Public Affair Manager Jobs in Bristol

Policy and Public Affairs Manager (England) 

Job Description and Person Specification 

Reporting to: Head of Policy and Public Affairs

Line Management: 1 Policy and Public Affairs Officer England 

Location of work: London. Must be commutable for meetings at Westminster.The role may involve some infrequent travel throughout England and Scotland. 

Contract type: Ideally full-time, 35 hours per week, although 4 days a week/flexible hours will be considered. The role will require occasional evening and weekend work.

Contract Length: Permanent

Salary: £42,000 

BACKGROUND 

The latest research suggesting that the number of children and young people at risk of hunger has rocketed to 2.7 million* means that one in five children don't have enough to eat.  When a child is too hungry to learn, when they’re aching for something to eat, they can’t concentrate. They can’t absorb information. Big feelings and worries can be impossible to control. They fall behind in their studies.  

Magic Breakfast provide a nutritious and filling breakfast to over 200,000 children and young people every school day. We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target the children most in need without barrier or stigma.  Magic Breakfast are ambitious to grow our impact to remove hunger as a barrier to learning for all children and young people in the UK. 

The new UK government’s Children’s Wellbeing Bill outlined in the King’s Speech, includes a requirement for free school breakfast clubs in every English primary school. This is a fantastic start towards ending child morning hunger. Magic Breakfast’s influence will be instrumental to ensuring school breakfasts are introduced in a way that is hunger-focused and barrier free. In 2021, the Scottish Government, pledged a not yet enacted promise to provide breakfast to primary children. 

Thousands of secondary school children are at risk of losing their free school breakfasts from September next year. For many of these students, this is their only opportunity to have a nutritious meal before facing a demanding school day, including taking exams. 

Solutions across all UK nations are currently either not yet actioned or are severely underserving the current need. Being part of the work of Magic Breakfast is your chance, together with parents, teachers and people across the UK, to demonstrate the power of school breakfasts and to shape the way forward to end morning hunger for good. 

*Food Foundation Insecurity Tracker Jan 2024

JOB PURPOSE 

Magic Breakfast’s mission is to end child morning hunger in the UK now and for good. The role of the Policy and Public Affairs Manager is to support us to deliver on this mission through influencing governments to address child morning hunger and the underlying systemic causes, in order to give every child the opportunity to reach their full potential. 

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping policy initiatives and influencing decision makers across Westminster and Whitehall. Specifically, you will help ensure the new Early Adopters Programme – the government’s pilot breakfast scheme in England – is hunger-focused and puts children and young people at its centre. This in turn, will inform the national rollout of primary school breakfast provision across England from September 2026 – a policy which you will also work to influence. In tandem, you will be responsible for informing and shaping how breakfast is included and positioned in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill.

More widely, you will keep abreast of political developments relevant to Magic Breakfast, identifying opportunities to respond, influence and shape the debate. You will be able to put complex policy ideas across in simple and effective terms both in person and through reports and briefings.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and lead Magic Breakfast’s influencing strategy to shape and inform school breakfasts within the Children’s Wellbeing Bill 

• Engage thoroughly in the legislative process to shape how breakfast is positioned, to ensure the law protects and supports children and young people at risk of hunger 

• Influence and shape the scope of the Early Adopter’s Programme to inform long-term school breakfast policy across England 

• Work with ministers, politicians, civil servants and advisors to help shape the national rollout of school breakfasts across England 

• Identify and produce high-quality evidence-based responses to new policy developments, sector reports and consultations from Government, advisory bodies, other political parties and membership organisations 

• Proactively monitor and track policy developments, and ensure internal understanding and alignment on issues and opportunities 

• Lead the dissemination of Magic Breakfast policy briefings and research reports to key political stakeholders 

• Organise and lead key influencing events to influence and inform decision-makers

• Deliver on our policy objectives through building relationships with key stakeholders in national government, key national organisations and coalitions, including garnering intel and ensuring that our opportunities to influence policy making are maximised 

• Ensure organisational buy-in, coordination and collaboration to support our advocacy strategy 

• Develop and deliver political stakeholder engagement plans; track progress against plans and deliverables; with regular reporting on targets and outcomes, timely evaluation and shared learnings across internal teams 

• Work closely with the Policy and Public Affairs Manager Scotland, to share expertise and intelligence 

• Be flexible in work focus and responsibilities when required e.g. support with Scottish election/campaign work and advocacy in Wales 

• Work closely with Campaigns colleagues to inform and shape campaign activities and respond proactively to live developments through the life of the campaign 

• Proactively recommend and establish systems, tools and procedures to ensure effective delivery of objectives across the Policy and Public Affairs team 

• Provide management and coaching for the Public Affairs Officer, agreeing a career development plan in line with required expertise

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

• Experience of policy development and influencing

• Sound understanding of the legislative process (experience in this process is highly desirable) 

• Good working knowledge of the UK political system (national and regional) and previous experience in a UK public affairs/advocacy/or policy role.

