Public affairs manager jobs

Senior Policy Research Manager

Permanent

Salary: £45,000 - £47,000 per annum, plus benefits

London N1

Full time – 37.5 hours a week 

We're a hybrid working employer, meaning you're required to come into the office at least 2 days per week currently Tuesday, and Wednesday or Thursday.

Closing date: 5pm, 5th October 2025

First Interviews: w/c 13th October 2025

Second Interviews: 21st and 22nd October 2025 

It’s an exciting time to join World Cancer Research Fund International’s policy team as we develop the next phase of our policy tools and resources. WCRF International leads and unites a global network of cancer prevention charities based in Europe and the Americas, providing the science, policy, and strategic direction that guides their work to prevent cancer worldwide.

We are recruiting a Senior Policy Research Manager to lead WCRF’s flagship policy tools, including NOURISHING, MOVING and the Blueprint for Cancer Prevention. You will translate the latest science into actionable policy recommendations, deliver high-quality research projects, and represent WCRF externally to maximise our national and international impact.

We are looking for a candidate with strong policy research expertise, experience in evidence-based advocacy, and the ability to turn complex science into clear policy solutions. You will bring an innovative approach, including exploring new methods such as AI, and be skilled at working across teams and with external stakeholders.

You will have a proven track record in managing policy tools or research projects, building collaborations and engaging senior decision-makers. Strong communication, leadership and stakeholder skills are essential to support WCRF’s strategy and enhance the influence of the Policy & Public Affairs team.

Application Details:
If you are interested in this role and feel you possess the necessary requirements, please submit a current CV and covering letter (maximum 2 pages) by the closing date. You must have current right to work in the UK.

Please note: Your cover letter should highlight how your skills and experience will benefit WCRF International and equip you for the role.Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are only able to provide feedback to shortlisted candidates. If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. 

The Christie Charity is a vibrant, fast moving, energetic organisation with a passionate team and a fantastic reputation.

Everything we do is geared to supporting the renowned Christie hospital ensuring cancer patients receive the highest level of treatment and care and have access to world leading research and technology. We provide funding over and above what the NHS provides.

We are currently entering a particularly exciting period of growth and expansion as we fundraise for a number of major projects.

We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic self-starter to support the Head of PR, Communications and Celebrity Engagement and work collaboratively with Charity colleagues to highlight the impact our supporters and fundraisers make to cancer patients.

You will be equally at home pitching a story to a national journalist, working with a senior consultant or scientist to draft a new Charity funded research story, briefing photographers, liaising with fundraisers to tell their story, writing newsletter copy or devising a communications plan.

The Charity team is responsible for raising millions of pounds each year to ensure Christie patients receive the very best care and treatment. This includes everything from access to world first clinical trials and receiving radiotherapy in state-of-the-art treatment centres, to young adults being cared for in a bespoke age-appropriate centre and being able to offer patients anxiety reducing complementary therapy, or even creative sessions in our art room.

If you want to make a real difference to cancer patients and are ready to rise to the challenge of working for one of the most successful charities in the North-West, then this could be the role for you.

Closing date: Midnight on Monday 29 September

Interview date: Friday 17 October

We are looking for an experienced Policy and Advocacy Manager to take forward our work with Central Government and other Non-Departmental Public Bodies.

You will play a critical role in shaping and deepening our relationships with these key partners. By working together, we can expand the support available to community-based charities and social enterprises, helping them become more resilient through enterprise.

What you will deliver (responsibilities)

• Policy development - You will lead on developing clear and actionable policy recommendations to Government and relevant NDPBS that expand the funding and support available to charities and social enterprises looking to build their resilience through enterprise.
• Public affairs - Advocate for policy and funding models that create long-term, meaningful support for charities and social enterprises. Represent Access at various policy forums, meetings, and events to influence public policy and engage directly with decision-makers such as MPs.
• Partnership working - Actively contribute to relevant campaigns, policy forums, and advocacy groups to strengthen Access’s influence on policies that impact the social economy and the policy and regulatory environment for social investment.
• Communications - Write clear, engaging, and persuasive policy briefs, reports, and position papers to communicate Access's policy priorities to government and other stakeholders. Contribute to Access's wider communications strategy by developing blogs, reports, press releases, and speeches to amplify the organisation’s role in shaping public policy.
• Evidence and storytelling - Use data, sector insights, and compelling case studies to create narratives that not only advocate for policy change but also strengthen Access's position as a thought leader.

If this opportunity aligns with your career goals, please review our job pack, which includes the job description and person specification apply via BeApplied. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with the requirements before applying.

