Public affairs and campaigns manager jobs
Employer: Community Rail Network
Salary: £43k-£51.5k pa, full time
Location: Home based / flexible or Huddersfield
We are seeking a dynamic director of policy and communications, to lead and develop our increasingly impactful external affairs activity. You’ll be sharing community insights and evidence with policy and decision-makers at national and devolved level, supporting a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable transport and mobility, while overseeing high-quality, inspiring member communications and thought-leadership, drawing on grassroots experiences.
About us
Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.
Community rail is made up of 76 community-based partnership organisations, and c.1,300 station friends volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.
Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in different locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support our members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in developing our team and helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.
About this role
This role is crucial for us, our members and their communities, especially at the current time, with our need to seize on the opportunities of rail reform and devolution, promote wider use of sustainable transport, and bring communities together. You will spearhead our external affairs strategy and plans, building political relationships, influencing decision-making and raising awareness of community rail and its insights, while ensuring effective communications with our members and helping them to have a voice locally and regionally. You’ll be striving to put community rail at the forefront of a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable mobility.
As a member of our senior leadership team, reporting to and working closely with our chief executive, you will manage a passionate team of four, ensuring collaboration with our other teams, partners and funders, and drawing on members’ insights.
Main responsibilities
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Lead the review, development and delivery of our communications, policy and insights strategy, working to position the community rail movement effectively, use its insights to influence policy change, and ensure our members are well-informed and have a voice;
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Further strengthen our advisory and influencing work with national, devolved and regional government, transport bodies, parliamentarians and other decision-makers, especially around rail reform, transport devolution and integrated, inclusive, sustainable transport;
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Ensure we’re engaging effectively with policy developments and opportunities, taking forward a programme of relationship-building, and identifying and engaging in relevant consultations, events and speaking opportunities, enabling community rail’s insights and experiences to be shared;
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Collaborate with partners in rail, government and the third sector to feed in our expertise on community engagement with rail, amplify our campaigns, and build opportunities for joined-up communications and policy work;
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Continually develop and disseminate our evidence base and insights on the social, environmental and economic value community rail delivers, and opportunities to create greater benefits for communities from rail and transport;
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Oversee high-quality, coherent and inspiring communications with our members and partners, promoting our work, and sharing news, opportunities, and good practice across the movement;
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Manage production of high-quality resources, case studies and reports that our members can use to enhance their impact and which showcase community rail’s impact;
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Lead and develop our media relations and awareness-raising PR, championing community rail and its messages on sustainable, inclusive travel and communities at national and regional level, while supporting members on local PR;
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Develop our online presence and reach, making full use of our website, social media, our Scenic Rail Britain campaign, and partners’ channels to celebrate and position community rail and grow its reach and impact;
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Oversee a calendar of creative and impactful campaigns that involve and empower our members, creating PR and engagement opportunities, including Community Rail Week;
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Play a key role in collective leadership, strategic focus and organisational development as a member of our senior leadership team, including through internal communications and cross-team working, annual planning, funder liaison and reporting, upholding our strategies and policies, and pursuing opportunities for continuous improvement.
Skills and competencies
- Strong leadership and management skills, including experience managing, developing and drawing on a multi-faceted team delivering complex campaigns or projects, and budget management;
- Excellent communication and external leadership skills; articulate, assertive, and with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels;
- An understanding of public affairs, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, and a demonstrable ability to identify influencing opportunities, deliver thought-leadership, and engage with policy-makers, including sharing community insights;
- Politically astute, with awareness of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a good grasp of the importance of public transport sustainable travel, and community-led action, to these agendas;
- Understanding of political processes and experience of engaging with policy and decision-making, ideally at national, devolved and local levels;
- Sound knowledge of communication and marketing methods and channels, and ability to oversee messaging and targeting of public and professional audiences, and to align content across multiple channels;
- A demonstrable ability to think analytically and draw on statistical and qualitative research to construct robust, evidence-based arguments;
- Experience of working with the media and achieving coverage at national, regional and local level;
- Experience working collaboratively with partners and ideally funders to deliver communications and policy activity and forming professional networks;
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while dealing with competing priorities, and to support team members to do so;
- IT literate with a good working knowledge of Office, the internet and social media;
- Appropriate qualifications and professional development demonstrating knowledge and skills in line with the above, and a commitment to ongoing learning and development.
Other information
As you will be home-based, we are flexible about your location. However, you will be expected to travel to in-person full team meetings quarterly (usually in West Yorkshire), and you will need to bring your team together (currently all West Yorkshire based) with similar regularity in between. Attendance at in-person events and meetings is also important. We therefore welcome applications from those with decent public transport links, not too far from a railway station, to enable journeys to be made sustainably.
This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months.
Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.
Championing the community rail movement | Connecting people and their railways | Creating inclusive, empowered, sustainable and healthy communities
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location: Hybrid working - Part London office-based and part home working. The post holder will work a minimum of one day a week in the office.
Salary: £31,800 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week
Closing date: Tuesday 6 January 2026 at 10.00am
Interview date: Tuesday 13 January 2026 on Teams. Please note that there may be a second stage in person on Wednesday 21 January.
This is a permanent role.
Who we are looking for
Breakthrough T1D is the UK’s leading type 1 diabetes charity, dedicated to funding research, advocating for change, and supporting the T1D community. A year into our exciting rebrand from JDRF to Breakthrough T1D, we’re looking for a Social Media and Content Officer to help us build on this momentum.
We’re looking for a creative and proactive person to join us as our new Social Media and Content Officer. We’re looking for someone with excellent content creation skills, a strong understanding of social media platforms and trends, and an ability to deploy tactics to ‘stop the scroll’ on our owned content.
