Policy Officer Jobs in Home Based
At Independent Age, we believe that no older person should face financial hardship. That’s why, by 2027, our goal is to have improved the lives of one million older people. Our impact across policy, campaigning, information and advice, grant-making and partnerships improves lives by increasing the financial well-being of older people in financial hardship, enabling greater choice and independence in wider areas of life. We want to find talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.
Responsibilities and Person Specification:
This role will form an integral part of our three person Policy and Public Affairs team based in Scotland, working as part of a UK-wide Policy and Influencing team. The role will drive forward our policy projects to reduce poverty in later life, conducting expert research and policy analysis and turning this into persuasive evidence to catch the attention of decision makers and persuaders. The postholder will create opportunities to amplify the voices of older people in poverty and work to secure support for our policy recommendations in Holyrood.
You will have strong research skills with experience of turning quantitative and qualitative data into high quality, persuasive policy outputs. You will have experience developing credible, evidence-based policy solutions, informed by the perspectives and insights of people with lived experience.
You will be a skilled verbal and written communicator with the ability to engage different audiences. You will build strategic relationships with a variety of stakeholders to advance the solutions needed to address poverty in later life, using your knowledge of the political landscape in Scotland and passion for our cause.
For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification. If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway.
This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9-day fortnight.
Location: Homebased in Scotland (with occasional travel required)
What it’s like to work at Independent Age:
We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.
We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.
We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working.
You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age by visiting our website.
Application Process:
To apply, please visit our website to submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by clicking the Apply Online button below (please do not hesitate to contact us if you have specific requirements and need support to apply in an alternative format).
To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Therefore, please do not include your name, photo, or information to indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement. Please do not omit dates of employment. Please ensure the title of any uploads does not contain your name.
Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Basic Disclosure Scotland Certificate will be required for this role.
Closing Date: Sunday 14th April
Interview Dates: Wednesday 24th April & Thursday 25th April
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
AEF is a not-for-profit organisation campaigning on aviation’s impacts for people and the environment. The Policy Manager will, together with the Director, lead AEF’s UK and international policy and campaigns work, contribute to the development of new strategies and projects, and engage with a wide range of stakeholders and the media. The successful candidate will join a friendly team who split their time between working from home and the office base at London Bridge.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job title: Director of Policy and Strategy
Term: Full time, permanent
Salary: Circa £100,000 per annum plus generous benefits, and 30 days’ annual leave.
Location: London (Victoria) – hybrid (one to three days in the office as a minimum), with some travel around England required
Closing date: 10am 22 April 2024
Interviews: w/c Monday 6 May 2024
NHS Providers is the membership organisation for the NHS hospital, mental health, community, and ambulance services that treat patients and service users in the NHS. We help those NHS foundation trusts and trusts to deliver high-quality, patient-focused care by enabling them to learn from each other, acting as their public voice and helping shape the system in which they operate.
NHS Providers has all trusts in England in voluntary membership, collectively accounting for £115bn of annual expenditure and employing 1.4 million staff.
Our Policy directorate encompasses around 35 people, and the director of policy and strategy has responsibility for four direct reports and sits on our Executive Management Team (EMT), also helping to lead strategy and development across our 100-strong organisation. As director of policy and strategy, you will play a pivotal role in developing and strengthening our Policy and Strategy directorate. This will include ensuring we continue to operate in an integrated way across our Policy and Strategy, Communications, and Development and Engagement directorates to deliver the greatest impact for members and our organisation.
You will provide strategic leadership for the organisation’s policy, strategy, analysis and public affairs functions, providing high-level advice and support to the chief executive, deputy chief executive, chair and board, as well as playing a key role as part of the NHS Providers director team.
NHS Providers is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcomes applications regardless of sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality, beliefs, or disability. To be successful in this role you will need to be personally committed to being anti-racist and support our broader diversity work across all protected characteristics
The Policy and Practice Officer will play a pivotal role in taking our young carers policy and practice work to the next level as part of our efforts to ensure a fair future for all young carers and young adult carers. As well as supporting our growing policy work in this area, you will act as the coordinator for the Young Carers Alliance andthe first point of contact for the Young Carers Covenant. You will engage with a wide range of people including civil servants, charity partners, Members of Parliament, localcarer organisations, local authorities and health representatives, young carers and senior internal colleagues. You will ensure young carers’ voices are heard, both through public campaigning and private influencing, and become an expert in the key issues facing young carers, young adult carers and the local carer organisations that support them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About us
The Microbiology Society is a membership charity for scientists interested in microbes, their effects, and their practical uses. It has a worldwide membership based in universities, industry, hospitals, research institutes, schools, and other organisations.
