Policy research jobs

The governance and policy manager is a senior strategic and operational role responsible for leading, coordinating, and strengthening all governance-related functions across World Physiotherapy. Reporting directly to the CEO, the role ensures the organisation consistently meets the highest standards of governance, compliance, transparency, and accountability, in line with its global mission and constitutional framework.

The postholder serves as a key advisor to the CEO, board, and leadership structures, ensuring governance systems are robust, efficient, and appropriate for an international membership organisation. The role works closely with member organisations (MOs), regions, and speciality groups to enhance governance practices, ensure policy alignment, and support coherent decision-making across the global network.

The role also contributes to organisational direction by actively participating in the development and implementation of the World Physiotherapy strategic plan and supporting alignment with regional and other strategic plans.

1. Governance leadership and oversight

• Lead, coordinate, and oversee all governance functions and activities across World Physiotherapy.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with the constitution, bylaws, policies, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Regularly review and update governance frameworks, systems, and processes to align with international best practices.
• Provide authoritative advice and interpretation on governance matters to the CEO, board, and leadership structures.
• Develop and implement governance improvement initiatives to enhance organisational effectiveness and accountability.
• Work collaboratively with the World Physiotherapy development and membership divisions to ensure organisational cohesion and effective delivery of the global mission.

2. Board and executive support

• Support and coordinate the development of high-quality board papers, briefings, and decision-support materials.
• Support the full lifecycle of board meetings, including agenda setting, documentation, logistics, and action tracking.
• Ensure timely circulation of clear, accurate, and structured information to support informed decision-making.
• Maintain and manage official governance records, including minutes, resolutions, and statutory documentation.
• Monitor follow-up actions and ensure implementation of board decisions.

3. General meeting (GM) management

• Plan, coordinate, and deliver all World Physiotherapy global and regional general meetings in accordance with constitutional requirements.
• Develop and manage timelines for GM preparation, including submission, review, and distribution of papers.
• Oversee the drafting and quality assurance of reports, motions, and official documentation.
• Ensure accurate recording of proceedings, decisions, and outcomes.
• Verify compliance with all procedural and constitutional requirements for general meetings.

4. Regional elections coordination

• Plan and oversee regional election processes, ensuring alignment with organisational rules, timelines, and standards.
• Develop and implement clear election procedures and guidance for regions in line with the constitution.
• Ensure elections are conducted transparently, fairly, and consistently across all regions.
• Provide advisory support to regional executive committees on governance and election matters.
• Maintain comprehensive records of election processes, results, and compliance.

5. Policy development and management

• Lead the drafting, review, and implementation of governance and organisational policies.
• Ensure policies are consistent, up to date, and aligned with strategic priorities and international standards.
• Provide expert policy advice and interpretation to the CEO, board, MOs, regions, and speciality groups.
• Establish and maintain systems to monitor policy implementation, compliance, and effectiveness. 

6. Strategic planning and alignment

• Contribute to the development, implementation, and monitoring of the World Physiotherapy strategic plan.
• Support alignment between global strategy and regional and other relevant strategic plans.
• Provide governance input into strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with constitutional and policy frameworks.
• Monitor and report on governance-related strategic objectives and outcomes.

7. Support to member organisations, regions, and specialty groups

• Provide expert governance and policy advice to MOs, regions, and speciality groups.
• Develop practical tools, templates, and guidance to strengthen governance capacity across the network.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and promote best practices in governance globally.
• Respond to governance queries and provide timely, solution-oriented support.

8. Stakeholder engagement and communication

• Act as a central liaison on governance matters between the CEO, board, committees, and membership.
• Ensure consistent and transparent communication of governance processes, decisions, and requirements.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Work closely with the communications and marketing team for the delivery of all key communications.

9. Continuous improvement and risk management

• Identify governance risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Lead initiatives to enhance governance maturity and organisational performance.
• Monitor global trends in governance and advise on relevant improvements.
• Support organisational risk management processes related to governance and compliance.

 

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in law, public administration, governance, business administration, international relations, or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification (eg master’s degree) in governance, public policy, law, MBA, or related discipline (desirable).
• Professional certification in governance, compliance, or company secretariat (eg Chartered Governance Institute or equivalent) is an advantage.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development in governance or non-profit management.

Essential experience and skills

• Extensive experience in governance, policy, or organisational management, preferably in an international or membership-based organisation.
• Strong knowledge of non-profit governance frameworks and best practices.
• Proven experience supporting boards and senior leadership.
• Experience managing complex governance processes (eg elections, general meetings).
• Excellent organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to produce high quality formal documentation.
• Ability to work effectively across diverse cultural and geographic contexts.

Desirable

• Experience working with global professional associations or health related organisations.
• Familiarity with constitutional frameworks and regulatory environments in international organisations.
• Experience engaging with stakeholders across multiple regions.

Personal attributes

• Highly organised, proactive, and detail oriented.
• Strong integrity and commitment to transparency and accountability.
• Collaborative, diplomatic, and skilled in stakeholder management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic thinker with a practical, solution oriented mindset.