As the Social Media and Content Officer, you will be responsible for our social media channels, creating compelling campaigns and content that engage our communities and build support for research into type 1 diabetes (T1D). You will help us build our engaged online T1D community and proactively seek out new and innovative approaches to digital communications, while protecting and enhancing the Breakthrough T1D brand.
Experience required
You’ll have previous experience of:
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Working across multiple social media platforms and monitoring engagement e.g. Meta, Linkedin, X
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Producing audience-specific, engaging and shareable daily content in different formats
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Training and supporting others to create and publish content
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Supporting and delivering unique and vibrant social media campaigns
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Growing online social communities and rates of social media engagement
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Interpreting social media analytics and providing insight on content performance
About Breakthrough T1D
Breakthrough T1D is the world’s leading charitable research funder into type 1 diabetes, improving lives until we find the cure. We are dedicated to our 400,000 strong type 1 community in the UK and work closely with our international affiliates across the world, including the US, Canada and Australia.
You will find a vibrant atmosphere and spirited team at Breakthrough T1D, always striving to make a difference to people living with type 1.
Employee benefits
As an employer we offer:
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Hybrid working arrangements
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Flexible working and will consider compressed hours
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Generous annual leave entitlement – 25 days per year plus bank holidays for full-time staff with leave increasing after three and five years’ service
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Health cash plan that allows you to claim for some treatments such as dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment
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Season ticket and cycle loan
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Pension scheme
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Family-friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave at enhanced rates
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Personalised training to suit your career aspirations and professional development
Breakthrough T1D is an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age.
At Breakthrough T1D we do understand that AI (Artificial Intelligence platforms like ChatGPT) can be a useful tool for candidates to assist in applying for our roles. We ask that applicants do ensure their authentic voice is present, and we look forward to seeing examples of your specific experience.
Improving lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to treat, prevent, and, ultimately, cure T1D and its complications
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you a creative and curious relationship builder with an interest in science and technology, and its ability to change the world?
University of Oxford’s world-leading Mathematical Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) Development team is looking for their next aspiring fundraising professional, offering the chance to learn, grow and hone their skills in the role of Development Officer.
Offering an exceptional salary and benefits package along with unrivalled opportunities for professional development, this is a unique early-career opportunity for a driven individual with fundraising, marketing or transferable relationship skills looking for a stimulating and nurturing learning environment.
About the role:
From climate science and robotics, to drug discovery and surveying and conserving tropical rainforests, Oxford scientists are at the forefront of international research and their work has global impact. You’ll join the country’s most successful higher education Development team working closely with academics and researchers with an international reputation for excellence.
You will help to raise funds for cutting-edge, innovative and life-changing research, scholarships, access and outreach, and a number of key capital projects.
You’ll also develop your skills and experience across a range of income streams: regular giving, stewardship, legacies and major gifts, including gaining experience facilitating gifts up to six figures.
About you:
You’ll already have some fundraising, business development, alumni relations, or marketing experience. We’re looking for you to be able to positively and confidently engage and build rapport, both in conversation and writing.
You’re naturally curious and keen to learn more about the potential for scientific developments impact world issues, and change people’s lives.
We’d also love to see you demonstrate the following skills and qualities:
Think strategically and tactically about the relations between potential donors and fundraising goals.
· Be creative in producing materials, with an understanding of how to articulate projects for donors.
· Able to manage, prioritise and adapt to a diverse workload, meet deadlines, and work calmly under pressure.
In return for your passion and commitment, you’ll receive a generous salary and benefits package, joining a supportive team that will encourage and nurture you to thrive.
What we offer:
Your happiness and wellbeing at work matters to us, so we offer a range of family friendly and financial benefits including:
· Flexible hybrid working
· An excellent contributory pension scheme
· 38 days annual leave
· Membership to CASE
· Training and development opportunities
· A comprehensive range of childcare services
· Family leave schemes
· Cycle loan scheme
· Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
· Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
Application process
· Click the link to ‘Apply’ and follow the on-screen instructions on our Application portal.
· Applications must include of a CV and a letter of application, in your own words (in PDF format), outlining your motivations to apply for this role, your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
Only applications received before 12.00 noon on 14 January 2026 can be considered.
Interviews are currently scheduled to take place 22 January 2026, in person in Oxford.
Development and Alumni Engagement is committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills and experiences. We encourage applicants from all sectors of the community and are especially keen to encourage candidates from under-represented groups to apply.
The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.
We raise funds in support of the University’s academic priorities, securing donations for all aspects of academic and student endeavour.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The University of Oxford aims to lead the world in research and education for the benefit of society both in the UK and globally. Philanthropy plays a critical role in enabling Oxford to maintain and build on its status as a world-class centre of learning. The Development and Alumni Engagement Office (DAE) at the University of Oxford has been successful in raising funds from a broad, international range of donors. All support enables the University to achieve its key aims of advancing excellence in research and teaching.
Within DAE, the Foundations and Corporations team is a pan-University fundraising team focused on building and maintaining successful philanthropic relationships for the University’s priorities. Funding secured supports posts and key research areas such as the environment, health and societal challenges, as well as scholarship support for postgraduate students. We work closely with our colleagues in specialist fundraising teams as well as those in business partnerships, innovation teams and research services.
