Public affair officer jobs in leeds, cardiff

Do you want to shape public thinking, influence national conversations, and help ensure people’s voices are heard at every level of decision-making?

Do you have experience in public affairs, policy engagement, or communications, and a passion for equity, voice, and inclusion?

Are you looking for a role where you can lead strategic engagement and influence change?

We’re recruiting for a new Public Affairs & External Engagement Lead, a role designed to shape our public profile, strengthen relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers, and ensure our values are reflected in the systems that shape people’s lives.

You’ll be part of our growing External Influence team, working in close collaboration with the Media and PR Lead. The role is home-based with occasional travel to meet stakeholders or attend events.

About us 

VoiceAbility is an independent charity and one of the UK’s largest providers of advocacy and involvement services. We deliver a wide range of service contracts funded by local authorities, health trusts and other voluntary and private sector organisations. 

We’ve been supporting people to have their say in decisions about their health, care, and wellbeing for over 40 years. We make sure people are heard when it matters most.  For more information on what Advocacy is and the services offered then please visit our website. 

About you

You’ll bring a strong track record in public affairs, stakeholder engagement and networking, or strategic communications, ideally within a public, policy, or values-led environment.

You’re confident navigating complex systems and building credibility with stakeholders such as local and national government, public sector leaders, charities, and think tanks.

You understand how influence works, and you’re excited by the opportunity to help shape conversations..

Experience in the health, social care, equalities, or advocacy sector would be valuable, but what matters most is your ability to listen, connect, and translate complexity into influence.

How will you make a difference?

You’ll lead VoiceAbility’s work to strengthen relationships and reputation with people who shape policy, services, and public discourse.

You’ll help position the organisation as a respected thought leader, using insight, data, and storytelling to drive awareness of the issues people face and how things can change.

Working closely with colleagues in Media, Marketing and Business Development, you’ll identify opportunities to contribute to debates, lead engagement with key public and sector stakeholders, and ensure VoiceAbility’s voice is present and consistent in the places that matter.

Benefits 

28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time colleagues) rising to 30 days upon 5 years’ service 

5% employer pension & minimum 3% employee contribution 

Salary sacrifices pension scheme 

Separate Life Assurance Cover (equivalent of two times your annual salary) 

Staff discount scheme including retail discounts, entertainment, holidays, gym membership etc 

24/7 Employee Assistance programme 

Access to remote counselling service 

Paid Disability Leave 

Paid compassionate Leave 

Home Working Allowance  

Support with continuous professional development 

Access to Clifton Strengths Coaching for development  

Personal Development Plans 

How are staff supported to work remotely? 

VoiceAbility has a small number of offices. Employees including Team Leaders are homebased for Administration and meetings will be held online as well as in person in the relevant community. 

When you need to travel for work, expenses will be paid (mileage or public transport costs).

VoiceAbility offers the usual regular manager one to ones, Staff forums and communities of practice depending on role. Team meetings with a mix of virtual and in person approach. 

Equality and Diversity

VoiceAbility believes in fostering an inclusive workplace which welcomes, values and celebrates the diversity of its staff and partners, treats all on a basis of equality and encourages all to meet their maximum potential.

VoiceAbility are a Disability Confident employer, any applicant that identifies themselves as having a disability and can demonstrate that they meet all the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview. If you need to apply in a different way, please contact us for further options.

How to apply

To apply for this role please sign up for a recruitment account by clicking the apply button on this page. Follow the instructions to create your account, upload your CV, and complete our short application form. 

Important Dates:

Closing date for applications; Midnight on 10 October 2025, however, VoiceAbility reserve the right to withdraw this vacancy before this date. 

Don’t forget to read the person specification so you can tell us about yourself and how your skills, abilities and experiences match the criteria outlined in the person specification. 

Hint: you can use work, personal and/or voluntary experiences, and examples to tell us why you should be our next Public Affairs expert. 

