Public engagement officer jobs

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: London, UK (Hybrid – 50% office attendance)

Summary Purpose - what you will be achieving:

The Policy Directorate brings together the Academy’s policy, analysis and external affairs functions to address major science and health policy issues in the UK and internationally. The Directorate works as a single, coordinated team, focusing resources on priority areas, applying strategic approaches, generating high-quality evidence and insights, and engaging effectively with government, stakeholders and partners to inform decision-making and influence policy.

You will lead and integrate the Academy’s external affairs function—spanning policy influence, parliamentary and government engagement, and sector engagement through FORUM—to strengthen our reach, visibility and impact.

By drawing on the Academy’s Fellowship, networks and reputation, you will ensure coherence across all external-facing policy activities and play a senior leadership role in delivering the Academy’s transformation priorities. You will position the Academy as an authoritative voice on medical science and health, and ensure that our external engagement is strategic, aligns with the wider organisation’s approach to stakeholder management, and strengthens our influence.

About the Role

Strategic leadership across external affairs

• Lead and integrate policy engagement and relationships to deliver a coherent external affairs strategy.
• Ensure alignment between external affairs activities related to policy and wider Academy strategic priorities (through COO).
• Provide strategic advice on public affairs opportunities, political risk, reputational management and external positioning.

Team leadership, governance and performance

• Lead a unified external affairs team, embedding KPI-driven planning, performance management and evaluation.
• Build capability, progression pathways and consistent project management approaches within the team.
• Manage political risk on behalf of the Academy, ensuring effective governance, narrative discipline and coherent external messaging.
• Ensure cross-Academy planning and alignment between external affairs, policy development, policy analysis, communications and engagement functions.

Strategic programme and portfolio leadership

• Oversee priority influencing programmes, ensuring coherence, sequencing and impactful delivery.
• Provide external-facing leadership for high-profile programmes.
• Support cross-sector initiatives and commissions by providing strategic political insight and external influence.

Political, parliamentary and institutional influence

• Lead the Academy’s UK parliamentary and government engagement strategy, including select committee interactions, parliamentary briefings and relationship building with MPs, Peers and parliamentary staff.
• Position the Academy as an authoritative voice on medical science, policy priorities and the wider health system.
• Build and sustain high-level influencing relationships across parliament and political parties, national bodies, arm’s-length agencies, health systems and sector leaders.

FORUM and commercial

• Oversee and evolve the Academy’s FORUM to align with policy priorities and maximise its impact as a neutral, cross-sector convening space exploring scientific innovation, technological trends and strategic priorities shaping UK healthcare.
• Lead the transformation of FORUM into a leading UK convenor, including membership growth, securing contributions from organisations, and delivering at least six high-quality convenings per year.
• Contribute to income-generating initiatives within approved budgets and ensure external-facing activities support organisational sustainability.

Leadership within the organisation

• As a member of the Academy Leadership Team (Heads and Directors), contribute to organisational strategy, cultural development and the transformation programme.
• Provide senior leadership on organisational measurement, impact reporting and securing external funding.

Financial and governance responsibilities

• Oversee budgets associated with external affairs and related programmes.
• Ensure compliance with governance processes, financial controls and risk management.

Requirements

• Strong track record in public affairs, political strategy or policy influencing, with demonstrable success securing policy adoption and measurable outcomes.
• Experience leading communications, media or public-facing activity in a complex environment.
• Understanding of the UK science, research and public health landscape, including inequalities, national strategies and institutional dynamics.
• Proven experience managing teams, building capability and integrating multidisciplinary functions.

Benefits

We provide our staff with a comprehensive benefits package outlined as follows:

Competitive rewards

• Generous pension scheme with flexible contributions – we contribute between 8% - 13% of your gross salary (with employee contributions of 3% - 8%).
• Life assurance at three times your salary.

Work-life Balance

• Hybrid and agile working. 50% office attendance.
• 26 days annual leave, plus Christmas closure days and bank holidays.
• Buying and selling leave.
• Family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to a qualifying period).

Wellbeing and Development

• Complimentary subscriptions to Headspace and Classpass to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Support through tailored learning and development.

Additional Benefits

• A range of enhanced benefits become available once you’ve completed your probation period.

For more information and to apply, please visit our careers portal.

Closing date: 9:00am on Monday 22 June 2026.

Interviews will likely be held w/c 6 July 2026.

Prospectus are working with a purpose led organisation operating at the intersection of financial services, public policy, and social impact. With a strong focus on data, transparency, and financial inclusion, the organisation plays an important role in informing policy, supporting responsible decision making, and contributing to wider societal outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity to join a high impact environment and help shape conversations that influence both policy and practice.

Reporting directly to the CEO, with close engagement with the Chair and wider Executive Team, the Public Affairs Officer will lead the organisation’s public affairs and policy activity. You will monitor and analyse legislative and political developments, helping to shape timely and informed responses, while designing and delivering advocacy and campaign strategies aligned to organisational priorities.

The role involves building and maintaining senior relationships across government, regulators, industry, and advocacy groups, as well as producing high quality briefings, consultation responses, and policy papers. You will also play a key role in translating complex data and research into compelling insights, supporting external communications, stakeholder engagement, and the organisation’s overall policy positioning.

The successful candidate will bring proven experience in public affairs, policy, or government relations, alongside a strong understanding of the UK political and legislative landscape. You will be an excellent communicator, with the ability to influence and build credibility with senior stakeholders, and demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills. A proactive, resilient, and adaptable approach is essential, as is the ability to manage multiple priorities and work both independently and collaboratively.

Experience in financial services, credit, or related policy areas, and confidence in campaigns, media engagement, or public speaking would be advantageous but is not essential.

If you are looking for a role with visibility, autonomy, and the opportunity to directly influence policy and stakeholder engagement at a senior level, we would be delighted to hear from you.  Please apply in the first instance and we will contact suitable candidates for further conversations. 

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Catherine Bunting at Prospectus.

• ​Job Title - Communications & Engagement Lead
• Responsible to - Chief Executive Officer
• Salary - £23,000 actual (based on £31,500 full time)
• Contract - Part-Time (28 hours per week) - From time to time, you may be required to work some evenings and weekends. These are usually communicated well in advance and the time will be given back to you in lieu. We expect team members to work in-person 60% of the time whether that’s at our office in MediaCity or at our delivery locations in Greater Manchester. This is a one-year fixed-term contract, with the likelihood of renewal subject to funding availability.

Important dates

• Applications to be received by 11pm on Sunday 5 July 2026 
• Video Screening to be complete by 11pm on Thursday 9 July 2026 
• Interviews held on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 July 2026.

ABOUT YOUTH LEADS UK

Youth Leads UK is an award-winning charity that believes young people matter. We support young people furthest from opportunity to build skills, create change, and shape the decisions that affect their lives – from classrooms to communities to boardrooms. We run leadership programmes, deliver social action projects, and publish Youth Leads Magazine – a platform for youth voice and creativity.

