested in this role and give examples of how you meet the person specification. In addition to what is on your CV, we want to hear about any relevant skills and experience that demonstrate you meet the necessary (and, where applicable, advantageous) criteria for the role. Skills and experience could be from training, volunteering, interests or life experience.

2. Confirm if you wish to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme for anyone considered as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 (physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ effect on your ability to do normal daily activities).

3. State how many hours a week you wish to work and if you have a preferred pattern.

4. State if you have or have not used AI to help with your application in any way. If you have used AI, please explain why. While AI can be a helpful tool, we expect all applications to reflect your own experiences, qualifications and style of writing. Transparency is valued, so applications that are obviously written with AI without explanation will not be considered.
 

By submitting an application, you:

1. Confirm that you have the right to work in the UK and will produce the necessary documentation if you are offered this post.

2. Declare that to the best of your knowledge and belief, the information provided in your application is true and correct and that you understand that any false information or statement given will justify your dismissal from Rainbow Migration if appointed.

3. Accept that owing to the nature of the work, if successful, you will be required to disclose all unspent criminal records at the point of conditional job offer and subsequently to undergo a basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. See our website for more information.

We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network, which aims to create a charitable sector that is led by people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system. As part of this network, we challenge the one-size-fits-all approach in our employment practices, and respect personal circumstances and needs of people with lived experience. Please feel free to use information and resources you will find at the Experts by Experience Employment Network website which may help in preparing your job application.

Privacy notice

If you apply for this role, the information you provide will be processed according to Rainbow Migration's privacy policy (please see the link on our website). Rainbow Migration will not share your information with any third parties unless part of the recruitment process or are legally required to do so. By applying, you are permitting Rainbow Migration to access and use the information for recruitment purposes. Rainbow Migration will store data on unsuccessful applicants for 12 months after the conclusion of the recruitment campaign. Monitoring information is kept separately and is pseudonymised to avoid identification of applicants. It is amalgamated for statistical purposes and the original data is deleted after six months.

WHO WE ARE

We are Zarach, the children’s bed charity, and we’re on a mission to end child bed poverty, helping children get a good night's sleep, and the chance to thrive at school. 

In our nearly eight years as a registered charity, we’ve captured the hearts and attention of many individuals, community groups, businesses and funders who want to support us on our mission. We’ve also been given an incredible media platform from which we have raised awareness of child bed poverty at local, regional and national levels. This support and awareness has seen us deliver over 17,000 bed bundles to children to date!

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

As we grow, we are looking to recruit a Policy & Advocacy Manager to join the Communications team.

As our ideal candidate you will need to be in commuting distance to our Leeds warehouse, meaning you can travel regularly to meet with the team. This is a hybrid role based between the Leeds warehouse and home, and regular travel to other locations will be required to attend meetings, conferences and other such activities related to policy and advocacy. As such, you will need to have a full UK driving license and access to your own car.

You will be someone who has strong experience in the field of policy and advocacy, with a proven track-record of engaging and influencing a range of external audiences and political stakeholders, such as MPs and councillors.

Alongside your relevant skills and experience, we’ll be looking to see that you have a genuine care for our mission and, as such, are self-motivated to do a great job and be a values-led member of our team.

Ideally, you’ll have experience in a charity/NGO or social policy sector, due to some of the specialities that come with this. However, charity experience is not essential if you can demonstrate an appetite and track record for continual learning and development across your working life to date. 

WHAT WE OFFER

• Starting at £20,400 with progression up to £22,800 p/a (£34,000 - £38,000 FTE)

• 28 days, plus Bank Holidays (prorated for part-time work)

• Healthcare Cash Plan

• Quarterly Staff Recognition Award

• A great working environment! One of our colleagues described us as- “Zarach is a wonderful place to work with the mission at the core of all that we do” 

To decide if you’d like to bring your skills and experience to bear in the pursuit of our mission, please have a look at the job description, our website and the coverage of us across social media. 

Use your persuasive influencing skills to manage and deliver CPRE London’s public-facing campaigns at a critical time for London’s green spaces.

The capital’s Green Belt, parks, playing fields and nature reserves are coming under increasing threat from development and commercial interests. As an experienced campaigner your skills will help us to respond to these challenges: in summary this role will carry responsibility for management and oversight of our Campaigns, managing CPRE London’s policy and campaigns work to engage, inform and influence decision makers and individuals, by promoting the importance of protecting and enhancing green space and ensuring development is sustainable.

Our Policy and Campaigns Manager will have a strong track record of delivering successful campaigns and projects, ideally within the environmental NGO sector. This exciting role will involve managing and supporting our network of volunteers and local campaigners and working in partnership with other organisations and coalitions to make a real difference for London’s environment.

Initiative, enthusiasm coupled with an understanding of the planning system and related green space issues in London are all important for this post, which offers scope for future career development within an established charitable organisation.

How to Apply

Details of the role including the candidate pack can be found under the Jobs tab on the CPRE London's website

Please submit a CV and covering letter, explaining how you meet the requirements of the role detailed in the Job Description.

Submissions should be sent as directed in the candidate pack on our website.

Closing time and date: 12 noon Monday 22nd June 2026.
Initial interviews: Thursday 25th June
Final interviews week of 29th June

Salary: Grade C - £35,860 to £39,429

Hours: 37 hours per week. We also welcome applications from candidates seeking part-time working and are open to discussing how the role can be structured to support this.

Location: The Union, Manchester Metropolitan University

Eligibility: Eligible to work in the UK

This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who thrives on momentum, clarity and making things happen. As Project Manager (Policy), you’ll be right at the centre of The Union’s student voice work: turning insight into actions and ideas into real change. You’ll manage the day‑to‑day running of the student voice programme, keeping plates spinning, projects moving and people aligned. Whether that’s planning meetings, tracking actions, managing risks or turning priorities into clearly scoped, outcome‑focused projects. If you love bringing order to complexity and enjoy seeing plans come to life, you’ll feel right at home.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Highly organised, with strong project management skills and attention to detail
• Confident managing multiple priorities and keeping complex workstreams moving
• Skilled at turning insight into clear, actionable plans
• An excellent communicator, able to produce concise and compelling briefings
• Collaborative and relationship-focused, with the ability to work across teams and with partners
• Curious, proactive and motivated to make a real difference for students

Why join us?

• Be part of a purpose-driven organisation at the centre of student life
• Work in a role where your impact is visible and meaningful
• Collaborate with passionate colleagues and student leaders
• Enjoy variety, autonomy and opportunities to shape how we work

Closing Date: 9:00am Thursday 18th June 2026

Interview Date: Tuesday 30th June or Wednesday 1st July