• Ability to prepare high quality, evidence-based internal and external briefing material, and messaging under time pressure 

• Experience of line management 

• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders 

• Demonstrated experience in developing integrated, public affairs campaigns 

• Strong interpersonal skills and experience building effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders including civil servants and sector peers 

• Demonstrated experience of developing influencing plans and working with sector peers and in coalition to achieve change 

• A collaborative team player, able to proactively engage colleagues to share knowledge and expertise

• Outstanding time management and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise within your work, managing multiple tasks simultaneously and working to tight deadlines 

• Understanding of the education, child poverty and/or health sectors – desirable 

• Excellent attention to detail

General

• Passion and commitment to Magic Breakfast’s mission 

• Contribute to team meetings, sharing best practice and supporting team members where necessary. 

• Help to maintain a positive working environment; keeping the vision of Magic Breakfast at the heart of everything we d

• Work collaboratively across the organisation more widely to build good working relations across the organisation and provide ad-hoc support to other teams and members of staff. 

• Adhere to all Magic Breakfast policies and procedures.

• Ensure that all activity is compliant with current legislation, GDPR and child safeguarding requirements. 

• Participate in occasional work-related events at external venues and perform support related activities as required be willing to undertake occasional work outside of regular office hours and UK travel.

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role. 

• Uphold a culture that encourages curiosity, continuous improvement, optimism, and a steadfast commitment to social impact. 

SCIE Vision

We are committed to building a society which enables people who draw on social care to live fulfilling lives.

At the SCIE, we are driven by our values:

· Progressive – always learning and developing.

· Inclusive – working together for equality, diversity, and fairness.

· Credible – evidence-based, robust, and reliable.

· Transparent – open and honest.

The role:

A great opportunity for you to join our small friendly team and make a real difference to people’s lives by:

· Ensuring that SCIE’s evidence, drawn from research and people’s lived experiences, influences social care policy and practice.

· Developing and delivering influencing strategies, drafting policy papers and legislative briefings, and managing relationships with various stakeholders and key partners.

· Growing SCIE’s profile as an influential, informed, and powerful voice in the social care sector.

· Positioning SCIE to work as a partner to government, responding independently to new government policy, supporting and advising on a range of national policy programmes, initiatives, and influencing guidance and practice.

· Producing high-quality research and evaluations demonstrating what works and makes a difference in social care, promoting evidence-based good practice.

What we are looking for:

· Knowledge of the policy and political landscape developed from previous experience working in a policy or public affairs role, either in government, the civil service, charities, or non-governmental organisations.

· Proven experience developing and delivering public affairs strategies and leading influencing activities.

· Proven experience producing policy papers and applying policy research skills, such as evidence gathering, analysis and reporting.

· Proven experience as a strategic and analytic thinker who can influence policymakers with persuasive arguments, policy ideas and campaigns.

· Proven ability to manage a wide range of internal and external stakeholder relationships, including at senior levels, and to engage with people with diverse viewpoints and backgrounds.

What we offer in return.

We offer excellent staff benefits including a competitive salary and homeworking allowance. We provide an employer pension contribution above the statutory minimum, an award-winning employee assistance programme, and an attractive holiday package which rises with length of service.

If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us. (You can find our contact email in the 'How to apply' section)

Employment Policy and Public Affairs Officer
Remote working
£30,000 - £34,000 pa pro rata plus excellent benefits
35 hours per week (part-time considered)

This is not a traditional policy and public affairs role. You may have gained your experience in the third sector, civil service or working for an MP, or maybe in a corporate HR or EDI role.  You will help deliver our ambitious plan to secure social change to make society more inclusive for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. In this role you will be working across our range of policy, programme and public affairs activity – engaging with external stakeholders, including policy makers and large corporate partners, to improve access to and the experience of employment for our communities.

Around half of your time will be dedicated to policy work as part of our Employment Programme. We know that people who are deaf or have a hearing loss are less likely to be in employment, and that employer attitudes and poor Government support holds our community back. You’ll need to understand the disability employment policy landscape and marshal our evidence to make a persuasive case for social change to Government and other stakeholders.