 Impact of the role

This role is critical to ensuring World Physiotherapy operates with excellence in governance and policy. The governance and policy manager supports effective decision-making at the highest level, strengthens organisational credibility, and contributes to a cohesive, well-governed global network aligned with its strategic objectives.

Only candidates invited for interview will be contacted.

As Policy & Participation Lead, you’ll be at the heart of Inspiring Inclusion, a seven-year multi-agency programme funded by Propel, which is tackling the disproportionate school exclusion of Black and racially minoritised young people with adverse childhood experiences. Your mission is to make sure young people aren’t just consulted or 'given a voice', but are driving the change.

Yor day job is to design, lead and facilitate the systems, structures, culture and activities that power youth leadership and make change happen. You will be an organiser, working to catalyse and sustain youth engagement across a network of partners, ensuring young people’s experiences impact where it matters most. You will be committed to building something meaningful, rather than signalling through social media moments. You will co-design and co-deliver high-quality, in-person and community based youth services, activities and opportunities that reflect young people’s realities. You will want to make a difference, and will develop powerful, authentic materials—stories, insights and policy ideas—that drive change locally in Camden and beyond

You will bring experience of working with young people using a wide-range of strengths-based, participatory approaches grounded in justice, equity and inclusion. You will be excited by the opportunity to design and create a citizens assembly for young people to create a manifesto for change in schools. You know how to create spaces where young people facing challenges can grow, be affirmed and thrive. You’re confident navigating complex systems and partnerships, and will be a persuasive communicator across a range of media, and skilled at platforming young people to influence. Finally, you will be a team player, because it will take all of us to build the worlds young people deserve.

Want your research to actually change things?

We’re looking for a researcher who can deliver high-quality applied research. You will deliver programme evaluations and studies that improve mental health services and outcomes.

You’ll need to be confident in carrying out quantitative research, interviews and focus groups, working both independently and as part of a collaborative team. This role suits someone who is organised, curious, and reliable, able to manage their work, meet deadlines, and produce clear, impactful outputs.

We encourage applications from researchers of colour and from minoritised backgrounds. 

If you’re motivated by helping organisations learn and improve, able to manage a small number of projects simutaneously and excited to contribute to our work, we look forward to hearing from you.

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

About the role

The Research Officer supports Kinship in building a strong and coordinated evidence base about kinship families, and ensures our influencing work is grounded in real experience.

The role supports the design, delivery and communication of high-quality research, insights and evaluation that shapes policy, practice and service development. It also supports the coordination and operational delivery of research and practice activity, helping ensure projects, networks and events run effectively and that insights are shared across the organisation and the wider sector.

They will work closely with colleagues across the organisation, including Policy, Programmes, Peer Support and Communications. It will ensure that research and insight are gathered and used consistently and that the experiences of kinship carers, particularly those from underserved communities, are central to our work. This role could be hybrid or remote.

Key responsibilities include:

• Design and deliver qualitative and quantitative research that improves understanding of kinship families’ needs, experiences and outcomes.

• Lead data collection through surveys, interviews, focus groups and desk research.

• Carry out analysis using suitable methods to produce accurate and meaningful insight.

• Ensure research reflects the diversity of kinship carers, including carers from ethnic minority communities, mixed heritage families, informal kinship carers and carers experiencing additional barriers.

• Maintain strong ethical standards and follow GDPR requirements.

• Developing and supporting participatory research methods with carers, children and young people.

• Support evaluation of Kinship services including peer support, training and digital programmes.

• Develop tools and approaches that help gather feedback and evidence of outcomes.

• Analyse programme data to highlight trends, gaps and opportunities.

• Provide evidence that strengthens Kinship policy positions and external influencing activity.

• Contribute data and insight to briefings, consultation responses and reports.

• Support opportunities for kinship carers to participate in research in a respectful and inclusive way.

• Manage the Kinship Professionals’ Network and the Kinship Care Researchers’ Network, working with the Practice Lead to plan and schedule meetings, coordinate agendas, record and minute meetings and share insights across the organisation. 

• Support the planning and delivery of research and practice events, from consultations to knowledge exchange events.

Essential requirements include:

• Experience completing mixed methods research including design, fieldwork, analysis and reporting.

• Experience working in a research, evaluation or insight role in a charity, academic or public sector setting.

• Experience producing accessible research outputs for different audiences.

• Experience engaging with underrepresented communities and understanding barriers to participation.

• Experience of kinship care or social care research in the UK or comparable settings

• Excellent project management skills with an ability to manage multiple projects and tasks with accuracy and attention to detail.

• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills with experience of R or equivalent statistical languages.

What we offer you:

• Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
• ​30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
• Charity Worker Discounts.

Key dates:

• Application deadline: 11.59pm on Sunday 19 April 2026
• First interview: w/c 27 April 2026 (online)
• Second interview: w/c 4 May 2026 (if required)

How to apply:

Please apply for the role of Research Officer by sending a CV (max 2 pages) and cover letter (max 1 page). The deadline is 11.59pm on Sunday 19 April 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons. Please ensure you have read the application timelines.

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work.   We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us. 