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We are committed to being an inclusive organisation and actively promote equality of opportunity for all. We believe in the value of a diverse workforce and encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Selection for roles is based solely on individual merit, talent, skills, and potential.

As a charity, we are dedicated to reflecting the communities and individuals we aim to support. We particularly welcome applications from candidates who share lived experiences or come from backgrounds that align with those we serve. Diversity strengthens our ability to make a meaningful impact, and we encourage all who feel passionate about our mission to apply.

Interview dates are expected to be online on 15th and 16th October.

​Salary: £50,076 per annum, rising to £52,711 after 12 months in London (or £45,760 per annum rising to £48,396 after 12 months outside of London).

Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week) and job share applications are also welcomed.

Contract: Permanent

Location: Home based, or office based at Society Building, 8 All Saints Street, London N1, in line with NCVO’s flexible working policy or home working policy.

Closing date: Friday 26 September 2025 at 08.00

Shortlisting date: Thursday 2 October 2025
Interviews: Tuesday 7 October 2025

About NCVO

We are the charities charity. For over 100 years, NCVO has stood shoulder to shoulder with communities, championing and celebrating voluntary action.

Our membership is made up of over 17,000 voluntary organisations across England, from small, grassroots community groups and social enterprises, to large, far-reaching charities.

We believe that communities are strengthened by voluntary action. We therefore want charities to thrive and be empowered to deliver for people and communities.

​​​​About the Voice & Impact directorate

​This role sits within the Voice & Impact directorate; a team focused on amplifying the voices of charities in civil society and making positive change for the future. V&I comprises NCVO’s policy and public affairs team; communications, campaigns and marketing team; digital content team and membership and engagement team.

​About the Membership & Engagement team 

Membership and Engagement is a newly evolved team that exists to grow, connect and convene NCVO’s membership. The team acquires roughly 1,400 new members a year and offers care and support to retain 90% of its current 17K members.

About the role

With over 17,000 members across the voluntary sector, NCVO is proud to support and represent charities and volunteers of every size and shape. The role is central to ensuring our members feel valued, supported and part of a vibrant community.

The Membership Manager will

• Lead and develop the membership team, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture that brings out the best in people.
• Deliver and evolve our membership offer so that it remains high-quality, relevant and accessible to diverse organisations.
• Drive growth and retention, using data insight, CRM tools and strong relationship management to meet ambitious income targets.
• Ensure member receive outstanding service and that their voices are at the heart of NCVO’s work.

The ideal Membership Manager is an experienced people manager and membership professional with a track record in leading membership strategy, engagement and retention. They will bring excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, confidence in managing budgets and a deep understanding of the voluntary sector.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

NCVO is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our sector. We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and identities. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups in the voluntary sector and those with diverse, lived experience. As part of our commitment to employing disabled people, all disabled candidates who meet the minimum requirement for all competencies on the person specification will be guaranteed an interview.

​If you have access needs or require reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a pre-interview task and will have one week to complete the exercise. Interview questions will be shared in advance. 

NCVO is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from everyone. Charity No. 225922.

If you have any queries regarding our vacancies or experience any issues downloading or submitting your application form, please email us.

Benefits for NCVO employees

NCVO offers attractive benefits including:

• 25 days’ annual leave (for full time staff and pro-rata for part-time staff) and office closure between 25 December and 1 January inclusive. After three years' service annual holiday increases to 27 days, and after five years to 30 days, (pro rata for part time staff)
• the option to purchase or sell up to five more days each year
• five days’ volunteering leave (pro rata for part-time staff)
• 2.5 extra ‘wellbeing’ days off during the year
• enhanced pay for maternity/adoption leave
• subsidised gym membership
• season ticket loan
• flexible working, including opportunities to work from home/off site
• monthly homeworking allowance for permanent homeworkers
• monthly office worker allowance for those who have to work from the office on a daily basis
• generous employer pension contribution of up to 8.5% of salary, into our stakeholder pension scheme (linked to employee contribution)
• training and development opportunities
• the opportunity to join Hospital Saturday Fund health cash plan for free at the basic level of cover, or at a reduced rate for other levels of cover
• 24-hour free and confidential employee assistance programme

We are located a short walk from London King’s Cross station in a modern accessible building, overlooking Regent’s canal.

£50,076 per annum, rising to £52,711 after 12 months in London (or £45,760 per annum rising to £48,396 after 12 months outside of London).  

Full-time (35 hours per week) and job share applications are also welcomed.

