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As Policy and Public Affairs Manager, you will help ensure London Youth is a credible, influential voice on issues affecting young people and the organisations that support them. Sitting within the Fundraising and Communications Directorate, you will work closely with the CEO, senior leadership, and youth participation, communciations, fundraising and delivery colleagues to deliver demonstrable external influence and impact.
You will craft clear, evidence-based policy positions that shape debate and influence decision-making at London and national level, ensuring the policymakers understand and respond to the realities facing young people in London. Through effective internal engagement, you will also ensure colelagues and our members are well-informed and equipped to respond to key policy developments.
You will successfully represent the voice of London Youth's members and the young people they support, helping to secure greater recognition, investment, and support for youth services. By building strong relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians, and sector partners working to address the issues affecting young people inthe capital, you will help position London Youth as a trusted and respected contributor to relevant policy discussions.
At a time of significant change across the youth sector, you will play a central role in campaigning for systematic change and in building the profile of London Youth and the wider voluntary sector as the Government's 10-year National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, is implemented. You will help ensure commitments translate into meaningful outcomes for young people, particularly in relation to youth services, enrichment opportunities, and support for young people not in education, employment, or training, and strengthen long-term investment in youth provision.
What you will be doing
You will lead the development and delivery of London Youth's policy and public affairs work, building a clear and consistent understanding of the London and national context for young people and youth organisations. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, including communications, fundraising, delivery, and MEL, you will help develop a clear and compelling case for support and influence.
You will work in close partnership with the CEO and CEO's office, acting as a trusted policy adviser, supporting the CEO's external policy engagements, positioning, and relationships with senior policymakers and influencers.
You will monitor emerging political and policy developments and relevant funding announcements, providing insight and analysis to identify opportunities for engagement. You will draft swift organisational responses to key policy announcements, in collaboration with the CEO and communications team, and ensure relevant intelligence and opportunties inform the work of the fundraising team.
You will develop, maintain, and communicate evidence-based policy positions, insights, and priorities, convening our members regularly to inform clear policy asks and advocacy. You will shape briefings and consultation responses that reflect the needs of London Youth's members and the young people they support. You will shape policy positions and provide high-quality briefings ahead of key senior-level engagements.
You will oversee and track our policy influencing activity, identifying emerging policy developments, coordinating internal input, engaging stakeholders and representing London Youth in external policy and public affairs forums, and reporting on the impact of our policy work.
You will strengthen policy work through insight and engagement, analysig relevant data and research from our membership and working with the Learning and Impact Lead to ensure insights from London Youth's network inform policy development. You will also identify opportunities for members and young people from our Youth Board to engage in policy work, including through consultations, networks, and events.
You will build and maintain strong relationships with key London and national stakeholders, identifying opportunities for partnership working with other organisations and ensuring London Youth has a visible, credible voice in debates affecting young people.
You will contribute to London Youth's communications, campaigns, and profile, working with colleagues to shape policy activity across digital channels, produce engaging written content including articles and speeches, craft organisational messaging, support youth-led engagement, and contribute to London Youth's thematic networks, influencing events and media opportunities.
What you bring to the role
Knowledge and Experience:
- Strong understanding of how policy is developed in the London and national context, and experience of engaging with political agendas on behalf of a charitable or membership organisation.
- Experience in developing robust policy positions, responses, and solutions, and influencing politicians and decision-makers.
- Up-to-date, proven experience in public affairs, parliamentary engagement or a related policy-influencing role, with a clear track record of driving meaningful change.
- Good understanding of UK parliamentary and government processes, and of current policy areas impacting young people in London and across the UK.
- Experience of producing a range of briefings and written materials, including research findings, public statements, consultation responses, and briefings for senior colelagues.
- Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with opinion-formers and other key stakeholders.
Attributes and Behaviours:
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, especially when it comes to policy partners.
- Demonstrate confidence to engage and build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including those at senior level.
- A confidence verbal communicator and presenter able to represent London Youth within policy forums, consortia, and networking events.
- Demonstrate ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team, with proven ability to innovate and deliver change.
- Demonstrate ability to analyse, summarise, and present evidence to different audiences.
- Demonstrate a commitment to ensuring young people have prominent platforms to voice their views directly on the issues that affect them.
- Demonstrate a commitment to strengthening London's Youth sector.
- Be willing to work some evenings and the occasional weekend.
- Understanding and supporting the vision, mission, and aims of London Youth.