Strategic Programmes Research Executive

 

We have established a number of high‑profile strategic programmes to drive progress towards a cure. Most recently, we launched the Dementia Frontiers Fund, an ambitious global initiative empowering researchers to tackle the most urgent and complex questions in dementia.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Research Executive to support the ongoing delivery of our major strategic programmes, providing essential administrative support to ensure their successful delivery, as well as contributing to the development and set‑up of new programmes of work.

This role sits within the Strategic Programmes team in the Research Directorate, an ambitious, supportive and friendly team that funds the best research to transform the lives of people affected by all forms of dementia. We are looking for someone who is highly organised with a good eye for detail, excellent communication skills, and is excited to support our mission.

 

Key Responsibilities:

Programme Management and Administration

· Work across the Strategic Programmes team and Partnerships function to provide administrative support associated with the delivery of ARUK’s strategic programmes. In particular:

· Support the ongoing management and delivery of the Dementia Frontiers Fund, acting as the central coordination point and primary contact for business administration activities and providing secretariat support as required.

· Manage the Dementia Frontiers Fund email inbox answering queries from researchers and grant awardees promptly and professionally.

· Support the monitoring of the Dementia Frontiers Fund by scheduling progress check-in meetings with awarded teams, supporting programme review processes, and taking accurate meeting notes to ensure effective follow‑up and documentation.

· Help to manage engagement with a wide range of stakeholders in the dementia research landscape, supporting their input into the programmes, with clear note-taking and systematic tracking of interactions and feedback.

Research meetings and events

· Organise research meetings and events by coordinating schedules, travel and accommodation arrangements, venue hiring, catering, and liaising with meeting attendees and ARUK’s Events team.

· Assist with the smooth running of meetings and events to ensure a positive experience for all participants.

Knowledge, skills and experience needed:

· Experience in supporting teams in an administrative capacity

· Overall IT competency and knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

· First degree (or equivalent) in relevant biomedical science

· Knowledge of research funding processes

· Ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail

· Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workload

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills

· Team worker and flexible in approach

· Enthusiastic and professional manner

· Flexibility to work occasional unsociable hours if the role requires

Additional Information:

Ways of working:

As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD. 

Salary: Circa £24,000 per annum, plus benefits.

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 26th April 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, particularly from those in the global majority, those with disabilities, men and those from the LGBTQIA+ community. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website.

Every childhood is worth fighting for. This is our belief. It drives us. And it motivates our award-winning Policy and Influencing  team to maintain the NSPCC's position as an influential, informed and forceful voice at every level. Join us as a Policy and Public Affairs Assistant (Wales and Child Safety Online) and be part of progress that means more

The postholder will use their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC's impact on public policy and legislation, and in doing so make a significantcontribution to keeping children safe. Theywill be responsible for undertaking a range of work to achieve the NSPCC's strategic goals. This will include: 

•  providing an effective and efficient administrative support service to the team 
•  supporting policy analysis and development, policy research and publicaffairs and influencing activities
• supporting participation work in Wales and across the Child Safety Online workstream. 

The post holder will be based in the Policy and Influencing Team in Wales, assisting with parliamentary monitoring, research and policy analysis, managing engagements with external audiences and organising events. The post holder willalso support colleagues in our UK Child Safety Online work, with a particularfocus on supporting the organisation of participation activities with children and young people and project delivery across the team's work. This is a great opportunity to develop policy and public affairs skills in an authoritative and well-respected children's charity. 

We're looking for someone with a clear commitment to the NSPCC's vision to working together to stop child abuse and neglect, and excellent administrativeand IT skills to support with managing engagements with external audiences and organising events.Our new colleague will also have strong skills in researching, analysing and summarising key information. Finally, we're looking for someone who works well across different teams and can support a range of policy projects. 

Join us and you'll become part of a team that cares about the work they do and the people they work with. You'll discover opportunities to grow, along withchallenges and a shared purpose that'll bring the best out in you. And you'll get to find your own way to make a difference that means more, and that impacts millions of young lives.

If you are interested in applying for this role, we encourage you to apply early. To help us manage the process we may close the vacancy before the advertised closing date should we receive a strong response to the role.

In keeping with our values and our policies, if any individuals who are regrettably at risk of redundancy apply for a role and meet the minimum essential criteria they will be given priority consideration. We hope that you understand our position on this and that this will not discourage from applying.  We cannot predict who, internally, will apply for a role, or whether they will meet the minimum essential criteria.  Where no at-risk candidates meet the minimum essential criteria, all applications will be considered as normal.

This is an exciting entry-level opportunity for someone with interest in or experience of health or social care services who is passionate about improving health and wellbeing in England and looking to begin a new career in policy or research.

The King’s Fund has an ambition to increase the diversity of our workforce and to create career opportunities in health and care policy for a broader range of people. The policy and research field is not yet reflective of the health and care workforce in terms of ethnicity. We believe that diversity of background and experience contributes to a broader collective perspective, and we want to improve the way we influence health and social care policy. This positive action trainee post is aimed at people from an ethnic minority background who are interested in pursuing a career in policy and/or research who have not previously worked or had an internship in this field and is advertised under Section 158 of the Equality Act 2010. 

