Public affairs jobs

Travel: Occasional travel to Arthritis UK offices (London, Chesterfield, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow)

Join us and use your skills, knowledge, passion and energy to help us achieve a future free from arthritis.

We’re looking for a Policy Officer who will make a difference to health and social care policy for people with arthritis.  

Within the Chief Executive’s Office, the UK Advocacy and Health Intelligence Department are focused on creating lasting change. We identify creative policy solutions in response to the challenges people with arthritis face. We influence decision-makers through stakeholder engagement, public affairs activity and by campaigning alongside people with arthritis. We have expertise across health and care services, public health, and employment policy. We also work in collaboration to influence medical research and data policy and play an active role in several cross-sector groups.  

About the role
The purpose of this role is to drive policy development across our policy priority areas. The Policy Officer will lead on specific policy projects, commissioning research, developing policy positions, and producing reports and consultation responses.  

This role will cover a broad range of issues across one of our strategic goals – prevention and diagnosis; access to treatment; and living well with arthritis. Our approach considers the needs of people of all ages who have arthritis.               

The Policy Officer will also contribute to the wider work of the team, working closely with colleagues in the Nations Teams, the Research Directorate and the wider charity, including by representing us on cross-sector policy groups, drafting briefings, and participating in events and conferences.  

We’ll give you autonomy, variety and challenge with opportunities to work with inspirational campaigners, attend events in Parliament and meet senior stakeholders in Government. We’re a supportive team who will value your well-being and professional development.  

About you
If your knowledge, skills and experience include the following then we’d love to hear from you:

• Understanding of policy issues relevant to people with long-term conditions or disability.  
• Experience of working in a policy team.  
• Experience of developing and influencing health and social care policy.  
• An ability to think creatively and communicate effectively.  
• An enthusiastic, adaptive and flexible approach.  

As a hybrid worker the expectation is that you will spend around 40% of your working time in our office spaces or working in community settings.

As an inclusive employer we will consider home-based working for anyone where office-based hybrid working would be a barrier to being able to work for us, for example for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability.

Benefits
Your excellent benefits include:

• Flexible hours, environments and working practices to promote a healthy work/life balance.
• Health and wellbeing support – including the Employee Assistance Programme (free confidential 24/7 support with mental health, legal and financial queries).
• Simplyhealth cash plan.
• Supportive and inclusive culture, with a wide range of employee networks and support groups available to join.
• Learning and personal development opportunities.
• Competitive annual leave, with the option to buy/sell up to five days per year.
• Generous pension plan, with employer contribution of up to 10%.
• Life Assurance plan (4 x salary).

You must be based in, and hold the right to work in the UK to apply for this position.

Application deadline and shortlisting
We advise candidates to apply early as we reserve the right to close applications ahead of this date.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
We do not wish to receive contact from agencies or media sales.

Please note that we do not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) during our recruitment and selection processes, and we would respectfully ask that you also refrain from using AI during the selection process. Whilst we do recognise that AI may be a beneficial tool for some when aiding research and preparation for an application or interview, we want to maintain a fair, inclusive and positive recruitment experience at Arthritis UK where candidates can feel supported to demonstrate their experience, knowledge, and skills without the use of AI generated answers. 

Interview
Interview date to be confirmed.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee you will be offered an interview if you disclose a disability and demonstrate sufficient evidence within your application that you meet the essential criteria for this role. We will also make any reasonable adjustments you may require for your interview.

Join an amazing charity that makes a difference for the 110,000 adults and children in the UK with a muscle-wasting condition. This is a role where you can really make a difference.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience of conditions we represent. We believe that diversity strengthens our work and helps us better support our beneficiaries.

This is an exciting new opportunity to lead Muscular Dystrophy UK’s major public-facing campaigns and help drive meaningful change for people living with muscle wasting conditions.

You’ll be at the forefront of our campaigning work—building our infrastructure, shaping bold strategies, building a vibrant campaigning network, and empowering our community to influence policy and legislation. Working collaboratively across the organisation, especially with colleagues in Policy and Campaigns, Marketing and Communications, Fundraising, Volunteering, and Data, and our devolved nations leads in Services and Support, you’ll help create powerful supporter journeys and engagement activities that reflect the passion and urgency of our cause.

Reporting to the Director of Policy and Campaigns, you’ll play a key role in delivering Muscular Dystrophy UK’s policy and campaigning objectives as part of our new organisational strategy—making a tangible impact on the lives of thousands across the UK.

About us:

Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity bringing individuals, families and professionals together to fight muscle-wasting conditions. We bring together more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions, affecting around 110,000 children and adults in the UK. 

We share expert advice and support to live well now; fund groundbreaking research to understand the different conditions better and lead us to new treatments; work with the NHS towards universal access to specialist health; and together, campaign for people’s rights, better understanding, accessibility, and access to treatments.

Benefits:

We appreciate the range of skills and experience our staff have to offer. In return for your enthusiasm and commitment we commit to actively developing and supporting you. We also offer a range of benefits including pension, life assurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, financial wellbeing and an employee assistance programme.