Our members have a unique depth and breadth of knowledge about the discipline. The Society’s role is to help unlock and harness the potential of that knowledge.
Our commitment to anyone who studies microbes is “whoever you are, wherever you are, we will amplify your voice”.
About you
We are seeking a Policy and Engagement Officer to help deliver our ambitious policy goals and projects. Working with the wider engagement and storytelling theme, you will be responsible for progressing external scientific and higher education policy activities for the Society. You will also be responsible for promoting science policy issues and engagement to members of the Society.
The post-holder will contribute to and support the Policy and Engagement Manager in the delivery of all of Council’s strategic objectives and particularly in relation to advancing the understanding of microbiology and championing the contribution made by microbiology, our members and their work in addressing global challenges
Please note that the organisation operates a hybrid working policy.
For more information about the Society, please visit our website.
Our generous benefits package includes;
• Flexible working hours
• Highly competitive salaries with an annual cost of living increase
• 23 days holiday + eight bank holidays and three additional days over the Christmas break
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Life insurance including free (health and wellbeing) employee support services
• Enhanced maternity pay to include 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave and 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay
• Enhanced Adoption pay to include 26 weeks of fully paid adoption leave and 13 weeks of statutory adoption pay
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• £50 contribution towards eye care
To Apply
Please attach your CV and Cover Letter.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Closing date: 12th April 2024
It is important that you DO NOT include your Personal Information i.e. name and contact details in your CV or Cover Letter. This is because the Microbiology Society is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. We value, promote, and seek diversity.
The Society also takes the security of your data seriously. It has internal policies and controls in place to ensure that your data is not lost, accidentally destroyed, misused, or disclosed, and is not accessed except by our employees in the proper performance of their duties.
Please note that due to limited resources, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted therefore, if you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
“We are interested in every candidate who is eligible to work in the United Kingdom. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.”
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you a strong, visionary leader keen to advocate for the VCSE sector? Are you interested in bringing people and organisations together to collaborate on the future of community led services across Hampshire and to be the public face of the organisation?
Having led the organisation through a significant period of change, our CEO has chosen to move on to take up a new challenge and set up her own business. We are now seeking a Chief Executive to lead Action Hampshire through the next phase of its strategy. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who has the desire, vision and ambition to continue to build a system that is fairer for our communities.
As a strengths-based organisation, we value the unique contributions each member of our team brings and our organisational culture emphasises coaching and leadership over management. We’re committed to inclusivity, equity and to the wellbeing and safety of our team. This role offers a high degree of flexibility in working hours and can be delivered remotely, apart from bimonthly coworking or away days in Hampshire. You’ll have the opportunity to set your own development goals and targets and receive support to achieve them. Joining a friendly and supportive team, you’ll be able to manage your own time and work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues and contractors. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your strengths to other parts of the organisation too.
Key tasks include:
(see job description for a full list of tasks)
- Lead, inspire and develop the team at Action Hampshire to deliver our purpose
- Work with the Board of Trustees to ensure delivery and regular review of Action Hampshire’s (‘the charity’) vision, mission and strategic plans
- Deliver the charity’s vision and mission through appropriate plans and in accordance with agreed policies and protocols.
- Support and advise the Board to meet its responsibilities to ensure that the charity is legally compliant, well run and meets its organisational duties and obligations
- Enhance the charity’s impact and profile locally, regionally and nationally.
For almost 75 years, we’ve supported communities across Hampshire. Today, our mission focuses on strengthening the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, supporting communities to raise their voices, and doing all we can to reduce disadvantage and celebrate diversity across Hampshire. Our responsive approach means we work across a wide range of issues relevant to our communities, from increasing the availability of rural affordable housing to ensuring cancer awareness messaging reaches seldom heard communities.