RNID provides consultancy services to or enters into partnerships with businesses to help them become a better and more inclusive employer of people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. You will support this work by bringing your knowledge and expertise of employment policy to ensure that we provide up to date advice and guidance. You’ll also play a key role in translating this evidence into information and guidance for our website.

You will be the public affairs coordinator for the team, including actively supporting the APPG for Deafness, for which RNID provides the secretariat. You’ll also be required to undertake daily political monitoring and co-ordinate how we support our parliamentary champions in Westminster.

Essential experience:
• Some experience in a policy and public affairs role
• Understanding of day-to-day parliamentary procedures
• Demonstrable ability to distil information into well-structured written briefings or summaries
• Experience of working on employment and/or disability employment issues
• A proactive and creative mindset, with an ability to work flexibly
• Evidence of strong organisational skills
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team

We are RNID: the national charity supporting the 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. We also know the value of a friendly face in local communities to support people where they need it most.

We are a remote working organisation, with colleagues based across the UK and Ireland.. We come together in person three times a year for our Staff Summits.. We bring together the best of digital and in-person working in a modern, progressive organisation. We offer a sector-leading flexible working policy to all our staff from day one.

We know our colleagues have responsibilities and interests outside work and we want to support that, which is why we offer a sector-leading flexible working policy to all our staff from day one. Our values are at the heart of how we work and communicate with each other, and the outside world. We strive to be an organisation that is connected, insightful, curious and passionate in everything we do.

We champion the value of difference and equality and celebrate our diverse and inclusive workforce. We actively encourage applications from eligible candidates from BAME backgrounds or who are deaf or hard of hearing. With almost 20% of our employees having a disability we proudly hold Disability Confident Leader status and guarantee an interview for disabled applicants meeting the minimum essential criteria.

Closing date: 10 February 2025
Interviews: w/c 17 February 2025

Closing date: Wednesday 22nd January 2025 at 9am

Working arrangements: Remote working, permanent, regular or ad hoc (with frequent travel to London if not London-based) Please note that we also have approximately 3-4 team retreats per year which could be located anywhere nationally.

At this pivotal time for 38 Degrees, an exciting opportunity has arisen to manage our Public Affairs & Media offering. We’re looking for an effective communicator, who is great at collaborating and has a track record of delivering significant media and public affairs campaign results. You’ll bring to life and manage the implementation of 38 Degrees’ media and public affairs strategy, in service of 38 Degrees’ mission: to make our country fairer, more respectful and sustainable. As we adjust to a shift in our political environment, this brand new role will relentlessly and powerfully amplify 38 Degrees campaigns and the voices of our supporters to the general public, the media and decision makers in the UK.

You’ll manage our Public Affairs & Media team, including a new Public Affairs & Media officer role – working together, and with colleagues across the campaigns team and beyond,  to execute our Public Affairs & Media strategy and deliver impressive results. Whilst this is a Manager role, it’s also a very hands on role – you’ll be as at home picking up the phone to regional TV to discuss local supporters whose experiences could make perfect case studies for the big story of the day, and helping those people tell their story, as you are meeting with MPs and their staff to use our Campaigns By You platform to run campaigns on local issues in their constituencies.

You’ll relish a newsroom atmosphere and will be happy that no two days at 38 Degrees are the same, as you focus on amplifying campaigns and making a difference which helps change lives, little by little.

Your background and experience

We’re looking for someone who can effectively grasp the 38 Degrees approach to public affairs, which combines pressure and persuasion – and who is confident in pursuing both. You will be able to show you can use both, in the right circumstances: from liaising with Metro Mayors on possible partnership campaigns, to commissioning and landing coverage of snap polling that demonstrates public opinion on government plans. The person recruited will need to be a brilliant communicator, and be passionate about opening up democracy and making political and corporate change accessible to all.

You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have excellent political and news judgement – you know what can make a story and what impact that story can have on decision makers.

You’ll be extremely comfortable speaking to politicians and their teams, along with journalists, other communications teams in partner organisations, and 38 Degrees supporters who act as case studies in our campaigns. You may already have extensive journalist or political networks and relationships, and you’ll have definitely had results. We’re looking for a person who knows the political and news agenda each day, and can help set it too.

You’ll be equipped with the skills to develop a new team, with the skills and experience to manage more junior members of staff, setting clear, inspiring and exciting shared goals.

To succeed in this role, you’ll need to be a positive, practical person adept at building cross-team relationships,  bringing people with you  to solve problems in a collaborative way.

