Public engagement officer jobs in Bristol

Employer: Community Rail Network 

Salary: £43k-£51.5k pa, full time 

Location: Home based / flexible or Huddersfield 

We are seeking a dynamic director of policy and communications, to lead and develop our increasingly impactful external affairs activity. You’ll be sharing community insights and evidence with policy and decision-makers at national and devolved level, supporting a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable transport and mobility, while overseeing high-quality, inspiring member communications and thought-leadership, drawing on grassroots experiences.  
  

About us 

Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.

Community rail is made up of 76 community-based partnership organisations, and c.1,300 station friends volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.

Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in different locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support our members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in developing our team and helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.

About this role 

This role is crucial for us, our members and their communities, especially at the current time, with our need to seize on the opportunities of rail reform and devolution, promote wider use of sustainable transport, and bring communities together. You will spearhead our external affairs strategy and plans, building political relationships, influencing decision-making and raising awareness of community rail and its insights, while ensuring effective communications with our members and helping them to have a voice locally and regionally. You’ll be striving to put community rail at the forefront of a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable mobility.

As a member of our senior leadership team, reporting to and working closely with our chief executive, you will manage a passionate team of four, ensuring collaboration with our other teams, partners and funders, and drawing on members’ insights.

 
Main responsibilities 

• Lead the review, development and delivery of our communications, policy and insights strategy, working to position the community rail movement effectively, use its insights to influence policy change, and ensure our members are well-informed and have a voice; 

• Further strengthen our advisory and influencing work with national, devolved and regional government, transport bodies, parliamentarians and other decision-makers, especially around rail reform, transport devolution and integrated, inclusive, sustainable transport; 

• Ensure we’re engaging effectively with policy developments and opportunities, taking forward a programme of relationship-building, and identifying and engaging in relevant consultations, events and speaking opportunities, enabling community rail’s insights and experiences to be shared; 

• Collaborate with partners in rail, government and the third sector to feed in our expertise on community engagement with rail, amplify our campaigns, and build opportunities for joined-up communications and policy work;

• Continually develop and disseminate our evidence base and insights on the social, environmental and economic value community rail delivers, and opportunities to create greater benefits for communities from rail and transport; 

• Oversee high-quality, coherent and inspiring communications with our members and partners, promoting our work, and sharing news, opportunities, and good practice across the movement; 

• Manage production of high-quality resources, case studies and reports that our members can use to enhance their impact and which showcase community rail’s impact; 

• Lead and develop our media relations and awareness-raising PR, championing community rail and its messages on sustainable, inclusive travel and communities at national and regional level, while supporting members on local PR; 

• Develop our online presence and reach, making full use of our website, social media, our Scenic Rail Britain campaign, and partners’ channels to celebrate and position community rail and grow its reach and impact; 

• Oversee a calendar of creative and impactful campaigns that involve and empower our members, creating PR and engagement opportunities, including Community Rail Week;

• Play a key role in collective leadership, strategic focus and organisational development as a member of our senior leadership team, including through internal communications and cross-team working, annual planning, funder liaison and reporting, upholding our strategies and policies, and pursuing opportunities for continuous improvement. 

 
Skills and competencies 

1. Strong leadership and management skills, including experience managing, developing and drawing on a multi-faceted team delivering complex campaigns or projects, and budget management; 
2. Excellent communication and external leadership skills; articulate, assertive, and with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels; 
3. An understanding of public affairs, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, and a demonstrable ability to identify influencing opportunities, deliver thought-leadership, and engage with policy-makers, including sharing community insights; 
4. Politically astute, with awareness of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a good grasp of the importance of public transport sustainable travel, and community-led action, to these agendas; 
5. Understanding of political processes and experience of engaging with policy and decision-making, ideally at national, devolved and local levels; 
6. Sound knowledge of communication and marketing methods and channels, and ability to oversee messaging and targeting of public and professional audiences, and to align content across multiple channels; 
7. A demonstrable ability to think analytically and draw on statistical and qualitative research to construct robust, evidence-based arguments; 
8. Experience of working with the media and achieving coverage at national, regional and local level; 
9. Experience working collaboratively with partners and ideally funders to deliver communications and policy activity and forming professional networks; 
10. Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while dealing with competing priorities, and to support team members to do so; 
11. IT literate with a good working knowledge of Office, the internet and social media; 
12. Appropriate qualifications and professional development demonstrating knowledge and skills in line with the above, and a commitment to ongoing learning and development.

Other information

As you will be home-based, we are flexible about your location. However, you will be expected to travel to in-person full team meetings quarterly (usually in West Yorkshire), and you will need to bring your team together (currently all West Yorkshire based) with similar regularity in between. Attendance at in-person events and meetings is also important. We therefore welcome applications from those with decent public transport links, not too far from a railway station, to enable journeys to be made sustainably.   

This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months.   

Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.  

This role manages the BSI’s Clinical Immunology Professional Network, and drives partnerships to secure funding and support. You will also lead the BSI’s work on vaccines, aiming to accelerate the development and deployment of effective and affordable vaccines that deliver patient benefit.

This is a highly visible role requiring extensive engagement with partner organisations including the NHS, charities, funders, government bodies and industry, alongside a strong understanding of the relevant policy landscape. Acting as a primary interface with clinical and research communities, funders and other key stakeholders, you will also secure external funding to support project delivery. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential to build strong relationships and successfully deliver projects both within and beyond the BSI.