There has never been a more exciting time to join our talented, ambitious and friendly team. Our new 3-year strategy sets out clear goals and actions which we’ll achieve together. Our leadership team are embedding a culture of learning, experimentation and development. Our team is caring, collaborative and driven by our values of being bold, enterprising, informative, and empowering. We very much welcome applications from all members of the community, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith or disability. We are a Living Wage employer and Disability Confident.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Would you like to help create a brighter future for nature?
We’re looking for a Policy Officer (or Senior Policy Officer) to help develop and promote environmental policy on behalf of our 82 environmental charity members.
The Government has promised to halt the decline of nature by 2030. This role is about making sure the urgent action needed to meet that pledge is delivered.
Your job will be to convene some of England’s best environmental policy experts to agree bold and effective shared policy positions. There will be lots of thinking, lots of writing, and lots of opportunities to shape shared campaigns. You will also play a key role in delivering those messages to key influencers in Government and in Parliament.
So, we’re looking for someone with a keen eye for detail, the ability to listen and negotiate, and a reasoned and convincing style of written and verbal communication.
The role is likely to focus on one of the following policy areas – access to nature; nature-based solutions; climate change; or environmental economics – but we can consider another policy focus for the right candidate.
We particularly welcome applications from candidates from under-represented backgrounds, including people of colour, disabled people and those from a low-income background, to be part of our small, friendly and collaborative team.
To apply, please send your CV, with a short covering letter and a completed diversity monitoring form by 9am on Monday 22 April.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Salary: £36,648 starting salary per annum plus 4,087.65 Inner London Weighting if based in London. (salary range will increase due to max £39,186 via the length of service) per annum (pro rata where applicable).
Contract: Permanent basis
Hours: Full-Time 35 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks)
Location: Any Refugee Action office: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford. We will consider UK- based hybrid working option. (Some travel in the UK with occasional overnight stays away from home will be required).
Our vision is that refugees and asylum seekers will be welcome in the UK. They will get justice, live free of poverty, and be able to successfully rebuild their lives.
Applying for this role – please read:
Applications for this role are only* open to people who identify as having lived experience of forced displacement due to war, invasion, persecution or human rights abuses
(This also includes British nationals living/working overseas who have been forced to leave due to war, invasion, persecution or human rights abuses)
*Current Refugee Action employees with and without lived experience, are eligible to apply.
About Refugee Action
Refugee Action exists to work with refugees and people seeking asylum who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes. We are a national charity with more than 40 years’ experience of empowering people who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes to secure the protection and support that they need to live with dignity and respect and build a new life in the UK. We do this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of partner organisations and campaigning on the policies that affect them.
To succeed in the role you will need to demonstrate:
- ·Ability to carry out innovative research to develop knowledge and policies which will underline advocacy and public campaigning work for the rights of refugees.
- An in depth understanding of driving knowledge through the meaningful participation of our clients in research projects and the importance of desk-based investigations to strengthen our policy positions.
- Ability to think critically and write engaging and accessible content on complex and intersecting issues.
- Ability to build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders for the purpose of collaborative partnership working.
- Commitment to removing barriers to power for people with lived experience, and commitment to anti-racist practices.
We want to make sure that we reach to as many potential candidates as possible and that we make the process accessible so we will be running 2 information sessions where interested people can come and find out more about the role, the work of the GPP team and the application process.
For online Information Sessions via Zoom, please register via the links below:
Tuesday 2nd April – 14:00-15:00 - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85214421870
Or Monday 8th April – 10:00-11:00 - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89215909229
For further details please visit our website.
Closing date: 23:59 on Sunday, 21 April 2024
Interviews: 01 May & 02 May 2024 (on Zoom)
Refugee Action only operates in the UK, so all roles are UK-based, and you must have the right to work in the UK.
This role is not on the Shortage Occupation List. If you have permission to work that is restricted to the Shortage Occupation List, we will be unable to appoint you to this role.
You can find out which roles are on the shortage occupation list via these two links:
- Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations
- Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations for healthcare and education
We are currently campaigning for a not-for-profit asylum accommodation system, see our Most Wanted campaign here.
We require a Policy & Influencing Officer to become part of a dynamic organisation which works across Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire to influence, advocate, research and contribute to the expansion of our activities in tackling poverty, disadvantage and discrimination across the services we provide.