Senior Media and Communications Officer 

(UK Wide)

£32,145 per annum (pro rata for part time hours)

(Ref: 69REC)

Part Time: 22.5 hours per week – happy to talk flexible working

Base: Hybrid working from any UK wide Walk Wheel Cycle Trust Hub

About the role

We have a new opportunity for a Senior Media and Communications Officer to join the Policy and Communications team. In this role, you will be responsible for establishing and maintaining strong media relations that drive positive media coverage, enhance brand awareness, attract new supporters, and uphold the charity’s reputation across all media platforms.

Working closely with colleagues across the charity, you will contribute to the development and delivery of impactful communications campaigns that effectively tell the story of our work, highlight our impact, and strengthen our brand.

We offer true hybrid working, a flexible mix of working from home and occasional travel to a nearest office hub.

About you

You will bring experience in managing media and communications projects designed to generate positive coverage, applying creative PR techniques across trade, local, and national media outlets.

You will have experience in developing and implementing communications campaigns that leverage media, digital channels, and events to raise awareness and engage support for a charity.

Skilled at building relationships across a wide range of people including journalists, commentators and bloggers. You will effectively manage reputational crisis communications and confidently support spokespeople and senior leaders in responding to challenging or negative media coverage.

You will have proven experience in translating complex issues for diverse audiences using plain language and accessible formats. 

You’ll be instrumental in providing communications support to teams across Walk Wheel Cycle Trust including developing inspirational stories to showcase our work, creating content for publications and newsletters, preparing spokespeople with well-researched media briefings, pitching press releases and responding to media enquiries.

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust has a long-term commitment to being a charity for everyone - reducing inequality, valuing diversity, enabling inclusion and ensuring all people are treated with dignity and respect. We aim to be a truly inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all parts of the community, in particular from under-represented groups. 

What we offer

In return we can offer true hybrid working to suit individual circumstances and a flexible, supportive and rewarding working environment. 

Wellbeing

• 28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays for full-time working
• Ability to buy an extra week of annual leave (pro-rata for part-time staff)
• Staff volunteer days
• 24/7 free, impartial and confidential support service
• We are members of the Green Commute Initiative and Cycle Scheme who both offer cycle to work schemes

Financial

• Group Personal Pension scheme with a 6% or 7% of basic salary contribution being matched by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
• Bike, computer and season ticket loans
• Discount benefits
• London Weighting Allowance of £4,530 for all those living within a London Borough (32 local authority districts plus the City of London)
• Death in Service benefit – 3 x annual Salary

Family Friendly

• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Flexible Working practices (full time hours are 37.5 per week, Monday - Friday)

Additional information

• Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 23:59, 5 October 2025
• Interviews will take place via MS Teams on the 13 or 14th October 2025
• We encourage early applications as the role may close ahead of schedule if we receive strong interest.

CEO: Women’s Equality Network Wales

WEN Wales is seeking to recruit a new CEO to oversee the next exciting stage of our development as a membership charity, campaigning for and championing women’s rights and equality in Wales.

In the past five years we have more than doubled our income, developed an ambitious strategic plan and run impactful campaigns. Now we want to take the next step in our journey to deliver our vision of a Wales free from gender discrimination with a new CEO at the helm.

You will work closely with a small and dedicated team on a wide range of exciting and innovative projects, including:

• an award-winning mentoring programme, Equal Power Equal Voice
• the successful Diverse5050 campaign
• our Feminist Scorecard
• our State of the Nation Report
• our childcare campaign
• the 100 Welsh Women initiative

We’re looking for someone who:

• is driven, motivated, and deeply committed to building a Wales free from gender discrimination
• brings inclusive and inspiring leadership, with a proven ability to lead and empower teams
• has a strong grasp of how to develop thoughtful, evidence-based policy and advocate for it effectively
• is a skilled communicator and networker, able to engage confidently across diverse audiences
• excels at building and sustaining strategic partnerships with other organisations.

Interested? Please apply by sending your CV and a covering letter of no more than two sides of A4 outlining: 

• how your skills and experience align with the role
• the contribution you believe you can make to achieving our vision

Closing date: Friday 17 October, 6pm. Interviews w/c 27 October.