Working with thousands of young people across Greater Manchester for over a decade, we are experts in enabling young people to step outside their comfort zones, build real-world skills and grow in confidence. We back young people to lead, in our programmes, in policy spaces and in shaping Britain's future.

Please see our website ‘About Us’ page for more information about our vision, mission and values.

WHY WORK WITH US?

At Youth Leads UK, we believe in creating an environment that helps you thrive both personally and professionally. We offer 30 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) and a part-closure over Christmas and New Year. Our wellbeing programme includes regular socials and time for mental health initiatives, and our base at MediaCity, one of Greater Manchester's most vibrant and sustainable locations, ensures a positive and connected working environment.

We are deeply committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion. That’s why we are a Living Wage Employer, signed up to the Greater Manchester Good Employer’s Charter, and the #ShowTheSalary campaign. It’s important to us that our staff team reflects the communities we serve. We guarantee interviews for our Youth Leads UK alumni, care experienced or disabled individuals, so please let us know in your application if you meet this criteria. We promote equal opportunities and we value the unique perspectives of diverse team members.

As a youth-led organisation, we prioritise employing individuals under 30, aligning with our mission to foster strong connections and relatability with the young people we support. This is in accordance with the Equality Act and reflects our belief in empowering young voices to shape our work. 
 

ROLE SUMMARY

This is the lead communications role at Youth Leads UK - the person who holds our voice, shapes our stories, and makes sure the world hears what our young people are doing and why it matters.

Working closely with the CEO and eventually supported by two Youth Content Creators, you will own the communications and engagement function across all channels and audiences. You will set the tone, maintain the brand, lead our campaigns, and ensure everything we put out reflects who we are and what we stand for.
 

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Strategy and brand

• Own the Youth Leads UK communications strategy, ensuring our channels, campaigns, and content are coherent, consistent, and purposeful
• Act as the guardian of our brand — maintaining voice, tone, and visual identity across everything we produce
• Work closely with the CEO to align communications activity with organisational priorities and the Generation:NOW strategy
• Analyse performance across channels and use insight to inform what we do next

Campaigns and content

• Lead the development and delivery of youth-led campaigns on issues that matter to our communities - from mental health and civic participation to cost of living and representation
• Oversee the planning and production of Youth Leads Magazine - three editions per year, created by and for young people
• Lead on long-form and strategic content including press releases, impact reports, website articles, and stakeholder communications
• Set the brief for social media content and oversee delivery by the Youth Content Creators, ensuring quality, consistency, and brand alignment
• Manage email communications including newsletters and stakeholder updates

Developing young people

• Provide day-to-day communications direction to two Youth Content Creators — setting briefs, reviewing content, and ensuring brand consistency
• Actively mentor and develop the Youth Content Creators, helping them build skills, confidence, and understanding of professional communications practice. The youth content creators will be line managed by the Head of Programmes, who you will work closely with
• Champion youth voice across all communications output, ensuring young people are authentically represented and genuinely involved in how we tell our story

Media and public profile

• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, and media contacts across local, regional, and national outlets
• Draft and issue press releases, media statements, and reactive comments
• Identify and pursue opportunities to place youth voice in public debate - through opinion pieces, broadcast appearances, panel contributions, and more
• Support the CEO and young people to prepare for media appearances and public-facing engagements

Communicating our impact

• Work with the wider team to translate programme outcomes, data, and young people’s stories into compelling content for a range of audiences
• Produce materials that communicate Youth Leads UK’s impact clearly and powerfully to partners, funders, and the public
• Ensure our digital presence - website, social channels, email - reflects the quality and ambition of our work

OTHER AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Ensure young people play a strong leadership role across our work
• Keep up to date on new developments and trends within the youth sector
• Administrative duties as required, such as minute-taking, arranging travel and booking venues
• Representing Youth Leads UK at conferences and events
• Act as an ambassador for the organisation
• Ensure Youth Leads UK’s Health and Safety and Safeguarding and any other appropriate policies are adhered to where necessary
• Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others who might be affected by your work as required by law and described in the relevant operating policies and procedures
• Be committed to safeguarding principles and be willing to put the welfare of children and young people at the forefront of your work
• An understanding and belief in the inclusion of all staff, partners and young people irrespective of race, gender, sexuality, age, religion, ability, identity and experience
• Actively promotes and embeds an understanding of equality, diversity, and an inclusive culture
• Able to take personal accountability for key work areas

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

ESSENTIAL

• Strong writing skills - able to produce compelling content across formats, from social media captions to press releases to long-form articles
• Experience developing and delivering communications strategies or campaigns
• Solid understanding of brand, voice, and audience - and how to maintain consistency across channels
• Experience managing or overseeing social media channels for an organisation or campaign
• Ability to use analytics to evaluate performance and make informed decisions about future activity
• Experience writing press releases or supporting media and press engagement
• Confidence building relationships with journalists, media contacts, or external stakeholders
• Excellent organisational skills - able to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain quality under pressure
• Genuine commitment to youth empowerment, social justice, and amplifying underrepresented voices
• Experience with video content production or editing
• Understanding of safeguarding principles when working with young people (training provided)

DESIRABLE

• Proficiency in Canva for creating and adapting branded content
• Experience with email marketing tools and understanding of what makes an effective newsletter or stakeholder communication
• Experience using Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or similar tools (training available)
• Experience working in or with the charity, public, or youth sector
• Understanding of civic leadership, social action, or community engagement
• Experience directing, briefing, or supporting others to deliver communications work
• Familiarity with website content management systems
• Experience mentoring or developing junior colleagues or young people

We recruit based on potential, not polish - so don’t worry if one or two of the above are missing - most things can be taught!

ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION

Youth Leads UK has a small yet mighty team, so you may be required to take on other duties and responsibilities from time to time.

All staff are expected to:

• Adhere to the policies and procedures in the Youth Leads UK staff policy handbook.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times in line with organisational policies.
• Successfully complete an enhanced DBS check and provide two independent references before appointment.
• Actively promote an inclusive and diverse culture within the organisation.

The post holder must have confirmation of eligibility to work in the UK (the successful candidate will be required to provide documentary evidence before a job offer is confirmed).

Air Ambulances UK

Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) is the national charity supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities, enabling them to save even more lives every day.

Purpose of Post

The Policy and Public Affairs Officer will play a key role in supporting the development and delivery of AAUK’s policy and public affairs strategy, aligned with its manifesto.

The role will support engagement with Government, Parliament, and key stakeholders, contribute to policy development and analysis, and help coordinate AAUK’s public affairs activity, including APPG engagement, parliamentary events, and sector-wide influencing work.

The postholder will ensure that AAUK’s policy positions are evidence-based, clear, and impactful.

Key Responsibilities

Policy Development and Analysis

• Support the development of AAUK policy positions across health, emergency services transport, aviation, infrastructure, and other related policy areas supporting AAUK’s manifesto.
• Monitor Government consultations, legislation, and policy developments, producing clear briefings and summaries.
• Contribute to policy papers, consultation responses, briefings, reports, and parliamentary materials.
• Gather insights from stakeholders to inform policy development.
• Support horizon scanning and identification of policy risks and opportunities.