This is an exciting time to join our Development and Alumni engagement team. The role of Senior Development Executive – Foundations and Corporations will support the University to establish and grow new philanthropic relationships with charitable trusts, foundations and corporations across a range of subject areas and themes, from global health and climate change, to civil society and the role of AI. Funding secured will support capital projects, academic posts, innovative research and enable talented students to undertake further studies at Oxford. To achieve this, you will have the support of excellent colleagues across DAE as well as wider academic, departmental and professional service staff at Oxford.
About you
You are an experienced philanthropic fundraiser with a strong track record of securing major gifts, a confident approach and the ability to think creatively. Your ability to build rapport and relationships swiftly will enable you to lead on major gift fundraising (securing donations of £500k-£1m+), working with a range of donors (corporates, trusts and foundations). Your ability to establish credibility and foster trust across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders will be key to your success. Your strong experience of building philanthropic partnerships with organisation donors will be key. Experience of work in higher education is desirable. Above all, you will share Oxford’s mission and be driven to create meaningful impact through philanthropy.
What We Offer
Your happiness and wellbeing at work matters to us, so we offer a range of family friendly and financial benefits including:
· Flexible hybrid working
· An excellent contributory pension scheme
· 38 days annual leave
· Membership to CASE
· Training and development opportunities
· A comprehensive range of childcare services
· Family leave schemes
· Cycle loan scheme
· Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
· Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loan
You could be helping to deliver philanthropic support that funds breakthroughs in science and health, enables new public policy and interventions, or facilitates education for the next generation of leaders in their fields. If this sounds like the kind of challenge you’ve been looking for, we’d love to hear from you.
Application process:
· Click the link to ‘Apply’ and follow the on-screen instructions. You will be taken to our online Applicant portal.
· Applications should consist of a full CV and a letter of application in your own words, in PDF format (maximum of 2 pages; no AI-written applications, please) outlining your motivations to apply for this role, your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
Only applications received before 12.00 noon on Tuesday 13 January 2026 can be considered.
Interviews are currently scheduled to take place on Wednesday 21 January 2026, in person in Oxford.
Development and Alumni Engagement is committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills and experiences. We encourage applicants from all sectors of the community and are especially keen to encourage candidates from under-represented groups to apply.
We raise funds in support of the University’s academic priorities, securing donations for all aspects of academic and student endeavour.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Details:
Salary: £50,000 per annum.
Location: Hybrid Work Culture. We are proud to promote a truly hybrid work culture, recognising that every role is different, and everyone has unique needs and preferences. Our Hybrid Work Arrangement empowers each team member to work with their manager to choose the most effective way to work that balances your needs and Hospice UK’s.
For this role, our expectation is that you will come to London 1 day each week for team, project or stakeholder meetings. You may also find it useful to visit member hospices. You can work remotely for the rest of the time. Equally, you may prefer to work from the office full-time. We encourage all colleagues to visit member hospices to help inform our work and you may be able to work from there.
Contractually this role is London-based.
Benefits:
- 25 days in the first year, increasing to 27.5 days in the second year of service and 30 days in the third.
- Matched pension scheme up to 7% of salary
- Healthcare plan
- Learning and development opportunities
- Enhanced carers and compassionate leave
How to apply: CV and supporting statement - using Hospice UK’s supporting statement document – see below.
Closing date for applications: Midnight on Sunday 11 January 2026.
Interview dates: We expect to hold interviews over Teams on Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 January 2026.
We’ll send assessments and some questions to you in advance so that you can prepare. Let us know if you have any specific needs to be able to fully engage with the process.
Job information:
At Hospice UK, we believe data can help ensure that hospice care is available to all, for now and forever. This is an exciting time to join us. In this role, you’ll be able to shape how we collect, connect and use insight across our charity and the wider hospice community, so decisions are smarter, services are fairer, and our impact is clear.
You’ll be our leading technical voice for data, shaping and delivering our Data Strategy, guiding colleagues, and ensuring modern, effective ways of working with data. You’ll work with internal systems and sector datasets (plus third‑party sources like population data) to build the reporting that helps hospices compare services, reach underserved communities, and make better decisions.
We’ve recently invested in modern Microsoft data tools and updated our key systems to provide the foundations for the future. This is a chance to define how we use data for the long term, from engineering robust pipelines to creating the dashboards leaders rely on every day.
In the short term, your focus will be:
- Overseeing the introduction of a new member data collection portal being developed by a third-party organisation.
- Developing, deploying and improving our internal performance reporting and hospice sector reporting using Power BI and related Microsoft tools.
You’ll be passionate about data and using it to improve decision making and operational processes. You’ll be able to engage with colleagues at all levels to understand their needs, champion good data management and reporting practices, and provide technical advice and guidance.
You’ll join a high performing ICT and Data team of 8 colleagues.
You’ll find lots more information about the role and team in the Candidate Information Pack (available on our website to download).
How to apply:
To apply for this role, please send us the following documents by midnight on Sunday 11 January 2026:
- Your CV. Ideally in Microsoft Word format and less than 3 pages of A4.
- A completed supporting statement form (where you can demonstrate how you meet the person specification) - available on our website to download.
- A completed equalities monitoring form - available on our website to download.
We will shortlist candidates based on their CV and supporting statements. A briefing of what to expect will be sent in advance to shortlisted candidates.
Closing date for applications: by midnight on Sunday 11 January 2026.
We believe in fair recruitment and working to remove bias, so all applications will have identifying indicators removed before being submitted to the shortlisting panel.
Please make sure you provide your contact details in your email. Please note the interview dates above and let us know if there are any accommodations you might need to participate fully in the process. We will try to be flexible.
To be considered for this role you must have the right to live and work in the UK for your application to be progressed. Hospice UK is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
We represent and champion the community of 200+ hospices across the UK.