We’re looking for someone who understands the need for us to demonstrate a strategic approach, balancing long term planning and objectives with agility and flexibility. And while you’ll have a strategy to work to, your priorities could change at a moment’s notice. If this sounds appealing, our fast-paced and exciting role could be for you.

Full job description here

About us

38 Degrees is one of the UK’s biggest campaigning communities, involving over a million supporters who campaign to make the UK a better place. We’re united by a shared vision to create a fairer and more respectful UK and a more sustainable world.

In the space of a week, millions of supporters could be campaigning on anything from protecting our NHS and stopping cuts to Universal Credit, to saving local green spaces and protecting our democracy.

38 Degrees is fiercely independent. We are primarily funded by small donations from hundreds of thousands of members of the public from all over the UK. This independence means we never have to hold ourselves back from taking on those with power and can truly listen to our supporters.

Why you’ll want to work here

The 38 Degrees culture is honest, kind, supportive, courageous, and respectful. We move fast, and frequently change plans to respond to events. We work hard but we also have fun.

We regularly enjoy team away days and social hours.

Benefits include:

27 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays); Office closure between Christmas and New year; 9-day fortnight (office closed every other Friday); 4pm closure on the alternate Friday; Flexibility to work 90 days overseas per tax year (30 day maximum per travel in any location as per approval process); One month paid sabbatical leave after 5 years of service; Employer pension contribution; 24 hour employee assistance programme; Enhanced family leave policies; Cycle to work scheme; Employer paid annual flu vaccination; Rental deposit loan; Contribution to eye tests/glasses; Learning and development budget.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We’re especially keen to hear from people who’ll bring lived experience of the issues we work on and who’ll make our team more diverse as a result. So if you’re Black, Asian or from any other minority ethnic group, if you’re disabled, LGBTQIA+, or if you’re from a working class home, your application will be especially welcome. And thanks to our flexible home working approach and network of offices, we have a staff team that is increasingly based across the UK. We’re keen to continue diversifying geographically, so that we’re rooted in our supporters’ communities.

To make sure that we are able to reach our goal of a diverse team we have equal opportunities monitoring requirements. Your application will not be complete without the equal opportunities monitoring form.

38 Degrees is committed to inclusive working practices, so during the application process we commit to:

• Paying for childcare whilst you’re at 38 Degrees interviews or tasks
• Paying for your travel costs to the office and back – and for overnight accommodation if you’re travelling from a long distance for an interview although at present the majority of interviews are held online using zoom.
• Making any reasonable adjustments – for example ensuring we have a BSL interpreters organised in advance if you’d need one
• If there anything else you’re concerned about or think we could provide, please let us know.

To be successful in your application you must meet the essential requirements for this role and answer the questions below which are part of the selection criteria. Without completion of this task your application cannot be considered.

The successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK at the time of appointment.

Application Questions (max. word count: 2000 words across all questions)

1. Tell us a campaign you have been part of developing a media or public affairs strategy for, including what you were trying to achieve, how you brought team members together to action the plan, and what results you achieved. 
2. What challenges and opportunities do you think the recent change in government might have presented to 38 Degrees in the context of our public affairs and media work?
3. 38 Degrees is a digital first, people-powered campaigning organisation where millions of people do something small to add up to bigger political and corporate change. How do you think we can most effectively use our supporters in our media and public affairs work, to win campaigns that align with our vision for the country?

Closing date: Wednesday 22nd January 2025 at 9am

Working arrangements: Remote working, permanent, regular or ad hoc (with frequent travel to London if not London-based) Please note that we also have approximately 3-4 team retreats per year which could be located anywhere nationally.

An exciting new opportunity has arisen to join 38 Degrees’ Public Affairs & Media team. We’re looking for someone with a passion for opening up democracy,  politics and the news, who is a brilliant communicator, a great team player and is highly organised, to join us as Public Affairs & Media Officer.

You’ll play a vital role in bringing to life 38 Degrees’ media and public affairs strategy, in service of 38 Degrees’ mission: to make our country fairer, more respectful and sustainable.  As we adjust to a shift in our political environment, this brand new role will relentlessly and powerfully amplify 38 Degrees campaigns and the voices of our supporters to the general public, the media and decision makers in the UK.

Working alongside the Public Affairs & Media Manager, and with colleagues across the campaigns team and beyond you’ll spend every day trying to shine a light on the actions our supporters take on campaigns they care about. From monitoring what’s going on in Parliament – and when it’s the perfect moment for the 38 Degrees community to use our collective voices – to being able to put together media packages that are irresistible to journalists, you’ll know how to skillfully use the public affairs and media tools at our disposal to win campaigns, raise our profile and build our reputation.

