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Who we are
IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.
What you’ll do
Reports to: Chief Executive
Location: Home-based or Hybrid (with frequent travel for events and meeting with parliamentarians and other stakeholders)
We are seeking a Policy Manager to lead IPSEA's policy and influencing work to achieve positive change for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Head of Legal and Training, trustees and colleagues across the organisation, you will set strategic policy priorities and develop evidence-based influencing plans that support IPSEA's mission and long-term objectives.
Drawing on insights from our advice and tribunal services, legal expertise and the experiences of families, you will identify systemic issues within the SEND system and develop policy solutions that improve children and young people's access to the support and education to which they are entitled. You will ensure that IPSEA's policy positions are credible, legally robust and informed by the lived experiences of those we support.
You will lead IPSEA's engagement with government, Parliament and other key decision-makers, identifying opportunities to influence legislation, policy and practice at both national and local level. This includes overseeing responses to consultations, parliamentary inquiries and calls for evidence, as well as preparing briefings and strategic advice to support senior-level engagement and advocacy.
Working collaboratively with colleagues across legal, communications, fundraising and training teams, you will ensure IPSEA's policy, campaigning and public affairs activities are aligned and maximise the organisation's impact. You will also monitor developments across the political, legal and policy landscape, helping IPSEA respond proactively to emerging opportunities and challenges affecting the rights of children and young people with SEND.
This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference as part of a small, friendly, and dedicated team. If you are passionate about helping children and young people with SEND and have the skills and experience needed, we would love to hear from you.
Who are we looking for?
You will have significant experience in a senior policy and campaigning/public affairs role and have good knowledge of local and national government structure including the legislative process.
You the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including MPs, civil servants, campaigners and parents. You exhibit tact and diplomacy and can be impactful with people of varying levels and experience.
Your research and critical thinking skills enable you to analyse policy and data to produce relevant reports and position papers. You have experience of drafting organisation responses to government consultations and parliamentary calls for evidence.
IPSEA should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.
What we can offer you
- 5% employer pension contributions
- Healthcare cash plan
- Flexible working arrangements
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day off for your birthday (pro-rata if part-time).
To apply
Visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form.
Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 September 2026.
First-round interviews: on 15 September 2026 in our offices in Takeley, Essex, with second-round interviews (online) on 18 September 2026.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We help children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) get the education they are entitled to by law
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
The Policy and Convening Manager helps drive the Foundation’s mission to improve urban health by shaping how the organisation influences policy and decision-making. The role sits within a Policy and Influencing function that works closely with programmes teams to turn evidence from funded projects into strong networks, higher visibility and meaningful policy impact.
The Policy and Convening Manager develops influencing strategies based on the insights from Impact on Urban Health programmes, builds coalitions and leads a new cross-programme approach to convening – including showcasing evidence from the Foundation and its partners, and delivering targeted policy-focused events. The role involves experimenting with new approaches to deliver impact, spotting opportunities to influence, and leading investment partnerships with a policy angle, which may include commissioning research or designing campaigns.
The Policy and Convening Manager works with the Head of Policy and Influencing on engagement with key parliamentary and governmental stakeholders and collaborates with Communications colleagues to create impactful policy communications.
Key Responsibilities
- Working with the Head of Policy and Influencing, develop and deliver compelling influencing strategies for our Urban Health programmes.
- Lead on development of a new policy convening strategy, encompassing our approaches to building coalitions, delivering policy events, and platforming the work of our funded partners.
- Develop, lead and manage through our partnership life cycle a portfolio of investment partnerships with a particular influencing focus within these programmes.
- Act as a source of policy expertise and political insight for colleagues across the organisation, proactively briefing on key political events and policy developments.
- Lead horizon scanning to identify proactive and reactive influencing opportunities, and deliver this activity in partnership with internal and external colleagues.
- Working closely with Communications Managers, develop and deliver impactful communications to influence.
- Bring a diversity, equity and inclusion lens to all our policy and influencing activity, whether in how we work with our partners or in our own systems and processes.
Role responsibilities are not exhaustive, and you would be reasonably expected to take on wider tasks that are commensurate with the level of your role.
Skills, Knowledge and Attributes
- The ability to develop expertise and familiarity with different policy areas quickly.
- Strategic thinking and a strong entrepreneurial approach – being able to spot and distil areas of influencing opportunity within complex programmes of work.
- Excellent interpersonal and networking skills at all levels.
- Enjoys working in places with a clear and ambitious mission, a matrix structure and ways of working that challenge the norm.
- Willingness to prioritise diversity, equity and inclusion in all our work.
Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications:
- Experience working in public affairs and policy in a UK setting, with impact on policy making in Westminster Parliament and/or the devolved administrations (essential)
- Experience developing impactful influencing strategies and delivering activity to achieve these strategies (essential)
- Experience in developing and delivering impactful policy events(essential)
- Experience working with coalitions for policy change (essential)
Benefits
- Contributory pension
- Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
- Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
- Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities.
- Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit.
- Shower facilities and bike lock area.
- Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
- Subsidies for glasses
- Employee Assistance Programme
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Be part of something extraordinary at Epilepsy Society. We are seeking a values driven Policy & Public Affairs Manager to join a charity that provides world leading support for people with epilepsy through Care, Research and Advocacy.
About the role
Epilepsy Society is a dynamic charity with ambitious plans to revolutionise the lives of people through advocacy, research and care.
We are looking for someone to join our award-winning campaigns team and help us to progress change through political engagement at both national and local level. We have an impressive track record of working with government, locally elected politicians, professional organisations, patient stakeholder groups and other charities in the sector on a range of issues which affect people with epilepsy.
Our recent work includes our successful Zach’s Law campaign. This role is an exciting opportunity to help bring about further change that will make a real difference to the lives of people with epilepsy.
The postholder will develop an effective programme of policy and public affairs work across the UK to have maximum impact for people with epilepsy and to raise the public profile of epilepsy.
We seek someone with a degree or relevant experience in political or public affairs, extensive experience of influencing, organising campaigns and major events and negotiating at a senior level. You will be required to have a detailed level of understanding of government politics and the charity sector and an empathy to the cause.
Please download the recruitment pack attached to view the full job description and essential criteria.
The post holders should demonstrate our people values of CAIRO (Caring, Accountable, Improving, Respectful and Open.
Some information about us
The Epilepsy Society’s Vision is a full life for everyone affected by epilepsy. We want everyone affected by epilepsy to have the best opportunity for a full life - as free from seizures as possible. We set out to make a difference to every person affected by epilepsy whatever their background, however seriously it impacts on their life, and whether they have the condition themselves or are close to someone with epilepsy.
What we can offer
• 27 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the ability to buy and sell annual leave
• A generous Employee Referral Scheme (refer a friend and earn up to £150)
• Length of service awards
• Access to shopping discounts and cashback with thousands of retailers through Purple Rewards
• Staff recognition scheme
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• Group Pension
• Life Assurance (2x your annual salary)
• Confidential, supportive Employee Assistance Programme, accessible 24/7
• Salary Finance, offering you products linked to your salary and tailored to your individual circumstances. Providing services such as loans, advances, savings and financial education
If you have the right skills and experience and are inspired to apply, please do so by uploading your CV and covering letter explaining how you meet the specifications of this role.
A DBS (Disclosure & Barring) check will be required before appointment is confirmed.
We reserve the right to close the post early once we have received a sufficient number of applicants: please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.