Demonstrate living our values of being:
- Ambitious
- Collaborative
- Inclusive
- Accountable
Why work at London Youth
- Generous holiday allowance - 39 days paid holiday each year (including bank holidays and closure days). Pro-rata if you work part time.
- Employer 4% pension contribution
- Additional leave granted to support voluntary activity
- Free Health Care Cash Plan
- Free access for you and your family to the Employee Assistance Programme
- Free access to the 'Headspace' app for you and your family
- Flexible working opportunities considered
- You'll be working with a fantastic team of passionate colleagues across London Youth
- You will be making a difference to the lives of young people
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Role outline and purpose
The Senior Policy & Public Affairs Manager will be accountable for overseeing public affairs activities, policy development and supporting influencing activity to advance the goals of the Supportive Communities programme. The role will plan and lead public affairs activities, policy development and support influencing strategy and activities, providing in-depth expertise across the programme with a specific focus on our emerging community design priorities and our work with a range of stakeholders, local/regional decision-makers and national policy-makers in the communities space.
This role is part of Trussell’s Supportive Communities programme, the goal of which is to enable local communities to become places where people at risk of needing to use a food bank are supported and are using their agency to bring about meaningful changes that prevent anybody from needing emergency food. This role is focused on the successful delivery of the overall programme outcomes, contributing to the fulfilment of our long term vision of a UK without the need for food banks.
Role responsibilities
· Lead public affairs activities linked to the Community Design portfolio within the Supportive Communities programme, including developing and delivering an effective public affairs strategy reaching key decision-makers including parliamentarians, mayors and local authority leaders.
· Work collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders from the sector and among policymakers to shape and deliver the programme’s policy strategy.
· Lead policy development to achieve the goals of the Supportive Communities programme.
· Establish and maintain momentum in policy development across the programme, ensuring the creation of credible proposals and building a strong case for policymakers to implement asks.
- Support with wider strategic development as part of Trussell’s policy and influencing strategy, including working with colleagues to align policy development and asks within the programme across the UK, nations and regions.
· Provide advice and line management, including regular 1:1s and assessment against objectives, and identify development needs.
Person Specification
Technical skills and minimum knowledge:
· Significant experience of developing and delivering effective public affairs strategies and interventions with evidence of securing local or national policy-change
· Significant track record of successfully developing policy solutions and influencing politicians and/or key decision-makers to achieve policy change
· Strong communication skills (written and oral) with impact and for a range of audiences
· Experience of providing strategic input to support senior leadership
· Experience of line managing, including dealing with performance issues and supporting team development
· Self-sufficient use of IT, including proficiency in Work, Excel, PowerPoint, and experience in project management processes and software
Behaviours and competencies:
· Works collaboratively, managing challenges in a constructive manner
· Balances competing priorities and work to tight deadlines
· Demonstrates a dedication to the values of Trussell
· Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially-excluded backgrounds
· Role models inclusive behaviour, values and leadership
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
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
We are seeking a dedicated Public Affairs Manager to join our small and supportive team. In this role, you will utilise your expertise to shape strategies to help influence legislation and government policy, making a meaningful impact in the public health sector. You will be responsible for developing and implementing effective public affairs strategies, building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders and decision-makers, and crafting tailored communications, including letters and briefings, that resonate with diverse audiences. Staying informed about the UK political landscape will be essential for driving successful initiatives.
To excel in this role, you should possess a degree or equivalent experience, complemented by a solid background in public affairs. A proven ability to navigate political systems and employ tactics for effective advocacy is crucial, as is exceptional writing skill paired with excellent IT and interpersonal capabilities. Strong organizational skills are necessary, along with a commitment to meeting deadlines with precision.
While experience in local authorities or the public health sector is desirable, we are particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate resilience, confidence, and a keen attention to detail. We value a flexible and pro-active self-starter who is enthusiastic about ensuring positive change and can adapt to evolving challenges.
The Association offers hybrid and flexible working and welcomes applicants from across the UK, though attending meetings in London will be a feature of the role. Full details can be confirmed ahead of any application if required by contacting Mark Hamblett at the Association. The successful applicant will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.
To be considered for an interview in addition to an up to date CV applications must include a covering letter outlining why you feel you would be a suitable applicant for the role.
We do reserve the right to arrange interviews ahead of the quoted closing date so would urge candidates to apply as soon as is possible.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.