Your background and experience

You’ll have a proven track record of great political and news judgement, and have played a key role in using these skills in a campaigning environment to deliver powerful campaigns that deliver impactful media and public affairs results. That could be from working in a press office or media environment, to working with (or for) a politician. It’s possible you are more experienced at either media work or public affairs work – but either way, you’ll know what it takes to use both to influence decision makers and land a big news story. We’re looking for a person who knows the political and news agenda each day, and can help set it too.

The person recruited will need to be a brilliant communicator, as at home speaking to 38 Degrees supporters and empowering them to act as media case studies, as you are pitching a story to a journalist or handling enquiries from MP’s offices.

We’re looking for someone who can show they’re highly organised, know how to prioritise and with a track record of successful project management, when it comes to partnership work and events.

To succeed in this role, you’ll need to show us you’re team-focused and know what it takes to build positive and productive relationships with colleagues, in a fast paced environment – where the news cycle means that priorities can sometimes change for all of us at a moment’s notice.

You’ll relish a newsroom atmosphere and will be happy that no two days at 38 Degrees are the same, as you focus on amplifying campaigns and making a difference which helps change lives, little by little.

About us

38 Degrees is one of the UK’s biggest campaigning communities, involving over a million supporters who campaign to make the UK a better place. We’re united by a shared vision to create a fairer and more respectful UK and a more sustainable world.

In the space of a week, millions of supporters could be campaigning on anything from protecting our NHS and stopping cuts to Universal Credit, to saving local green spaces and protecting our democracy.

38 Degrees is fiercely independent. We are primarily funded by small donations from hundreds of thousands of members of the public from all over the UK. This independence means we never have to hold ourselves back from taking on those with power and can truly listen to our supporters.

Why you’ll want to work here

The 38 Degrees culture is honest, kind, supportive, courageous, and respectful. We move fast, and frequently change plans to respond to events. We work hard but we also have fun.

We regularly enjoy team away days and social hours.

Benefits include:

27 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays); Office closure between Christmas and New year; 9-day fortnight (office closed every other Friday); 4pm closure on the alternate Friday; Flexibility to work 90 days overseas per tax year (30 day maximum per travel in any location as per approval process); One month paid sabbatical leave after 5 years of service; Employer pension contribution; 24 hour employee assistance programme; Enhanced family leave policies; Cycle to work scheme; Employer paid annual flu vaccination; Rental deposit loan; Contribution to eye tests/glasses; Learning and development budget.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We’re especially keen to hear from people who’ll bring lived experience of the issues we work on and who’ll make our team more diverse as a result. So if you’re Black, Asian or from any other minority ethnic group, if you’re disabled, LGBTQIA+, or if you’re from a working class home, your application will be especially welcome. And thanks to our flexible home working approach and network of offices, we have a staff team that is increasingly based across the UK. We’re keen to continue diversifying geographically, so that we’re rooted in our supporters’ communities.

To make sure that we are able to reach our goal of a diverse team we have equal opportunities monitoring requirements. Your application will not be complete without the equal opportunities monitoring form.

38 Degrees is committed to inclusive working practices, so during the application process we commit to:

• Paying for childcare whilst you’re at 38 Degrees interviews or tasks
• Paying for your travel costs to the office and back – and for overnight accommodation if you’re travelling from a long distance for an interview although at present the majority of interviews are held online using zoom.
• Making any reasonable adjustments – for example ensuring we have a BSL interpreters organised in advance if you’d need one
• If there anything else you’re concerned about or think we could provide, please let us know.

To be successful in your application you must meet the essential requirements for this role and answer the questions below which are part of the selection criteria. Without completion of this task your application cannot be considered.

The successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK at the time of appointment.

Application Questions (max. word count: 2000 words across all questions)

1. Tell us about a media or public affairs campaign you have delivered –  including what you were trying to achieve, any challenges and obstacles you met, and the results you achieved. 
2. What do you think the biggest challenges and opportunities about delivering media and public affairs work at an organisation like 38 Degrees would be? 
3. 38 Degrees is a digital first, people-powered campaigning organisation where millions of people do something small to add up to bigger political and corporate change. How do you think we can most effectively use our supporters in our media and public affairs work, to win campaigns that align with our vision for the country?