Location: Head Office, London, SE1 (with flexibility for homeworking)

Closing date: Sunday 16th November

Interview date: Tuesday 25th November

Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities

About the role 

This is an exciting opportunity to join ATLEU, a leading anti-trafficking and human rights charity. We are looking for an inclusive, creative, talented facilitator, with exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills to be our Participation Manager.

The Participation Manager will facilitate survivors of trafficking to use their experiences to support the development of ATLEU’s work and services and to improve policy and practice across the anti-trafficking and legal advice sectors. Working with group members, this individual will be responsible for supporting the expansion of the group  (The Changemakers) and the remit of ATLEU’s participation work from January 2026 when the current projects come to a close, ensuring new members are inducted and supported to engage and lead in future projects. The overall aim of the participation and activism work is to integrate survivors at all levels within ATLEU, as well as creating a project that offers different levels of engagement, depending on the interests and capacity of individual group members.

The Participation Manager is a key member of the Rise and Lead project team, which is a groundbreaking new employment pathways project in partnership with Southeast and East Asian Centre (SEEAC) and Voice of Domestic Workers for those with experience of human trafficking and migration. 

The successful candidate will have direct experience of working with vulnerable individuals, ideally survivors of trafficking, a strong understanding of the challenges survivors face and be committed to shifting power to people with lived experience. They will have a flexible approach and understand what empowerment means in its truest sense, allowing the structure of the work to be led by the needs of the group rather than with a predetermined or fixed idea of what this will look like.
 

About ATLEU

Our vision is a just world where no one is enslaved or exploited. 

Our mission is to secure safety, rights and justice for survivors of human trafficking by using and challenging the law.

Our strategic priorities are: 

1. To provide a model of high quality holistic legal support to survivors of human trafficking and exploitation

2. To tackle systemic injustice through strategic litigation and pursuing policy change

3. To build survivor leadership and influence within ATLEU and across the sector

4. To strengthen the capacity of advice, frontline and community organisations to meet the needs of survivors

5. To invest in and support our people to ensure we are effective and sustainable

Our values are:

There is always another way

We are persistent, resourceful and creative in our approach.  We do the hard work to make justice accessible.  We don’t give up in the fight for fairness and freedom.

We make the time. We listen. We hear

We take the time to really listen to our clients and colleagues. We want to restore autonomy and agency from where it was stolen.  We give advice, not tell you what to do. If you fight, we fight.  Our clients’ needs come first.

Knowledge is for sharing.

We lead the way in our knowledge and expertise of reforming the law. The strength of our team comes from our willingness to collaborate and share.  We put our work before pride and always ask for help. Power of our knowledge comes through sharing it with others to secure justice and reform the law.

Although just a small team, ATLEU’s work has led to significant changes in law and policy. Since we were established in 2013, we have led the way in ensuring that survivors of trafficking have access to free, independent legal advice by enabling access to legal aid, across the range of issues survivors experience. For example, our litigation against the Legal Aid Agency led to their concession that legal aid provision was insufficient for victims of trafficking and an increase in the number of trafficking compensation cases that legal aid providers were contractually able to assist with each year (from 5 up to 100). Following litigation on behalf of our client LL, the Legal Aid Agency agreed that victims of trafficking were legally entitled to free immigration advice on applying for leave to remain in the UK on the basis of their trafficking experiences and publicised this entitlement.

Employment Information 

Job Title: Participation Manager (Lived Experience)

Job Term: Permanent 

Location: London based with hybrid working. We can offer flexible working arrangements but the role will require regular office attendance

Hours: 21 hrs per week

Salary Band: £31,374 – £37,772 pro rata per year.  Starting salary will depend on the level of candidate’s experience

Pension: 7% pension contribution 

Leave: 33 days a year (including bank holidays), with an increase of 1 day per year for each complete year of service, capped at 30 days plus bank holidays per year (38 days).

Benefits: Individual training budget and employee wellbeing programme, monthly team lunches and a personal wellbeing fund.

Probation period: 6-month probation period 

Reports to: Policy Manager

Objectives of the post 

• To lead on the development of ATLEU’s participation strategy including a plan for implementation. 

• To develop ATLEU’s Changemakers expert by experience group so that it is sustainable, resilient and inclusive and able to deliver its strategic objectives.

• To build the power of survivors within ATLEU to influence organisational strategy and decision making and inform ATLEU’s services and priorities. 

Main Responsibilities 

Strategy development

1. Using the framework of ATLEU’s 5-year strategic plan, develop ATLEU’s participation strategy creating an annual plan to deliver on our organisational vision. 

2. Develop and maintain positive relationships across ATLEU’s team staying up to date with different areas of organisational work in order to create opportunities for collaboration and coproduction with the Changemakers, finding flexible and creative ways to integrate new opportunities into the annual plan. 