Temporary (12-month fixed term contract)

Home based, or office based at Society Building, 8 All Saints Street, London N1, in line with NCVO’s flexible working policy or home working policy.

About the role:

We are looking for a Strategic Relationships Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping NCVO’s strategic influence and reach. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with deep voluntary sector knowledge, excellent stakeholder mapping skills and the confidence to connect with leaders across civil society.

The successful candidate will lead the way in identifying, mapping and strengthening our most important relationships, from infrastructure bodies and policy influencers to members and strategic partners. You will bring structure and insight to how we engage, using data and intelligence tools (including CRM systems) to ensure we act with clarity, purpose and impact.

This role will also convene and connect stakeholders around key sector issues, sometimes at short notice, enabling NCVO to act with agility and authority. You will support colleagues across the organisation to build confidence in stakeholder engagement, embedding a culture of collaboration and shared ownership.

We are seeking someone who is proactive, strategic and highly networked, with a proven track record of building trusted partnerships that deliver results. If you thrive on connecting people, shaping strategy and influencing change, we would love to hear from you.

About the Voice and Impact directorate

​This role sits within the Voice and Impact directorate; a team focused on amplifying the voices of charities in civil society and making positive change for the future. Voice and Impact comprises NCVO’s policy and public affairs team; strategic communications, campaigns and marketing team; creative content team and membership and engagement team.

​About the Membership & Engagement team 

Membership and Engagement is a newly evolved team that exists to grow, connect and convene NCVO’s membership. The team acquires roughly 1,400 new members a year and offers care and support to retain 90% of its current 17K members.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

NCVO is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our sector. We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and identities. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups in the voluntary sector and those with diverse, lived experience. As part of our commitment to employing disabled people, all disabled candidates who meet the minimum requirement for all competencies on the person specification will be guaranteed an interview.

​If you have access needs or require reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a pre-interview task and will have one week to complete the exercise. Interview questions will be shared in advance. 

NCVO is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from everyone. Charity No. 225922.

Head of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition
(Hosted by Centre for Mental Health)

We are seeking an outstanding Senior Leader to become Head of our small staff team which drives the growth and influence of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition. This is an exciting opportunity to influence positive change at a time of significant policy and political developments.

As Head of the Coalition, you will lead its policy and influencing activity. You will work closely with coalition members to develop policy positions informed by the latest and most robust evidence, ensuring a strong and credible voice. You will campaign to influence government policy on children and young people’s mental health, build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, and ensure the Coalition’s voice is heard across Westminster, Whitehall and in the media.

With over 400 members nationwide, the Coalition has significant potential to expand its impact. Many members already influence locally through NHS Integrated Care Boards, councils and MPs, but need support and coordination to amplify their voices. You will help them do so.

We are looking for someone with exceptional project management skills to help shape and deliver our influencing goals, while clearly demonstrating our impact. Most importantly, you will bring passion and commitment to improving the mental health of babies, children and young people.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Coalition, which is hosted by Centre for Mental Health, delivering its objectives and vision.
• Set priorities in consultation with the Chair, the Centre’s Associate Director for Policy, and Coalition members.
• Design and deliver policy-influencing and campaigning projects with staff, members, children and young people and partners.
• Lead income generation for the Coalition with the Centre’s Associate Director for Business Development, managing relationships with funders, undertaking necessary reporting, and building connections for future prospects.
• Manage and develop the Coalition’s staff team.
• Grow the Coalition’s online presence, ensuring social media and web content is high quality, up to date, engaging and strategically aligned with influencing goals.
• Support and coordinate the Steering Group, ensuring it is active, representative of the Coalition’s breadth and effective in guiding the Coalition’s strategic direction.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 5 October, 23:59

The Christie Charity is a vibrant, fast moving, energetic organisation with a passionate team and a fantastic reputation.

Everything we do is geared to supporting the renowned Christie hospital ensuring cancer patients receive the highest level of treatment and care and have access to world leading research and technology. We provide funding over and above what the NHS provides.

We are currently entering a particularly exciting period of growth and expansion as we fundraise for a number of major projects.We are looking for a creative storyteller with a passion for bringing powerful stories to life to join our marketing team and help showcase the incredible impact of our charity.

In this exciting role, you’ll create high-quality videos, photography, and interviews that highlight the work of our hospital, staff, and supporters. Working closely with our Digital Marketing Manager, you’ll produce inspiring content for campaigns, our website, and social platforms, ensuring our supporters feel connected and engaged. You’ll also step in to cover social media activity when needed, keeping our online presence strong and consistent.

