Policy officer jobs in Edinburgh

As a Policy and Public Affairs Officer, you’ll support the British Heart Foundation’s policy and public affairs work across Scotland, helping to influence decision-makers and advance our priorities. Working within the Devolved Nations Policy and Public Affairs team, you’ll engage with the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, charity sector and clinical community to help deliver BHF’s objectives.

You’ll contribute to influencing plans, monitor political and policy developments, prepare high-quality briefings and consultation responses, and identify opportunities to raise awareness of issues affecting people with heart and circulatory diseases. You’ll also help organise events, build relationships with key stakeholders and represent BHF at meetings, conferences and parliamentary events.

Working collaboratively across the organisation, you’ll help ensure BHF’s policy positions are evidence-based, relevant to Scotland and effectively communicated to a range of audiences.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you’ll have:

• Knowledge of the political environment and devolved government in Scotland.
• A strong interest in policy and public affairs, with relevant experience desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly.
• Experience producing high-quality written content for a variety of audiences.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Effective interpersonal and influencing skills, with the confidence to engage a range of stakeholders.
• The ability to work independently whilst contributing positively as part of a team.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office, and a willingness to learn Microsoft 365 Copilot.

If you’re a proactive and collaborative individual with an interest in policy and public affairs, and you're looking to make a meaningful impact in the fight against heart and circulatory disease, we’d love to hear from you.

Belonging at BHF

By embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment, we strengthen our ability to achieve our mission of saving and improving lives, ensuring our work reflects and serves the needs of every community across the UK. 

To hear from our people, check out  Belonging at BHF. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. By funding research across six decades, we’ve helped keep millions of hearts beating and millions of families together. We’re investing in ground-breaking research that will get us closer than ever to a world where everyone has a healthier heart for longer.

Working arrangements

This is an 18 month fixed term contract to cover an internal secondment.

This is a hybrid role, where your work will be split between your home and at least one day per week, on average, in our Edinburgh Office. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause.

Benefits and development 

At BHF, we offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support our colleagues’ wellbeing and professional growth.

To find out more about our benefits you can download the Benefits document at the bottom of this page or check out our Benefits and Development pages.

Need more help balancing your work and home life? Talk to us about what flexibility is available at the application or interview stage.

Interview process

The interview process may take place in-person or virtually via MS Teams.

How to apply

It’s quick and easy to apply for a role at the BHF. Just click on the apply button below. All you’ll need is an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement, outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the role’s criteria. 

Our recruitment processes are fair, accessible, and inclusive. BHF use anonymous CV software as part of the application journey. 

We support responsible use of AI to help shape your application. By applying for a role at BHF, you confirm that your application is authentic and reflects your own skills and experience, to ensure everyone is assessed fairly.

Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us.