About the role 

The Policy and Research Trainee post is a broad-ranging development role that will support the post-holder to gain knowledge and experience of various aspects of policy and research within a specialist health and care policy team.

You will contribute to projects across a wide range of issues relating to health and social care policy and practice (see our website for some examples of our recent projects). You will gain experience in creating a range of outputs for different audiences, publishing and presenting research findings in an accessible way. Training will be available both internally and externally to develop not only relevant research skills but also wider aspects such as writing and giving presentations.

About us 

The King’s Fund’s mission is to inspire hope and build confidence for positive change, by boldly reimagining a health and care system that is compassionate, equitable and fit for the future, with people at its heart.

We want our staff to feel like they can bring their whole selves to work. We have a range of staff networks, including a Black Staff Network and an Allyship group. You can read more about our work on diversity and inclusion on our website.

About you 

We are looking for someone who is passionate and curious about improving health and care in England and who wants to learn more about health and care policy. 

You will have a demonstrable interest in learning about English health and care policy and research. You will already have experience with health or care, whether as a carer, patient or staff member, and an interest in improving health and wellbeing, for example by reducing health inequalities and improving social determinants of health.

You will not have previously worked in research or policy, but you’ll be enthusiastic about gaining the new skills and experience needed to start a career in policy or research. We are particularly interested to hear from people who see this opportunity as unique and critical to their career development.  

How to apply

To apply, please visit our website and read our supplementary guidance documents, then download and fill in our application form and the equal opportunities form. If completing the application forms present any challenges, contact us by email so we can discussion options. 

We will also be running two informal online sessions on Zoom on 9 or 13 April where you can hear from existing colleagues about what it’s like to work in The King’s Fund policy team and have the opportunity to ask questions. Please visit this job advert on our website to register. You only need to attend one of the sessions. . 

Please note that in order to apply, you must have existing documented proof of your right to live and work in the UK. Sadly, we are unable to sponsor work permit applications, extensions or transfers from an existing UK employer. 

CVs will not be accepted as applications. Applications must be submitted using The King’s Fund application form. 

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 19 April.

Interviews will be held in person at The King’s Fund London office on 13 May (role available to commence in June but no later than September 2026).

Full time, 35 hours per week

Permanent

Grade DL, Salary £46,949.35 per annum

Location: Euston, London (hybrid working, minimum two days per week in the London office, including Thursdays)

Closing date: 9.00am, Monday 27 April

Interview date: Week commencing 04 May or 11 May TBC

The Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation solely for GPs in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1952, it has over 55,000 members who are committed to improving patient care, developing their own skills and promoting general practice as a discipline. General practice is the largest branch of the medicine and provides a majority of population’s contact with the health service.

We are looking for a senior policy professional with experience working on policy issues related to data, digital and AI to join our policy team, which is part of our Policy, Research and Campaigns department. If successful, you will help to make the case for resources in primary care to meet the health needs of our population, develop policy solutions to improve general practice, and influence decision making at senior levels of government. You will contribute to efforts in overcoming some of the biggest changes and challenges faced by the NHS in its history, with a particular focus on supporting general practice to engage with and respond to dynamic digital developments. You will work closely with our public affairs and campaigns team and our press team, as well as a range of others across the organisation, to ensure that the voice of general practice is heard at the most senior levels.

We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic policy professional who can hit the ground running and help drive forwards our influence in key areas within a fast-paced policy landscape. The successful individual will be responsible for data, digital and AI related policy areas affecting general practice, as well as engaging on a range of policy areas as required.

If you are a driven professional looking for a dynamic role where you will quickly be able to have an impact, we would like to hear from you. You should:

• have demonstrable experience working in policy. 
• be confident in taking a lead on policy development and able to quickly become an expert in complex policy areas of general practice.
• have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with an eye for detail and an ability to explain complex problems to different audiences.
• be a strong self-starter who is confident in taking initiative.
• be confident in using evidence to help make a case for change.

The successful candidate will share our corporate values. In return, the College offers excellent terms and conditions and great working environment.

Please find the full Job Description in the downloadable Candidate Pack.

To apply, please click 'Quick Apply' and complete the application form on the Vacancies page on the RCGP website.

The Royal College of General Practitioners is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

                                            ~ Building a sustainable future for general practice ~

Policy and Public Affairs Manager - National Charity
£37,000 to £39,000 per annum.
Fixed term contract until 30th April 2027.
 
Happy to talk about flexible working such as part-time working or flexible working hours.
 
ABOUT US
Somebody goes missing in the UK every 90 seconds. Missing People exists to ease the heartache experienced by those missing someone, and to help people who are away from home find their way back to safety. Our vision is for every missing child, adult and family left behind to find help, hope and a safe way to reconnect. We are a non-judgemental, highly skilled team of staff and volunteers working for everyone who needs us. We provide free, confidential support, help and advice by phone, email, text and live chat.

Missing People’s Policy and Research Team is a small team with a big impact, both within the charity and externally. We aim to create local, regional and national change to improve the response to missing people. We work in an evidence-based way, centring the experiences of those who have been or are affected by missing. As the Policy and Public Affairs Manager, you will lead work to influence improvement in the response for missing children, adults and their families at a national and local level.