This is an excellent opportunity to join an ambitious and innovative science and health membership organisation, delivering impactful projects, and building important partnerships in the dynamic field of clinical research.

Birthrights is recruiting a Campaigns and Policy Manager to help drive transformative change in maternity care. This is a powerful opportunity to shape national policy and campaigns that centre human rights, racial justice and the lived experiences of women and birthing people.

Reporting to the CEO, you will lead our policy and campaigns strategy, shaping how we influence government, the NHS, regulators and professional bodies. You will identify leverage points for change, develop strong and persuasive policy positions, and deliver bold, creative campaigns that challenge harmful practice and shift power. Working closely with our legal, information & advice, training and communications teams, you will ensure our policy and campaigning work is grounded in evidence, lived experience and human rights law.

You will also contribute strategically to Communities Imagine — a core organisational initiative rooted in racial justice, community leadership and a radical re-imagining of maternity care — while working alongside and supporting dedicated roles focused on its delivery.

Birthrights is a small but mighty charity with a national profile and a strong track record of influencing maternity policy and practice. We offer flexible, remote working, a supportive team culture and generous benefits.

If you are a values-driven campaigner with a passion for racial justice, reproductive justice and human rights, we would love to hear from you.

Closing date: 12 noon on Monday 26th January – please refer to the candidate pack for full details.

Join us and help create opportunities that change young lives.

Career Ready is a UK-wide social mobility charity, working to empower young people with the skills, confidence, and networks they need to succeed.  We're looking for a Partnerships Manager to help transform young people’s futures. In this role, you’ll retain and grow corporate partnerships that fund our programmes and provide paid internships, mentoring, and volunteering opportunities.

You’ll lead a portfolio of corporate partners dontating five figure amounts, inspire businesses to invest in social mobility, and secure long‑term commitments that deliver real impact. Working closely with colleagues across programmes and income generation, you’ll ensure partners see the tangible difference they make while championing employer engagement at events and through networks.

We’re seeking someone with proven account management experience at a mid to high level, exceptional relationship‑building skills, and the ability to collaborate brilliantly with colleagues and partners. If you’re proactive, organised, and motivated by creating opportunities for young people, this is your chance to make a lasting difference.

For full information view our candidate pack, which is available when you click on Apply.

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 12 January 2026

First stage interviews: expected to take place w/c 19 January 2026

We are the Advancement Office at the University of Bath, responsible for engaging our community of alumni and supporters and fundraising to drive forward strategic priorities at the University.

About the role

We are seeking a dynamic Head of Systems, Data and Insights to drive digital innovation, champion evidence-based decision making, and lead a high-performing team.

This is not a role for someone who only wants to sit back and strategise. It’s for a leader who thrives on combining strategic vision with hands-on delivery. You’ll set the direction for data, systems, and insights, while also rolling up your sleeves to design processes, deliver technical solutions, and unlock the power of supporter insight.

You’ll be the technical lead for Advancement, owning our alumni database (Raiser’s Edge NXT) and related systems, and ensuring they are optimised to support smarter fundraising, deeper alumni engagement, and more efficient operations.

In this role you will:

• Lead and inspire a team of data and systems professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Own and optimise Raiser’s Edge NXT and related platforms, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR and other regulations.
• Deliver insights and reporting that empower colleagues across the institution to make strategic, data-driven decisions.
• Champion governance and compliance, ensuring data quality, security, and resilience.
• Collaborate and influence across the University, representing Advancement in cross-institutional initiatives and equipping colleagues to self-serve data and insights.
• Balance strategy and execution—from setting long-term direction to personally delivering high-impact technical projects.

If you’re excited by the challenge of leading strategically while delivering hands-on technical impact, we’d love to hear from you.

About you

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Extensive experience with relational databases (Raiser’s Edge knowledge is a plus).
• A proven track record of delivering complex IT and change management projects.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience managing teams and developing strategies.
• Expertise in data protection, compliance, and governance.
• Technical fluency in business intelligence platforms (Power BI experience an advantage).
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.

Further information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Laura Underwood, Associate Director of Advancement Services. Please ensure your application is submitted via our website - we cannot accept CVs via email.  

This is a hybrid role with an expectation of 2 days per week on campus.

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. an accredited Disability Confident Leader; autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff. 

What we can offer you

We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:

• Free counselling services through Health Assured
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
• Staff discount on language courses
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• Local discounts and more
• A family-friendly workplace 
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• Relocation allowance
• Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses

Find out more about our benefits and watch the video to hear from our staff about what makes the University of Bath a great place to work as well as following us X and LinkedIn.

Salary: £46,698 (London) / £42,373 (National) per annum

Hours:                       35 hrs per week

Contract: Fixed term contract (until March 2027)

Benefits

· 27 days annual leave + statutory holidays + 3 closures days over the Christmas period;

· Flexible working for all staff including working from home / hybrid working, and flexi-time/TOIL scheme;

· Attractive family friendly policies;

· Private healthcare cover;

· Season ticket loans;

· Employee awards, and training and development opportunities.

For more information about our benefits please visit our website.

Office locations:  London, Bristol or homeworker

The role will involve spending a substantial amount of time in the East of England (including early starts/late finishes and overnight stays where required) and regular travel nationwide for NHF events and meetings. 

Please note, if office based, the successful candidate will be expected to carry out two days in-person working per week on average which will include attendance at your office location.