Are you a strategic and hands-on digital leader ready to shape the future of our digital landscape and improve the experience for dogs and the people who care for them?
We’re looking for a Digital Product Manager to lead the end-to-end delivery of large and complex digital products that meet user needs and drive organisational impact.
What does this role do?
As Digital Product Manager, you'll:
- lead the discovery, design and delivery of new digital products, managing complex builds, integrations and user centred, data driven development,
- collaborate across teams and with external partners to ensure smooth delivery, strong user journeys and alignment with the live website and wider directorate goals,
- manage, coach and develop a Digital Product Officer,
- ensure strong governance, accessibility and data protection compliance, and use performance insights to drive continuous improvement.
Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for week commencing 12th January 2026.
Could this be you?
We’re looking for someone with proven digital product management experience, strong UX and agile understanding, confidence in project planning, and the ability to collaborate across diverse teams. You’ll use data to inform decisions, have experience supporting or managing others, with the ability to cultivate a supportive, high-performing team culture.
To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
18 Month Contract, Full time, 37.5 hours per week.
Reports to: Digital Communications Manager
Location: Harlow, Essex. Easily commutable from London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale Station. We offer a free minibus service to/from Harlow Town Train Station as well as free parking and EV charging on site.
Extra Information: We offer blended working within this role – with a minimum two days a week in the office or at key stakeholder meetings externally required.
About the role:
This an exciting time to be joining Motability Foundation. With our newly launched five-year strategy, our vision is clear - we want to build transport equity for disabled people in the UK so that they can make the journeys they choose.
As our Social Media Manager, you will actively monitor trends, conversations, and opportunities across the transport and disability sector to identify moments where Motability Foundation can engage, respond, and lead. You’ll create compelling, original content for our digital channels spotlighting our impact, amplifying our voice and the voices of disabled people. Working within our growing Digital Communications team, you’ll ensure our content is timely, relevant, and aligned with sector developments, supporting our strategic aims and deepening community engagement.
What you will be doing:
Social media management and community building
- Own day-to-day management of our social media channels (LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook).
- Foster community engagement - respond to comments, messages, and mentions in a timely, sensitive, and brand-aligned way.
- Develop and implement community-building initiatives (user-generated content and beneficiary support stories)
- Follow best practice guidelines to ensure all content is accessible (e.g. alt text, video captions).
Content creation and storytelling
- Create original, on-brand social media content that reflects Motability Foundation’s values, mission, and impact. This includes written copy, graphics, short videos, infographics, and carousel posts.
- Develop content that communicates impact and encourages calls to action, such as grant applications or case study sign-ups.
- Collaborate with the Content and Stories Executive, and Communications team colleagues (e.g. press, public affairs) to source stories, case studies, and content opportunities.
- Maintain the digital content calendar in coordination with the Digital Communications team.
Campaign planning an execution
- Lead integrated digital awareness-raising campaigns that bring together organic social, paid social, email, and web content.
- Manage campaign creative, scheduling, and coordination, ensuring timely execution and message alignment.
- Work with partner organisations and external agencies to deliver high-quality campaign assets.
Social listening, analytics and reporting
- Use social listening tools to track sentiment, conversations, and emerging trends in the transport and disability space.
- Help develop and monitor KPIs (reach, engagement, conversion, sentiment) and produce regular performance reports.
- Translate insights into actionable recommendations for content, community, and campaign optimisation.
- Use A/B testing or experimentation (post times, formats, messaging) to improve performance.
Strategy development and implementation
- Support the development of a long-term social media strategy aligned with the charity’s five-year strategy.
- Help define audience segments, tone of voice, content pillars, channel priorities, and metrics for success.
- Contribute to cross-functional strategy discussions to ensure social media aligns with wider organisational goals.
- Stay up to date on social media trends, platform changes, emerging tools, and best practices in the charity sector.
Risk management and brand governance
- Ensure that all social content aligns with brand guidelines, tone of voice, and organisational values.
- Escalate any reputational or safeguarding risks (e.g. negative sentiment, sensitive stories) to the Digital Communications Manager and wider Communications team.
- Support the development and implementation of social media policy, guidelines, and process maps.
Your experience:
- Proven track record of success in a dedicated social media or digital communications role, ideally within a charity or a public sector organisation.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
- Experience developing and running social media campaigns (using organic and paid content).
- Skilled at content creation: writing, graphic design (e.g. Canva or Adobe Express) and basic video production / editing.
- Used social analytics and listening tools to measure performance, monitor sentiment, and generate insights.
- Managed or contributed to multi-channel campaigns, combining social media with email and website.
- Experience managing a content calendar and coordinating with different teams.
- Proficient with social scheduling and management tools e.g. Sprout Social, Emplifi or similar.
- Experience in reporting, A/B testing, or using insights to optimise content is a plus.
- Strong understanding in managing and optimising digital communication channels, including social media strategy and content.
- Ability to work autonomously, manage multiple projects, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Nice to haves
- Experience working with or for disabled people's organisations or charities.
- Experience editing website pages using a CMS e.g. Umbraco, WordPress
- Experience partnering with external agencies or consultants.
- Understanding of SEO, UX and accessibility best practices and have applied them in your work.
If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience, we'd still encourage you to apply.
We are building a future where all disabled people have the transport options to make the journeys they choose.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location: Remote, in the UK (mandatory to travel to London once a month, at own cost)
Line Manager: Executive Director
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.