Public Affairs and Parliamentary Engagement

• Support engagement with MPs, Peers, Special Advisers, Civil Servants, and regulatory bodies.
• Assist in the coordination and delivery of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Air Ambulances, including meetings and secretariat support.
• Support planning and delivery of parliamentary events, receptions, roundtables, and stakeholder meetings.
• Track parliamentary activity relevant to AAUK priorities (debates, questions, committees, inquiries).
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders across Westminster and devolved governments. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Communications

• Work closely with the UK's air ambulance charities to align messaging and policy priorities.
• Prepare briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.
• Liaise with communications and fundraising colleagues to ensure consistent and accessible policy messaging.
• Support campaigns and influencing activity across priority policy areas.
• Maintain accurate stakeholder engagement records and tracking systems.

Research and Intelligence

• Conduct research into relevant policy, legislative, and sector developments.
• Monitor political and media developments, providing timely updates and insights.
• Contribute to evidence gathering and analysis to support policy positions.
• Support evaluation of policy and public affairs activity.

Other Responsibilities

• Represent AAUK professionally in internal and external meetings where required.
• Support AAUK’s vision, values, and strategic priorities.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required to support the organisation.
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of work.
• Comply with relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including GDPR and Charity Commission guidance. 
   

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience in policy, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, communications, or a related field.
• Experience producing policy briefings, reports, consultation responses, campaigns, or stakeholder materials.
• Experience engaging with stakeholders such as MPs, civil servants, regulators, sector bodies, or partner organisations.
• Strong written communication, research, and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work to deadlines.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across a range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Understanding of the UK political system, Parliament, and Government processes.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and maintaining accurate stakeholder records.
   

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience supporting parliamentary engagement activity or an APPG.
• Experience delivering events, receptions, or stakeholder roundtables.
• Experience within health, emergency services, aviation, transport, or infrastructure policy.
• Experience using CRM or stakeholder management systems.
• Knowledge of the third sector or the wider emergency healthcare environment.
• Awareness of how influencing, campaigning, and lobbying activity is delivered in practice. 

Key Attributes

• Politically aware with sound judgement and discretion.
• Proactive, resilient, and self-motivated.
• Collaborative and flexible approach to work.
• High professional standards and attention to detail.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Interest in policy development and system change.
   

Other Requirements

• Ability to work remotely while maintaining confidentiality.
• Willingness to travel across the UK, including London/Westminster.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (desirable).
   

Benefits

• 36 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays FTE).
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to Blue Light Card and Blue Light Events.
• Pension contributions.
• Training and development opportunities.
• Life Assurance policy cover.
• Development opportunities.
   

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

AAUK is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work. We actively encourage applications from under-represented groups and are committed to building an inclusive workplace.

 
Application Process

Applications should be submitted via CV and covering letter. Your covering letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience meets the requirements of the role.

Deadline for applications: 12 June 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview w/c 22 June 2026.

This is a fixed-term role, reviewed during the contract period. Future decisions on medium- and longer-term resourcing will form part of our organisational strategy and financial planning.

We are recruiting for a Temporary Public Affairs Officer for a professional member body, you will need sound knowledge of the workings of government and parliamentary procedure, you will support the public affairs team in providing a timely, high-quality and professional public affairs service to deliver the organisations aim & objectives.

Hybrid working min 1 day in their London office

The Role
Support the public affairs team to develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in Westminster and Whitehall, particularly MPs and peers with an interest in health, and other national, regional, local and EU stakeholders
Research and develop briefings for stakeholder meetings at request of head of public affairs and senior public affairs officers
Produce parliamentary briefings and submissions
Supervise the public affairs monitoring service, providing daily monitoring support and research material, including monitoring Westminster, European institutions, and other relevant external stakeholders
Cascade monitoring information throughout the organisation
Collate information from a range of public affairs sources for circulation to senior members, relevant colleagues in the Engagement & Communications directorate, policy directorate and the wider teams - including summaries of relevant bills, reports, debates etc.
Provide analytical support to the public affairs team, including collating data on parliamentary/public affairs activity/performance

The Candidate
Previous experience in a parliamentary, political or public policy environment
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Excellent political awareness and keen interest in politics
Strong research and analytical skills
Ability to prioritise and manage own workload effectively but also to be flexible and adapt/respond to emerging issues, short deadlines and other demands or challenges
Knowledge of legislative procedures and policy making processes - across national, regional, local and devolved government and European institutions
An understanding of health policy issues and the challenges and opportunities facing the health and other public sectors

IMPORTANT NOTE

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you havent been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful and your details will not be held further but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

Leukaemia UK – Our Charity
We are a ‘small but mighty’ charity with one big ambition: to stop leukaemia devastating lives. Over the next 10 years we want to help save and improve the lives of more people with leukaemia through funding life-changing research and campaigning for change. Despite decades of incredible progress, only half of leukaemia patients live longer than five years after their diagnosis. We won't stop until we change this.

We are looking for a Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager to join the Policy and Advocacy team. At a pivotal moment for Leukaemia UK, they will lead and manage our political influencing work, ensuring our profile and reputation remains high and we are able to influence political decisions.

With our new strategy period beginning in 2027, over the next 5 years we plan to increase our investment into ground-breaking research and campaigning to improve diagnosis, treatment and care. We are in a period of significant growth, investing to grow our income, profile, influence, engagement and impact.

Having developed our policy, public affairs and campaigns function over the current strategy period, this role will help take this to the next level and play a key role in strengthening our ability to influence change across the UK.

Team

We are a close-knit team, who are all passionate about Leukaemia UK and putting those affected by the disease at the heart of everything we do. We are all focused on pragmatic, practical solutions, as well as ensuring that our charity gets the funding it needs to continue to help those diagnosed with leukaemia and related conditions.

As a small organisation with just over 30 employees, every role counts. We have ambitious plans and we rely on individuals being self-starters, resilient and used to working at pace to maximise our collective impact. We are all about delivering exceptional expertise and making a real change to people’s lives.

Leukaemia UK and You

We are looking for a self-motivated Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager to join our team, taking a leading role in shaping and delivering Leukaemia UK’s influencing and campaigning activity to drive policy change. The successful candidate will be an innovative, driven and forward-thinking individual with a proven track record of delivering impactful public affairs and campaigning work within the health charity sector. You will work closely with the Head of Policy and Advocacy and the Policy Officer to ensure a coordinated, insight‑led and strategically aligned approach to policy development, public affairs and campaigning activity across the organisation.

The Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager will be instrumental in strengthening and growing the charity’s profile, influence and impact among political stakeholders and senior civil servants across all four UK administrations. This role will ensure that the ‘patient voice’ is heard and acted upon by key decision-makers, while also ensuring that the needs and priorities of individuals affected by leukaemia are understood, represented, valued and embedded within our influencing and campaigning strategies.