Job Description: CEO of WEN Wales

Location: Hybrid: home and Cardiff office

Working hours: Working hours: 37.5 hours per week  (currently 30 hours as part of our four-day week trial) Part-time and job share arrangements will be considered

Salary: £57,000

Reporting to: the board via the Chair

Main objectives of role: 

• Deliver WEN Wales’ vision and strategy
• Act as lead spokesperson for the organisation
• Ensure compliance with all relevant statutory and other relevant requirements
• Lead fundraising and ensure financial sustainability

Direct reports:

• Policy and Public Affairs Manager
• Communications and Engagement Manager
• Programmes Manager
• Finance Administrator
• Administrative Assistant

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Cardiff-based office, with flexibility to work in a hybrid model. We support a blend of remote and in-office working to suit individual and organisational needs.

The post-holder will need to be able to travel regularly to Cardiff and must also be prepared to travel to other parts of the UK or occasionally overseas as required. This post will require some evening and weekend work which can be taken as TOIL.

Contract: Permanent

Main duties

Strategic direction and governance

• Work with the Chair and the board to set the strategy and ensure that the Charity fulfils its strategic priorities
• Support the board and its sub-committee to maintain good governance and ensure our policies are up to date and fit for purpose
• Provide the board with all necessary management information, including the Finance Administrator’s quarterly management accounts, quarterly progress reports, and risk register updates, to support good quality decision-making.
• Attend board meetings and board committees as required.

Operational and people

• Provide strong and empathetic leadership to the staff team and to volunteers, nurturing their talent and helping them achieve their objectives
• Live WEN’s organisational values (be relentless, responsible and kind), visibly demonstrated by your actions and behaviours
• Ensure all our GDPR and data management obligations are met
• Demonstrate sound financial management, ensuring records are kept accurately and up to date
• Ensure WEN Wales meets all its statutory reporting requirements
• Work with the Treasurer and the board to develop and approve the budget.  Fundraising
• Implement a fundraising strategy which supports the wider organisational strategy in a sustainable way
• Ensure a strong pipeline of funding applications and lead on some funder relationships. Policy and communications
• Provide thought leadership through WEN Wales’ public-facing work
• Safeguard WEN Wales’ reputation for evidence-based campaigning and policy work
• Interpret the evidence and represent WEN’s policy positions confidently and accurately
• Be the lead spokesperson for WEN Wales, driving forward high impact campaigns and ensuring that we maintain a high profile across media outlets
• Actively engage WEN Wales’ members and supporters in our work
• Ensure the growth of our membership
• Build and maintain partnerships and alliances with others in the women’s sector and across other sectors
• Have oversight of the Engagement Strategy.

This job description is not exhaustive. The post-holder may be required to undertake additional tasks and responsibilities as directed.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Contributory pension
• Flexible working
• Four day-week (trial until February 2026)

Are you a talented communicator who shares our passion for using scientific evidence to benefit the lives of animals? Can you help us to disseminate knowledge about animal welfare to a wide range of audiences?

We, the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) and the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA), are two sister charities focused on the promotion of scientific, evidence-based approaches to animal welfare. We fund research, support the animal welfare science community, and advocate for evidence-based improvements to animal welfare worldwide. Communicating animal welfare science to both specialist audiences and the wider public is key to turning knowledge into real-world improvements in animal welfare. We are seeking a Scientific Communications and Content Assistant to join our talented Scientific Communications Team during an exciting period of growth and change for both charities.

The Scientific Communications and Content Assistant will support us to deliver our scientific communications strategy by helping to draft, design and publish engaging content for our print and digital platforms. This includes assisting with the creation of visual and written content that effectively convey complex scientific information to our diverse audiences.

The role will report to our Scientific Communications and Outreach Manager and work closely with the Public Affairs Lead and other internal teams to create engaging content for our audiences. We are seeking candidates with strong written, editing and visual skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate with subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

The ideal candidate will enjoy working as part of our small multi-disciplinary team and be confident to work unsupervised when necessary. You will be happy working across multiple projects, adapting to different communication styles and priorities, and keeping messaging clear and consistent across varied audiences.   

This role will be home-based. Because we’re based in the UK, the appointee will need to be UK-based and legally entitled to work in the UK. You will be expected to occasionally attend our offices in Hertfordshire to carry out duties as required and attend meetings. Travel costs and subsidence will be covered for you in these situations. The role may also require occasional travel within the UK and possibly overseas for events and other relevant activities - some of which may occur at weekends or in the evening. 