Animal Equality UK’s current key campaigns include:
- Strengthening enforcement of animal protection laws
- Halting the expansion of Scotland’s salmon farming industry
- Achieving a ban on foie gras imports
- Securing species-specific slaughter legislation for fish
- Inspiring the public to eat plants, not animals
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking a strategic, personable, persuasive, and policy-savvy Food Policy Specialist to spearhead Government relations and stakeholder outreach. This highly impactful role bridges high-level advocacy with on-the-ground influence, and involves advising Government Ministers, politicians, expert bodies, and sector stakeholders to promote policies that support plant-forward dietary shifts aligned with the UK’s sustainability, public health, and animal welfare commitments and priorities.
The Food Policy Specialist will report to the UK Executive Director and oversee our diet change (‘Love Veg’) programme and team members working on diet change campaigns, with the objective of encouraging the public to eat plants, not animals.
ABOUT YOU
You are a thoughtful communicator, tactically agile, and confident in high-level engagement – both in person and through written reports. You are strategic, evidence-driven, and ready to shape policy narratives that positively impact animals with proactivity and integrity.
You actively seek constructive feedback and use it to continuously improve your work. You show ownership and a growth mindset that is focused on improving the world for farmed animals. Knowledge of farmed animal issues and alignment with Animal Equality’s mission is a must, as is professionalism, adaptability, and discretion.
You must have a minimum of four years’ experience in public affairs, Government relations, policy advocacy, or food systems policy. You are expected to have a strong understanding of UK political structures and policy-making dynamics, excellent analytical written and presentation skills, and an ability to simplify complex research into persuasive policy messages. You must be a confident problem-solver, with a solutions-focused attitude and a collaborative spirit.
BENEFITS
- Holiday entitlement equal to 33 days per year (including standard public holidays).
- Personalised Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): an Animal Equality-funded benefit that offers employees confidential counselling and advice on a wide range of work and personal issues. The programme 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.
APPLY NOW
To read the full job description and apply, please visit our careers page.
Closing date: 5.00pm on Friday 9th January 2026
The interview process comprises a multiple-stage interview and skills test. The appointment process will run throughout December and January, with Animal Equality UK making an offer to the successful candidate shortly after.
Animal Equality’s vision is a world in which all animals are respected and protected.

Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Chief Campaigns and Creative Officer (£25,000)
Central London | 32 Hours Per Week | Reports to Executive Director
Why this role exists
The Trans Legal Clinic turns frontline legal work into change people can feel. We need a senior creative lead to set the look, sound and pace of our public work, run audience-led campaigns and make complex issues clear and actionable.
What you will lead
· Creative direction: Own visual identity, tone of voice and message architecture across print, digital and events.
· Campaigns that move people: Plan and deliver campaigns across our pillars: client rights, systems change, fundraising and recruitment. Turn data and casework insights into creative that lands.
· Social media and content: Own the calendar. Ship platform-specific posts, threads, carousels, short video and email. Moderate comments with care for community safety.
· Rapid response: Prepare toolkits and holding lines for breaking stories. Coordinate with legal and policy colleagues.
· Production: Brief, storyboard, shoot or commission. Edit to deadline. Manage freelancers and suppliers. Keep files, rights and releases in order.
· Accessibility and inclusion: Bake accessibility into everything: captions, alt text, readable layouts and plain language.
· Measurement and learning: Set goals, define KPIs, track performance and share honest learnings. Improve what works, stop what does not.
· Internal enablement: Build a tidy brand kit, templates and guidance so the team can self-serve without diluting quality. Train staff and volunteers.
· Workflow: Keep projects moving with clear briefs, timelines and approvals.
You’ll thrive here if you show
· Entrepreneurial drive: you turn strategy into finished creative and campaigns.
· Ownership and follow-through: you run work end to end and land it.
· Bold, informed judgement: you try new formats and back choices with evidence.
· Clear communication: you write clean copy and match tone to audience.
· Inclusive practice: you build accessibility and safety into content as standard.
· Planning under pressure: you manage live moments without losing quality.
· Team-building and collaboration: you lead creatives and volunteers well.
· Constant learning: you test, measure and iterate.
What you will bring
· A strong portfolio showing strategy-led creative across static, motion and copy.
· Confident in canva or similar. Comfortable with short-form video editing and basic motion.
· Platform literacy across Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube. Working knowledge of analytics and paid promotion.
· Clear writing and an ear for tone.
· Calm leadership and useable feedback.
· Sound judgement on reputation, privacy, GDPR and consent.
· Commitment to trans-led practice and the communities we serve.
Helpful extras
- not-for-profit experience
- Familiarity with gender recognition, healthcare advocacy, discrimination, housing and employment
- Basic SEO and email automation.
Practicalities
· Hours: 32 Hours per week
· Location: Central London
· Salary: £25,000.
What We Look For
The Co-founders Mindset
At the Trans Legal Clinic we are building a Trans+ rights revolution; our mission is Trans Liberation. That means access to justice for Trans & Non-binary people everywhere. We deliver work that changes outcomes for people, case by case and system by system. That calls for a particular mindset. We call it the co-founder mindset. Co-founders take the mission personally, set the pace, turn ideas into working services and campaigns, bring others with them, and make change you can point to. Co-founders are entrepreneurial: they spot openings others miss, move decisively, and create momentum. Co-founders build teams, drawing in volunteers who believe in our mission, care deeply about our clients, enjoy working with us, and keep one another going. Co-founders are bold: they are willing to innovate, to be first, and to change the status quo; they check the source, avoid assumptions, solve problems, make firm, collaborative, evidence-based decisions, and take responsibility for results. Co-founders are pioneers. If you want responsibility, pace, and the chance to trailblazer new routes to justice and public impact, this is the place to build your career.