About the role

You will

• Celebrate the achievements of brain injury survivors across the UK, promote the services that Headway UK offers and raise awareness of the prevalence of brain injury.
• Establish Headway as a leading voice in the area of brain injury, ensuring that relevant media outlets are presented with relevant information.

What you will do

• Obtain regular positive national and local media coverage for Headway
• Produce high-quality written materials for release to the media
• Communicate with and facilitate media coverage for independent Headway charities and volunteer-led branches, helping to raise their profiles locally
• Monitor and evaluate media coverage and PR activity to enable the effective tracking of the charity’s reputation.
• Be the first point of call for all media enquiries and take appropriate action
• Manage and cultivate relationships with local and national media.
• Liaise with the fundraising department and promote its initiatives in local and national media outlets.
• Source and interview individuals willing to share their personal experiences of brain injury & to draft personal testimonies and create a database of case studies ready to be used in reaction to relevant news stories.
• Assist in the production of Headway News and other regular communications
• Assist in the planning and execution of the national campaign for Action for Brain Injury Week and to assist in the implementation of additional campaigns throughout the year

About you

We’re open-minded & welcome all applicants who believe they can succeed. Though ideally, you will:

• Have experience of working with local, regional and national media outlets, including crafting in press releases and sell-in

• Have experience of interviewing people from all backgrounds

• Have a highly collaborative working style, fostering teamwork and cross-functional cooperation.

• Be comfortable being the first point of call for journalist enquiries

• Excellent organisational abilities, with a track record of managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines efficiently.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, ensuring clear, effective messaging across all channels.

Visit our website to find out more about the role, the work of Headway, the benefits we offer and apply for this job. We look forward to hearing from you.

Remote in the UK with travel to London once a month (at own cost)

Who we are

Animal Equality is an international animal protection organisation working with society, governments and companies to end cruelty to farmed animals. Animal Equality has offices in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and India.

Animal Equality releases investigative materials captured from inside factory farms and slaughterhouses, exposing the conditions that farmed animals face around the world. We publish our findings on television, in newspapers and online. We routinely secure mainstream media coverage, including on the BBC, ITV, Sky news, The Times, the Guardian, New York Times and many more.

Animal Equality also advocates for political change. Our current campaigns include a UK ban on foie gras imports, increased enforcement of existing animal protection laws, legal protections for farmed fish, and Government subsidies for transitioning towards a plant-based food system.

We focus on farmed animals because of the scale and severity of the issue. More than a billion animals are confined and killed for human consumption every year in the UK. Farmed animals also often suffer in some of the worst ways: pigs typically endure painful mutilations, many chickens die of heart attacks, fish are confined in underwater cages, and some farmed animals are victims of deliberate abuse and neglect. But the problem is solvable! By utilising effective campaigning strategies, Animal Equality is having an impact for animals around the world and building a future where all animals are respected and protected and are no longer exploited for human consumption.

About the role

An experienced advocate with a sound understanding of the UK political system and legislative process, the Policy and Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for leading on Animal Equality’s life-saving legal advocacy campaigns on behalf of farmed animals.

Working as part of a highly effective team, within a fast-paced environment, the Policy and Advocacy Specialist will develop and implement advocacy strategies that influence public policy with a goal to advance Animal Equality UK’s mission: to end the exploitation of farmed animals.

An excellent communicator, with an ability to convey complex information in a digestible way, the Policy and Advocacy Specialist will be a professional with a proven track record of policy programme delivery. The role involves engaging with policymakers, building relationships with coalition partners, overseeing public affairs initiatives, and influencing Government policy to create meaningful changes for farmed animals.

General responsibilities:

• Contribute to the organisation’s policy programmes: Garner reliable intel, conduct in-depth research, and carry out robust data analysis to inform Animal Equality UK’s ongoing policy and advocacy efforts for animals. Develop authentic, ambitious, and inspiring short-term and long-term policy goals that have the greatest impact for farmed animals. Maintain and develop the organisation’s policy statements, as required.
• Shaping policy initiatives: Influence decision-makers across the devolved governments. Identify ways to shape the debate, engage thoroughly in the legislative process to affect how farmed animal issues are framed, and maximise opportunities for targeted animal advocacy campaigns.
• Conduct stakeholder mapping: Identify and ensure regular engagement with key political figures and influencers, including ministers, politicians, civil servants, advisory bodies, officials, regulators, and local authorities. Propose ways to engage Parliamentarians and identify those with the potential to become champions for our cause.
• Influence decision-makers: Foster and maintain relationships with individuals critical to achieving successful outcomes for animals. Build on established relationships with individuals and bodies in a position to create lasting change for animals and convince influential political decision-makers to prioritise farmed animals in their funding and policy agendas.
• Produce compelling briefings: Develop high-quality, evidence-based responses to new policy developments, animal agriculture industry reports, Government consultations, and more. Craft politically persuasive briefings, including formal policy submissions, briefings, blogs, and press statements. Lead on the dissemination of relevant information to key political stakeholders.
• Work closely with campaigning colleagues: Work with colleagues in the Communications, Marketing, and Campaigns Departments to support the effective execution of public awareness campaigns that raise Animal Equality UK’s public profile and inform members of the public about the plight of farmed animals. Keep abreast of relevant political developments and maintain Animal Equality’s strong external policy presence through coordinated, proactive, and reactive lobbying and campaigning efforts.
• Grow strategically aligned partnerships: Liaise with and, where appropriate, convene fellow experts and advocacy organisations to gather intelligence, share best practice, and canvas opinion to inform policy positions. Support Animal Equality’s engagement in coalitions.
• Support in the organisation of events: Assist in the organisation of key events to inform and influence policymakers. Represent Animal Equality, where appropriate, at policy and networking events.
• Monitor outcomes: Measure, track, and critically evaluate policy developments, ensuring internal alignment on key issues and opportunities associated with our current campaigns. Manage against a set budget and agreed deadlines, reporting on the performance and progress against set deliverables. Share learnings with colleagues and fellow advocates.
• Support with other ad hoc duties, as requested by your line-manager.

Individual attributes required:

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Agile.
• A natural problem-solver.
• Data-driven, with strong analytical and research skills.
• Highly organised and comfortable multi-tasking.

Position requirements:

• Minimum of three years of related experience in policy development, advocacy, public affairs, or a related role, preferably within a non-profit organisation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Docs and in the use of databases and spreadsheets. Experience of using Salesforce is a plus.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Adherence to a vegan diet.
• Thorough knowledge of farmed animal issues.
• Plays an active role in supporting Animal Equality’s fundraising and philanthropic efforts.
• Commitment to the objectives of the organisation.
• Professional manner.

Salary and benefits

Salary band £32,500-£35,000, depending on experience. This is a remote working opportunity (UK-based candidates only); colleagues are expected to attend mandatory monthly meet-ups in central London.

• Holiday entitlement equal to 33 days per year (including standard public holidays).
• Personalised Employee Assistance Program (EAP): an Animal Equality-funded benefit that offers employees confidential counselling and advice on a wide range of work and personal issues. The program offers several services, such as a 24/7 confidential helpline and expert Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
• Flexible hours, with the option to start between 8am-10am and finish between 4pm-6pm.
• Able Futures Support: The service is a nine month, practical and confidential support service for employees whose circumstances or mental health may impact their wellbeing or work. Employees can work with a mental health professional to deepen their understanding of how their mental health may impact them and will build coping skills and resilience to thrive at work.
• Yearly stipend to access learning and development resources, to help employees further grow their personal and professional skills.
• A free vegan lunch every month at the Animal Equality monthly meetups.

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

Closing date: 5.00pm GMT on Monday 3rd February 2025.

The interview process will comprise a multiple-stage interview and Skills Test, which will take place throughout February.

Introduction and background

The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) was founded in 2011 by people with lived experience, healthcare professionals, and organisations who understood the impact of perinatal mental problems and shared a commitment to improving the lives of women and their families.

Today, the MMHA is a UK-wide charity and network of over 130 member organisations. We work with parents, families, clinicians, and academics to ensure all women, birthing people, babies, and families have access to high-quality, compassionate mental health care. We bring the perinatal mental health community together and make change happen by combining the power of real-life experience with clinical and professional expertise.

We actively contribute to significantly improving mental health outcomes for people who experience discrimination, trauma and deprivation during the perinatal period and tackle systemic inequity and injustice.

We are now seeking a Chief Executive to take over from our interim CEO and lead the MMHA in the next stage of our development.

We have recently been awarded a 5-year grant by the National Lottery Community Fund to tackle maternal mental health inequities through community action. This project, due to start in Spring 2025, will develop, test and replicate a model of community-based decision making, support and service provision that is led by women with lived experience. This project aims to achieve system change locally and nationally to improve the mental health of marginalised women and is the next phase of the MMHA’s programme to tackle maternal mental health inequities across the UK. This will be our biggest piece of work over the next five years and will dovetail with other activities aimed at achieving our mission, where funding allows.

For further information about the MMHA please visit our website.