We’re looking for someone with proven skills in video and photo production, editing, and digital storytelling, who is comfortable interviewing people and working with sensitive stories. If you’re organised, creative, and ready to make a real difference by helping us share our impact with the world, we’d love to hear from you.

The Charity team is responsible for raising millions of pounds each year to ensure Christie patients receive the very best care and treatment. This includes everything from access to world first clinical trials and receiving radiotherapy in state-of-the-art treatment centres, to young adults being cared for in a bespoke age-appropriate centre and being able to offer patients anxiety reducing complementary therapy, or even creative sessions in our art room.

If you want to make a real difference to cancer patients and are ready to rise to the challenge of working for one of the most successful charities in the North-West, then this could be the role for you.

Closing date: Midnight on Monday 29 September

Interview date: Thursday 16 October

Would you like to join the Campaigns, Policy and Research team for a leading UK charity?

We have an opportunity for a Public Affairs Manager to join our team and help shape and carry out the Royal British Legions public affairs activities in Northern Ireland.

In this newly created role, you will develop and implement RBLs public/external affairs activities in Northern Ireland at both the national and local level. You will advise colleagues on political developments of importance to RBL’s operations in Northern Ireland, manage relationships with external stakeholders and aid in the establishment of a supporter network in Northern Ireland.

Reporting to our Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns, key responsibilities will include:

- Development of a Public Affairs engagement programme for Northern Ireland and manage its day-to-day implementation through a combination of regular events, meetings, briefings, and attendance at conferences, including party conferences
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with key members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, NI MPs and their staff, Veteran’s Champions, as well as Committees and All Party Groups, and other related national stakeholders.
- Lead RBL’s relationships with key local stakeholders and partners, including engagement with local councils, Health & Social Care Trusts, the Housing Executive, NI Veteran’s Commissioner’s Office and NI Veterans’ Welfare Service and other public bodies in Northern Ireland
- Lead on the production of external briefings for Northern Ireland Assembly debates and local council business, as well as internal briefings for colleagues
- Work closely and effectively with colleagues in Campaigns, Policy & Research to ensure RBL is a leading organisation in facilitating evidence-based policy change, through working together to influence policy professionals and decision-makers.

RBLs Campaigns, Policy, and Research (CPR) team raise the profile of issues affecting the Armed Forces community, and work to influence politicians, officials, and the wider sector, to improve policy and service delivery to address these issues. This new role will see you as a key part of this vital team working across the RBL group.

This is a permanent position. You will be contracted to your home address. You will be expected to work both there and on a mobile basis at other locations in Northern Ireland, with occasional travel beyond this area.

Employee benefits include –

- 28 day’s paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
- Generous pension contributions, with Employer contributions ranging from 6% to 14%
- Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
- Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!

For more detailed information about the role, please see our Vacancy Information Pack attached to our direct advert.

RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.

We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

You will be part of a small policy team and work with colleagues across the organisation as well as with senior internal and external stakeholders. You will work on a range of policy and public affairs issues relating to literacy and disadvantage, including mapping and responding to Government policy, writing internal briefings, helping to develop external facing policy reports, organising Parliamentary and party conference events, serving as the key contact for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Literacy and arranging meetings with MPs and Peers. You will also help shape plans and identify new opportunities.

You will be based at our office in London but able to work regularly from home if you prefer. However, you will need to be able to be in London when necessary for in person meetings and events, approximately once or twice a month on average.

What we’re looking for

You will have experience of working in a policy-related role and managing policy and public affairs activity, and an understanding of literacy and the wider education sector. You will also need excellent writing skills, including drafting policy papers and briefings, and the ability to understand and articulate academic research and policy papers. Experience of senior stakeholder management, cross-sector campaigns and event management would be an advantage.

Why our work is so vital

Literacy changes everything.

It gives you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. It’s the key to knowledge, confidence and inspiration. It’s better results at school, and better jobs. If children grow up without the tools to communicate, without books to read or opportunities to write, it’s harder to get where you want to go.

The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity helping people overcome these challenges and change their life chances through the power of words – reading, writing, speaking and listening. From first words, through school days to training, jobs and beyond.

• We work collaboratively in local communities, focusing our work in 20 areas of the UK that are facing the biggest challenges.
• We support schools, developing the most effective tools and techniques and providing resources and programmes to engage and inspire children.
• We campaign to make literacy a priority for politicians and decision-makers.
• We support vulnerable adults, people in the criminal justice system and young offenders’ institutions to build their literacy skills

What we offer you

Our team are passionate about our mission and we have a strong and positive working culture, based on shared values and respect. We offer a range of flexible working options and promote a workplace where you can be yourself and contribute to our success, whoever you are.