The postholder may have extensive experience in the field or just seeking to expand and develop on that experience. You will have good knowledge of and an interest in key aspects of social policy and inequalities. It is important that you are passionately committed to upholding and promoting human dignity, enabling the voices of those who are marginalised to be listened to and seeking to promote justice as this is what underpins everything that Caritas stands for.
You’ll be an excellent communicator, self-motivated, committed and reliable. You’ll be able to develop and produce evidence based, high quality policy briefings and research projects in support of advocacy objectives, using a range of tactics. You will need to be able to facilitate effective conversations, especially in spaces with a wide and diverse audience with different interests and priorities. The ability to understand complex information and communicate it both orally and in writing with good attention to detail is also important for this role.
We require the post holder to have the ability to work independently with strong time management, organisational and planning skills. Proficient IT skills (Outlook, Word, Excel & PowerPoint) is essential.
We offer excellent opportunities for personal and professional development. We also offer 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, pension scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, training opportunities and with flexible working options available.
If this sounds like the next step you are looking for, we would love to hear from you!
Closing date: Thursday, 11 April 2024 at 10am
Interview: Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Caritas follow Safer Recruitment practices, and this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check. The ability to drive whilst not essential would be helpful as this role requires you to travel around Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Caritas Diocese of Salford is an equal opportunities employer
Registered Charity Number: 1125808
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Context and Background
The NSPCC’s vision is that together, we can stop child abuse and neglect. Through the collective power of our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, and over 100 years of experience we will move closer to achieving that vision. We launched our ten-year strategy in 2021, which is centred around three impact goals. This is the difference we want to make by 2031:
1. Everyone plays their part to prevent child abuse: we’ll work together to make it easier for everyone to play their part and create a social safety net that prevents child abuse and neglect.
2. Every child is safe online: together, we’ll transform the online world, so it’s safe for every child to go online.
3. Children feel safe, listened to, and supported: more children will be able to speak out, so they feel safe, listened to, and understood – and abuse doesn’t shape their future.
The Policy and Public Affairs (PAPA) team is part of the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate at the NSPCC. The Directorate exists to help shape the world around us – and what the NSPCC does – so that it reflects what we have learned and can help keep children safe from abuse.
The Policy and Public Affairs team works across the four nations of the UK to influence legislation, policy and practice to ensure they are as effective as possible in preventing harm and abuse of children. We develop and hold the NSPCC’s positions on key public policy issues and harness these to influence policy makers and external stakeholders across the UK. We focus on policy priorities through our five core workstreams: the child protection system and children’s social care; early years and health; child sexual abuse; online safety; and young victims and witnesses.
We are recruiting a Policy and Regulatory Manager to play a central role in delivering our strategic ambitions to transform the online world so it safe for children. The post holder will play a management role in the high performing PAPA team which has a track record of successful influencing to ensure legal, policy and regulatory frameworks are fit for purpose in preventing, responding, and tackling child abuse and neglect.
The Policy and Regulatory Manager will spearhead our policy and influencing activity to make the Online Safety Act work for children. This will include delivering our regulatory strategy. They will be responsible for leading policy projects that contribute towards the NSPCC’s strategic objectives, using their skills and experience to strengthen our impact on public policy and regulatory decisions. In turn, they will make a significant contribution to keeping children safe.
They will play a key role in delivering our policy and influencing activity with figures in government departments, regulators, and civil society, with regular liaison with industry, and other sectoral experts.
The Policy and Regulatory Manager will manage cross-cutting projects across directorates, ensuring we can amplify the voice of the child by channelling the expertise held across the NSPCC’s policy, research, and knowledge teams, and from our wider services.
They will be responsible for line managing two policy and public affairs team members and supporting them to develop robust policy and regulatory analysis.
The successful candidate will have a good understanding of online harms or related public policy areas and in-depth knowledge of regulatory structures and processes from experience of working in regulated sectors or for a regulator.
Job purpose
The Policy and Regulatory Manager will deliver public policy projects to support the NSPCC’s strategic objective to transform online protections for children. They will use their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC’s impact on public policy and online safety regulation.
