Public affairs manager jobs

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.

Humane World for Animals UK is part of Humane World for Animals, a global animal protection organisation striving for a better future for animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programmes. In the UK, we are an effective voice for animals running campaigns in wildlife protection, the fur trade, and farmed animal welfare, backed by hundreds of thousands of supporters across the country. A small but effective team, Humane World UK has big ambitions to create further positive change for animals both here in the UK and around the world.

About the position

Responsible strategic leadership and effective delivery of Humane World UK’s public affairs advocacy, this role is an exciting opportunity to create lasting change at scale. The role will be responsible for delivering public affairs components of all of Humane World UK's priority campaigns, including bans on imports of hunting trophies and fur, a ban on the use of farrowing crates for pigs, and adoption of plant-forward policies in public sector procurement. The role will also identify new and reactive opportunities to improve public policy for animal protection in the UK.

If you are results-oriented, persuasive, organised and have strong proven experience as a public affairs professional then we would like to hear from you.

Key areas of responsibility

• Undertake strategic policy analyses, and develop evidence-led policy positions, briefings, and statements, to support the effective delivery of Humane World UK campaigns to political audiences;
• Work with campaigns teams to deliver timely dissemination of Humane World UK’s briefing and policy outputs to targeted policy and political stakeholders, including through Parliamentary meetings and events;
• Monitor the national policy and political landscape, including parliamentary inquiries, consultations, written and oral questions, party political policy positions and government announcements, in order to recommend and draft responses;
• Work with Humane World UK's legal advisors to analyse draft legislation pertinent to Humane World UK’s campaigns, crafting proposed amendments and coordinating interventions to secure the most robust and enforceable animal welfare laws;
• Manage, and ensure team-wide effective use of, Humane World UK’s political monitoring tools and database, to inform political stakeholder relationship development and management;
• Create stakeholder maps and relationship development strategies for key policy-making stakeholders for each of Humane World UK’s priority campaigns, to strengthen our influence and reputation in the civil service, government, and parliament;
• Respond to public affairs and policy inquiries from the public, supporters, and the media;
• Report regularly on progress against agreed public affairs goals and metrics.

About you

Our successful candidate will be a confident, articulate and positive with a proven track in leveraging positive change the the public affairs/policy space. A proactive self-starter, you will have demonstrable experience of managing and developing strong, focused and ambitious teams, and a solution-focused approach to overcoming obstacles. You will have experience of building strong, trust-based, strategic relationships with political and policy stakeholders in order to deliver agreed goals, and you will ideally bring a network of positive relationships with you. You will have ambition and drive for creating positive change for animal welfare; a willingness to constantly learn and develop the most impactful, cost-effective, audience-tailored advocacy to politicians and policy-makers; and your work will be solidly underpinned by regular evaluation of progress and impact with a view to further improving strategies.

We are searching for an experienced public affairs professional to make a difference and be part of our sucessful and friendly team. If that’s you, please get in touch!

To apply

You must have an existing right to work in the UK, and you must reside in the UK, to be considered for this role. Please submit your CV and a covering letter via the CharityJob website by 11pm Sunday 11th January. Applications without covering letters will not be considered. 

Note: Our policy is to offer a fixed one year contract to start with a view to convert to a permanent contract in year two.

We are a charity representing and advocating for people living with dyslexia. Our mission is simple but powerful: to influence government and institutions so that society becomes truly dyslexia-friendly – enabling individuals of all ages to reach their full potential.

This is a key role leading our parliamentary engagement and policy development, ensuring that dyslexic children, young people, families, and adults have a strong voice in Westminster, Whitehall, and across the UK. Working closely with senior leaders, campaigns and media colleagues, and external partners, you’ll help shape policy and drive change in education, health, and employment.

Your work will make sure policymakers understand the barriers dyslexic people face - and the evidence-based solutions we champion. You’ll ensure our positions are grounded in lived experience, research, and best practice, and that our engagement is proactive, impactful, and aligned with our mission.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and deliver a parliamentary engagement strategy to advance our policy priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with MPs, Peers, Ministers, advisers, and civil servants.
• Provide timely briefings and strategic advice to senior leaders.
• Monitor political developments and identify opportunities for early influence.
• Lead policy research and produce clear, evidence-informed recommendations.
• Represent the charity at events, roundtables, and forums.
• Work collaboratively across teams to ensure policy insights inform campaigns and communications.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven, up-to-date experience in public affairs, parliamentary engagement, or a related policy-influencing role, with a  strong track record of delivering impact.
• Strong understanding of UK parliamentary and governmental processes.
• Excellent communication skills—able to translate complex issues into clear, compelling messages.
• Political awareness, strategic thinking, and confident networking ability.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and a passion for improving outcomes for dyslexic people.

Please review the full job description for complete details about the role, responsibilities, and person specification before applying.

Why Join Us?

This is your chance to make a real difference – shaping policy, influencing decision-makers, and helping create a society where dyslexic people can thrive. You’ll work in a collaborative, supportive environment with colleagues who share your passion for positive change.

Closing date: 14 January 2026 (5pm). We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received, so we encourage you to apply early.

Use of AI in Applications
We value the unique experience and perspective each candidate brings. While we understand that AI tools can be helpful in drafting applications, they can sometimes result in responses that feel generic or impersonal. This makes it harder for us to get a true sense of you.

To help your application stand out, we encourage you to write your responses in your own words. If you do use AI tools to support your writing, please treat the generated content as a starting point rather than a final answer. Make sure your application genuinely reflects your experience and voice.

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity to drive ARMA’s engagement with political and health sector stakeholders and lead our communications. Working closely with the CEO, you'll help raise the profile of the Alliance, influence policy outcomes, and support members to collaborate to effect change.

Over 20 million people live with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in the UK.

ARMA brings together patient charities, professional bodies, research organisations and industry partners to work together for better MSK treatment, care and support.

You can help us to make MSK health a higher national priority and thereby improve the lives of millions of people.  You can also make a wide ranging contribution to us developing as a charity and Alliance.  This role will offer lots of opportunity for personal and professional development.

Key responsibilities

· Develop and implement ARMA's influencing and political engagement plans.

· Build relationships with key stakeholders, including politicians, government departments, and advisers.

· Monitor research, policy and legislative developments affecting MSK health.

· Draft briefings, consultation responses, letters, and parliamentary correspondence.

· Represent ARMA at meetings, roundtables, and political events.

· Chair and manage meetings and webinars comprising the policy and communications leads of member organisations.

· Lead and co-ordinate the annual Bone and Joint Week campaign activity and the combined efforts of member organisations.

· Develop and manage campaigns and external communications that promote the work of ARMA and our members, including social media channels, our monthly newsletter and website.

· Assist the CEO in policy and public affairs work and support the wider delivery of our strategy and operational plan, as required.

About you

We're looking for someone who brings:

· Experience working in a public affairs, parliamentary, or policy role either in-house, in an agency, or in a political setting.

· Excellent political awareness and understanding of UK policymaking.

· First rate written and verbal communication skills.

· A proactive and collaborative approach, with the ability to build relationships at all levels.

· An interest in health policy.

· Alignment with our vision and values.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a respected and important charity at the heart of a growing Alliance of organisations. You'll have autonomy, visibility, and the chance to make a meaningful impact whilst working with high profile members and stakeholders.