Alongside this, you will lead the development of creative and innovative campaigning approaches, using a range of tactics to effectively engage supporters, partners and policy makers in our work. You will create compelling opportunities for stakeholders to join our efforts to drive policy change, and ensure that our campaigns are visible, impactful and aligned to our policy priorities.

You will work closely with the Communications team to ensure that campaigning to drive policy change is clearly understood, amplified and embedded across digital channels and content strategies, maximising reach, engagement and impact. You will also support with identifying and developing new opportunities for PR, media engagement and thought leadership to strengthen Leukaemia UK’s position as a credible and influential voice in the sector. You will be representing Leukaemia UK in multiple charity coalitions and forums to ensure that leukaemia is represented on the political agenda.

The successful candidate will be adept at articulating evidence-based policy positions to policy makers, healthcare professionals, researchers, effectively representing the perspectives of those affected by leukaemia. They will have the ability to influence a wide range of senior stakeholders to drive progress and bring about meaningful change. A strong understanding of the external political landscape, coupled with exceptional communication skills and attention to detail, is essential.

This role does not currently include direct line management responsibility but will play a key role in coordinating activity across the Policy and Advocacy function, with potential to take on management responsibilities as the team grows.

Experience and skills

Essential 

• Experience of working within public affairs and/or campaigning, with demonstrable impact in influencing policy or driving change (candidates should have strong experience in at least one of these areas, with an understanding of how they work together)
• Experience of influencing government, policy makers and/or decision makers, preferably within the health, research or charity sector
• Experience of developing and delivering public affairs and/or campaigning strategies, including planning, delivery and evaluation
• Experience of engaging and managing a range of stakeholders, including policy makers, partners, and supporters
• Experience of producing high-quality written outputs such as briefings, consultation responses, or campaign materials to influence decision makers
• Experience of working collaboratively across teams, particularly with communications functions
• Experience of monitoring and evaluating activity to assess impact and inform future approaches
• Experience of delivering multiple projects and programmes in a fast-paced environment

Desirable

• Experience of integrating campaigning with digital, PR or communications strategies
• Experience of identifying PR, media or thought leadership opportunities
• Experience of working in the cancer or wider health policy environment
• Experience of line management or supporting others’ development

Knowledge and personal traits

Essential

• Strong understanding of the UK political and policy landscape, including how decisions are made and influenced
• Understanding of how public affairs and campaigning can work together to drive change, including supporter engagement and mobilisation
• Ability to think strategically and identify opportunities to influence policy and public debate
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to different audiences
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders with differing perspectives
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and an understanding of the importance of engaging with patients and underrepresented groups
• A proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to work at pace

Desirable

• Knowledge of the cancer, research or NHS policy landscape
• Experience of working with patients or in an advocacy capacity

Role Specifics

• Full time: 37.5 hours per week, worked Monday to Friday.
• Location: We are very flexible! Our offices are based in Central London, and we operate hybrid working.  In this role you are required to work from the office at least one day per fortnight and as appropriate, to  undertake the proper performance of the role duties regarding internal and external meetings and activities.
• Annual Salary: £40,000 - £50,000

Benefits- We are proud of our benefits

• 36 days holiday per year, including bank holidays- pro rata for part time employees
• Pension – default is 4% employee and 4% employer and we match up to 6%
• Life Assurance – x 4 cover
• Critical Illness Cover
• Cash back healthcare scheme & Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Hybrid Working
• Company sick pay
• Individual training budgets

Applications and interview timings 

If you feel you have the passion for our work and the right mix of experience, skills, energy, and flair, then we would love you to apply. Please also see the full job description attached to the advert.  To minimise unconscious bias, we use anonymous recruitment and are unable to consider direct applications. Please apply via the CharityJob website with your CV and covering letter.

Closing Date: 9am Monday 22nd June 2026

• First interviews will be held via Teams on Thursday 2nd July 2026
• Second interviews will be face to face in our London Offices – at 26 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5BL on Thursday 9th July 2026

I look forward to hearing from you! 

Georgia

Georgia Papacleovoulou

Head of Policy & Advocacy

Leukaemia UK

Manchester Central Foodbank is a busy Trussell Trust-affiliated food bank, with centres in Central, North, and East Manchester. We were established in Ardwick in 2013 by students at the Manchester Universities’ Catholic Chaplaincy, making us the first student-led food bank in the country. Since then we have grown significantly, expanding our weekly sessions into Harpurhey and Openshaw.

Our core aims are to deliver the best quality support that we can to the largest number of our neighbours in need, while working with partners and influencing and organising at a neighbourhood and citywide level to reduce and end the need for food banks in Manchester.

We currently support 16,000 people per year with nutritionally balanced 3-day food parcels. This is double the number of people we supported in the first year following the Covid-19 pandemic, and four times the number supported in 2019. We also provide financial inclusion support with advice workers in public sessions, access to energy vouchers, SIM cards, and other voucher or material support. We coordinate across a network of 200 active front-line referral agencies with the aim of ensuring everyone who accesses our service has appropriate, specialised, and ongoing support alongside the material provision that we provide.

We are active leaders in anti-poverty organising and community development, as convenors of the citywide Building an Anti-Poverty Community collective and aim to be key shapers and influencers of new strategies and policies, working closely to support and influence local government, NHS, education and research agendas in Manchester and more widely building upon our track record of successful anti-poverty partnership work, social value impact and Parliamentary influencing. Our core values are: care, partnership, dignity, partnership, anti-stigma and rights-based.

Key responsibilities
As Chief Executive Officer you will be the key senior staff leader for the charity. You will lead the team to ensure they have the resources, frameworks, and support to effect smooth day-to-day running of our frontline support service. You will provide a strong business management focus, through supporting the financial process, overall metrics and reporting, day to day HR and input for the external Payroll Team, Health and Safety, appropriate working conditions, and strategic planning and communications. 

As the senior lead you will also facilitate and support the Board of Trustees to develop and lead strategic development objectives and plans for transformation, and ensure the delivery and implementation of the charity’s overall strategy and specific focused strategies. You will develop and manage strategic relationships with stakeholders including Council, NHS, and other statutory partners and funders, corporate and social value funders and partners, and high-value and donors. You will also plan and lead fundraising strategies. 

You will be a key external interface for our community and partners.  You will do this by:

Staff/Board Leadership and Governance:

• Line managing a current team of operations staff, including those supporting the recruitment, training, and management of a large team of volunteers. 

• Building team spirit and employee engagement and offer.

• Leading and delivering regular staff performance and development reviews.

• Developing and delivering robust metrics and reporting to the board and staff team, through consistent monthly and quarterly reporting packs to the board of trustees.

• Ensuring all staff and volunteers are familiar and engaged with the charity’s long-term goals and objectives, and know how their work helps to implement these on the ground. Leading the development of induction packages and ongoing offers for staff and volunteers. You will be responsible for writing, implementation, and update of institutional policies as needed to staff and volunteers.

• Leading targeted volunteer recruitment strategies to maximise core delivery capacity through volunteer roles and prioritise staffing capacity to core charity operations.

• Ensure policies are kept current.

• Ensure recording and management of absence/leave.