The Manager will ensure our policy calls are robust and well-evidenced and develop policy strategies and regulatory liaison to leverage our expertise and secure necessary changes to legislation, regulation, and industry practices.
They will develop impactful and influential relationships with regulators, and with senior stakeholders across Government, parliament, industry, and civil society to inform crucial decisions about legislation and regulatory design, and in turn, the development of regulatory schemes.
The Policy and Regulatory Manager will play a lead role in delivering the NSPCC’s strategy of amplifying the voices and experience of children. The postholder will lead our regulatory engagement and will leverage our research and insight to influence the shape of regulation. This will include representing the NSPCCs views on the design of the online safety regulatory framework and responding to formal consultation.
They will play a leading role within the child safety online (CSO) workstream within the wider Policy and Public Affairs team and will line manage members of staff and help them develop their policy and public affairs skill sets.
Key relationships - Internal
· Reports to Associate Head, Policy and Public Affairs - Child Safety Online
· To line manage a Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer (in post) and a Policy and Public Affairs Officer (recruiting)
· Colleagues in the London-based Policy and Public Affairs team
· The Policy and Public Affairs teams in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
· Colleagues in the Strategy and Knowledge directorate including the CSO Solutions Labs
· Media and Campaigns teams
· Services Directorate
· NSPCC Senior Management and trustees, including Policy Committee
Key relationships - External
· Key civil servants in central government departments (such as the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
· Regulators (Ofcom, Information Commissioner)
· Technology companies, including social media and gaming companies
· Civil society organisations working on online harms
· Law enforcement agencies e.g., National Crime Agency
· Other children’s charities
· Parliamentarians
Main duties and responsibilities
Policy and influencing
· Develop and deliver effective regulatory strategies which; identify achievable goals and objectives are underpinned by robust, evidence-based policy positions are high quality, impactful and support the NSPCC’s strategy ambition to transform the online world so that it is safe for children.
· Lead the NSPCCs thinking and approach to Ofcom’s codes of practices.
· Lead and oversee the development of high-quality public policy development and influencing projects to deliver strategic, high impact policy outcomes
· Build excellent relationships with civil service, parliamentary, industry and civil society stakeholders, and leverage these to deliver high impact policy change
· Deliver persuasive, evidenced policy interventions to ensure child-centred decisions on regulatory design and delivery
Leadership and representing the NSPCC
· Provide leadership, direction, and line management to two policy and public affairs team members
· Be a key point of contact for internal and external requests for information and advice about NSPCC’s positions on complex technological and regulatory positions
· Use strong project management skills to plan the delivery of policy development and aligned public affairs work, planning both your and colleagues’ time effectively
· Work closely with Press and Campaigns teams to deliver effective and authoritative external messaging, and manage cross-cutting projects across directorates
· Represent the NSPCC on relevant issues and where appropriate, act as spokesperson for the NSPCC including through the media.
Responsibilities for all Staff within the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate
· A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
· To maintain an overview of child protection policy and practice
· To maintain an awareness of own and other’s health and safety and comply with NSPCC’s Health and Safety procedures
· An active commitment to promoting ED&I, safeguarding and trauma informed practice
· An agile approach to work
· To maintain and develop competence in the use of IT systems
Person specification
· Strong support for NSPCC’s mission and values.
· Excellent understanding of online safety, child protection, tech regulation or related public policy areas.
· Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the clear ability to influence a wide range of audiences verbally and in writing, and to tailor information to different audiences.
· Strong analytical skills, with an ability to interpret a range of data and research to design compelling, evidence-based policy solutions
· Excellent policy development skills, including being able to draw up credible positions and policy interventions on complex and highly nuanced subject matter
· Excellent stakeholder and persuasive skills, with evidence of delivering tangible change through influencing key relationships (including with regulators, government and industry), forming tactical and strategic networks, and leveraging political and external dynamics
· Evidence of team management skills and experience of managing complex and competing projects with a strong track record for delivery at speed and under pressure, responding to tight external deadlines.
· An inspiring team player, with a collaborative and flexible approach and the ability to work across teams and directorates well
Safer Recruitment
As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.
Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.
The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
Our principles:
· Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.
· Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.
· We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.
· Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.
· As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18’s joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.
· All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.