Developing ATLEU’s Changemakers group

3. Recruit and induct people with lived experience of trafficking to be active participants in the Changemakers.

4. To facilitate meetings of the Changemakers ensuring activities are accessible and inclusive for all participants.

5. To secure opportunities for skills and knowledge development through internal and external training.

6. Conduct needs assessments to identify safeguarding, support needs and development goals and provide practical and emotional support where required.

7. Nurturing the wellbeing and solidarity of the group, providing individual pastoral support, coordinating reflective practice sessions and group activities.

8. Review, adapt, and agree terms of reference and foundational values with the group. 

9. To manage the annual lived experience budget.
 

Building the power of survivors within ATLEU 

10. To be an effective liaison between the group and the Director, trustees and wider staff team.

11. Understanding how ATLEU works as an organisation and its key activities and facilitating regular communication between Changemakers and ATLEU’s people. 

12. Create opportunities for collaboration, co-creation and leadership for ATLEU’s Changemakers members.

13. Identifying potential opportunities for Changemakers to take on paid roles within the organisation, defining the scope of the role, recruitment/ selection of individuals for the roles, and supporting individuals to gain experience of working independently (eg. peer research training development, training delivery).

14. To take a creative and flexible approach to working with the group, to understand their priorities and goals and find ways to steer and adapt their ideas so that they can be delivered within an organisational context. 

15. Work with ATLEU’s Director, Head of Operations and People and Inclusion Manager to create pathways for people with lived experience of trafficking to participate in ATLEU’s governance and decision-making, including at trustee board level and development of funding proposals. 

16. Support the delivery of ATLEU’s Rise and Lead Fellowship project helping to create an employment pathway for people with lived experience of human trafficking and migration in the advice and anti-trafficking sector. 

17. Support the Rise and Lead Project Manager with the development of a bespoke inclusive recruitment programme and the delivery of the training fellowship, and the project monitoring and evaluation and dissemination of learning. 

Coproduction with the Changemakers

18. Working with ATLEU’s Changemakers to act as agents of change, to influence external stakeholders (e.g. anti-trafficking organisations, policy makers, parliamentarians, media) and share their expertise, whilst ensuring the necessary safeguarding is in place. 

19. To work with the Policy Manager and Communications and Public Affairs Officer to facilitate people with lived experience of trafficking to inform, shape and co-produce: 

• Training 

• Information / legal resources

• Peer Research reports

• Monitoring and evaluation (ATLEU’s services/ Rise and Lead) 

• Policy & Communication materials

• Events

20. To find ways to cultivate respect for lived experience, and encourage inclusive practices in the sector, such as through engagement with the Lived Experience Coalition 

Professional Development 

21. To take responsibility for self-development on a continuous basis, including undertaking on-the-job and other training as required. 

22. To discuss regularly with the Policy Manager your job performance and personal career development. 

23. To participate fully in ATLEU’s appraisal process. 

Other Duties 

24. To play a full role in the organisation supporting colleagues to maximise their effectiveness. 

25. To support and adhere to ATLEU’s equal opportunities policy and to always act in an ethical manner that upholds the good reputation of ATLEU. 

26. To ensure that the terms of ATLEU’s funders are adhered to in all aspects of ATLEU’s delivery and to provide information for proposals and reports as required. 

27. To attend and participate in staff meetings. 

28. To support ATLEU’s social media presence in line with the organisation’s strategic objectives. 

29. To represent ATLEU at external meetings and where necessary and to attend meetings, occasionally including those out of normal working hours, when necessary. To travel between ATLEU’s offices as required. 

30. To undertake additional duties as may become necessary.

Please refer to the attachment below for further information and the full person specification.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, Minority-Ethnic and refugee and migrant backgrounds and from those with lived experience of the issues that ATLEU seeks to tackle. 

Please note that candidates must be able to work in the UK and will be offered the job subject to suitable references and a DBS check. If you are appointed to the role, you will be required to provide further checks on your criminal records status throughout your employment. 

We are holding two online information sessions on Zoom in English for applicants to find out more about the role. Details are as follows. A Zoom joining link can be found in the downloadable job pack:

Date:    Thursday 23rd October 

Time:    6.30 - 7.15pm

Meeting ID:     Zoom 889 0469 8513

Passcode:  308237

Date:    Wednesday 5th November 

Time:    1 - 1.45pm

Meeting ID:     Zoom 871 8268 7260

Passcode:  587053

​

NB. Please feel free to attend these information sessions with your camera turned off or using a different name if that would make you feel more comfortable in the space. 

Application Process 

Key dates

• Information sessions will be held on Thursday 23 October, 6pm - 6.45pm and Wednesday 5 November, 1pm - 1.45pm.

• The deadline for applications is 23:30 on Sunday 16 November.Applications received after this time will not be considered. 

• First round interviews will be held in person on Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 December. 

• Second round interviews will be held in person on Wednesday 10 December. 

Please confirm your availability to attend first and second round interviews in your cover letter.

If you do not hear from us by Friday 28 November, it means that you have not been shortlisted for an interview. We regret that we do not have capacity to provide feedback to applicants who are not invited for an interview. 