Main responsibilities

Leadership and strategy

• To provide clear strategic and inspirational leadership to the MMHA To drive the MMHA forward into the next stage of its development
• To ensure MMHA tackles maternal mental health inequities across the UK
• To be responsible for the management and administration of the charity within the strategic and accountability frameworks laid down by the Board of Trustees
• To work with Chair and Trustees in shaping the MMHA’s strategic mission, policies, aims and objectives
• To ensure long term sustainability of the MMHA through effective governance, sound finance and implementation of operational plans.

People

• To take overall responsibility for all permanent and temporary staff, and other members of the MMHA team, including contractors, champions and ambassadors
• To promote diversity and equality of opportunity for all staff in accordance with the MMHA EDI policy and strategy and foster a workplace culture built on inclusion, respect and equality.

Governance, finance and compliance

• To support the Chair and Trustees to ensure that the governance of the charity is proportionate and effective, and that the charity fulfils its legal, statutory, regulatory and moral duties and responsibilities
• To be responsible overall for the financial sustainability of the charity, and ensure that there are effective mechanisms to ensure the robustness of external and internal controls (financial and non-financial), supported by the Consultant Finance Director
• To support the Consultant Finance Director to ensure the timely and complete preparation of key reports, information and activities, including management accounts, budgets, annual report and accounts, and payroll
• To ensure that the major risks to which the charity is exposed are reviewed regularly by the Board and the Executive team, systems have been established to mitigate these risks
• To work with the Chair and the Board Secretary to ensure that meetings of trustees are effective and that Trustees have appropriate information to perform their duties.

Income generation

• To take overall responsibility for the MMHA’s income generation activities, securing the future of the organisation and delivering its ambition for the mental health of women during the perinatal period
• To lead on all trust, foundation and lottery fundraising, establishing and maintaining relationships, including with the National Lottery Community Fund
• To support the Marketing & Partnerships Director to develop corporate partnerships, taking the lead on the relationship with Tommee Tippee
• To work with the Marketing & Partnerships Director to secure funding from individuals.

Communications and external affairs

• To support the Head of Engagement to maintain a relevant, diverse and effective range of members organisations, and ensure their ongoing contribution to achieving the goals of the charity 4
• To have oversight of the social, economic, clinical and policy context and how they impact on maternal mental health and MMHA strategy
• To ensure the Alliance is working effectively across the 4 UK nations and devolved administrations
• To act as a visible leader for the charity, representing the MMHA at external events and networking opportunities, and act as a spokesperson
• To oversee the development and delivery of marketing and communications strategies which effectively promote all aspects of the Alliance.

Other/service delivery

• To embed MMHA’s values throughout the organisation
• To promote a culture of commitment, trust, mutual support and professional behaviour
• To run the charity efficiently and effectively by ensuring that it has an appropriate management structure and management systems in order to fulfil its strategic objectives and to carry out its work
• To take forward the MMHA EDI strategy and plan and be a champion for anti-racist and anti-discriminatory behaviour
• To develop an organisation that is constantly seeking ways to learn and to improve its performance
• To work with staff to ensure the views of the members, champions, and ambassadors shape the work of the MMHA and its members.

This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main duties and responsibilities only. The post holder may be asked to carry out any other delegated duty or task that is in line with their post, seniority, or the needs of the organisation. Whilst most of the work will be undertaken during standard working hours, some work will be required in the early morning, evenings, or weekends.

How to apply

Application is by CV and a cover letter of no more than two pages of A4 each. In the cover letter, please explain how you meet the list of essential experience detailed above.

We will be anonymising applications before shortlisting. To make this easier, please ensure that your cover letter includes your initials rather than a full name.

Applications should be sent to the email address provided in the attached job pack by 10am on Tuesday 28th January 2025. Applications received after this time, or which do not follow the requested process, will not be considered.

The first interviews are expected to take place in London in early February, provisionally on Wednesday 5th or Thursday 6th.

The MMHA is committed to increasing the diversity of our team. We would appreciate it if candidates could fill out our equal opportunities monitoring form. This is anonymous and will not be linked to applications.

We are keen to ensure that our recruitment process helps us find the best candidate for the role, not the candidate who is best at completing applications and carrying out job interviews. If there is anything we can do to assist you in the recruitment process, if you have any queries, or if you would like an informal conversation about the role with the interim Chief Executive, Justin Irwin, please contact us on the recruitment email address provided in the attached job pack.

The successful candidate will be appointed subject to satisfactory references and will need to undertake a DBS and other employment checks.