As well as a competitive salary, we offer benefits including a generous leave allowance totalling 39 days (including bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year), pension contributions of 8% of annual salary, a cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme and other health and wellbeing benefits.

The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) is a Charity and Company Limited by guarantee and is the representative body for Directors of Public Health (DPH) in the UK. It seeks to improve and protect the health of the population through collating and presenting the views of DsPH; advising on public health policy and legislation at a local, regional, national and international level; facilitating a support network for DsPH; and providing opportunities for DsPH to develop professional practice.

The Association has a rich heritage, its origins dating back more than 160 years. It seeks to improve and protect the health of the population through collating and presenting the views of DsPH; advising on public health policy and legislation at a local, regional, national and international level; facilitating a support network for DsPH; and providing opportunities for DsPH to develop professional practice.

The Association of Directors of Public Health is now looking to appoint a Communications and Marketing Manager to develop, manage and lead our external communications and marketing programme, working to support the Head of External Affairs to broaden our reach and ensure that the DPH voice has impact.

The successful candidate will have experience in working in a communications environment, be skilled at working with the media and able to produce engaging content for a range of channels and audiences.

Excellent interpersonal and prioritisation skills are required to lead and manage cross team projects and line manage, support and develop the Project Administrator.

The Association does operate a hybrid working arrangement with its staff and candidates from across the UK are welcome, but they will be required to attend meetings and events in central London during the year. Further details can be confirmed prior to application if required.

The closing date is noon on 12th October 2025, however, we do reserve the right to close the application process early should a suitable candidate be available and would therefore urge those interested to apply asap.

The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence of a continuing entitlement to work in the UK.

Please note to be considered for the role you need to apply with a covering letter outlining why you feel you would be suitable for the role, together with a current cv.

The Public Affairs Lead at the Food Foundation provides expertise on building relationships with political stakeholders to deliver impact across all areas of our work aimed transforming food systems and shifting diets.

· Do you have knowledge of the UK’s political system and experience of how to influence policy-making?

· Do you care about what we eat and its impact on our health and planet?

· Do you want to work in a small, ambitious organisation and use your influencing skills to deliver real impact?

 

If the answers to these questions are yes, we would love to hear from you!

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (willing to consider part time hours, no less than 4 days)

Starting Salary: £39,960 (pro rata and London weighting included)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: This is a London based role (our office is in London, Brixton) and you will be expected to work at least 2 days per week from the office. Whilst there will be a need to regularly attend in-person meetings in parliament and officer, there is flexible working options.

Job requirements: An enhanced clean DBS check, obtained through The Food Foundation plus two references

Job Purpose

The Public Affairs Lead sits within our Policy and Advocacy Team, working to build support for The Food Foundation’s work amongst Parliamentarians and to influence the government to help deliver policies that will transform the food system.  This is an exciting opportunity to join a small organisation delivering big impact on the political agenda around food. 

The Public Affairs Manager reports to our Head of Policy and Advocacy and will be responsible for planning and delivering our public affairs activity. You will spend considerable time meeting MPs and Peers in parliament and building relationships with their teams with a view to identifying potential new supporters and ensuring that The Food Foundation has a range of contacts that we can call on to support and amplify our policy asks and to raise issues when required. 

While this role is focused on political engagement, you will work closely with policy and research colleagues and with our communications team to share perspectives on which priorities it may be tactical to pursue at any given time and to understand what evidence is available to inform engagement.

You will also work closely with public affairs professionals in other organisations to deliver joint programmes of engagement work which leverage respective organisational strengths.

You will have excellent political instincts and a strong interest in policy developments, monitoring closely what is going on in Parliament and in Government, and keeping abreast of the latest developments in order to identify opportune moments to maximise political attention on the issues we work on and to galvanise support for policy change. 

You will work with our communications team to build compelling narratives targeted at different political stakeholders about the impacts of the food system on our diets, our health and our planet, and the need for evidence-based solutions.   In the current parliamentary term we expect a major focus of activity to be on securing a White Paper and then A Bill on food system change.

You will lead on developing and commissioning a range of briefing materials and reports for policy audiences and formulate responses on behalf of the organisation to policy development processes and Parliamentary inquiries.

You will think creatively about methods and opportunities for engagement in order to ensure that The Food Foundation’s messages and priorities are noticed and heard by policy-makers in a very crowded policy space, including by working closely with our events manager to deliver impactful parliamentary events.

You will bring a learning mindset to the role, assessing the impact of our policy engagement approaches in order to make continuous improvements.

