Policy manager jobs in Cardiff

Location(s)   

This position is open to candidates currently based in Scotland, in line with the role’s operational requirements. The role is home-based with in person attendance to our ‘All Staff Days’ in London (5 per year), team meetings (roughly 6 meetings per year) and occasional travel to other meetings and Westminster as required. Where possible, these are combined with an overnight stay. 

London office: AdviceUK, 83 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0HW 

Job Title:  Policy and External Affairs Manager (Scotland) 

Employment Type:  Part-time 

Reporting to:  Head of Policy, Programmes and Media 

Pay scale: £40,000 - £42,500 Full time equivalent  (Actual salary £32,000-34,000)

Interview: In person interviews will take place on Friday 29th May at our London office

Working hours: 28 hours per week (4 days/0.8) within normal operating hours. Flexible working arrangements will be considered. (Normal operating hours are 8.00am - 6.30pm, Monday – Friday.) Lunch & other breaks are unpaid. 

Special conditions: Some evening and weekend work may be required for which time off in lieu (TOIL) will be granted. Some travel will be required which may entail some overnight stays.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds, particularly encouraging those from underrepresented groups. 

CHARITY OVERVIEW 

Since 1979, AdviceUK has been supporting advice organisations by helping them to be efficient, competent and effective, and by campaigning for a policy environment that supports advice agencies and people needing advice.

We are both a membership body and charity. We support our 700+ members (109 of which are located in Scotland) to provide advice to around 2 million people every year. We are working towards a world in which every individual, regardless of means, is able to access the advice they need to exercise their rights and deal with any legal and social welfare challenges they may face. 

JOB PURPOSE  

To set up and manage our policy and public affairs activities in Scotland ensuring AdviceUK has a strong voice, so we can secure policy change to benefit organisations delivering advice and the communities they serve. The post holder will be responsible for establishing AdviceUK’s first policy and influencing strategy for Scotland, including through developing policy solutions informed by strong evidence and rooted in member experience, and leading effective political and stakeholder engagement which will influence change. They will work closely with colleagues across the UK to join up policy, influencing and communications work. 

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

1.Strategy 

1.1 Develop AdviceUK’s first policy and influencing strategy for Scotland, through consultation with members and stakeholders and analysis of the landscape and opportunities in Scottish policy making. 

1.2 Put plans in place to roll out a specific programme of proactive and reactive policy work to further AdviceUK’s strategic aims in Scotland and represent the voices of Scottish members. 

1.3 Devise measures to monitor the impact of our policy and influencing work in Scotland and report back to staff, trustees, members and stakeholders about the difference we are making. 

2.Policy development 

2.1 Collaborate with AdviceUK members, partners, sector stakeholders and 

beneficiaries to develop clear, concise and authoritative policy positions on key issues. 

2.2 Produce high-quality, well-argued policy materials based on data and evidence, including reports, select committee responses, evidence statements, briefings and responses to Scottish Government consultations. 

2.3 Provide policy input for media statements, press releases and social media posts relating to Scotland, which are managed by the Press Officer and Digital Marketing Officer.

2.4 Develop an expert knowledge of policy issues affecting Advice UK members, keep up to date on the political and legislative environment and identify opportunities to use these to further Advice UK’s strategic objectives. 

2.5 Represent AdviceUK at policy and/or sector meetings and events.

3. Public affairs 

3.1 Roll out a programme of public affairs work including Scottish parliamentary engagement to promote AdviceUK’s strategic priorities. 

3.2 Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders across the Scottish Government and parliament, local and decision makers, non-governmental bodies and other relevant stakeholders. 

3.3 Champion an evidence based approach to all Advice UK’s advocacy and external relations work, drawing on research and member insight to inform our campaign messages. 

3.4 Ensure regular opportunities for Advice UK members in Scotland to feed into our public affairs and advocacy work, and regular communications on our impact, to demonstrate how we amplify their voice. 

3.5 Monitor and evaluate public affairs work, including collecting relevant metrics, to report back on our success and inform future campaigns. 

4. Research and data 

4.1 Work with Policy, Programme and Media (PPM) colleagues as well as the wider AdviceUK team to develop the evidence base needed to inform our policy and campaigns work in Scotland. 