Please ensure that your cover letter addresses the following three points:

1. Why you wish to work for ATLEU. 

2. How your previous experience demonstrates that you meet the essential Experience and Knowledge criteria, as well as any of desirable criteria if applicable, and 

3. Evidence that you have the following skills and abilities:

   • (i) Ability to build rapport with a wide range of people and to communicate sensitively and sympathetically with traumatised and/or vulnerable people.

   • (ii) Insightful, creative and courageous with the ability to challenge traditional thinking and push for change. 

   • (iii) Excellent interpersonal skills, professional manner, able to develop strong working relationships and effective alliances. 

   • (iv) Ability to manage effective collaboration. 

Please also include the following information:

• Contact telephone number 

• Email address

• Confirmation of availability to attend first and second round interviews, if invited.

Inclusion at ATLEU

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We believe that diversity drives innovation, strengthens our teams, and leads to better outcomes for everyone. Each individual is valued for their unique perspectives, cultures, and circumstances, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment where all employees feel supported, empowered, and able to thrive.

We actively encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We particularly welcome applicants from groups underrepresented in our sector, including individuals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and those with lived experience of migration or trafficking. Please let us know of any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process or in the role — we are happy to discuss how we can best support you.

The Policy and Campaigns Officer will develop policy positions and campaigns that will help ensure that the needs, rights and priorities of those living with DMD are understood and acted on by decision makers, policy makers, parliament and government. The Officer will work closely with colleagues in the Policy and Communications team to support a cohesive and impactful approach to policy, engagement and communications.

Job Description

• To ensure that the charity’s policy and campaigning work is firmly grounded in the views and experiences of the DMD community and to ensure that they are consulted and involved in the development (and delivery where appropriate) of Duchenne UK’s policy positions and campaigns.
• To maximise the benefits of our existing relationships with civil servants, parliamentarians, policy makers, relevant organisations (such as NICE) and charity sector professionals and to create new relationships which help us to achieve our aims.
• To organise events and parliamentary activity working with parliamentary supporters and the DMD community.
• To devise low-budget campaigns aimed at creating positive change in policy, practice or attitudes that will improve the lives and outcomes of those living with DMD. 
• To create campaign assets such as digital and social media content in collaboration with the communications team.
• To draft consultation responses, policy positions and occasional short reports summarising the findings of research we have conducted or commissioned.
• To monitor relevant government proposals and initiatives, identifying those likely to have a major impact on the lives of those living with DMD, and to seek to influence their development.
• To stay abreast of relevant academic research, build relationships with key academics and identify opportunities for collaboration.

Person Specification

Essential experience:

• Experience of working in a policy and/or campaigning role.
• Experience of writing for a range of audiences and using different channels to produce convincing, clear and succinct content across a range of platforms such as blogs, web and print.
• Experience of working with civil servants and parliamentarians.
• Experience of using digital and social media for influencing and campaigning purposes.

Desirable experience:

• Project management experience including initiating, planning, implementing and evaluating campaigns and organising events.
• Experience working in health and social care space, with pharmaceutical industry and/or a highly regulated industry and engaging with regulators.

Essential knowledge:

• Working knowledge of the healthcare system, regulatory framework and the social model of disability. 
• Knowledge of how policy and legislation are developed in Westminster and Whitehall.
• Knowledge of campaigning techniques.

Essential skills and attributes:

• Highly motivated with a passion for improving the life outcomes of people living with DMD.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with people of all ages and backgrounds. 
• Ability to draw out the most salient features of complex issues and debates.
• Ability to analyse large amounts of information and produce easy to digest summaries and position statements.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to build excellent working relationships both internally and externally.
• Good organisational and workload management skills.
• Proficient with all main Microsoft Office packages.

Benefits

• 25 days of annual leave + 8 days of public holidays (both pro rata)
• 3 days of office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Summer Fridays – half days on Fridays in July and August (pro rata)
• Flexible working policy
• Hybrid working
• Standard Employer Pensions contributions after 3 months
• Team wellness day and team away day
• Training and development opportunities

Terms and conditions

The appointment is subject to satisfactory references and an initial six-month period of probation, during which performance will be regularly reviewed.

The applicant must have the right to work in the UK and provide relevant ‘right to work’ documentation.

Relevant training will be provided during induction as well as opportunities to develop your career through experience of different aspects of the charity’s work and working with colleagues on new initiatives.

The organisation’s hybrid working policy is at the discretion of the line-manager during the first three months of employment, to support the induction process.

Policy Officer-Wales

Based at home, situated across Wales including regular travel around the country and to the Senedd, Cardiff.

22.5 hrs per week

Fixed term post 2 years - with possible extension

Circa £35,000 p.a FTE depending on experience

Make a difference for kidney patients in Wales!

Are you passionate about influencing policy and driving change? Do you want to be part of a growing team making a real impact on the lives of people with kidney disease?