We select candidates based on their performance in 8 areas;
1. Ownership and follow-through
You are a self-starter who owns tasks and takes responsibility without waiting to be asked. You carry your work through to a tangible result. You define the problem, set a course, keep the right people informed, and deliver what you said you would.
2. Bold, informed judgement
You are willing to change accepted practice when the evidence supports it. You check primary sources rather than rely on assumptions, weigh real options and risks, make a clear, evidence-based, collaborative decision, and stand behind it.
3. Entrepreneurial drive
You spot openings other people miss and turn ideas into useful services, processes or campaigns. You move decisively and get others working on the plan alongside you with clear roles and timelines.
4. Planning under pressure
You keep priorities straight when time is tight. You organise people and tasks, set simple checkpoints, communicate early when plans shift and always deliver.
5. Inclusive practice
You strive to make everything you create accessible to others, designing work that is easier for others to take part in, with people who face barriers always in mind. You identify what is getting in the way, make practical changes that remove those barriers, and check the effect with the people involved.
6. Clear communication
You write and speak in plain terms and adjust tone and detail to suit clients, volunteers, partners and the public. You choose the right format for the moment and make it easy for people to act on what you say. You like feedback, don’t get offended and see it as a chance to improve.
7. Team-building and collaboration
You bring people with you and help groups perform well together. You draw in volunteers who believe in the mission and care about our clients, set shared expectations, handle disagreements well, and leave relationships stronger.
8. Constant learning
You improve your own practice and the system around you. You reflect honestly on what worked and what did not, learn quickly, and turn that learning into simple tools or habits that make future work better.
These eight criteria are what we look for. Use them to decide whether this is the right place for you and to shape the examples you share in your application.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
White Ribbon is the leading organisation in the UK working to engage men and boys in ending violence against women and girls. Our mission is to prevent men’s violence against women through addressing its root causes, gender inequality and harmful gender norms and stereotypes. We do this by working with individual men and boys, organisations, and the community, helping them to understand the scale of the problem, and how they can be part of the solution.
This is an exciting time to join White Ribbon as our work and profile has grown significantly over recent years as the importance of engaging men in ending violence has become more apparent. We have an increasing public presence, through campaigning activities, policy influence, in the media and online.
Location: This post can be fully remote or hybrid working at our offices in Hebden Bridge, but you must be willing and able to travel to meet with colleagues and attend events and meetings throughout England and Wales.
You will be working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to develop and implement an Engagement Strategy, developing our brand, updating our website and growing our social media channels. You will be helping to deliver our flagship campaign White Ribbon Day and the following 16 days of activism.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Government & Parliamentary Lead
Permanent. Full Time. Hybrid Working (2 days per week in the office)
Location: London
Salary: £57,977 per annum
About us
Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations who passionately champion dignity, equality and justice worldwide. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.
We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and recognise the value this brings in forming strong, creative and high performing teams. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and from those with experience from outside of the voluntary sector. And no, you don’t have to be Christian to work here – we encourage people of all faiths and none to apply. We just ask that everyone lives out our values of dignity, equality, justice and love. We value a good work-life balance, so we’re open to part-time and flexible working. We also offer hybrid working for our office-based colleagues.
About the role
Reporting in to the UK Influencing Lead, the Government & Parliamentary Lead supports the management of Christian Aid’s government influencing and UK specific public policy development and delivery in line with policy, advocacy and campaigns strategies that maximises impact.
The post-holder will lead on the government and parliamentary aspects of the UK influencing strategy, and will ensure Christian Aid is engaged and develops and delivers excellent briefings on critical and current development issues in the UK.
The role will line manage the Parliamentary and Influencing Advisor, and matrix manage the Crisis Policy and Influencing Advisor.
Some of the main responsibilities of the Government & Parliamentary Lead includes:
- Cultivates and maintains influential relationships with influencers across Westminster, Whitehall, the Church, the private sector and the wider civil society sector, to maintain the organisation’s political and wider advocacy profile in the UK, to enable high-impact initiatives to maximise our impact.
- Leads the development and delivery of UK public policy, in collaboration with relevant policy leads, to deliver high quality internal and external briefing papers and analysis.
- Collaborate with others and communicate political influencing strategies and tactics, to ensure that our influencing work has political traction to maximise impact.
- Collaborates with the Faith influencing and Civil Society Lead and Campaigns Lead to ensure our overarching engagement and campaigns strategies have political impact and influence change in the UK, as well as with wider audiences such as the INGO sector, the private sector and the Church ensuring alignment with organisational values and goals.
- Jointly with the Faith influencing and Civil Society Lead Civil Society Lead supervises and allocates work to Influencing and Engagement Advisor
About you
Who we are looking for:
Essential:
- Degree level qualification in a relevant field.
- Substantial experience of working in public affairs, policy and or advocacy.
- Substantial experience of working in an NGO, public policy, government or the private sector.
- Substantial experience of working with stakeholders including, government, or the private sector.
- Significant experience in effective lobbying of decision making, including at highest levels of government.
- Detailed understanding of UK’s foreign policies and impact on international spaces.
- Detailed understanding of the development sector and a strong working knowledge of the policy areas that Christian Aid has
prioritised. - Understanding of civic space and faith networks, their policy positions and dynamic.
- Significant experience of high-quality political relationship management.
- Significant experience of public speaking.
- Highly developed skills in strategic planning, people management and project management.
- Detailed understanding of Westminster and Whitehall, and how to influence policy making and decision making in government
and parliament. - Developed ability to understand, analyse and interpret complex policy and advocacy policies and strategies.