Flexible working arrangements can be discussed and agreed with the line manager subject to role and business needs.

An exciting opportunity has arisen at the National Housing Federation (NHF) to join our team of External Affairs Managers on a fixed-term basis to cover maternity leave. The NHF is the voice of housing associations in England. We are the trade body to almost 600 housing associations, who have grown from philanthropic roots to provide 2.6 million homes to around 6 million people. You can find further information about the NHF on our website.

Could you be our new External Affairs Manager, working closely with our housing association members across the East of England?

This is a unique and varied role which would appeal to someone with a background in areas such as stakeholder management, policy, public affairs, communications, programme management – or a combination of these areas! For example, you may be looking to step into a role to further develop your leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, whilst still building on your policy or programme management experience and knowledge.

You will operate at the heart of social housing by working with key decision makers across the housing association sector – including managing relationships with chief executives, chairs of boards and executive directors. Strong communication and influencing skills are essential to the role, as well as the confidence to work at the most senior levels.  

It is crucial that you can work collegiately to lead key programmes of work across the NHF with colleagues in other teams, for example from our policy, press, events, and public affairs teams. Equally, you will be comfortable working autonomously and shaping your own work programme.

The core of the role involves being responsible for engagement with a whole geographic region of our membership; and working closely on or leading one of the NHF’s key themes of work, which include areas such as supported housing; devolution; developing new homes; decarbonising existing homes; ensuring the building safety agenda is delivered; or representing our rural or smaller housing associations.

The role is wide ranging and in addition to stakeholder management and programme leadership, will include running roundtables between our members and government, chairing sessions at NHF conferences, and presenting political and policy updates to senior teams within housing associations.

You will be part of a team of eight External Affairs Managers sitting within the member services directorate, which is there to ensure that we provide excellent value for money for our housing association members.

Key elements of the role:

· You will build and maintain brilliant relationships with housing associations leaders, using your well-developed communication and advocacy skills to maximum effect.

· You will develop knowledge, insight and understanding of housing associations to shape our policy and influencing work and to create structured programmes of member engagement on critical policy and political issues.

· You will be the contact point for housing associations in your region, ensuring they receive first class customer service on the issues which matter to them. Working closely with NHF members you will facilitate the organisation of regional chief executive or leaders forums and sounding boards.

· In addition to your regional work, you will lead on the strategic planning and delivery of a key NHF policy priority. This will require collaborative working with colleagues from across the organisation and working with members across every region and specialism.  You will play a leadership role, creating structured engagement strategies to ensure members are able to influence policy as well as engaging key NHF stakeholders and sharing best practice.

· Your role will be to implement structured member engagement to ensure our policy priorities, positions and influencing work are member-led. This will include working directly with members to inform our policy positions and lead our influencing work.

· You will influence debates at the highest level and you will spot in advance and act strategically to mitigate the risk to our membership. As such, this role requires a high degree of political and organisational acumen and the ability to horizon scan.

· You will work with colleagues in our Commercial and Events teams to maximise commercial opportunities and help shape content at our conferences, as well chairing conference sessions.

· To be the face and voice of the NHF with members, stakeholders and the media.

· To ensure that as an organisation we deliver as a whole team, seamlessly, to members to achieve greatest impact in line with the business strategy.

· To maintain high quality standards and follow NHF policy and process.

The successful candidate:

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

· A sound knowledge and understanding of housing associations and issues affecting the wider sector.

· A sound understanding of the political and policy landscape that housing associations operate in.

· Demonstrable knowledge and experience of establishing and maintaining relationships with senior stakeholders, demonstrating excellent customer service and value for money.

· Effective communication skills, in person and in writing, including the ability to credibly and confidently present at meetings and events.

· Ability to listen to and influence senior stakeholders, demonstrating diplomacy, effective communication and negotiation skills.

· Clear leadership skills, able to lead complex and strategic programmes of work effectively, including experience of matrix managing and motivating a team.

· Excellent analytical skills and strategic nous with the ability to summarise complex information effectively to aid decision making.

· A commitment to excellent customer service.

· A positive, energetic and agile approach to work.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The NHF has published its equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, which was co-created with staff. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we value the contribution each individual makes to our work.  

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and are working to increase the diversity profile of our workforce. We are currently under-represented by ethnic minorities, people with a disability or disabilities and LGBTQ+, and would particularly welcome applications from people in these groups.

Disability confident employer

We are a disability confident employer and if you are a disabled person who meets the skills and experience we consider essential for the role, we will offer you an interview.

Please note: there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. In certain recruitment situations such as high-volume of applications, we may be required to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.
In these circumstances the NHF will select the disabled candidates who best meet the minimum criteria for the job rather than all of those that meet the minimum criteria, as we would do for non-disabled applicants. This is in line with the Disability Confident guidelines.

We are happy to consider reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process if you have a disability or have a condition that you feel may affect your performance during the recruitment process. Please contact the People team with your request or to arrange a time to discuss in more detail.

Our role profile and job advert can also be requested in large print or in accessible format via this email address.

Completing our Application Form

To apply for this role, please complete our online application form. The application form includes your employment and education history plus you will be asked to answer questions in relation to your knowledge, skills and experience, why you are applying for the role and questions in relation to our values. The application form is anonymous and will not require you to upload a CV or cover letter. This will help us to shortlist candidates for interview based solely on their knowledge, skills and experience.

Right to work in the UK/UK VISA sponsorship

You must have the right to work in the UK and it is important to note that the NHF does not sponsor individuals to work in the UK.