• Ensure Health and Safety aspects of all organisational operations are compliant, in collaboration with the Board sponsor.

• Manage day to day financial input, through the Xero app, and ensure accurate and up-to-date financial reporting for the Board/Treasurer. This includes administering monthly payroll requests.

• Oversee training and personal development plans for staff and volunteers, as appropriate.

• Working with the Chair of Trustees to implement the charity’s strategic plan and structural development objectives.

• Develop and implement ongoing plans and actions to ensure operationally-appropriate and safe office, warehouse, and working spaces.

• Lead on development, modelling, and maintenance of service delivery standards, quality control, and ensuring frontline teams have the appropriate resources, support, and frameworks to deliver high quality and consistent support offers.

Foodbank Management:

• Support the Operations and Project Lead to deliver the smooth running of food bank sessions across multiple centres, ensuring an excellent standard of service across all centres, and seeking to continually develop our service in line with our goals to support the largest number of people with the best support we can while working to reduce and end the need for food banks in Manchester.

• Develop and build a new Delivery Strategy with the Chair of Trustees and Operations and Project Lead.

• Support the Operations and Project Lead and Warehouse and Logistics Coordinator to safely store and maintain optimal stock levels, maximise food donation levels and reduce food spend, develop and maintain relationships with community donors, and record incoming and outgoing stock, with the aim of ensuring that all centres are well stocked to provide as many varied, balanced, and nutritious and culturally-appropriate food parcels as necessary.

• Ensure compliance with the procedures set out in Manchester Central Foodbank’s policies, the Trussell Trust’s Operating Manual, and relevant statutory requirements at all times.

• Ensure our food bank centres provide a safe and dignified environment for clients, free from discrimination, judgement, and stigma.

Strategy and External Relationships:

• Working with the Chair of Trustees on development, monitoring, and implementation of the core charity strategy and sub-strategies. Ensuring the involvement and participation of the food bank’s staff, volunteers, external partners, and service users in all strategic planning and decision making, where appropriate.

• Support the Operations and Project Lead to work build strong relationships with referral partners and wider community and statutory networks of collaborators and support to ensure that our service users are able to access the maximum amount of support before, during, and after accessing our service to minimise the length and severity of financial crisis, maximise their incomes, and provide pathways to ongoing and longer-term support.

• Play an active role in strategic and convening spaces around our city and neighbourhoods to present the foodbank’s approach, bring more partners into our network, and influence policy and funding frameworks.

• Develop and manage a Corporate Relationships and Social Value strategy, including communications, networking, and relationship management.

• Lead on directing the charity’s external communications, including social media, in person, newsletters, company visits, and other content.

• Manage internal communications, including developing and delivering two-way team briefings with the board and staff/volunteers, biannual town halls or away days with board members and staff/volunteers, newsletters, and an open and collaborative, person-focused, and developmental culture within the organisation.

About you

Essential Experience and Knowledge:

• 5 years’ experience of leading a similar profiled charity or organisation and successful Board interaction.

• Experience of leading successful transformation and change for a charity and a strong developmental mindset and focus.

• Have led a team of 5 or more staff members to successful performance, demonstrating experience of coaching and individual development skills.

• Experience in developing and leading successful and engaged volunteering programmes and support.

• Full valid driving licence. 

• Proven experience of leading the development and delivery of strategy and sub-strategies to successful conclusion and fashioning evidenced business cases for current and new development projects.

• Leading multiple complex projects or services, balancing the needs and interests of a range of stakeholders.

• Experience of implementing rigorous reporting and evaluation practices on operations.

• Experience of managing day-to-day financial administration and reporting.

• Evidence of delivering clear metric dashboards and reports.

• Experience of high-quality implementation of Health and Safety and Safeguarding policies and a leadership practice that centres care for staff, volunteers, and service users. Safeguarding lead qualification is desirable but will provide training if not.

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in HR processes and management.

• Experience in building and delivering strategic plans.

• Proven experience of effective problem solving and responding to crisis situations.

• A good working knowledge of the social welfare and political landscape in Manchester – or demonstrable experience in similar expertise and networking and an openness to learn and develop sector-specific knowledge.

• A nuanced and sensitive understanding of the complex reasons people attend food banks.

Desirable Experience and Knowledge:

• Partnering with and building relationships with Council, NHS, and other statutory partners and funders, corporate and social value partners and funders, high net worth donors, and fundraising through grant applications and individual/community donors.

• Experience of working collaboratively with stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, faiths, and views. 

• Experience of handling safeguarding incidents, follow-ups, and debriefs with staff, volunteers, and service users.

• Demonstrated success in delivering communications strategies for internal and external stakeholders, including social media and press content and campaigns.

Personal Skills and Attributes:

• An individual who embodies the values of Manchester Central Foodbank in their core professional practice and personal approach to their work.

• An empathetic and care-centred approach and the ability to centre the experience and outcomes of people from marginalised or socially-excluded backgrounds in core decision-making and prioritisation.

• A leader who takes ownership, accountability, and responsibility to drive an organisation and team forward with a developmental mindset.

• A highly self-motivated and proactive person who centres collaboration and consensus with the staff team, volunteers and Board of Trustees in their approach.

• Able to develop strategy and plans and translate strategy to actionable delivery and developmental projects.

• A high level of literacy and communication.

• A high level of numeracy and ability to analyse data.

• Strong leadership attributes to build engagement and performance with the team.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate, persuade, and coach staff and volunteers.

• Excellent personal organisation skills and the ability to manage multiple conflicting priorities and deadlines.

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.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Associate Director of Policy & Public Affairs England to lead our work shaping policy and public debate on end-of-life care. This is a high-profile, outward-facing leadership role where you’ll play a critical part in ensuring that the experiences of people affected by death, dying and bereavement are at the heart of political and public discourse across England.

The postholder will lead the development and delivery of policy and public affairs strategy in England, using evidence, partnerships and campaigning to influence decision-makers and improve end-of-life care. You will be a visible external voice for Marie Curie—engaging with government, Parliament, the NHS, media, and the wider charity sector to drive meaningful change. Working as part of a UK-wide leadership team, you will also help shape a coordinated policy and influencing approach across all four nations.

Your Impact: 

· Shape the policy agenda in England to ensure that issues of dying, death and bereavement are at the heart of contemporary policy debates.

· Create & lead the delivery of strategies for proactively engaging with and influencing Members of Parliament, Government officials, Local Authorities, health commissioning bodies, and other national and local decision makers.

· Analyse and respond to policy developments within the UK Government, and other relevant public bodies.

· As Marie Curie’s main spokesperson on policy and public affairs issues in England, develop the charity’s public profile, represent and convey its views through media interviews, speaking engagements, written articles, letters and participation at conferences and events.

· Partner and work closely with research teams across Marie Curie, external partners and academia to identify opportunities to inform policy and public affairs activities.

· Lead and manage the Policy and Public Affairs team, supporting their development.

Key Criteria:

· Established experience in a policy and public affairs role with a strong track record of successfully campaigning and lobbying.