The Policy and Public Affairs Officer exists to change policy and practice to improve access to treatment and health outcomes among people affected by eating disorders. They will do this principally by developing Beat’s policy positions based on evidence and ensure this is effectively communicated to key decision-makers.
Beat are looking for a highly organised, analytical and engaging individual to join us. They will have a real passion for policy work, including creating a strong evidence base to influence decision makers and will excel in relationship building with external stakeholder.
The successful candidate will support policy research, adding to our evidence base and enabling Beat to strengthen our influence across all four nations of the UK. They will provide political expertise across all parts of the UK, including through growing relationships with MPs and providing the Secretariat responsibilities for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on eating disorders.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Senior Policy Research Officer
Directorate: Strategy and Knowledge
Team/Department (if specific): Policy and Public Affairs
Salary range: £35,423 (plus £3,366 London weighting)
Location: London (hybrid working, with at least one day- Tuesday- in the office). The post holder will occasionally be expected to travel to locations across the UK.
Working hours: 35 hours (flexible working may be considered)
Date Written/ Amended: March 2024
Context and Background
The NSPCC's vision is that together, we can stop child abuse and neglect. Through the collective power of our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, and over 100 years of experience we will move closer to achieving that vision.
We launched our ten-year strategy in 2021, which is centred around three impact goals. This is the difference we want to make by 2031:
1. Everyone plays their part to prevent child abuse: we'll work together to make it easier for everyone to play their part and create a social safety net that prevents child abuse and neglect.
2. Every child is safe online: together, we'll transform the online world, so it's safe for every child to go online.
3. Children feel safe, listened to and supported: more children will be able to speak out, so they feel safe, listened to and understood - and abuse doesn't shape their future.
The Policy and Public Affairs (PAPA) team is part of the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate at the NSPCC. The Directorate exists to help shape the world around us - and what the NSPCC does - so that it reflects what we have learned and can help keep children safe from abuse.
The PAPA team works across the four nations of the UK to influence legislation, policy and practice to ensure they are as effective as possible in keeping children safe. We focus on policy priorities through our five core workstreams: the child protection system and children's social care; early years and health; child sexual abuse; online safety; and young victims and witnesses.
We are recruiting a Senior Policy Research Officer to develop and deliver our early years and health policy work to deliver real change and reform in the best interests of children.
The post holder will work in the UK/England part of the Policy and Affairs Team focussed on influencing the Westminster Government. The role involves a variety of responsibilities including policy research, policy development and public affairs. This is a great opportunity to drive policy work in an exciting policy area, by building a strong evidence base and contributing to effective influencing strategies.
Job purpose
The Senior Policy Research Officer will be responsible for undertaking policy research to achieve the NSPCC's strategic goals, using their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC's impact on public policy relating to the early years and health. In doing so, they will make a significant contribution to protecting the youngest children from abuse and neglect
Key relationships - Internal
· Reports to the England Policy and Public Affairs Manager
· Colleagues in the wider Policy and Public Affairs team across the UK
· Colleagues in the Media and Campaigns teams
· Colleagues in the Research and Evidence team
· Colleagues in the Services directorate (to ensure policy development is informed by experiences and learning from our frontline professionals/ volunteers)
· Colleagues in the Participation Unit (to ensure the involvement of young people in policy and influencing work)
Key relationships - External
· Key civil servants and policy advisers in the UK Government
· MPs and Peers in the UK Parliament
· Colleagues in relevant voluntary and statutory agencies
· Practitioner bodies
· Key academics, researchers and research networks
Main duties and responsibilities
· Develop and maintain a high level of expertise on priority policy areas, with lead responsibility for early years and health policy.
· Scope, develop and refine NSPCC policies on priority policy issues, putting forward the economic case for change where possible.
· Analyse a wide range of primary and secondary sources of evidence (such as official data sets and statistics, policy documents, academic literature, economic analyses, FOls and survey data) to develop innovative and evidence-based policy solutions to complex problems.
· Prepare high-quality policy outputs such as briefings, summaries, consultation responses, papers and presentations for internal and external audiences.
· Contribute to the delivery of our research activity, working with teams across NSPCC to assess policy and evidence needs, then design and undertake impactful research projects to address these.