Closing date for applications: 4 January 2026

Interview date: 14 and 15 January 2026

Job summary

Job title - Fundraising and Membership Officer

Responsible to - Fundraising Operations Manager

Salary - £24,645 - £26,275 FTE per annum (pro rata) 

(£19,716 - £21,020 actual)  Exact salary dependent on experience

Hours of work - Part time - 28 hours per week (0.8 FTE).  We consider part-time/job-share and flexible working requests

Annual leave - 30 days + 8 bank holidays per year pro rata

Location - This role is hybrid - split between home working and our Bristol office.  You will be required to work a minimum of 50% of your hours from the office each week.

Job purpose

This role will underpin the operation of our fundraising and membership programmes, with a mixture of public facing interactions and focused operational, database work.

Our long-standing membership scheme is an integral part of our fundraising at Action for ME, and we are fortunate to have a generous membership base of over 3,000 loyal supporters. You will be the main point of contact for our members, ensuring they feel valued and connected to our work, as well as supporting efforts to increase our current membership.

You will also be responsible for the smooth running of crucial operational processes for our membership, trading and individual giving income streams, both during fundraising campaigns and day to day. With a commitment to continuous improvement of these systems, you will help us to increase the efficiency and quality of our stewardship, retain our donors and bring in new supporters.

Key duties

Membership

• Be the main point of contact for our members and provide high quality stewardship over the phone, by email and by letter, always ensuring consistent and high-quality communication.
• Be responsible for delivering operational tasks relating to the membership scheme and improving their efficiency. Including, but not limited to, gift importing and processing, data administration, thanking members, processing renewals and sending out renewal reminders.
• Work with the Fundraising Operations Manager and our Senior Supporter Engagement Officer to monitor the performance of the membership programme and support its growth.
• Maintenance and creation of the mailing lists for our membership magazine, InterAction.  Assist with the distribution of the magazine across all channels (post, email, audio).

Individual Giving & Trading

• Ensure that gifts are processed, recorded and thanked appropriately in a timely manner; and that database records are kept up to date, in line with fundraising data regulations.
• Assisting with the administration of our Winter and Spring raffles and Lottery programme.
• Work with the Fundraising Operations Manager and the wider team to maximise fundraising potential using data and donor insights/feedback.
• Maintain a high standard of data quality and record keeping on our database, ensuring our fundraising processes and procedures are applied in line with all regulatory and governance requirements including GDPR and those of the Fundraising Regulator.
• Processing all outgoing post for the Fundraising team, including online shop orders, from our Bristol office. Complete other office-based tasks as required.  You will be required to work at least 50% of your hours from the office.
• Work alongside the fundraising team to deliver our strategy and workplans, including involvement in projects and fundraising campaigns as required.

Other duties

• To attend and contribute constructively to team meetings and other meetings as required
• To positively promote the work and activities of Action for ME at all times
• To contribute to the team’s overall strategy delivery, annual planning and budgeting.
• To undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post as requested by the Fundraising Operations Manager, Director of Fundraising & Development or the Chief Executive.
• Act as an advocate for the Charity and its work.

Person Specification

Experience and knowledge

• Demonstrable experience in building relationships with customers or stewarding supporters and donors.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel for work, including basic excel functions, basic formulas and list tools.
• Experience of using a CRM database, preferably Raiser’s Edge
• Minimum 2 years previous fundraising experience (desirable)

Skills and Behaviours

• A confident multitasker who is comfortable dealing with a variety of enquiries and managing a varied workload.
• Excellent verbal communicator, skilled in engagement, empathy and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written communication skills including creating reports to measure progress.
• Ability to use own initiative, solve problems, work independently and to work well in a team.
•  An understanding of data protection including UKGDPR
• Strong IT skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Office, databases and web-related programmes and software.
• An understanding of ME and the impact on people affected by it (desirable).

Attitudes and values

• Enthusiasm
• Integrity
• Resilient

Key competencies

• Effective communicator
• Results driven
• Attention to detail

Help support traumatised refugees by creating a community where healing is possible: Part-time, flexible and remote working with travel to Bristol, Bath and South West area as required (currently about 6 times a year).

Join Trauma Foundation South West, a small, welcoming charity providing long-term psychotherapy to traumatised refugees and professional training and supervision to those supporting traumatised people across the South West and nationally.

We are looking for a Communications and Administration Officer (2 days/ 14 hours per week) to play a key role in strengthening our digital presence, supporting our training, supervision and therapy services, and keeping our operations running smoothly.

In this role, you will:

• Create and schedule social media content, newsletters, and website updates that reflect our values and engage supporters.

• Assist with simple design work for training materials, presentations, and our annual Impact Report.

• Provide essential administrative support for our training, supervision, and therapy programmes, including responding to enquiries, coordinating small events, and maintaining accurate records.

• Support onboarding of new staff and maintain key data to help us deliver safe, effective services.

This is a varied and meaningful role, ideal for someone returning to work, seeking flexible hours, or wanting to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Working closely with the Directors of Operations and Services, you will thrive in a collaborative, supportive environment that values your initiative, skills, and ideas.

Why you will love working with us

• Be part of a small, warm team with a culture of collaboration, compassion and courage.