Further information
At Christian Aid we strive to be an inclusive and diverse employer and recognise the value that this brings in helping to build strong, creative and high performing teams.
We are actively encouraging racialised minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people with caring responsibilities, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women, and older workers to apply. This is because these groups are under-represented within our teams, especially at senior level, and we recognise and value the contributions members of these groups make to strong, creative and high performing teams.
We have a strong Christian ethos and we encourage applications from all faiths. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and sympathy with Christian Aid’s faith identity.
All successful candidates will require a DBS/police check appropriate to the role and location and a Counter Terrorism Sanction check as part of your clearance for commencing your role with us. We also participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information as part of the referencing process from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
This role requires applicants to have the right to live and work in the country where this position is based and undertake the role that you have been offered. If you are successful and we make you an offer for the role, we will be required to conduct a right to work check on your immigration status in the UK. We will contact you regarding the documentation you will need to provide to evidence this.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the Role
Reporting to the Head of Communications, you’ll join a small, creative, and supportive team working to make a real impact for Scotland’s seas. This is a maternity cover position, offering an exciting opportunity to step into a dynamic role where you can quickly make a difference.
You’ll help craft engaging digital content and drive public campaigns that raise awareness of seafood sustainability and marine protection — inspiring both people and policymakers to take action.
A key part of your work will be supporting collaborative external campaigns and finding imaginative ways to grow Open Seas’ reach and influence. From storytelling through film and design to building our online presence, your creativity will help showcase Scotland’s incredible marine life — and the urgent need to protect it.
You’ll contribute across a range of activities, from managing social media and improving SEO, to developing new website content and visual communications.
We’re looking for someone who’s agile, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast-moving environment. You’ll be a positive self-starter and a collaborative team player who enjoys bringing fresh ideas to life and adapting as priorities evolve.
This maternity cover role is a fantastic opportunity to use your digital and creative skills for good — contributing to progressive, solutions-focused campaigns that help shape the future of Scotland’s seas.
About Open Seas
Open Seas is a small environmental charity working in Scotland and beyond to promote environmental recovery in our seas and champion sustainable seafood. Established in 2016, we conduct environmental and policy research to inform consumers, markets and decision-makers as well as generate campaigns to drive positive change for the environmental health of Scotland’s seas.
We investigate threats to our seas, conduct research, and campaign for sustainable fisheries.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Would you like to join an organisation that is striving for systemic change? We believe it is not enough to reform structures and systems which are foundationally discriminatory. We are calling for a complete overhaul, and for people with lived experience to lead that change.
Migration is one of the most hotly debated political topics with rapid policy changes shaping the lives of millions. We’re looking for a proactive and inspiring leader to join us as Interim Head of Policy and Communications.
In this vital role, you will champion our mission to create a just society for all migrants, ensuring those with lived experience are at the centre of our work and heard by policymakers and supporters alike. You will influence national policies, engage diverse stakeholders, from policymakers to grassroots groups, and build impactful communication campaigns.
Working closely with our CEO and as part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will help shape the strategic direction of our policy and communication efforts during this critical time.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in contributing to a vision for intersectional campaigns that call for systemic change, and for those with lived experience to lead the changes we need.
If you’re passionate about social justice, experienced in policy and advocacy, and a skilled communicator, we want to hear from you!
As a lived experience and values-led organisation, and diverse team, we are looking for candidates with a:
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Commitment to upholding the rights of ALL migrants
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Real vision as to how this can be done in the current political, social and economic climate
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A commitment to MRN's vision and values
The salary will be £43,817 per annum, pro-rata. In addition, MRN contributes up to 6% of salary to pensions. We are keen to have someone start in the role immediately.
Closing date for applications: 9am, 14 January 2026
Date for candidate interviews: 26 January 2026
We are a charity and campaigning organisation that stands in solidarity with all migrants in their fights for rights and justice.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Senior Communications Manager
FCDO Research Commissioning Centre (3ie)
1. Background
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Research Commissioning Centre (RCC) has been established to commission and manage research to enhance development and foreign policy impact. The RCC, co-led by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) and the University of Birmingham, provides support to FCDO teams for commissioning and delivering high-quality and impactful research. It addresses challenges associated with research bureaucracy by providing a streamlined process for commissioning and delivering FCDO-funded research.
This role is based at 3ie, working closely with colleagues at the FCDO, University of Birmingham and across the RCC consortium. This is a fixed-term position for the RCC, which is a pilot project that began on the 6th June, 2023, and is due to run until the 5th June, 2028. The role is linked directly to the project funding.
The International Initiative of Impact Evaluation is a mission-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to using evidence to transform people's lives in low- and middle-income countries. We are the global leader in funding, producing, and synthesizing high-quality evidence of what works, for whom, how, why and at what cost. We believe better policy-relevant evidence will make development more effective. 3ie is a registered non-governmental organization in the US. It has offices in New Delhi, London and Washington, DC.
2. Position summary
3ie is inviting applications for a Senior Communications Manager to join the FCDO Research Commissioning Centre (RCC) team at 3ie. With the RCC entering its third year of operation, this is an exciting time to join the project.
The role will be responsible for the strategic management of RCC communications and for the oversight and management of the Global Research and Technology Development (GRTD) website . The position will work closely with the team of the FCDO Chief Scientific Adviser and FCDO’s Deputy Head of Research to support the development and rollout of GRTD, suiting a strategic thinker with experience or knowledge of leading communications and engagement campaigns.
The successful candidate will be a highly organised, skilled communicator with excellent command over producing a range of communication and knowledge products such as blogs, policy briefs, infographics, impact stories and case studies, as well as editing technical writing. Prior experience in social media and event management, is desirable. They will be a self-starter with a can-do, team-player attitude.