THE IMPACT YOU WILL HAVE 
Make a national impact on the lives of missing children, adults and their families.
 
Joining our Policy and Research Team, you will help influence local and national policy, ensuring that the voices and experiences of missing people and their families are heard at the highest levels. Your work will directly shape how the UK understands and responds to missing people — and will help protect those at greatest risk of harm. You will learn from and work with people who have been missing, and people who have reported a loved one missing, to shape workplans and to call for change.
 
You will act as Co-Secretariat for the APPG for Missing Children and Adults, and build relationships with key stakeholders in government, parliament, the police and safeguarding agencies, finding ways to engage and motivate policy makers to better understand the issues affecting missing people and their families, and to make positive changes.
 
You will become expert in the issue of missing, including the risks that cause people to go and the harm they experience while away. This will also involve monitoring the policy landscape for opportunities to influence changes in the response to missing people, and provide expert insight and guidance to help shape improvement.
 
You will represent issues facing some of the most marginalised and vulnerable communities. This might include people who face sexual or criminal exploitation, people experiencing mental health problems or people who face discrimination in the response they receive from statutory services when they seek help in relation to the issue of missing, amongst others. This will sometimes include engaging with and challenging professionals in organisations and systems that exist with embedded discrimination.
 
ABOUT YOU
You will have:

• Right to work in the UK.
• Previous experience of working in a policy or public affairs role;
• Experience of successfully influencing change at a local and/or national level;
• Experience of building and maintaining relationships with politicians and other policymakers, including quickly building rapport and establishing trust;
• Experience of working with Parliamentarians in All Party Parliamentary Group/s
• Experience of sensitively representing complex issues in communications with professionals or the public, particularly issues which impact on marginalised people;
• An understanding of political systems across the UK and how to influence policy within those systems;
• Knowledge of missing or linked issues, for example mental health, care experience, exploitation, homelessness, or adult social care;
• Understanding of the experiences of marginalised communities and how to ensure that those who are marginalised are included and given the opportunity to influence change;
• Proven ability to communicate complex information in a clear manner to different audiences, including some information that might challenge existing perceptions and perspectives;
• Able to work autonomously, with proven ability to move projects forward when working independently.

 
WHAT WE OFFER
Working for Missing People means living our values. It’s a place where people are encouraged to ‘let fly’ so you can ‘make things happen’. We know you’re more than just a job title, and ‘be human’ is an important value here. Missing People is an independent charity that relies on donations.

For further details, please see attached job description/person specification and letter to applicants.
 
HOW TO APPLY
Please include your CV and a brief supporting statement that demonstrates how you are a good fit for this role. We look forward to receiving your application. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert early if we receive sufficient applications, so please apply promptly.

Closing date: 23:59 on 19th April 2026
Interviews: 22nd April 2026
Start date: 11th May 2026
 
You may have experience of the following: Public Affairs Manager, Policy Manager, Policy and Campaigns Manager, Public Policy Manager, Policy and Parliamentary Affairs Manager, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Policy and External Affairs Manager, Government Affairs Manager, Public Affairs and Engagement Manager, Policy and Influencing Manager, Parliamentary Affairs Manager, or Policy and Research Manager.

REF-227 878

What you will be achieving

As a key member of the Academy’s Policy Team, the Senior Policy Officer will play an important role at a critical moment for the organisation. This role will help the Policy team to plan and deliver a new set of priorities for 2026/27. Relevant priorities for this role include, but are not limited to:

• Improving health outcomes in the UK and internationally.
• Mobilising the UK health research system to turn discovery into practice.
• Making the UK the best place in the world to have a career in medical sciences.

Within these overarching priorities, there are some distinct policy programmes the incoming Senior Policy Officer is likely to work on, which could include:

• Maximising the impact of medical sciences in prevention and early detection.
• Transforming the generation and application of clinical evidence to speed up translation from discovery to patient impact, ensuring equitable inclusion of underserved groups.
• Making the UK a global leader in responsible, effective and equitable AI and data use across the biomedical sciences.
• Conducting a foresight exercise to identify high-impact innovations that will be critical within the near future and ensure the health system is enabled to support them.

The Senior Policy Officer will be line managed by a Policy Manager.

What you will be doing

As Senior Policy Officer, you will lead on or support a range of policy projects and activities to inform and influence the policy landscape in accordance with Academy priorities. This work may include leading on or supporting the following:

• Major working group studies and corresponding outputs.
• Informing and responding to Government set pieces and announcements.
• Consultations and rapid responses, and shorter position papers.
• Roundtables, workshops, and other relevant policy events.
• Correspondence and briefings for senior stakeholders.
• Working closely with Fellows and other experts to identify and analyse key policy issues, gather data and expert opinion. Construct impactful conclusions and recommendations to advise internal and external stakeholders.
• Delivering implementation and follow-up activities on policy recommendations across external audiences and stakeholders.
• Maintaining an excellent understanding of the policy landscape by monitoring developments and key policy issues, including the use of animals in research (please see the Academy’s statement on the use of animals in research).
• Scoping potential new areas of policy work, and/or identify opportunities for the Policy Team.