• Opportunities to shape how our communications and operations develop as the organisation grows

• Flexible remote working, with up to 6 in-person days/year in the Bristol/Bath area

• Access to specialist trauma training and a professional development

• 28 days holiday (pro rata) plus bank holidays

Key dates:

• Public information Session: Thursday 18th December at 5pm. Book here if you want to find out more about the role before applying : https://traumafoundationsouthwest.as.me/RecruitmentInformationSession
• Application deadline: Tuesday 6th January 2026 at 11:30pm.
• Interviews: Tuesday 13th January 2026
• Outcomes issued by: Friday 9th January 2026 (non-shortlisted candidates) and Friday 16th January 2026 (shortlisted candidates)

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

We want everyone to be able to participate fully in our recruitment process. If you have a disability or need any adjustments at any stage, just let us know and we will put the right support in place.

We particularly welcome applications from:

• Experts by Experience (people with lived experience relevant to our work)
• People from the Global Majority
• Individuals from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds
• Applicants returning to work or balancing caring responsibilities.  

This is a flexible role within a supportive team, with opportunities to take on additional projects if you have skills to bring. You don’t need to meet every requirement to be considered, so if you’re unsure whether you’re the right fit, we’d still love to hear from you.

Terms:  Part time (0.4 FTE), 24-month contract

Salary range:  £27,810 - £41,200

Location:  Remote, with occasional in-person meetings and conference travel

Start date:  March 2026

Line manager:  Project Manager, Nuclear Transparency Inventory

Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK. 

Application closing date:  16th January 2026

About BASIC

BASIC is an independent, non-profit think tank working to safeguard humanity and Earth's ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come. Our vision is for a global security consensus founded on multilateralism, the recognition of the indivisibility of security, adherence to Earth's planetary boundaries, and consideration of future generations.

For nearly 40 years, we have built a global reputation for groundbreaking dialogue and incisive thought leadership to strengthen international peace and security. We are an intellectually and culturally diverse team of 20 expert-practitioners with deep institutional experience, headquartered in London with additional presences in Berlin and Rome. We are independent, receive no core funding from any state, and our project work is funded transparently.

BASIC's approach to resolving contemporary nuclear dynamics is centred on dialogue as both a practice and a philosophy. We interpret dialogue broadly, recognising that meaningful engagement takes many forms: from facilitating direct strategic conversations between adversaries grounded in conflict resolution principles, to developing networks and diplomatic initiatives that build consensus around shared objectives, to shaping the intellectual foundations of policy discourse through rigorous research and thought leadership.

BASIC is a fast-paced and rewarding environment with an exceptionally positive and inclusive team culture. We have experienced rapid growth over the past decade and are well-suited to people who are motivated by our mission, able to work at a sustained pace, keen to develop professionally, and enjoy being part of a collaborative team working on consequential issues.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with room for growth

• 30 days annual leave (pro rata), plus bank holidays and closure days over the December festive  period

• Employer pension contributions of 5% (above the national minimum)

• Flexible working arrangements, with set days (Wednesdays required) but flexibility on hours

• Remote working with option to use co-working space

• 1-2 all-staff in-person team away day per year, as well as other in-person working opportunities

• Opportunities for professional growth and development

• Excellent team culture built on respect, openness, and inclusion

Role Description

The Project Officer will directly support the Project Manager, Dr Lyndon Burford, in delivering the Nuclear Transparency Inventory (NUTRI). NUTRI will catalogue the transparency policies and practices of all nuclear-armed states regarding their nuclear arsenals and related facilities. It will be published on a free, interactive website. 

The primary focus of NUTRI is on whether, how, and why states choose to disclose data about their nuclear arsenals and related facilities and policies. The project aims to support further research and dialogue by offering a go-to source of trusted information for officials, decision makers, and analysts on how the leaders of different states think about nuclear transparency. The aim is to help increase mutual understanding and prevent miscalculations, and foster confidence for future arms control and disarmament efforts.

The role of the NUTRI Project Officer will include desk-based research on nuclear transparency; helping coordinate the work of external consultants; engaging with and helping coordinate the work of the project Advisory Board; helping facilitate peer review of research findings; travelling nationally and/or internationally to promote NUTRI and its findings; drafting project-related policy briefings and other publications; and helping convene in-person and online meetings with experts and policy makers. The role also includes collaboration with the team working on BASIC’s NPT Monitor project.

Personal attributes and experience

The NUTRI Project Officer will have 4-6 years of experience and will have begun to carve out a presence in the nuclear policy field. They will be highly motivated, work well independently and in a team, and be comfortable speaking and presenting to, and writing for, a variety of audiences, including government officials, analysts, and civil society experts. 

The successful applicant will have a working knowledge of the world’s nuclear arsenals and related policies and demonstrable experience producing high-quality research. They will be highly organised, with strong time management skills and the ability to maintain focus on core project aims while juggling multiple workstreams. Though the Project Officer may be relatively new to fundraising, they will be able to contribute to the process with excellent writing skills, attention to detail, and policy insights. The Project Officer will work with their line manager to identify a professional development plan to close skills gaps and work towards becoming a respected leader in their field.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Support the Project Manager in the day-to-day management and implementation of the project, ensuring timelines and milestones are met. 

• Conduct independent research and provide analytical support to the Project Manager. 

• Help coordinate, with support from the Project Manager, the work of project partners and consultants, including Advisory Board members, external consultants, and peer reviewers.

• Proof read data from external consultants to ensure it is appropriately formatted according to agreed specifications.

• Help coordinate, with support from the Project Manager, the development of a dedicated website to publish project findings.