· Experience of working with the media, developing relationships with key journalists, giving interviews and securing media support.

· Solid understanding of the structure and working of the Government, health and social care organisations and local authorities. Political astuteness and judgement in dealing with the Government and politicians.

· Comprehensive knowledge of health and social care policy issues and an understanding of the complex issues involved in end-of-life care.

· Excellent, effective and influential communications skills, including the ability to communicate with a wide range of audiences including the media, organisations and public bodies.

· Outstanding organisational skills, including the ability to use initiative, to prioritise workload and work under pressure to tight schedules and deadlines.

· Experience line managing and leading a team.

· Ability to travel across the UK and work out of regular hours on occasion.

Please see the full job description here.

Application & Interview Process

· As part of your online application, you will be asked to submit your CV and answer additional questions. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.

· Close date for applications: Monday 15 June.

Salary: Up to £80,000 per annum depending on experience.

Contract:  Permanent

Based: UK Hybrid, with at least one day per week at our headquarters in Embassy Gardens, 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

We're hiring: Senior Campaigns and Digital Engagement Officer

• Salary: £34,000 - £37,000 FTE (depending on experience)

• Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week) or part-time, with flexibility for an exceptional candidate

• Contract: 12 months fixed-term (with a view to extend subject to funding)

• Location: London hybrid (with remote-only options for an exceptional candidate)

• Closing Date: Sunday, 5th July

The Work Rights Centre is a progressive, rapidly growing charity dedicated to helping migrants and disadvantaged Britons access employment justice and improve their social mobility. We combine life-changing frontline legal advice with systems change work, and today we are launching a new chapter.

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Campaigns and Digital Engagement Officer to bridge the gap between our work and the general public. You will be the engine that converts our legal wins and policy change ambitions into a public movement, mobilising our supporters to show up, speak up, and financially support our mission.

Key responsibilities include:

• Campaign development: Lead the creation of digital journeys that take supporters from casual followers to active participants (signing petitions, emailing MPs, and donating).

• Supporter engagement: Manage and segment our newsletter community, create high-performing content, and launch our first regular monthly giving programme.

• Digital optimisation: Use data (Mailchimp, Google Analytics) to track ROI, optimize website "Action" pages, and ensure a frictionless, mobile-first donation experience.

• Strategic growth: Contribute to the wider development of the charity, including our business planning and stakeholder relationships.

This role is fixed-term because this is the first time we are developing this work, with support from a restricted, time-limited grant. If by the end of the first year it is clear that the role brings significant value to the charity, we will be looking to secure alternative funding and extend the contract.

What we're looking for 

This is an ideal opportunity for a marketing or communications professional who is creative, strategic, and confident in their ability to grow communities. We are looking for someone with:

• Experience: At least 3 years in marketing or campaigning, with a proven track record of driving digital actions, building communities, or hit fundraising targets.

• Tech savvy: Confidence mapping user journeys, segmenting audiences, and using data to iterate digital strategy.

• Communication: Exceptional copywriting skills with the ability to translate complex policy or legal concepts into compelling, human stories.

• Mindset: A fundraising growth mindset, a proactive attitude, and a deep commitment to migrant rights and economic justice.

• Desirable: Lived or learned experience of the issues facing vulnerable migrants, or knowledge of a language other than English.

Even if you don’t tick every single box, if you share our values and trust your ability to make a positive contribution, we highly encourage you to apply.

Why join us?

• Generous leave: 32 days annual leave (28 days + Birthday Off + 3 days Christmas closure).

• Great benefits: 5% employer pension contribution, 20 weeks enhanced parental pay, and enhanced sick pay (up to 28 days).

• Growth & learning: A dedicated professional training budget to help you upskill.

The Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) is the UK’s first charity that exists to promote high-quality journalism. Last year, we launched an ambitious ten-year mission to regenerate local news in the UK. We believe that local news is a vital part of the fabric of local communities, drawing people together around shared facts and pride in place at a time of disinformation and division.

We are pursuing our mission by (1) sourcing new funds for local news; (2) advocating for supportive government policies; and (3) celebrating local news providers from the UK and around the world that are Accountable, Sustainable, in the Public interest, Innovative, Representative and Engaging (ASPIRE).

Over the last year, we have successfully encouraged the UK Government to launch an unprecedented new £12m Local News Fund. We have also built support for our mission from US and UK donors. And we have launched initiatives such as the Tenacious Journalist Awards, to recognise and support independent news providers who are having a significant social impact.

We have a small and professional staff team and a dedicated board of trustees, and we are now looking to recruit a Programmes Officer to support our work. I hope that you will consider joining us on this exciting and important mission.

Jonathan Heawood, Executive Director

Summary of the Role

Title: Programmes Officer

Salary: £30,000

Benefits: 33 days annual leave including Bank Holidays; 7% employer pension contribution; professional development budget; flexible working

Type: Fixed-term renewable 12-month contract

Time commitment: 35 hours per week, with some scope for flexible working

Location: Remote, with occasional meetings in London or other UK locations, for which PINF will pay travel expenses from within the UK

Reporting to: Deputy Director, who will provide overall line management and lead 60% of the Programmes Officer’s work

Working closely with: Campaigns & Communications Manager, who will lead the remaining 40% of the Programme Officer’s work

Purpose of the Role

The Programmes Officer will support the PINF team across our three workstreams: the Local News Fund; Local News Campaign; and Local News Futures programme.

· Through the Local News Fund, we work with grantmakers and social investors (including government-backed fund managers) to unlock new economic resources for local news across the UK.

· Through the Local News Campaign, we work with the BBC, big tech firms, central and local government, MPs, Peers and regulators to shape a positive enabling environment for local news across the UK.

· Through the Local News Futures programme, we work with academics, civil society organisations, journalism support organisations and local news providers to showcase models of local news with the most positive impact.

The Programmes Officer will provide support with events, research and campaigns across these workstreams, and will also provide support with our organisational functions, including communications, fundraising and governance.

By providing efficient and effective support to the team, the Programmes Officer will unlock new potential for PINF to deliver our charitable purpose.