External engagement

• Collaborating with organisations from academia, Government, healthcare, industry and the charity sector.
• Maintaining and developing an effective network of contacts across the sector (including our Fellows) to inform and increase the impact of policy work.
• Representing the Academy at external meetings, parliamentary engagements (such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Life Sciences) and political events (such as party conferences).

Supporting the Academy’s wider functions

• Supporting the Academy’s briefings and parliamentary monitoring functions.
• Coordinating across a wide range of Academy functions, including its Briefings, Impact, and Events capabilities, to maximise the effectiveness of policy work.
• Working with the Communications and Engagement teams to co-develop relevant outputs and activities.
• Briefing senior stakeholders for high-level meetings and events where necessary.
• Supporting the development of core scripts on priority policy topics across the Policy team.
• Supporting the Monitoring and Evaluation team with monitoring the policy team’s impact.

Budget and line management

• Occasionally managing policy budget lines.
• Occasionally supervising policy interns and placement students.

Benefits

We provide our staff with a comprehensive benefits package outlined as follows:

• Generous pension scheme with flexible contributions – we contribute between 8% - 13% of your gross salary (with employee contributions of 3% - 8%).
• Life assurance at three times your salary.
• Hybrid and agile working. 50% office attendance.
• 26 days annual leave, plus Christmas closure days and bank holidays.
• Buying and selling leave.
• Family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to a qualifying period).
• Complimentary subscriptions to Headspace and Classpass to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Support through tailored learning and development.
• A range of enhanced benefits become available once you’ve completed your probation period.

For more information and to apply, please visit our careers portal.

Closing date: 9.00am on Wednesday, 22 April 2026.

Interview date: Thursday, 7 May 2026 (held online).

Senior Policy and Research Officer 

Job Description

Role Overview

Role title: Senior Policy and Research Officer
Team: Policy and Research
Reports to: Policy and Research Director
Salary: £32,000 – £34,000
Location: Kettering (flexible working considered)

Purpose of the role

The Senior Policy and Research Officer supports the organisation’s work to influence policy and practice by delivering high-quality research and analysis.

The role contributes to building a strong evidence base that informs decision-making by government, employers and partners, and supports Youth Employment UK’s position as a trusted source of insight.

What the role is accountable for

Outputs (what is delivered)

The role is responsible for designing, delivering and reporting research projects, including quantitative and qualitative analysis.

This includes analysing data, developing research tools, producing reports and briefings, and supporting the communication of findings to a range of audiences.

Outcomes (what success looks like)

Success in this role is demonstrated through the production of high-quality, reliable research that informs policy, supports organisational strategy, and is used by stakeholders.

The role contributes to strengthening the organisation’s evidence base, supporting policy development and influencing work, and enabling colleagues to use research effectively.

Behaviours (how the work is done)

The role requires a structured and analytical approach to work, with clear and accurate communication of complex information.

It involves working collaboratively with colleagues, maintaining high standards of quality and professionalism, and ensuring that research outputs are accessible and useful to different audiences.

Attitudes (ownership and judgement)

The role requires a strong sense of responsibility for the quality and accuracy of work.

This includes taking ownership of research tasks, managing competing priorities, identifying risks or issues early, and applying sound judgement when interpreting data and presenting findings.

Key priorities

The main focus of the role is on delivering research projects to a high standard, supporting policy development, ensuring research is accessible and usable, and contributing to the wider work of the team.

Skills and experience

The role requires experience in research within a policy or related environment.

Candidates should demonstrate strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, the ability to analyse and interpret complex data, experience using relevant tools, and the ability to communicate findings clearly.

An understanding of youth employment or related policy areas is desirable.

How success will be measured

Performance will be assessed through the quality and reliability of research outputs, ability to meet deadlines, contribution to policy work, effectiveness in communication, and alignment with organisational values.

Working arrangements and benefits

This role is based in Kettering, with flexibility considered depending on the needs of the role and team.

Youth Employment UK offers a supportive working environment and is committed to flexible working where possible. Benefits include annual leave, pension contribution, and opportunities for development.

Values

Youth Employment UK is committed to being a professional, collaborative and purpose-driven organisation.

All colleagues are expected to:

• work in a way that reflects our commitment to young people and employers

• demonstrate professionalism and integrity in their work

• collaborate effectively with colleagues and partners

• contribute to a positive and supportive working environment

Recruitment process

We aim to provide a clear and consistent recruitment experience.

The process for this role is expected to include an initial online interview (approximately 30 minutes), followed by a second-stage interview, usually held in person, including a structured interview and a role-related task.

Candidates who attend the interview will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

We are committed to fair and accessible recruitment. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process.

The role  

As a Senior Researcher, you will take a leading role in our research programmes with parliamentarians and journalists, while also contributing to our work with the general public and bespoke client projects. You will act as a trusted partner to clients and a point of guidance for junior colleagues. 