We’re looking for a Policy Officer – Wales to help shape policy, build relationships, and advocate for better support and care for kidney patients. In this brand-new role, you’ll work for Kidney Care UK and Kidney Wales, engaging with policymakers, healthcare professionals, and those affected by kidney disease.

You’ll spend time at the Senedd, building connections with local politicians and councillors, and ensuring the voices of kidney patients are heard loud and clear. With your knowledge of Welsh Government structures (or similar UK experience), you’ll help drive our campaigns and influence change.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a tangible difference, working flexibly in a supportive team. If you’re ready to champion kidney patients and shape policy in Wales, we’d love to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities

• Develop or participate in work programs and undertake projects to explore policy issues under the guidance of the Policy Director of Kidney Care UK and the Managing Director of Kidney Wales.
• Support the research, development and dissemination of policy positions in Wales.
• Work with other team members to deliver events/reports or campaigns as needed
• Keep up to date with the policy department and charity work to avoid duplication and ensure good communications with our colleagues.
• Contribute to the newly created All Wales Cross Party Group.
• Undertake desk-based research involving data collection and the synthesis of information from relevant sources.
• Seek out opportunities for communications and influencing in the Welsh parliament, including the need for a kidney group. 

About you

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience. 
• Previous experience working with elected members
• Experience in conducting analysis and writing and editing reports for publication
• Can travel regularly to the Senedd Cymru Welsh Parliament in Cardiff and other parts of Wales, plus Alton Hampshire

Employee benefits

• Employee assistance programme | Generous annual leave | Pension | Cycle2Work scheme | Flexible working | Retail discounts | Family leave | Health cash plan

The advert may close earlier than the stated closing date if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications.

The IOP is a friendly and ambitious organisation. Inclusion and diversity are central to our work, and we have a ‘work anywhere’ policy to make working at the IOP as flexible as possible. Looking after our colleagues and supporting them in life and work is our priority, ensuring they can live their best lives, with competitive salaries, professional development opportunities and generous benefits.

Our benefits include:

• Excellent pension scheme (up to 12% employer contribution)
• Private medical insurance, life assurance, dental insurance, healthcare cash plan (via salary sacrifice), eye care vouchers, annual flu vaccinations, long service awards, employee assistance programme
• Floating bank holidays (choose where to take your bank holidays throughout the year)
• Generous annual leave (starting at 25 days)
• Flexible working arrangements

The Role

What will I be doing?

As Project Officer, Workforce Partnerships, you’ll be part of the Education and Workforce team, supporting our mission to build a strong, diverse physics workforce for the future. Your work will help leverage our evidence and insights to identify and develop institutional partnerships through which we can deliver sustainable impact against our Skills priorities.

You will also take a lead in celebrating the crucial role of physics-related technical talent in the workplace through operational administration of our flagship Technical Skills Awards.

You’ll support the delivery of projects, working closely with colleagues across the organisation, IOP Members and external stakeholders.

Projects and activities you may work on include:

• Supporting stakeholder mapping and engagement activities to drive impactful new partnership development.
• Helping to design and deliver workshops, events and engagement campaigns. As an example, this could include supporting the development of case studies, and digital and print collateral, to raise the awareness and visibility of physics-related routes to employment.
• Leading the annual cycle of delivery, administration and operation of the IOP’s Technical Skills Awards.
• Supporting the management of project processes including bids, contracts, MOUs, budgets and reporting.

Who will I work with?

• Manager, Workforce Partnerships (line manager)
• Colleagues across the Education and Workforce team, as well as others in Policy and Public Affairs, Science, Business and Data Insights, Communications and Marketing, Public Engagement, and Membership and Inclusion.
• Members, employers and other key stakeholders in the education, social mobility, training and skills landscape.

What skills and experience do I need?

Essential:

• Project management, programme and events administration, with the ability to effectively manage multiple workstreams.
• Experience writing and maintaining accurate documentation, including reporting for senior boards and committees.
• Experience of developing partnerships with expertise in stakeholder management and engagement to drive organisational profile and influence.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to tailor communications to a diverse range of audiences through face to face, written and digital methods.

Nice to have:

• Familiarity with cross-functional collaboration, supporting alignment across diverse teams and disciplines
• Knowledge of, or willingness to build, domain knowledge of skills stakeholder audiences

The Institute of Physics is an open and inclusive organisation that welcomes and celebrates diversity. We know that not every candidate fits into a neat little box, and that's okay! So, even if your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified but you believe you’d bring passion, creativity, and a willingness to learn, we’d love to learn more about you!

Application

Please include a cover letter stating how you meet the person specification and a copy of your CV. 

Why should I want to work at the IOP?

The IOP is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland - we seek to raise public awareness and understanding of physics and support the development of a diverse and inclusive physics community. As a charity, we’re here to ensure that physics delivers on its exceptional potential to benefit society. There’s never been a more exciting time to join the IOP - watch our film to find out more about our work. 

To apply for this role please click the link below, best of luck with your applications!