· Contribute to the commissioning of methodologically robust and ethically sound research to investigate a substantial child protection challenge, including by devising clearly defined requirements for the work.
· Manage policy research projects from development and commissioning stage through to completion, providing direction and supervision to ensure the highest standards of delivery.
· Develop and maintain a network of key contacts across parliament, the civil service, and civil society, using this network to amplify the NSPCC's voice and take advantage of opportunities to influence policy making.
· Represent the NSPCC on relevant internal and external advisory groups, meetings, and stakeholder events.
· Act as media spokesperson for the NSPCC on relevant subject areas, including live and pre-recorded interviews as well as background discussions with journalists on policy relating to early years and health.
Responsibilities for all Staff within the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate
There is a set of responsibilities for all staff within each directorate.
· A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people
· To maintain an overview of child protection policy and practice
· To maintain an awareness of own and other's health and safety and comply with NSPCC's Health and Safety procedures
· An active commitment to promoting ED&I, safeguarding and trauma informed practice
· An agile approach to work
· To maintain and develop competence in the use of IT systems
Person specification
1) Strong support for the NSPCC's mission and values.
2) Good understanding of child protection, early years, health or related public policy areas combined with knowledge of the wider legal, government and media context.
3) Excellent policy development skills, with the ability to develop and refine policy solutions to complex problems.
4) Proven ability to undertake research (qualitative and/ or quantitative) and analyse findings, with an ability to design methodologically robust and ethically sound research that is delivered to a high standard and agreed timescales.
5) Experience of successfully presenting research accurately to make a clear and compelling case for policy and legislative change.
6) Excellent communication skills including a clear and concise writing style, combined with good oral presentation skills, that can be tailored to a variety of audiences.
7) Good public affairs skills, with strong knowledge of parliamentary processes, sound political judgement, and experience of contributing to the delivery of influencing strategies to secure support from decision makers in parliament and beyond.
8) Ability to work on own initiative with strong organisational and project management skills, including demonstrable experience of project managing small research projects, working at speed and under pressure when required, while successfully managing project progress, risks and quality.
9) Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build constructive working relationships with external stakeholders, as well as to work effectively as part of an internal, cross departmental team.
Safer Recruitment
As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.
Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.
The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
Our principles:
Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.
• Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.
• We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.
• Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.
• As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18's joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.
• All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.
Working within the Policy and Public Affairs team, the Policy Officer will support the implementation of the Trussell Trust’s policy influencing strategy to end the need for food banks in the UK. The Policy Officer will be responsible for delivering activity in key policy areas, with a particular focus on policy development and influencing key decision makers. The role will work with the wider team to monitor and inform policy influencing plans, and the Research team to support policy research planning.
Role responsibilities
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Develop and maintain expertise in key policy areas which contribute to our strategic goal of ending the need for food banks, including policies related to the social security system, housing, communities, and the role of local government.
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Support and deliver policy activity, including briefings, select committee written evidence and consultation responses
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Horizon scan and monitor the policy environment, including attending relevant events and meetings
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Develop networks, including relationships with sector partners and officials working in key policy areas
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Support – as required – the Organising and Local Mobilisation team in equipping food banks in the Trussell Trust network to influence locally
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Support monitoring and planning for the Policy and Research department
Person Specification
Technical skills and minimum knowledge:
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Demonstrable interest in and capacity for policy development and identifying policy levers and opportunities to influence government
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Knowledge of public affairs environment and machinery of UK government
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Proficient writing skills, producing concise outputs for a range of audiences
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Self-sufficient use of I.T., including proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and an ability to use project management processes
Behaviours and competencies:
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Balance competing priorities and works to tight deadlines
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Communicates effectively, working collaboratively across teams and organisations
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Demonstrates a commitment to the values of the Trussell Trust
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Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially excluded backgrounds
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Role models inclusive behaviours and values
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Public Affairs and Policy Manager will play a crucial role in helping to determine and shape TMs policy goals and how best to achieve them. Working closely and collaboratively with colleagues from across the organisation, and in close consultation with the TMs internal and external stakeholder groups and networks you will develop policy, research and campaigning projects to meet the organisations strategic objectives. You will be able to understand complex policy issues, recognise their relevance to the Traveller Movement and identify policy solutions. You will know how to generate and analyse data and bring issues to life by drawing out the lived experience of people from Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities
You will led develop and sustain a small committed team of two policy and campaign officers to produce policy, research and campaigning activities. You will lead TMs Public relations and influencing work developing relationships with policy makers, partner organisations, parliamentarians and the media. You will ensure co-production and the voice and lived experiences ethnic Romani (Gypsy), Traveller and Roma is central to all our engagement and influencing work.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you passionate about driving positive change and influencing policy decisions? Do you have excellent communication and interpersonal skills? We are looking for a Senior Policy & Public Affairs Adviser to join our dedicated Policy and Campaigns Team at the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association.