The ideal candidate will be based in the UK and have the flexibility to travel to London for in-person meetings and events as required. The candidate will need to work according to UK office hours. The role will largely be remote working with dedicated in-person time with the RCC team and with FCDO.
3. Key job responsibilities
a) GRTD website development oversight and strategy; FCDO GRTD communications, branding and development
- Work with FCDO to develop a coherent strategy and campaign for engaging with and communicating GRTD to external partners. Manage the relationship with FCDO communications counterparts in delivering the vision for GRTD
- Lead engagement with FCDO to determine design of enhancements and new features for GRTD; oversee these developments, managing external contractors (when required) and working with technical colleagues to ensure developments are fit for purpose
- Collaborate with FCDO teams to support the rollout and visibility of the GRTD brand
- Contribute to the development and implementation of editorial standards, templates, and guidance for GRTD content, in coordination with FCDO and RCC stakeholders
- Assist in the dissemination of impact stories and research outputs that align with GRTD branding and strategic objectives
- Support stakeholder engagement activities and campaigns led by FCDO to promote the GRTD platform, where relevant to RCC-funded research
- Monitor digital engagement with and develop KPIs to track performance, with a focus on continuous improvement and optimization
b) RCC presence on GRTD
- Ensure the RCC is adequately presented on GRTD and that the design and structure of RCC pages is coherent and promotes the RCC vision
- Create, edit and post new website content for the RCC on GRTD as required
- Coordinate with the 3ie Strategic Communications Office to monitor the website regularly to ensure content is updated and bugs are identified.
c) RCC Communications
Strategy:
- Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of the RCC’s overall communication and engagement strategy, including areas of thought leadership around best practice evidence led by the RCC.
Content:
- Strategise on new communication products (including website content, impact stories, blogs, media articles, social media and multimedia content), launches, events, and online promotions Edit, manage and publish research commissioning call documents and participate and manage related events such as Early Market Engagements, FAQ sessions, etc.
- Work with RCC Grantees and project teams editing and publishing RCC publications and deliverables, including reports, briefs and other publications.
- Create social media content and manage dissemination through 3ie’s social media channels, working with 3ie colleagues (NB: RCC social media channels may be established and in this case the role will directly manage these).
- Events and engagement: Provide end-to-end support for workshops and events, including content, budget, logistics, communication and marketing
- Provide inputs for communication and implementation plans for research funded by the RCC.
d) Project management: Ensure that RCC publications and communications products are processed in a timely manner and published on GRTD
- Maintain and update process documents, guidelines and templates for external communications for the RCC and for communications from grantees.
- Oversee the implementation of and improvements to RCC’s branding and logo suite as needed.
e) Stakeholder support: Work closely with RCC staff to cultivate relationships across the research ecosystem, consortium and with grantees. This is likely to include RCC representation at external events.
f) Support RCC grantees: Provide guidance and advise on dissemination activities to grant recipients. Review and approve the engagement and dissemination products and plans submitted by RCC grant recipients as part of their work on RCC-funded projects and support the wider RCC team to monitor engagement activities undertaken by grantees.
g) Knowledge sharing: Collect and collate impact stories for the RCC to support both learning and reporting requirements
4. Qualifications and skills
- Master’s degree in journalism, public affairs, marketing, or a field directly relevant to international development, including formal communication training. Exceptional candidates with a bachelor's degree and extensive work experience may be considered
- At least seven to ten years of experience in a communication role in development sector.
- Proven ability to plan and implement communication and engagement strategies for organizations and research projects
- Knowledge of tools for graphic design, content management, social media and event management is desirable (e.g., InDesign, Photoshop, Mailchimp, Canva, Drupal, etc.)
- Proven project management and coordination skills to ensure on-time delivery
- Excellent English writing and editing skills; cross-platform writing experience is desirable
- Self-motivated, creative, and multi-tasker with a proven ability to work under tight deadlines accurately and professionally
- Excellent interpersonal skills and willingness to work in a matrix-organized team environment
- Experience working with UK government departments is desirable
5. Eligibility
3ie is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, ethnicity, disability, caste, religion or sexual orientation. We particularly encourage women, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities to apply.
6. Terms of employment
The salary range for this position is competitive and commensurate based on qualifications and experience. Our policies and procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse. We follow a zero-tolerance policy for any form of bullying or harassment in the workplace.
7. How to Apply
Your application must include the following information*:
• A cover letter (not exceeding two pages) highlighting your qualifications and experience relevant to the terms of reference.
• Curriculum vitae along with names and contact information for at least three professional references.
*Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The deadline for receiving applications is 21 December, 2025. Only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Policy Specialist (children and young people)
Are you interested in improving the lives of children and young people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!
We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners like the Disabled Children's Partnership.
This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of children and young people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of children, young people, and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers.
This is a full time position (37.5 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.
You will:
· Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.
· Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.
· Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the experiences of children and young people with a learning disability and their families.
· Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.
· Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.
· Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.
You will bring to this role:
· Experience of working on public policy issues.
· Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.
· Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.
· The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.
· Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.
· Knowledge the issues facing children and young people with a learning disability and/or the SEND system, as well as the wider parliamentary system.
· Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability.
If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for children and young people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. This advert has been extended and will now close on Sunday, 4th January, 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 12th January 2026.
Benefits
Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.
Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.
For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!
About Mencap
Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.
We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.
At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.
Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.
· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.
· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes
· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.
We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.
We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.
Empower individuals with learning disabilities and autism to reach their full potential and lead the lives they choose.