We recognise personal unique characteristics, should you require any reasonable adjustments to support you in your application and/or throughout the recruitment process please do not hesitate to reach out to us for support.

We’re recruiting for a Senior Communications Officer.

Job title: Senior Communications Officer
Location: Home-based, with monthly in-person team meetings (generally somewhere in the London-Oxford-Bristol corridor), and regular travel to London.
Contract type: 4/5 days a week (30/37.5 hours per week), permanent.
Salary: £33-34K per annum plus benefits (FTE).

Would you like to make a positive impact for rural communities across England? Would you like to help tackle rural deprivation and ensure rural areas have fairer access to essential services? Would you like to help rural communities reach their full potential?

About Us

Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) is the only national charity speaking up for everyone in rural areas.  We champion thriving, sustainable and inclusive rural communities that have the services they need and the resources to secure equitable outcomes for everyone.  We work closely with our 38 member organisations who support local communities across England.  Together we campaign for change, enable local action, and improve support for people most in need. We work with government and other national partners to explore the issues affecting rural communities and identify solutions so that no one is disadvantaged by where they live.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and creative Senior Communications Officer to join our ambitious team. This is a new post that will play a key role in delivering our new five year strategy Rural Ambition: enabling communities to thrive.  This includes a commitment to speak up more boldly for rural communities and to build new alliances to widen our reach.  Reporting to the Head of Policy and Public Affairs, you will be responsible for our external communications, including telling eye-catching stories, building relationships with journalists and overseeing our digital communications.  You will support our engagement with policy makers and other stakeholders, and advise and support other team members and our member organisations to promote their work and the impact they are making.

About You

You will be experienced in developing compelling stories and helping to deliver campaigns that raise awareness of low profile issues and drive change.  You will enjoy having a varied role that offers the opportunity to be creative, build new connections and work with colleagues in the team and our wider network.  You will be excited by our ambition to speak up more boldly for rural communities and to focus on the issues where we can make the most impact.  You will be a self-starter as well as a team player, enjoy working in partnership with other organisations, and be used to delivering several projects at one time.  You will have direct experience of living in a rural community or have a strong empathy with our cause.

This role is a great opportunity for a communications professional who is keen to take the next step in their career and give a voice to communities that are often forgotten.  You will be joining a small, focused and energetic organisation while being part of a unique national network. If you share our vision and ambition, please get in touch.

Working at ACRE

The ACRE team is home-based. We meet together at least once a month, generally somewhere in the London-Oxford-Bristol corridor.  Benefits include up to 30 days holiday, a contributory pension scheme, life cover and flexible working arrangements.

We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, traditions and ways of life. Please note you will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK prior to interview selection.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 19 November, at 23:59
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 25 November in Woodstock, Oxfordshire
NB: Please confirm when you make your final application that you are able to attend on this date.

Please assume that you have not been shortlisted if you have not heard from us by 24 November.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.

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 role will close on Monday 27th October. Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 3rd November.

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.

We’re looking for a Marketing and Communications Manager to lead our talented team, who deliver impactful marketing, communications, and media initiatives at the British Psychological Society.

You’ll be leading on the delivery of our marketing and communications strategy, focusing on member acquisition, retention, and engagement, utilising digital solutions to promote our membership, qualifications, registers and CPD offerings, and much more.

Your expertise in communication will be essential as you cultivate strong relationships with senior internal stakeholders, journalists and media contacts; driving proactive media opportunities to enhance our profile. 

You’ll also play a crucial role in monitoring current issues in psychology and the psychological workforce, advising on communications strategies and supporting our campaigns that influence change. 

We’re looking for someone with sound experience in marketing, communications and public relations. You should have a proven track record in managing marketing functions and cultivating media relationships, with the adaptability and solutions-focused mindset to thrive in a fast-paced environment. 

Join us in advancing the discipline of psychology, and making a real impact on society. 

Your responsibilities will include: 

• Managing a team of five direct reports including communications officers, senior marketing executives and a media advisor 

• Delivering an annual marketing and communication strategy to drive member acquisition, retention and engagement, with a focus on digital solutions 

• Promoting other commercial products, including qualifications, registers and CPD 

• Managing the relationship between the BPS and the media through the exploitation of proactive and reactive media opportunities, increasing media coverage and visibility for our members 

• Collaboratively creating communication campaigns to support the work of our public affairs team, as they aim to influence change at governmental level 

• Delivering media-related training to our volunteer psychologists. 

Why Join Us? 

At the BPS, we’re committed to creating a fair and respectful workplace. You’ll be part of a collaborative and talented team. We offer a friendly, values led working culture with an excellent benefits package that includes: 

• Agile & flexible working 

• Generous leave entitlement 

• Occupational pension scheme 

• Cycle to work scheme / free eye care vouchers / Winter flu vaccinations 

• Tailored learning & development 

• Employee Assistance Programme counselling 

• Life Assurance Scheme 

• Discounts scheme with local and national organisations 

How to apply 

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter detailing how you meet the criteria in the job profile. The closing date for applications is 12th November 2025 at 4pm.