The role will be a fulfilling blend of planning engagement campaigns, developing the materials and monitoring tools to enable delivery, and the practical task of developing personal relationships with key stakeholders.

A week in the job will look like: meeting with a Peer that is new to our work to brief them on evidence we have published and our current political priorities, completing a political stakeholder mapping exercise for a new campaign on sustainable diets to identify a shortlist of MPs to engage with, spending an afternoon in parliament to engage informally with passing MPs, pitching a new idea for a parliamentary inquiry to parliamentary staff from the Health and Social Care Committee, drafting an MP briefing for an upcoming debate on the Government’s obesity prevention priorities, reviewing next week’s parliamentary calendar to spot opportunities for engagement, attending a roundtable to share intelligence and discuss priorities for political party manifestos with other NGOs working on food issues, ringing round parliamentary offices to confirm attendance for an upcoming parliamentary reception, meeting with an MP that is closely involved with The Food Foundation’s work to refine messaging for an upcoming campaign.

Senior Communications & Public Affairs Executive

£40,000-£45,000 (dependent on relevant skills and experience) plus generous benefits 

Location – Hybrid working split between the Foundation’s office in London and home. This usually averages at two days in the office per week. 

The Football Foundation - the Premier League, the FA and Government’s charity that delivers outstanding grassroots facilities, more and better places to play, transforming lives and communities where it is needed most.  

As Senior Communications and Public Affairs Executive, you’ll play a vital role in raising the profile of the Football Foundation and its funding partners, the Premier League, The FA and Government. Reporting to the Senior Communications Manager, you’ll use your political insight and communications expertise to engage MPs, local authorities and key stakeholders, helping influence policy and showcase the impact of our investment in grassroots football. 

You’ll identify and tell powerful stories, securing positive media coverage and developing campaigns that highlight the difference our funding makes to communities across England. From drafting press releases and impact stories to managing MP visits and high-level briefings, you’ll ensure our voice is heard where it matters most. 

This is a fast-paced and rewarding role where you’ll combine your flair for storytelling with your public affairs know-how, building relationships that strengthen our mission to transform lives through football. 

About the Football Foundation 

Over the last 25 years, the Foundation has awarded more than 70,000 grants, worth more than £1 billion, to deliver outstanding grassroots sports facilities across England. As the biggest sport charity in the country, we’re a unique partnership between key football partners with a shared goal, ensuring every community in England has a great place to play.  

What are we looking for? 

If you’re a talented communicator with solid experience in public affairs and media, ideally gained in a fast-paced environment. You’ll bring strong political awareness, with a sound understanding of the UK political landscape, parliamentary process, and how policy impacts sport and communities.

A confident writer and storyteller, you’ll be able to draft compelling briefings, press releases and impact stories for a wide range of audiences. You’ll also have a track record of building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, from MPs and local authorities to media contacts and funding partners. Highly organised and proactive, you’ll thrive on managing multiple projects at once, spotting opportunities and delivering with accuracy and impact. Above all, you’ll be a team player with creativity, diplomacy and a genuine passion for communications and community impact. 

What can we offer you? 

The salary band for this role is £40,000-£45,000 per annum, dependent on relevant skills and experience. 

You will start with 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (which increases after 2 years), plus additional time off to volunteer. We also offer a generous pension scheme (8% employer contribution), free health care provision, a monthly gym subsidy, death in service benefit, free match tickets and access to selected events at Wembley" rather than "access to selected match tickets 

Equality and Diversity Commitment

The Football Foundation is committed to and values the principles of diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all our team feel respected and supported in fulfilling their potential. We encourage and welcome applications from all, regardless of background and are particularly interested to hear from individuals belonging to under-represented groups including diverse ethnic communities, individuals with a disability and those from the LGBTQI+ community. 

If you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview stage, please contact us at  

Closing date for applications is: Midday, Monday 15 September 2025

First-stage interviews will be online via Microsoft Teams and are currently scheduled for 22 and 23 September 2025 

Second-stage interviews are currently scheduled for Monday 29 September and will be held in-person at our offices in Wembley Stadium. You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply

The Youth Endowment Fund

Assistant Director of Public Affairs and Partnerships

Reports to: Director of Change, with significant engagement with Director of Public Affairs and Comms and CEO

Salary: £75,500 per annum

Location:  Central London or Hybrid

Contract: 2-year fixed term – potential to extend. Open to 0.8 FTE for the right candidate

Closing date: Friday 26th September by 12pm

 

About the Youth Endowment Fund

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.

