At The National Lottery Community Fund we are passionate about strengthening communities and improving lives. We are driven by our strategy, ‘It starts with community’ and its four community-led missions, as well as our equity-based approach to tackling poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. As part of our commitment to being more than a funder, we are serious about enabling collaboration, sharing best practice, amplifying the impact of our grantholders and influencing future policy making.
We are now seeking to appoint a Head of Policy Engagement to lead our engagement with policymakers and senior sectoral stakeholders under those four community-led missions. Using your deep understanding of the political and social environment in which our grantholders operate, you will explore the context for new funding initiatives, including potential partnerships, ensuring that we are making the greatest impact possible.
You will already have well established relationships with Executive Departments, other funders and the voluntary and community sector and you will use this to share learning and insight from our funding, lead consultations and identify opportunities for future collaboration. You will convene both grantholder and stakeholder networks to inform our analysis and ensure that community voice is at the heart of our decision-making.
You will be part of a policy and practice network across the Fund, working collaboratively with colleagues across the UK to develop One-Fund approaches to our missions.
We’re looking for someone who is values-driven, passionate about the Fund’s purpose and deeply committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. You will have a strong track record of influencing at a senior level and be able to articulate strategic ambitions clearly and effectively. You will also have a nuanced understanding of the role of a non-Departmental Public Body in the policy landscape and experience of working collaboratively across organisational boundaries. As a member of the Northern Ireland Senior Management team, you will provide inspiring leadership and strategic direction to the wider team.
Regular travel around Northern Ireland is expected, as well as some travel to other parts of the UK to connect with colleagues. We offer a flexible and supportive working environment and an excellent all-round benefits package.
Interview Date: Week commencing 9th June – In person interviews
Location: Northern Ireland. Our office is in Belfast and we have a flexible, hybrid approach to working.
On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below:
Essential Criteria
- Deep understanding of Northern Ireland communities. Knowledge of the context for the third sector, the funding landscape, public policy and the people and organisations who are influential in these areas.
- Demonstrable experience in high-level engagement, influencing and senior relationship management, internally and externally.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate strategic ambitions, positioning the organisation in the funding landscape and social policy debates.
- Passionate about the Fund’s purpose evidencing understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion and related best practice.
- Proven leadership skills, including the ability to inspire colleagues and work collaboratively in matrix structures.
- Strong planning and analytical skills, with expertise in research and consultation.
- Proven commitment to continuous improvement, self-reflection and personal development.
Desirable Criteria
- Clear understanding of the role of a UK-wide non-Departmental Public Body and the implications for policy and influencing.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.
We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)
Non Charity Employer
501 - 1000
It starts with community.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Position: Press and Communications Officer
Hours: Part-Time, 12 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Office-based in Belfast with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: Starting from £9,045 (FTE £26,384) per annum, plus excellent benefits
Salary Band and Job Family: Band 1, Charity*
*you’ll start at the entry point salary of £9,045 (FTE £26,384) per annum, increasing to £9,611 (FTE £28,033) after 6 months service and satisfactory performance and to £10,176 (FTE £29,682) after a further 6 months.
About us
We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.
Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.
Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.
Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.
About this job
This is a great opportunity to join a dedicated team who are passionate about improving the lives of people with MS. We are looking for someone who is confident in navigating social media channels and has a proven track record in creating engaging content for a range of audiences.
The successful candidate will be supporting the development and delivery of our digital communications to increase our reach across Northern Ireland so you’ll need to have confidence navigating Meta Platforms and online graphic design tools such as Canva or similar.
You will be joining a busy team so communication skills and time management are crucial as well as an ability to spot opportunities and work on your own initiative with support from your manager and the wider Northern Ireland team. If this sounds like you we’d love to hear from you.
Closing date for applications: 9:00 am on Wednesday 14th May 2025
Interested?
PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Equal Opportunities
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.
We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application.
Disability Confident Employer
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.
You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.
If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.
More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to):
Encouraging work life balance
- 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
- More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
- Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us)
- Flexible working options
Caring for you and your family
- Generous sick pay entitlement
- More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment
- Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year
- Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis
- Enhanced leave for new parents
- Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
- Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
- 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- Cycle to work scheme
- Death in service scheme
- New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
- In the event of miscarriage or still birth
- To support fertility treatments
- For antenatal appointments for both parents
Thinking about your finances
- Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
- Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
- New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing
Enriching your life at work
- Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
- Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
- New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely
- Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups)
- Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community)
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal
Safeguarding
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.
This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.
We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.
We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.
Your right to work in the UK
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.
You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.
No agencies please.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
To fund world-leading research, share the latest information and campaign for everyone's rights. Together we are a community. Together we can stop MS