• Draft briefings for diverse policy audiences, including government officials and senior decision makers, international institutions, and civil society experts. 

• Help develop and facilitate, with support from the Project Manager and in collaboration with other BASIC staff, online and in-person events, including at the 2026 NPT Review Conference.

• Co-produce written materials with the Project Manager. 

• Develop and manage, in collaboration with the Project Manager and Director of Communications, regular social media posts to promote NUTRI and its findings.

Role Requirements

Essential:

• Educated to Master’s level
• 4-6 years of work experience in a think tank, research institute, NGO, foundation or government working on international security issues
• Passion and commitment to our organisational mission of promoting dialogue to advance global security
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders from a variety of professional and cultural backgrounds and different levels of seniority
• Excellent analytical and methodological skills, and highly organised approaches to research and data storage
• Good working knowledge of Google suite / Microsoft 365
• Strong interpersonal skills and team work
• Experience helping organise policy roundtables and workshops
• Willingness to travel internationally when required
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail

Desirable:

• Experience organising high-level meetings (in-person and/or online)
• Project management experience 

This is an exceptional opportunity to join Belong’s Senior Leadership Team as Director of Policy & Research, a role that sits at the heart of our mission to shape national conversations on cohesion and integration. You will lead Belong’s policy development, research strategy, and national partnerships, ensuring our work is grounded in robust evidence and lived experience. This position offers the chance to influence systemic change, amplify Belong’s voice with policymakers and opinion formers, and ensure our insights drive real-world impact.

As Director of Policy & Research, you will:

• Lead the development of Belong’s policy and research agenda, aligning it with organisational strategy and national priorities.
• Produce high-quality policy outputs, including reports, briefings, consultation responses, and thought leadership pieces.
• Oversee the design and delivery of research projects, including commissioning and partnership work, ensuring rigor and inclusivity.
• Translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations and advocacy strategies.
• Foster strong collaboration between the Policy & Research team and Programme Delivery team, ensuring insights inform both policy and practice.
• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians, journalists, and opinion formers.
• Represent Belong externally at high-level meetings, events, and in the media, amplifying our impact and reach.
• Develop strategic messaging and narratives that position Belong as a thought leader in social cohesion.
• Support campaigns and public engagement initiatives that promote Belong’s policy goals.
• Contribute to organisational development, strategic planning, and income generation through proposal development and funder engagement.
• Line manage policy and research staff, providing leadership, support, and professional development.

This is a senior leadership role for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and wants to drive systemic change at scale.

About You
We are seeking a strategic and insightful leader with:

• Proven experience in policy development and research leadership.
• Experience working in or with government, think tanks, or advocacy organisations.
• Strong understanding of social policy and influencing processes.
• Knowledge of cohesion, integration, and community relations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including media engagement and public speaking.
• Ability to translate complex research into accessible policy messages.
• Familiarity with participatory and applied research methods.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities.
• Relevant qualification in public policy, social research, or a related field.
• Experience managing teams and budgets, and supporting income generation through fundraising and proposal development.

Personal Qualities

• Passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK.
• Strategic and visionary thinker.
• Collaborative and inclusive leader.
• Politically astute and intellectually curious.
• Practical, focused, and reliable.
• Committed to personal and professional development.

Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:

• 30 days’ annual leave
• Hybrid working (typically 3 days in the office)
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
• 3% pension contribution
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Join us and help shape national policy and research that builds stronger, kinder, and more connected communities across the UK.

Salary: £65,000–£70,000
Location: UK-wide (regular travel across England and Wales)
Contract: Permanent, Full-time

About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to building a more united and less divided society. Established in 2019, we work across sectors to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience in communities. Through research, policy influence, and place-based programmes, we connect people, places, and organisations to share learning and drive systemic change. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses. Belong is collaborative, evidence-led, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.

White Ribbon is the leading organisation in the UK working to engage men and boys in ending violence against women and girls. Our mission is to prevent men’s violence against women through addressing its root causes, gender inequality and harmful gender norms and stereotypes. We do this by working with individual men and boys, organisations, and the community, helping them to understand the scale of the problem, and how they can be part of the solution.

This is an exciting time to join White Ribbon as our work and profile has grown significantly over recent years as the importance of engaging men in ending violence has become more apparent. We have an increasing public presence, through campaigning activities, policy influence, in the media and online.

Location: This is a London based post, with remote working.  Most frequent and regular networking and partnership meetings and events will be in London, with some travel throughout England and Wales, particularly around the White Ribbon Day period.  You will be required to attend occasional meetings with the staff team at various locations around the country, including quarterly in West Yorkshire.

You will lead our policy work to influence decision makers and our awareness raising campaigns, including our flagship White Ribbon Day and the following 16 days of activism, with ambitious engagement targets across a wide group of stakeholders.   Your work will bring about demonstrable societal and policy change.

Please see the full job description and person specification attached.

Head of Development and Communications

Job Description

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

£46,200 - £50,200 per annum FTE

The Head of Development and Communications plays a pivotal role in driving In2scienceUK’s mission to change lives by opening doors to STEM degrees and careers for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 

As a senior leader, you will shape and deliver a bold, integrated development and communications strategy that brings our mission to life, tells powerful stories of change, and inspires confidence and commitment from donors, partners, and key stakeholders that unlocks new opportunities for innovation and expansion.