You will be working with the Public Affairs Manager, and Wales Delivery Team to deliver the MND Association's influencing, campaigning, and lobbying priorities to improve care, services, and support for people with MND, their carers, and families.
Your role will involve analysing public policy with the Policy Manager to develop policy positions, recommendations and solutions aimed at positioning the MND Association effectively in key debates.
You will communicate the charity's position on policy issues to the Welsh Assembly, Cross Party Groups and Government by writing and managing the production of policy papers, including briefings, submissions, speeches, and reports. Liaising with decision-makers and policymakers, you will develop and maintaining high-level relationships with stakeholders, allies, and partners.
Collaboration is key, and you'll work alongside the Public Affairs Manager to implement public affairs and campaigns strategies throughout Wales. Additionally, you'll ensure alignment with NHS Wales and local authorities to effect meaningful change at Assembly level.
As a representative of the MND Association, you'll engage in meetings and media activities as required, advocating for our cause with professionalism and passion. You'll have the opportunity to establish partnerships with other charities and stakeholders to amplify our collective voice.
Your responsibilities will also include coordinating communication efforts, keeping both internal and external stakeholders informed about policy developments. In collaboration with our Senior Campaign Advisors, you'll drive impactful campaigning actions at both local and national levels, and provide vital support to our Campaign Volunteers, ensuring our advocacy efforts make a real impact.
This role is home-based with travel requirements across Wales.
What are we looking for?
Candidates who possess an excellent understanding of the political system in Wales, including knowledge of Assembly processes, legislation, and guidance development. You will have experience actively engaging in policy consultations and delivering impactful campaigns and public affairs initiatives.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential. Strong interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills along with the ability to establish positive relationships at all levels and influence outcomes is crucial for success within this role.
Ability to communicate in Welsh, or a willingness to learn, is highly valued, as is experience in policy areas such as healthcare, social care, or welfare benefits. Additionally, familiarity with volunteer and supporter engagement in policy and public affairs activities is desirable.
Occasional evening/weekend work and travel to various meetings and events may be necessary.
For full role responsibilities please view the job description located within the Recruitment Pack.
Our Benefits
- 28 days holiday, rising to 33 days after 5 years' service, plus Bank Holidays
- Access to UK Healthcare which includes reimbursement for dental appointments, eyecare, Health & Wellbeing screening and therapies
- Access to a 24/7 phone and video GP Service
- Life assurance
- Confidential counselling helplines
- Salary sacrifice schemes to include: Cycle to work & Buy and sell annual leave
- BenefitHub which offers lifestyle discounts and offers on everyday shopping
- Enhanced pension scheme
- Opportunities for training and personal development
Alternative Applications
To provide an inclusive application process for all our opportunities, we are open to receiving alternative applications from candidates who may find it difficult to complete our online form. For example, if you would like to apply via video or audio format, please email your recorded application, ensuring you cover the supporting statement aspect.
About Us
Our vision is a world free from MND. Our mission is to improve care and support for people with MND, their families and carers. We fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments and brings us closer to a cure for MND. The Association also campaigns and raises awareness so the needs of people with MND, and everyone who cares for them, are recognised, and addressed by wider society.
We are committed to equality and value diversity. We are working hard to remove perceived and actual barriers to participation for people with and affected by MND, current and future staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
We guarantee interviews for disabled applicants that meet the requirements of the role as part of our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. Reasonable adjustments can be made as required.
Important Information
Adverts may be closed before the deadline once sufficient applications are received. To avoid disappointment, please apply early.
We request that recruitment agencies do not contact us in relation to this role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.