You will lead on our nfpPolitics programmes – quarterly surveys of 100 MPs and an annual survey of 100 members of the House of Lords, plus annual surveys of MSPs in Scotland, MSs in Wales and MLAs in Northern Ireland. These programmes give charity clients clear, evidence-based insight into how they are seen at Westminster and in the devolved parliaments: tracking awareness of organisations and their campaigns, the actions parliamentarians have taken in response, and how effective they consider those organisations to be. Subscribers also receive unfiltered open comments from parliamentarians and access to broader political intelligence data – covering what MPs see as the biggest challenges facing the sector, the factors that influence whether they will support a campaign, and which organisations have impressed them in Parliament. 

You will also oversee nfpPress, our annual survey of 150 UK journalists across print, digital and broadcast media. This gives charity communications teams systematic insight into how the media perceives them and their work – not just whether journalists know who they are, but whether they want to work with them, and what would make them more likely to. 

Alongside this tracking work, you will contribute to a varied portfolio of bespoke projects for individual charity clients – from applicant perception research for funders, to supporter benchmarking and message testing. In practice, this means working across a wide range of topics and methodologies, helping charities make better strategic decisions. 

Description of responsibilities and opportunities: 

· Leading our nfpPolitics Westminster programme: quarterly surveys of 100 MPs and an annual survey of 100 members of the House of Lords, including questionnaire design, fieldwork management, analysis and client debriefs 

· Leading our nfpPolitics Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland programmes: annual surveys of MSPs, Members of the Senedd and MLAs 

· Overseeing nfpPress: our annual survey of 150 UK journalists across print, digital and broadcast media 

· Managing a portfolio of client accounts across the Professional Audiences monitors – advising clients on their results, responding to requests for analysis, and supporting retention 

· Contributing to the design and delivery of bespoke projects for a wide range of charity clients, spanning applicant perception research, supporter benchmarking, message testing and audience insight work 

· Writing and presenting client reports and debrief presentations, with clear conclusions and actionable recommendations 

· Line management of a Research Officer or Research Assistant: writing objectives, conducting appraisals and supporting their professional development 

· Contributing to business development, including helping to scope and write proposals and participating in pitch meetings 

· Contributing to the broader life of the company, including our monthly Knowledge Meeting, company blog and Insights events 

Who we are looking for:  

This post would be ideally suited to a researcher with at least three years’ experience in a market research or social research role, with a strong interest in the non-profit sector and the professional audiences it works with – whether parliamentarians, journalists, funders or specialist communities. 

Essential: 

· Minimum three years’ previous professional research experience, ideally in market research, social research or a consultancy setting 

· Experience of managing research projects or programmes with a high degree of independence 

· Experience of managing clients or other external relationships 

· Experience of presenting in a professional context 

· Strong quantitative research skills, including excellent data literacy, survey design and data visualisation 

· Analytical skills and ability to interpret research, and explain what it means for a range of different audiences – both verbally and in writing 

· A strong interest in politics, media or public affairs, and an understanding of how non-profits engage with these arenas 

· A strong interest in, and preferably experience of, charities and not-for-profits 

Desirable: 

· Experience of research with specialist or professional audiences (such as parliamentarians, journalists, healthcare professionals or funders) 

· Experience of conducting qualitative research (interviews, focus groups or similar) 

· Keen interest or experience of the not-for-profit sector in one of our international markets (Ireland, Canada or the US) 

· Experience of line managing or mentoring more junior colleagues 

· Experience of using R, SPSS or Displayr 

In addition, we also like to see the following soft skills in all our staff:  

· Strong verbal and written communication skills 

· Excellent time management and organisational skills 

· Self-motivated, hardworking and proactive 

· Enthusiastic, personable and with a sense of humour 

· Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly as part of a team 

What nfpResearch delivers to you:  

· A varied and senior role at the UK’s leading research consultancy working exclusively in the not-for-profit sector 

· The opportunity to lead research that shapes how charities engage with Parliament, the media and their audiences 

· The chance to be an integral part of a small and dynamic company  

· 25 days paid holiday per year, plus bank holidays and days between Christmas and New Year 

· Training for the MRS Advanced Certificate qualification and a bonus if you pass the exam 

Our client, a well-known anti-poverty charity is looking to recruit a Director of Policy & Engagement on a maternity contract of up to 12 months. This great charity provides front-line advice, advocacy and campaigning and policy work on behalf of people in London beneath pension age, who are experiencing issues around benefit payments, disability and housing or who are at risk of homelessness. The services they provide have become even more essential during the current cost of living crisis.

The role:
As Director of Policy & Engagement, you will lead the organisation’s policy, public affairs, and campaigns function, shaping and delivering local and national influencing to drive change on social security and housing issues. You will ensure the voices of people with lived experience are central to all of the organisation’s work, embedding meaningful participation across the organisation, in governance, services, policy and campaigns.

You will also oversee strategic external communications to support the organisation’s influencing, brand and fundraising objectives and will direct all fundraising for your department including managing funder relationships, identifying opportunities and leading on bid writing and reporting.
 
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for influencing policy and practice locally and nationally and representing the charity as a spokesperson in the media, with government ministers, MPs, and other senior stakeholders. 
 
You will manage a small multidisciplinary team of four, ensuring integrated effective delivery across the organisation. 
 