Last year, 244 people in England and Wales tragically died after being assaulted with a knife. Of these, 32 were children. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them. Even when violence doesn’t strike directly, we know that the fear of violence has a terrible effect on children’s lives.

The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build an exceptional body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We need to convert this into highly accessible content on what works, how delivery organisations need to change their practice and how the systems they operate in need to be reformed. We then need to work with the right people that can make change happen, across systems, policies and practice, to have a real impact on reducing violence affecting children’s lives.

We can’t do this alone, we have to build and maintain brilliant partnerships across government, with other funders and with wider society. We are looking for an exceptional individual to lead on this work. We also need to have an eye for the future. Our present endowment must be spent down by April 2029. We need someone who can lead on planning for the future.

Key responsibilities

You ensure that we:

· Are ready for the future: Born with a ten-year endowment, the YEF has become the leading authoritative voice on how to reduce violence affecting children. We must spend down this endowment by April 2029, so need to start thinking about after this date. You will lead on ensuring we have a great plan for post 2029. You will spot the best opportunities, assess them and, over time, take them. This includes both building great external relationships and also ensuring there’s a clearly articulated, inspiring narrative – filled with facts, examples and case studies - of what has been delivered to date and what needs to happen between 2029 and 2039 to double down on our mission. To do this, you will orchestrate the expertise and knowledge of colleagues across the organisation – ensuring that what you need comes together perfectly.

· Build and maintain great relationships across government: We have an increasingly large number of relationships across government – providing advice and support on what works to prevent violence. You will be ready to offer advice to colleagues on those relationships where needed. You will build new relationships and maintain them where they are needed so we are ready for the future. You will be really well organised too ensuring that internal colleagues know which relationships they own and making sure that key regular meetings are in place. We have a simple process that tracks these relationships; you will make this process work well for us – with minimum bureaucracy and maximum effectiveness. You will also provide help and advice and coaching as YEF colleagues think through how best to get system changes to happen that will ultimately reduce violence.

· Build great relationships with other organisations that will be key to the future: As the lead organisation on reducing violence affecting young people, we increasingly receive and see a host of opportunities to partner with other organisations including funders on projects, co-funding and research. You will support this work – leading on relationships that are essential in making us ready for the future. You will spot the opportunity, build relationships, bring in other YEF colleagues, pull together key information, write brilliant documents where needed, win others over. In short, you will make great things happen.

As a senior member of staff in the organisation you also:

• Lead on culture: Build and maintain a culture where it is natural to perform well and support colleagues brilliantly.
• Deliver on strategy: Contribute to setting the strategy, delivering results, and building and modelling the culture that we need to succeed.

 

About you

You are this sort of person:

· You make things happen. You’re organised, delivery-focused, and produce high-quality work, even under pressure. You work independently and to a high standard. You are quick at really understanding something so you can make good decisions quite fast. You put plans together and make them happen. Wherever you work, people think of you as someone who makes things happen. You do it in a generous, kind way that means people are feel delighted to see you succeeding, never trampled upon.

· You like bringing order and clarity to a big project that involves lots of people. You are at home bringing order to a big project: working out who is going to do what by when, having a regular steering group to ensure progress, keeping everyone on side and delivering a great result at the end.

· You understand how government works – as in really understand. You understand the nuance of how decisions are made within government. You understand that there is no such thing as ‘the department’s position’ (instead there are different views competing) and that while some decisions are very rational, some are more about personalities and politics. You find the process of how decisions get made within government departments, and with Number 10 and the Treasury, fascinating.

· You are fantastic at spotting how to get something done in Whitehall or Westminster. You are really good at thinking about how to make change happen. To some, Westminster and Whitehall can seem like a blob but you are brilliant at spotting how to make change happen there. You can think through the intricacies of who to get onside, who to get advice from, who to persuade and how to get the job done. You have a track record of doing this.

· You write really well. The idea of writing one or two pivotally important longer documents (30-40 pages) for the organisation that makes the case for something and pulls in content from lots of colleagues, synthesising and making it all fit together sounds interesting. You know – from experience – that you would be good at it.

· You win people over. People tend to warm to you and respect you. You easily build good relationships with both very senior and very junior people. You can be at ease talking to a senior politician or a 15 year old. It is important to you to be humble. You acknowledge how much you don't know as well as how much you do.

· You are great at building lasting partnerships with other organisations. You have experience of building partnerships or collaborations with other organisations, winning them over, doing conflict well when you need to, communicating clearly so that the work gets done and people feel as good as possible about it.