The British Psychological Society is committed to a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of your background or circumstances. We are only able to accept applications that can demonstrate a right to work in the UK; we are unable to sponsor people requiring a work visa. 

Due to the large number of applications we receive, it is not possible to update you on the progress of the application until after the closing date.  If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. 

The British Psychological Society is committed to a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of your background or circumstances.

We’re looking for an excellent communicator who is also efficient, friendly and super organised, to help win public services for people not profit. This is a fast-paced role in a small team with a big mission!

You’ll be providing ongoing support to the team on campaigns as well as growing our media and social media profile with impactful communications. We’re looking for someone who has a track record of making compelling videos and graphics, or is eager to learn. You'll need to be keen to carry out a variety of tasks and be flexible about your role.

This role is a crucial part of the We Own It team and central to increasing our impact. Part of a small, high performing team working mostly remotely and sometimes in London, you’ll need to be extremely self-motivated and able to work efficiently and autonomously.

Head of Communications
Location: London Hybrid – flexible with 50% time in office 
Salary: £60-£70k with excellent benefits
Contract: Full-time, permanent

Centrepoint is driven by a bold and urgent mission: to end youth homelessness by 2037.

The Head of Communications and Campaigns is central to making this vision a reality—leading a dynamic team that builds public awareness, galvanises support, and helps drive systemic change.

In this key leadership role, you’ll shape and deliver strategic communications and impactful campaigns that elevate Centrepoint’s voice as a thought leader, share insights from programmes like Upstream Prevention and Independent Living, and help grow a powerful movement committed to ending youth homelessness.

You will be responsible for creating campaigns that raise both brand and cause awareness, engage individuals and partners, and influence public attitudes and policy. This includes high-profile public campaigns designed to shift perceptions and build empathy, alongside collaborative political campaigning that complements the Public Affairs strategy led by a separate directorate. Proven experience in leading non-partisan campaigns that achieve measurable shifts in public opinion is essential.

Additionally, you’ll provide strategic communications support across the organisation, including fundraising, ensuring all messaging is aligned and impactful. With supporters playing a crucial role in our mission, your work will help prioritise and optimise communications to maximise reach, engagement, and influence.

About the Role:

As Head of Communications, you will lead the organisation’s communications strategy, ensuring our messaging is clear, compelling, and rooted in the realities of the people we support. You’ll oversee media relations, digital content, campaigns, and internal communications, building our profile and strengthening our ability to influence both hearts and minds.

You’ll also work closely with senior leadership and campaigners to develop high-impact public messaging that challenges stigma, shifts perceptions, and supports our mission.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and delivery of a cross-channel communications strategy aligned to our mission and values.
• Oversee media relations, public campaigns, digital storytelling, and brand – ensuring consistent, impactful messaging.
• Line manage and develop a skilled team, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Act as a strategic advisor on narrative, positioning, and crisis communications to senior leadership.
• Champion the ethical use of lived experience in our communications, always with dignity, consent, and authenticity.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, partners, influencers, and allies to amplify our reach and voice.

About You:

• A senior communications leader with a strong track record in charity, media, public affairs or campaigning – ideally within the social justice space
• Excellent strategic thinking, storytelling, and audience engagement skills – with the ability to turn complex issues into powerful, people-led narratives.
• Skilled in leading high-performing teams and managing communications across digital, press, and campaigns.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders, managing reputational risk, and responding to media attention.
   

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they’re likely to die from. 

At the heart of Marie Curie’s Marketing & Communications department, our PR & Media team works to amplify the charity’s voice across national and regional media platforms. We’re a supportive and ambitious team, collaborating with colleagues across Fundraising, Research, Caring Services and Policy, as well as with our network of media professionals and agencies.   

As PR and Media Officer, you will play a crucial role in raising the profile of Marie Curie through compelling storytelling, high-impact media campaigns, and strategic press engagement. Reporting to the National PR and Media Lead for Research and Policy and working closely with the wider team, your work will directly contribute to influencing public understanding of end of life care, and positioning Marie Curie as the UKs leading end of life charity.   

Your creativity, media know-how, and relationship-building skills will help us deliver standout coverage and meaningful public engagement that drives the charity’s long-term goals.

Main responsibilities:  

• Support the development and delivery of national PR campaigns that promote organisational objectives.  

• Help manage the charity’s national press office/newsroom, proactively and reactively responding to media opportunities.  

• Draft and distribute press releases, statements, briefings, and Q&As to position Marie Curie as a leading voice in end of life care.  

• Build and nurture relationships with journalists across print, online and broadcast media.  

• Work closely with internal teams to source stories and case studies that drive media impact and support strategic KPIs.  

• Identify and prepare media spokespeople and storytellers, ensuring authentic and powerful representation of lived experiences.  

• Monitor emerging issues and support on reputational risk and crisis communications.  

• Take part in the on-call rota, including occasional out-of-hours, weekend and bank holiday working.  