The role will cover strategic leadership, policy, public affairs & campaigns, stakeholder & media engagement, external communications, embedding participation, fundraising leadership, team leadership and cross-organisational Integration.

The person:
The successful candidate will be a strategic, politically astute leader with experience of leading policy, public affairs and campaigns at a senior level. They will have experience of integrating research campaigns, participation, external communications and fundraising to deliver impact locally and nationally. They will have excellent media stakeholder and political engagement skills, with experience of acting as a spokesperson for an organisation. This person will value and embed lived experience in all aspects of their work and will have a strong understanding of social security and housing policy. 

This person will also have substantial experience of leading on research for social policy influencing purposes in addition to having developed and shaped policy  for an organisation in a charity which works towards combatting poverty and other social justice issues. Having managed political and media engagement and external influencing activities in the past, this person will be an effective relationship manager both internally and externally, in addition to having provided knowledge based leadership to small teams in the charity sector. In addition to being a highly effective project manager, this person will be a very strong communicator both verbally and in writing, and will be fully committed to the aims and objectives of this anti-poverty charity.
​​​​​​​
This organisation is an equal opportunity employer. People with lived experience of poverty, from global majority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ individuals and disabled people are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome evidence of experience from both work and non-work settings such as volunteering and personal life. 
 

Policy Officer

Join a nature restoration charity, whose mission is to restore beavers to regenerate our landscapes.

We are looking for a Policy Officer to influence national policies and strategies that enable the restoration of beavers, rivers and wetlands.

Position: Policy Officer

Location: Remote, resident in mainland Britain

Hours: Full or part-time. 4 days per week (30 hrs), 4.5 days per week (33.75 hrs) or 5 days per week (37.5 hrs)

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £29,403 per annum, pro rata

Closing Date: 9:00am on Monday 20th April 2026. We reserve the right to interview candidates and close the ad ahead of the closing date, should a strong candidate be identified.

Interview Date: Online interviews will be held on Tuesday the 12 May. You will be asked to give a short presentation to the interview panel and may also be given a task to undertake during the interview

About the Role

Working closely with and supporting the Policy Lead, the role involves engaging with stakeholders to build strong, effective relationships and help drive policy change in support of the charity’s mission. Sitting in the Influencing team, the Policy Officer will collaborate across the organisation, including with Restoration, Communication & Education, Fundraising, and Support & Governance teams.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Research and monitor changes in policy and legislation with direct and indirect impacts on beaver restoration across Britain.
• Draft relevant responses, policy documents and political briefings.
• Organise policy events and meetings to support influencing work.
• Monitor the policy positions and activities of stakeholder organisations, including partners and those with opposing views.
• Cultivate and maintain stakeholder relationships, including with politicians, government officials, and partners to bolster support for the trust’s policy positions.
• Represent the organisation at meetings and events, including those of Wildlife & Countryside Link, Wales Environment Link, and Scottish Environment LINK coalitions.
• Support delivery of campaigns.
• Personal data administration to ensure compliance with the GDPR
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure cross organisational working to maximise influencing impact.

About You

You will have an understanding of the environmental policy landscape - including agri–environment schemes - across Britain at both local and national levels. With strong influencing and communication skills, you will have the ability to articulate policy positions clearly and persuasively to support policy change.

You will have proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of external stakeholders, including those who may hold differing or opposing views. For example government officials, NGOs, partners, and landowners.

With the ability to synthesise, interpret and apply scientific research to inform policy development and advocacy, you will have:

• Experience of producing high-quality reports, briefings and written communications for diverse audiences.
• Highly organised, proactive and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to the organisation’s mission and values.
• IT and visual content creation skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively across Britain for work, including frequent overnight stays, with access to transport to get to areas not covered by bus/rail.

All shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Thursday the 30 April. If you have not heard from us by this date, please accept our thanks for applying and assume that you were not shortlisted on this occasion.

About the Organisation

Join a nature restoration charity, restoring beavers to regenerate our landscapes. Our client’s team is small with a diverse skillset and extensive experience in beaver ecology and restoration, human-wildlife coexistence, and policy. They provide practical solutions to help people to co-exist with beavers and influence legislation in Scotland, Wales and at Westminster that rebuilds ecosystems, improves river health, and strengthens climate resilience in a time of ecological and climate crisis.

Benefits include:

• 25 days holiday, plus Christmas day through to New Year’s Day paid, plus 6 days of floating holidays.
• Flexible approach to hours of work.
• Travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses will be met by the trust in
• Pension contribution of 3% of your total pay each month
• One-off contributions toward the cost of an ergonomic office chair and toward purchases of essential devices (laptop, mouse and smartphone)
• Monthly home working allowance, plus an annual contribution toward the maintenance and/or replacement of the essential devices.

We are committed to inclusive recruitment and are happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in the environmental sector, including people of colour, disabled people, those from low-income backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ communities and all other protected characteristics

You may have experience in roles including Policy, Policy Officer, Policy Executive, Grants and Policy, Environment, Environmental, Environmental Policy, Environmental Policy, Nature. #INDNFP

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.