Key Responsibilities

Events

· Support the Deputy Director with the successful delivery of the annual Local News Forum by:

o Maintaining a comprehensive and up to date project plan

o Contributing to the effective marketing of the event within PINF’s network of independent local news providers and stakeholders

o Managing ticket sales and maintaining an accurate database of invitees and participants

o Contributing to effective working relationships with partners and suppliers, including venues and sponsors

o Managing speakers

o Supporting budget administration, including tracking agreed expenditure and processing spending in line with approved budgets and under the oversight of the Deputy Director

o Responding promptly and efficiently to queries

o Providing on-the-day support including registering participants, liaising with the venue and catering providers, ensuring smooth technical support and troubleshooting any issues as they arise

Research

· Support the Deputy Director with our research objectives by:

o Organising and minuting twice-yearly online meetings of our Research Advisory Group

o Working with colleagues to ensure the Local News Map is comprehensive and up to date

o Liaising with independent local news providers to support the new Local News Audit

Campaigns

· Support the Campaigns & Communications Manager with our campaign objectives by:

o Managing relationships with independent news providers participating in our annual Indie News Week

o Supporting budget administration for campaign activity, including tracking agreed expenditure and processing spending in line with approved budgets and under the oversight of the Campaigns & Communications Manager

o Supporting key campaign moments including parliamentary events, party conferences, roundtables and other online and offline events

o Providing logistical and administrative support for key campaign moments, including by maintaining participant and invitation lists, tracking RSVPs and preparing background information for colleagues

Communications

· Support the Campaigns & Communications Manager with our communications objectives by:

o Managing the ‘contact’ email inbox

o Supporting the delivery of engaging content across PINF’s blog and newsletter, including gathering stories, opportunities and other relevant material, in collaboration with the Campaigns & Communications Manager

o Managing PINF’s social media channels including LinkedIn, BlueSky and Instagram

o Updating elements and pages across our website

o Supporting PINF’s WhatsApp community of independent local news providers by sharing relevant content, helping eligible participants to join, and assisting with day-to-day moderation

Fundraising

· Support the Deputy Director with our fundraising objectives by:

o Maintaining the fundraising database and keeping records up to date based on information provided by colleagues

o Facilitating monthly internal fundraising meetings

Other

· Any other tasks as reasonably requested by the Deputy Director

Essential skills and experience

· Experience in an administrative, coordination or project support role

· Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines and priorities

· Strong written and verbal communication skills

· Confidence using Microsoft Office and other common digital tools to organise work, manage information and communicate effectively

· Ability to work collaboratively in a small team and to support colleagues across different areas of work

· A high level of accuracy and attention to detail

· Support for PINF’s mission and charitable purpose

· Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Desirable skills and experience

· Experience of supporting events, campaigns, communications or fundraising activity

· Experience of working in a charity, membership body, media organisation or other mission-driven organisation

· Familiarity with website, newsletter or social media content management

· An understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing local and independent news providers in the UK

How to apply

· Please apply through CharityJob.

· In your application, you will be asked to provide a short example of how your previous experience makes you a strong candidate for this role. We encourage applicants not to use generative AI to draft this part of the application, as we are interested to hear about your own experience in your own words!

· If you require any adjustments to support your application, please let us know when you apply.

We particularly welcome applications from people whose backgrounds and perspectives are underrepresented in charities and the news sector.

It’s been a fantastic few years at Nova with new projects and campaigns reaching hundreds of local good causes. We are a small Wakefield-based charity with a big impact for the community groups, charities and social enterprises in the local area that we support. We do this through specialist advice, networks, funding and as a trusted source of information – that’s where you could come in.

We’re looking for someone to join our friendly and collaborative team. Someone that can get the right information to the right people so that local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations get the support they need to thrive. It’s a brilliant way to use your creative skills to make a difference.

What does this role involve?

The Officer will play a central role in bringing our communications and marketing to life. They’ll support with interesting and diverse campaigns that build an engaged community of members and celebrate the impact of the VCSE sector in Wakefield District.

Here’s a quick insight into what the Officer will be busy with:

• Supporting with planning, delivery and monitoring of our comms
• Developing content to promote Nova’s regular activities and events on a variety of channels, including our website and social media
• Managing an inbox and using that information to curate updates
• Creating, designing and branding documents
• Supporting the development of our email marketing

What are we looking for in our Communications Officer?

• Ability to identify, write and design engaging content
• Attention to detail and excellent organisational skills
• Digital skills and ability to use online marketing tools, including social media
• Relevant qualifications or work experience
• Ability to prioritise and work flexibly
• Ability to interpret complex information

It's a brilliant opportunity for someone with creative fair and an understanding of marketing.

Take a look at the Person Specification on our website for more details and if you feel you are the right person, we’d encourage you to apply! We value personal qualities and experience as well as work experience.

What do we offer?

You’ll benefit from a competitive salary, 28 days a holiday a year (plus bank holidays), and some great benefits including:

• Blended home and office working
• Flexible working hours
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff Rewards Programme
• 5% salary contribution to a pension scheme
• A range of enhanced policies and practices to ensure a supportive and inclusive workplace
• Annual pay reviews

We’re an equal opportunities organisation and invite applications from all sections of the community. It’s important to us that everyone is welcomed and valued in our workplace, so we support staff and applicants in a number of ways. More information can be found in the Application Pack and in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement.

To apply, complete the online application form. 

Closing date: Sunday 5 July, 9pm

Interview date: Thursday 16 July

We notify all applicants of the outcome of your application however, due to capacity, we are unable to provide feedback to applicants until the interview stage.

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Research and Development Officer
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Part Time, 28 hours per week (0.8 FTE)
Salary: £27, 526 per annum, with annual salary increments for the first three years
Location: Homebased – however NCB and RiP has offices in Sheffield, Newton Abbot, London and Belfast that staff can work from should they choose.

The Vacancy

We are looking for a talented Research and Development Officer to join our children and families team at Research in Practice. In this role you will develop and deliver accessible content and learning activities that promote evidence-informed practice and policy across child and family social care, youth and family justice as part of our annual delivery programme for our partners. You will also be involved in the delivery of commissioned project work.

The successful candidate will have experience designing and delivering resources, workshops, webinars, and events for a range of audiences, including senior leaders.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with strong written and editorial skills, excellent facilitation skills and who is confident distilling complex information into accessible learning materials. While the position requires engagement with and understanding of research, it is not a primary research role.

Key responsibilities are:

• Producing evidence-informed practice and policy resources in a range of formats (e.g. publications, videos, podcasts, animations). This includes evidence scoping, content development, commissioning, project management, editing, writing and quality assuring resources from inception to publication.
• Leading the development and delivery of concise, accessible content and learning activities to enable the development of evidence-informed practice and policy in the sector.
• Developing and facilitating learning sessions and events with a range of participants, including senior leaders across the sector.
• Working on a range of commissioned project work, from development/design through to analysis; presenting findings on completion and representing Research in Practice in project teams with academic and practice partners.
• Building strong relationships with sector experts and effectively managing relationships with authors, facilitators, people with lived experience and those working in research, policy and practice.

Research in Practice

Research in Practice is part of the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) family. For over 60 years, the NCB has been building a better childhood for all.

Research in Practice works with organisations across the adults and children’s social care, health and criminal justice sectors, supporting them to develop an evidence-informed approach to their work. Our focus is on using evidence from research, practice and lived experience, to provide resources that improve policy and services, in order to achieve positive outcomes for people of all ages.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 8am, Wednesday 8th July 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.

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.

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

Job Title: Communications & Engagement Officer  

Reports to: Senior Communications Manager

Location:Contracted to Breaking Barriers’ office in London, with some expectation of travel 

Terms:22.5 hours per week over 3 or 4 days – open to flexible working arrangements

Contract:Permanent

Salary:£30,500 - £33,500 (inclusive of London weighting), pro-rata

Purpose of the Role

The Communications & Engagement Officer is a key role within Breaking Barriers’ Income and Engagement Directorate. It helps refugees find meaningful employment through communications and fundraising activities that maintain and grow relationships with partners, funders, supporters and relevant influential organisations and individuals.