What you’ll be doing

• Drafting copy, designing graphics/visual materials (eg using Canva) and producing content for print, web, email, and social media 
• Overseeing the Charities’ day-to-day social media activity, including scheduling posts, monitoring channels, and responding to engagement.
• Assisting with the creation and dissemination of the Charities’ content including but not limited to press releases, newsletters, and digital campaign materials.
• Liaising regularly with internal teams to stay up to date on the Charities’ activities and to plan and schedule content across channels.
• Monitoring social media analytics and Mailchimp performance metrics to support reporting and strategy development.
• Collaborating with internal teams, for example Fundraising, to ensure consistent messaging and branding.
• Occasionally creating, editing and publishing video content.
• Liaising with external agencies, partners and stakeholders.
• Ensuring all materials and communications are accessible and inclusive.   
• Occasionally travelling within the UK and overseas for conferences, meetings and other events - some of which may take place during evenings or weekends.

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in digital communications, content creation and social media.
• Demonstrable writing and editing skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in using social media platforms (eg LinkedIn, Facebook, BlueSky and YouTube) and scheduling tools such as Hootsuite.
• Experience using graphic and content design tools such as Canva.
• Ability to monitor, analyse and interpret performance analytics from platforms including Mailchimp, social media, Hootsuite etc.
• Proven organisational and time management skills.
• Experience of working collaboratively with diverse teams, with well-developed interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of and commitment to inclusion and accessibility.
• Experience working within brand and tone of voice guidelines.
• Experience creating content tailored to a diverse range of audiences and stakeholders.
• An understanding of and comfort with the Charities’ approach to animal welfare which includes co-operation with the livestock and slaughter industry, as well as laboratory animal researchers. Whilst both charities promote the highest standards of animal welfare, they do not oppose the use of animals by humans for research or food.

It would be great if you have

• Experience working in a charity or non-profit environment.
• A background in science such as a BSc or relevant experience in a scientific charity or setting.
• Knowledge of animal welfare science and practices.
• Familiarity with website content management systems such as WordPress.
• Experience creating and editing video content. 
• Understanding of policy communications or advocacy work.
• Understanding of SEO, engagement metrics, and digital advertising.

How to apply 

Please submit your CV and a covering letter (of no more than two pages of A4) that describes how your knowledge, skills and experience meet the requirements of our role. Applications close at 23:30 BST on Sunday 19 October. 

First round interviews will be held online on 3 November 2025, and second round interviews held in London on 10 November 2025. 

We use anonymous recruitment at the screening stage to enable an inclusive recruitment process.   

What we can offer you

• 25 days annual leave increasing to 30 days after ten years of service*.   
• Flexible working, including opportunities to work from home.
• Day one employer pension contributions of 8% of salary, into our pension scheme.
• Access to AonProtect Assistance which includes access to counselling services, legal, tax, medical and bereavement advice   
• Access to Mental Health First Aiders with two wellbeing days* per year to rest, recharge, and focus on mental, emotional, or physical health - without using annual leave.
• Optional childcare salary sacrifice scheme.
• Pet bereavement leave.   
• Generous sick pay policy.
• Training and development opportunities.

*Pro-rata for part-time employees. 

Having adopted a new and ambitious strategy, and embarked on a period of transformational change, Two Saints are now looking to ensure they are in the strongest position to deliver their vision in what are difficult times. This vision is ‘to be a safety net for people in tough times and the springboard to a brighter future.’ The organisation delivers a full range of services to clients across Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire and the Isle of Wight, and the role of the Two Saints Board is to guide, direct and challenge the plans and strategic decisions relating to these services.

So we’re looking for people who can help Two Saints deliver their vision, with  a background and experience in either:

• Asset management, perhaps with experience of the net-zero agenda
• Supported housing services or social care

We’re interested in hearing from talented people who may be looking for their first governance role, and you may have had lived experience.

If you’re interested in what Two Saints do and feel you can make a contribution, we’d like to hear from you so take a look at the candidate pack here https://bit.ly/45U1yDX.