• Track and evaluate media coverage against agreed performance metrics.  

Key Criteria:  

• Previous experience in public relations (in-house or agency), particularly in a press office/newsroom setting or as a journalist. 

• A confident communicator and skilled writer, with strong attention to detail and sensitivity when handling personal stories.  

• Strong knowledge of the UK media landscape and current affairs, with a proven ability to secure impactful coverage.  

• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently, manage multiple priorities, and meet tight deadlines.  

• A nose for a good story and the initiative to pursue media opportunities as they arise.  

• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.  

• A proactive self-starter, comfortable working independently and as part of a collaborative team.  

• Ability to work unsocial hours as part of the PR team out of hours rota. 

Please see the full job description . 

Application & Interview Process  

• As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV and supplementary details. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.  

• Close date for applications: Nov 9, 2025  

Salary:  £28,000 per annum (+ £3,500 London Weighting Allowance if applicable + out-of-hours allowance) 

Contract: Fixed-term (6 months), full-time (35 hours per week)  

Based: Hybrid working. Home-based with 2 days per week in the Embassy Gardens office in London.  

Benefits you’ll LOVE: 

• Flexible working. We’re happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage. 

• 25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays) 

• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%) 

• Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets 

• Continuous professional development opportunities. 

• Industry-leading training programmes 

• Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes 

• Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits 

• Access to Blue Light Card membership 

• Subsidised Eye Care 

Marie Curie is committed to its values, which underpin our work. We take stringent steps to ensure that the people who join our organisation through employment or volunteering, are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. This includes our staff, volunteers and all those who use or come into contact with our services. We are dedicated to creating not just a safe place to work but also a supportive and rewarding one.

We are committed to a world where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. We are devoted to the social justice imperatives and organisational benefits of full diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace, and are a Stonewall champion. We actively encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We're happy to accommodate any requests for reasonable adjustments. Please email any requests to [email protected]

The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Head of Research to lead our UK Research team.

Deadline: 5pm on Sunday 30th November
Location: Glasgow OR London
Salary: Starting at £52,166 rising to £58,687, plus London weighting of £4,000 where applicable
Hours: Full-time (32 hours per week)
Contract type: Permanent

This is an exciting new role with the UK’s leading public mental health charity. The Head of Research role is a fantastic opportunity to lead our UK research team to achieve social change. We are looking for research and management expertise, strategic thinking, operational delivery, and the ability to collaborate and communicate with a range of stakeholders including media, academics, policymakers and communities. You will be part of an outstanding leadership team committed to delivering change across the UK. The role will deliver our UK-wide research, reporting to the Director of Research & Lived Experience.

What does the role involve?

• Support the Director of Research & Lived Experience to develop and deliver a 5-year research strategy
• Lead our UK research team to deliver and commission studies and reviews to a high standard at pace
• Present research clearly and persuasively to media, governments, academics, funders and communities

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?

• Excellent research skills, experience and credibility in health or social research
• Strategic thinker who can also effectively manage teams and projects
• Proven communication skills to different audiences

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks. We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.

How to apply

If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application via our website. Please ensure you attach an up-to-date CV and statement of suitability answering all points of the person specification. Applications will close at 5pm on Sunday 30th November and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned for week commencing 8th December.

We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme. Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.

If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview. Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 / Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing). We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Be at the forefront of  student-led change in one of the UK’s most exciting and dynamic cities – join us as Associate Director Student Influence at Manchester Students’ Union.

Manchester Students’ Union is seeking a visionary Associate Director to spearhead our student influence work, empowering over 47,000 students to become powerful changemakers across the University, the city, and beyond.

The Role

As Associate Director Student Influence, you’ll lead the strategic development and operational delivery of our changemaking activity. You’ll ensure students are represented and supported to lead meaningful change, whether through policy, campaigning, or building grassroots movements. You’ll work closely with elected student leaders, university stakeholders, and civic partners to grow UMSU’s influence locally and nationally.

This is a senior leadership role, reporting to the Director of Student Engagement and accountable for a team including a Head of Policy, Head of Student Campaigns and Senior Officer Development Coordinator.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies to grow UMSU’s influence across university, city, and nationally.

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team to deliver impactful change initiatives.

• Cultivate relationships with policy makers, civic organisations, and sector bodies.

• Champion student-led, evidence-informed approaches to advocacy and representation.

• Oversee democratic processes and political education initiatives.

• Drive performance through strategic planning, budgeting, and resource management.

Essential Criteria

We welcome applicants from all educational backgrounds. You’ll need to demonstrate:

• Proven experience in changemaking, whether from a campaigns, organising, advocacy, policy or public affairs background.

• Strategic leadership and team management in a values-led organisation.

• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.

• Ability to develop and deliver innovative strategies for change.

• Excellent communication and diplomacy, with a collaborative mindset.

• Commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and student empowerment.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary and generous benefits see full list here

• Hybrid working options

• Clear progression pathway through our graded role structure

• A supportive, inclusive, and values-driven workplace