The post holder reports to the Senior Communications Manager, and works closely with the Head of Public Engagement, Senior Digital Marketing Manager and Fundraising & Partnerships Officer. They also lead or participate in activities involving colleagues across Breaking Barriers’ teams and our refugee clients.

This role contributes to the implementation of our communications, engagement and fundraising strategies, and is closely involved in team planning – including input into operational plans and communications campaigns to steward and inspire key audiences.

The Communications & Engagement Officer is responsible for the planning and creation of day-to-day communications across our owned channels, with a particular focus on social media. They are also responsible for managing social media interactions and outreach, and for creating selected content for Breaking Barriers’ website.

The post holder helps the Senior Communications Manager to ensure that organisational content complies with brand guidelines. And they play a key role in data management – maintaining our multi-media asset bank and the storytelling data within our Salesforce CRM.

This role will suit a team player who is able to build strong relationships across Breaking Barriers to support content creation, ethical storytelling and impact. The post-holder should be comfortable in a fast-paced environment, solution-focused and creative, whilst having a good eye for detail. And, of course, they should have a passion for stewarding, inspiring and mobilising audiences through high-quality, engaging communications.

Key Responsibilities

1. Communications planning and delivery (60%)

· Work with the Senior Communications Manager to manage the communications calendar.

· Collaborate with colleagues across Breaking Barriers, especially the Income & Engagement and Services teams, to source content that reaches, engages, stewards our key audiences – including partners, funders and individual supporters.

· Plan, create and schedule written and multi-media (graphics, videos, photos) content on social media platforms.

· Plan and create or coordinate longer-form content, including case studies, articles and blogs.

· Contribute to the delivery of integrated communications campaigns that support income generation, brand awareness and positioning amongst key audiences.

· Support the continual improvement of our communications by monitoring and evaluating their own work and implementing recommendations.

· Support the development of communications, engagement and fundraising strategies and input into team planning.

2. Community and supporter engagement (30%)

· Manage and engage with our organic social media communities.

· Pro-actively engage with relevant organisations and individuals via social media, in line with agreed strategies.

· Help develop and manage our growing community of storytellers with lived experience of life as a refugee.

3. Other responsibilities (10%)

· Update storytelling data in the Salesforce CRM, and undertake other administrative tasks.

· Take responsibility for maintaining Breaking Barriers’ asset bank of photographs, videos and graphics.

· Advise and support colleagues on compliance with brand guidelines, and create brand resources.

· Represent the Public Engagement team at selected events, including photographing or filming key moments and activities.

· Support other teams with ad-hoc requests for communications support.

· Take a proactive approach to professional development.

· Take on other marketing and communications tasks as required.

Person Specification
Essential

· Demonstrable knowledge of and/or interest in refugee, employment or migration sectors

· Experience in a communications or fundraising role (this doesn't have to be in the UK)

· A demonstrable understanding of key communications and fundraising principles, whether through direct experience or study, and including:

o Understanding audiences

o User journeys

o Developing key messaging

o Audience stewardship

o Working with brand guidelines

· Experience of creating high quality campaigns or content to inspire or drive action

· Experience creating written and multi-media (photography/graphics/video) content for social media, websites and/or emails

· Strong copywriting, editing and proofing skills, and the ability to tailor content for different audiences and channels

· Excellent relationship-building skills, and confidence working with colleagues at all levels of seniority

· Ability to work on own initiative, take responsibility for work, and learn from challenges and successes

· A proactive and creative approach to problem solving and idea generation

· Comfortable within a fast-paced team and able to prioritise multiple projects

· Ability to pay close attention to detail, to maintain communications quality and accuracy

· Experience with administrative, team communication and workload management applications, preferably including the Microsoft Office 365 suite.

· Experience with one or more of the following:

o Design tools such as Canva

o Photography and film editing

o Website CMS software

o Email broadcast platforms

o Social media scheduling platforms

Desirable

· Lived Experience of Breaking Barriers’ cause

· Experience using Salesforce, or another CRM system

· Knowledge of GDPR and data protection principles as they apply to communications and fundraising

· Experience of monitoring and evaluating communications or fundraising activities

Other considerations:

· Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully taken into account when deciding action. 

· We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief. 

· Breaking Barriers particularly welcomes applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background. 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we are committed to offering an accessible recruitment process and guarantee an interview to all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role.  

• Full-time (35 hours/week)
• Fixed-term contract, 12 months
• Hybrid working (minimum two days per week in central Edinburgh office)
• Starting salary £38,087 per annum
• Closing date: Wednesday 24 June 2026, 23:59

About the RSE

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotland’s National Academy. Through the expertise of our Fellowship and the work of our staff, we bring together knowledge, ideas, and people to help address the most important issues facing Scotland and the wider world.

Our Fellowship of over 1,800 individuals spans academia, business, public service, the arts, and civil society. Alongside this, the RSE delivers a wide-ranging programme of research support, policy advice, public engagement, and international collaboration.

We are a collaborative, purpose-driven organisation with a strong commitment to supporting our people and promoting a positive and inclusive working culture.

Our small team is about to become a wee bit bigger. You may spot several roles advertised across the RSE this summer. These opportunities reflect investment in our people and future priorities as we grow our ambition to make knowledge useful.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced membership engagement professional to plan and deliver dynamic programme of activities for our Fellowship. Informed by insight gathered through a recent Fellows’ survey, you’ll help shape a more connected and active membership, ensuring activities align with the RSE’s mission of “knowledge made useful”.

Working closely with Fellows and colleagues across the organisation, the Membership Engagement Officer will plan and deliver a varied programme of events, networking, and engagement opportunities. You will also collaborate with the Communications team to develop targeted, meaningful content that strengthens relationship and encourages participation.

This is a new and exciting role focused on building a culture of active engagement. You’ll convene and support an advisory group, evaluate the impact of activities, and continuously refine the programme using data and feedback.

About you

You will bring:

• A minimum of 3–5 years’ experience of delivering membership engagement activities in a similar context
• Proven experience of strategically planning engagement in response to insight
• An understanding of membership organisations, professional and/or interdisciplinary networks
• Experience of working with a CRM system (Customer Relationship Management)
• Strong collaborative and communication skills

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys bringing an engagement strategy to life with measurable results. As a Fellow-led organisation, this role would suit someone who can bring great ideas whilst working in a collaborative and consultative way.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the online application via BreatheHR. At the document upload stage, please ensure you provide both required documents:

• A CV (maximum two A4 pages) outlining your relevant skills and experience
• A cover letter (maximum one A4 page) setting out your suitability for the role and your interest in working at the RSE

Applications must be submitted by 23.59 Wednesday 24 June.

Interviews for this role will take place Monday 7 or Tuesday 8 July  at the RSE in Edinburgh.

Please note that the RSE is not in the position to sponsor work or student visas. Pre-employment screening will include the necessary right to work in the UK checks as well as reference checks.