4.2 Work with the Research and Policy Analyst to carry out analysis that identifies emerging trends in the Scottish advice world and use this to provide evidence-based policy briefings and specific policy solutions. 

5. General duties 

5.1 Ensure you effectively communicate Advice UK’s vision, mission and objectives to staff, members and external stakeholders.

5.2 Ensure you demonstrate Advice UK’s values and behaviours in all aspects of your work

5.3 Build and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders including staff trustees; members, partners and suppliers 

5.4 With support from your manager, deliver your agreed personal objectives and undertake any agreed development or training

5.5 Maintain a strong understanding of our members and the advice sector more generally, by reading internal reports; accessing relevant data reports; following our social media channels and, where possible, attending member and other relevant events. With the agreement of you line manager, ensure you make time to speak to members and visit their services.

5.6 Adhere at all times to Advice UK’s policies and procedures

5.7 Carry out any reasonable duties compatible with the post assigned by your line manager 

Role outline and purpose

To manage policy and public affairs influencing in Wales to ensure effective delivery of Trussell’s strategy to achieve policy and secure policy change that ends the need for food banks.

To contribute to the delivery of the wider goals of the Making Social Security Work programme across the UK and to the Prioritising Hunger & Hardship, Supportive Communities and Holistic Advice programmes in Wales.

Key responsibilities

Support the development and delivery of Trussell’s strategy to end the need for food banks in Wales.

· Supports the development and delivery of Trussell’s strategy to end the need for food banks in Wales. This includes planning influencing opportunities, developing relationships, and shaping asks to advance Trussell’s mission in Wales, contributing to the successful delivery of our overall strategy.

Deliver policy, public affairs, and advocacy in Wales.

· Deliver policy development, public affairs, and advocacy activity to contribute towards the goals of the organisation’s Wales strategy and achieve policy change. This includes working closely with Wales based colleagues to represent Trussell in the media and at external events, managing social media, direct engagement with MS’s. MP’s, ministers, advisers and officials, preparing briefings and co-ordinating events and advocacy activity across Wales that secures impactful engagement. This ensures a coherent, effective influencing programme is delivered that drives policy change and strengthens organisational credibility.

Build strong evidence base for Wales.

· Work with programme teams across Trussell and with external partners to ensure strong evidence base for Wales and ensure our evidence is shared externally and has impact. This includes sharing research findings with a range of audiences and external stakeholders through written and verbal briefings and working collaboratively with programmes across Trussell to build robust evidence base for the organisation’s policy and public affairs influencing and profile in Wales.

Develop effective partnerships and networks.

· Build collaborative external partnerships and develop networks to strengthen policy and public affairs activity in Wales, represent Trussell and promote the organisation’s policy positions to external stakeholders and audiences. This includes working with Wales based colleagues to represent the organisation in key Welsh sector coalitions and promoting the organisations policy positions and evidence to external stakeholders, to build awareness of the issues driving people to use food banks in Wales and our policy solutions.  

Support effective campaigning.

· Work with campaign colleagues, food bank-facing colleagues in Wales and the food bank network to shape and deliver effective campaign activity that advances the organisation’s goals and strategy in Wales and across the UK.  This includes working with Wales based colleagues to shape campaign activity, advise on the political context, and support mobilisation. This ensures campaigns are well informed, relevant to Wales and contribute meaningfully to UK wide programme objectives.

Person Specification

Core knowledge:

· Good knowledge of policy issues relevant to Trussell’s vision and expertise on the policies that drive hunger and hardship in Wales.

· Significant knowledge of the political landscape in Wales and of effective techniques for influencing change.

· Good understanding of research methods and of how to ensure high quality and credible evidence is deployed effectively.

Essential skills:

· Strong skills in effectively influencing political and public debates and working with politicians and policymakers across the political spectrum.

· Good ability to think strategically, demonstrate effective decision-making and ensure practical delivery of impactful activities.

· Excellent communication skills, including written, presentations and speaking, ability to adapt to influence different audiences.

· Collaborative interpersonal skills, ability to build relationships and influence internal and external stakeholders.

· Effective project management and ability to balance competing priorities and meet tight internal and external deadlines.

Key Experience:

· Track record of delivering effective policy and public affairs activity and achieving impact, ideally in Wales.

Special Requirements

None