In this role, you will manage a small, high-performing team and oversee the creation of compelling narratives and effective engagement strategies that inspire donors, partners, alumni, and key stakeholders, supporting a resilient and diversified income portfolio.

Working closely with programme teams, you will ensure that development and communications activity amplifies the impact of existing programmes, while identifying and developing new opportunities that deliver meaningful outcomes for young people across the UK.

You will drive the development of strategic partnerships and funding relationships to expand the reach and influence of In2science’s work. Combining strategic vision with operational expertise, you will take a proactive, entrepreneurial approach to growth, shaping how the organisation connects with its audiences, builds its reputation, and communicates the impact of its work in support of long-term strategic goals.

In2scienceUK operates on a remote basis, with necessary UK-wide travel for partner and funder meetings, events, and staff co-working days. 

Direct Reports

Development Team: Development Manager, Development Officer, External Fundraising Consultancy.

Comms Team : Senior Communications Officer.

Responsibilities 

Development

• To collaborate with the senior leadership team and trustees in setting organisational strategy and building strategic partnerships to support In2science’s vision for 2026 and beyond.

• Lead on planning, implementation and delivery of segmented fundraising and stewardship campaigns across programmes and audiences with a 2026 income target of £1.5m. 

• Lead and manage a diverse fundraising portfolio, including corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, research grants (e.g., UKRI), government funding, and individual giving.

• To lead a small but effective development team, including an external fundraising contractor to build upon our success to date to achieve funding targets and foster strategic relationships with funding and delivery partners.

• Budget and resource all aspects of development and communications, including engaging with external contractors to maximise our output and upskill our teams.

• Work closely with the Head of Operations to oversee our CRM, ensuring accurate pipeline reporting and forecasting, as well as utilising the system for tailored stewardship opportunities.

• Work closely with our programmes team to ensure that deliverables are met and in line with our mission and objectives.

• Explore opportunities for partnership to launch new programmes and initiatives, working with the Data and Impact manager to use national data to ensure we deliver the greatest possible impact to those most in need.

Communications

• Oversee the organisation’s external communications, ensuring all messaging is on-brand, reflects our values, meets high standards, and effectively tells the story of our impact on young people.

• Oversee resourcing of the communications function, balancing 70% development and brand engagement with 30% programme-focused activity.

• Identify opportunities to maximise brand presence through strategic partnerships, policy engagement, and media activity.

• Work closely with the SMT and Trustees to respond to media, speaking, and event requests, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging.

• Ensure digital and web platforms effectively showcase our impact and support compelling storytelling.

• Manage the Senior Communications Officer to deliver campaigns that drive organisational growth and engagement with donors, partners, volunteers, and beneficiaries.

Governance

• To work with the SMT, CEO, and Trustees to ensure strong charity governance, including leading the Growth Subcommittee and preparing reports for quarterly board meetings.

• Identify organisation-wide opportunities to streamline and improve performance across the organisation.

• Working with SMT and trustees to ensure charity compliance. Including the charity commission, funding regulator, ICO.

• Identify and manage organisational/operational risk and ensure that all measures are in place to mitigate this.

As duties and responsibilities change, the job description will be reviewed and amended in consultation with the post holder. The postholder will carry out any other duties that are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager. All staff must undertake all mandatory training, checks and compliance as instructed by the organisation.

Person Specification

Essential:

• A passionate advocate for social mobility in STEM.

• An inspiring leader who can inspire and collaborate across the organisation to achieve our collective goals.

• Three years experience of leading a development team to generate a seven-figure annual income from a diverse range of donors, ideally in a charitable organisation.

• Knowledge of all streams of fundraising, with direct experience in at least two of the following: corporate fundraising, trust and foundations, research grants e.g. UKRI, government grants or individual giving (incl. high-net worth donors).

• A target driven individual with a proven track record of personal six-figure income generation and achieving or exceeding personal targets.

• Excellent relationship management skills to steward existing and potential partners and donors.

• Experience of line management including developing personal development plans and setting KPIs.

• Proven experience of managing a brand, ensuring consistent and impactful communications that maximise reach amongst our target audiences.

• Superb written and verbal communication skills with the ability to persuade and influence at all levels.

• Proven experience of overseeing communication campaigns to engage new prospects across a variety of audiences.

• Evidence of efficient and accurate management of budgets and resources.

• Willingness to work flexibly and attend occasional events or meetings on evenings/weekends when required.

• Working collaboratively and supporting fostering a collegiate workplace environment.

• Upholds the values of our code of conduct and is respectful to all.

Desirable:

• Direct knowledge and/or experience of the barriers young people face in accessing STEM degrees or careers.

• Direct knowledge and/or experience of working with education organisations or STEM sector employers, incl. knowledge of current trends.

• Experience of working in collaboration with across teams to deliver new initiatives that maximise outcomes for young people and attract relevant funding.

• Evidence of delivering highly impactful events.

• Prior experience of public speaking, thought leadership and engaging with the press.

• Experience of governance in a small charitable organisation and utilising Trustees to support the organisation's goals and objectives.

Benefits: 

At In2scienceUK we practise what we preach by giving all staff opportunities to progress in their careers. You will have the opportunity to develop your career with your line manager to get you to the next level from day one. 

Although we take our career development seriously we also value work-life balance. You will have the opportunity to work flexibly from home, balancing your caring responsibilities, volunteer commitments, hobbies and anything else that makes you happy. 

You will have 28 days of annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays. 