· You are a team player. You work brilliantly in a team. You are not motivated by being the individual winner. You want the team as a whole to succeed. You enjoy coaching other people so that they perform excellently in a meeting. You are not possessive of your contacts. You don’t care who gets the credit as long as things get done. You like the idea of being part of a small, well-motivated team and are ok with the downside of this – that we don’t have a lot of junior admin staff to do the jobs we like less.

· You think and communicate really well from the big picture to practical reality. You’re a strategic thinker who can see the big picture without losing sight of the detail.  You find it quite easy to summarise in a few sentences, a few pages or a few words a complex argument or case. Whether speaking or writing, you break down complicated concepts in ways that make sense to different audiences – without oversimplifying. You bring clarity where others bring jargon.

· You care about our mission. You can be easily motivated to do work to prevent violence. This is something that matters to you. You believe in getting people to do things that are most likely to save lives, rather than just things that sound good.

· You’re committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Not just in theory – but in how you work, who you listen to, and what you prioritise.

 

While it’s not a criterion, we are especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of violence affecting young people.

It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background. 

Secondments

We are open to candidates that would prefer to join us on a 2-year secondment or career break. Secondment candidate should ensure that their current organisation is in support of this in principle, all candidates will go through the full interview process. Candidates should state clearly in their covering letter if they would like to join us as secondee.

Hybrid Working Details

The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office for a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage.

To Apply

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter, and complete the monitoring form click on "Apply for this" button by Friday 26th September 2025.

When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter can answer, within a maximum of 1000 words (there is no need to be this long though) the following questions:

1. Tell us in two paragraphs about something you made happen. We are keen to find someone who is good at be a self-starter, organised and finding the way to make something happen. Tell us what you were trying to get done, how you organised the task and how you made it happen.

2. Summarise in one or two paragraphs your experience of working with or in central government. We are keen to find someone who knows how decisions are made in government and has seen them being made.

3. Tell in two paragraphs about someone or an organisation you won over or built a good relationship with.Tell us how you went about it. We are keen to find someone who quite easily builds good relationships with other organisations.

Interview Process

This will be a two-stage interview process. The first stage interviews will take place in the week commencing 13th October 2025. Second stage interviews are currently scheduled for the week commencing 20th October 2025

PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Benefits Include

· £1,000 professional development budget annually

· 28 days holiday – 3 of which are taken between Christmas and New Years - plus Bank Holidays

· Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support

· Volunteering days - 4 half days per year

· Death in service - 4 times annual salary

· Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

· Financial support including travel and hardship loans

· Employer contributed pension of 5%.

Personal Data 

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.   

 

Location: Belfast - Hybrid working with 40-60% per week in the office

Interviews: 02/10 (1st stage - Face-to-Face in our Belfast Centre) 06/10 (2nd stage)

For more information, or to apply, please click 'apply now' to be directed to our careers site. 

At The King’s Trust, we believe every young person deserves the chance to thrive. Each year, we support over 10,000 young people across Northern Ireland to build skills, confidence and brighter futures, and now we’re looking for a Head of Government Partnerships to help us do even more.

In this role, you’ll secure over £2m of vital investment, manage seven-figure contracts, and build powerful partnerships with government, business and community leaders. You’ll influence policy at the highest levels, lead our relationships with funders, and directly line manage a Partnerships Manager, empowering them to deliver impact alongside you. Every pound you raise and every connection you build will help us transform young lives.

We know flexibility matters, so while this is a full-time role, we’re also excited to hear from candidates who’d like to work four days a week. It’s your chance to bring your leadership and drive to a role with real meaning, shaping opportunities for young people across Northern Ireland when they need it most.

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Heads of Government Partnerships? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives, and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Government Partnerships! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

Equal Opportunities 

Here at The King's Trust, we're committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We want to be an organisation that's representative of the communities we serve, which is why we strive for diversity of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion and sex. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone, from any background, can be themselves and do the best work of their lives. 

We are looking for people that can bring different perspectives and experiences and especially welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in our organisation and sector, such as candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.  

We’re a Stonewall Top 100 Employer and we are an employer that is Disability Confident. Our staff, volunteers and young people are supported by KT CAN (our Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network) and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 

Safeguarding 

The King's Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment, we undertake basic disclosure checks in accordance with the Codes of Practice for all roles within the Trust, and for our roles working directly with young people, at an enhanced level. Having a criminal record will not automatically exclude applicants. 

A NOTE FOR RECRUITMENT AGENCIES:

We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a preferred supplier list for when we need a helping hand. We'll be in touch directly if we need you!

Req ID: 3664 

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