Commitment to Safeguarding: 

In2scienceUK is committed to our responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults as outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children. We are committed to recruiting candidates who share this commitment to safeguarding, and therefore we apply robust recruitment and selection procedures to ensure that the people selected are right for the job, and that all candidates are appropriately screened prior to appointment. 

The following pre-employment checks will be undertaken as applicable:

• References 

• DBS check and/or Overseas criminal records check where applicable

• Self-Disclosure 

• Identity check 

• Right to work in the UK 

• Evidence of qualifications applicable to the role 

• Confirmation of registration with applicable registered body where applicable 

Many of our roles involve working with children and we will therefore take up references prior to your appointment. You should provide details of referees including your current and previous employers, covering the last 5 years. Your current or previous employer will be asked about disciplinary offences relating to children, if the role involved working with children, including any in which the penalty is time expired. We will also ask if you have been the subject of any child protection concerns and if so, the outcome of any enquiry or disciplinary procedure. 

Diversity and Inclusion:

In2scienceUK is committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in STEM and the charity sector, including but not limited to people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

We recognise that talent and potential come in many forms, and we welcome applicants with different experiences, perspectives, and ways of thinking. We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and working environment, and we will make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments, please let us know.

This is a unique opportunity for an astute, super-efficient, fast learner to join the first international climate campaign organisation focused on the steel sector, one of the largest and least-challenged drivers of climate change. In this role, you will provide critical executive administrative support to our Executive Director and leadership team in a fast-moving and developing organisation, bringing invaluable organisational expertise that we need to thrive. There will be plenty of opportunity to develop your own skills and responsibilities as SteelWatch evolves. You will join an international team across countries that are nimble, collaborative, and hugely ambitious in the task of influencing the steel sector, which drives 7% of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

SteelWatch is an international non-profit civil society organisation established in June 2023, driving corporate accountability in the steel sector and urgent climate action. Our vision is a steel sector that underpins a thriving zero-emissions economy. We are still in 'start-up' mode, actively campaigning while developing our team and systems. We are small but growing, seeking to hold the huge steel industry to account for its impacts and drive urgency into a sector that is, so far, slow to change. The team is spread across countries and timezones, working closely collaboratively and remotely.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Executive Assistant is responsible for providing critical, executive administrative support to enable the Executive Director and SteelWatch Leadership team to operate effectively. The Executive Assistant will be a vital team member, ensuring smooth operations across executive functions and key organisational processes. We are looking for a candidate with curiosity and the capacity to adapt as SteelWatch continues to evolve. The Executive Assistant reports to the Operations Director and works closely with the Executive Director on day-to-day priorities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

The role is focused on supporting the Executive Director and SteelWatch Leadership team on a number of tasks, not limited to:

Executive Support

• Stay up to date on ED priorities and tasks. Manage diaries, schedule appointments, set up meetings accordingly, adapting to priorities.
• Organise and book travel arrangements according to diary needs, ED needs, and internal policies.
• Arrange and prepare for meetings with external partners, allies, industry experts, donors and industry meetings, handling logistics (timing, location, travel, virtual arrangements) and ensuring advanced preparation where needed.
• Draft supporting materials (e.g., presentations) and assist with minute-taking, ensuring team input.
• Track and manage written communication with key external contacts, including funder updates.
• While managing immediate diary priorities, stay one step ahead on the medium and long-term diary, to flag to ED, others in LT or in the staff team where advanced action or decisions are needed.

Governance and Operational Activities

• Manage ongoing engagement with the Supervisory Board by ensuring clear agendas, logistical support in organising these meetings, plus minute taking, sign-off and circulation.
• Manage the logistics for the annual staff retreat and other face to face meetings
• Coordinate weekly team meetings as directed by the Executive Director.
• Assist with key organisational processes and tasks, collaborating closely with the Operations Lead and team members on document management, process improvements, new staff recruitment, and onboarding processes.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The ideal candidate will bring proven experience of executive support and a proactive, creative and tactful approach to making logistics and relationships run smoothly in a busy, evolving, international organisation, and must be happy working in a fully remote environment.

They will be detail-oriented and fussy about accuracy while comfortable operating in a context where systems are improving.

They will be able to navigate ambiguity, drive action forward in a fluid context, and enjoy doing so. Additionally, they will have enthusiasm for a start-up culture, demonstrating a willingness to lean into each other's roles and support team members as needed. They will have the highest professional standards and strong interpersonal communication skills.

Essential skills and experiences

• At least 3-5 years' experience (and possibly much more) and a proven track record as a proactive and problem solving assistant, supporting an Executive Director with calendar management and other administrative challenges.
• Strong belief in the organisation's mission.
• Tech savvy and able to work highly effectively using collaboration tech tools, including Google products (Google Docs, Google Drive, Google sheets, etc.) and other tools (Slack, Zoom, etc).
• Strong organisational and logistical skills with enthusiasm for supporting smooth operations across the leadership team and wider organisation.
• Proven track record as a team player, able to work well with colleagues across cultures and geographies, creating respectful collaborative relationships and efficient teamwork.
• Comfortable in a fully-remote working environment, and able to adapt to the team working practices and team building of an online environment.
• Comfortable working with fluidity and the flexibility of a start-up organisation, able to work independently and adapt to team priorities, committed to investing in strengthening the organisation.
• Willingness to lean into building system improvements and adapting to the pace and urgency of changing priorities. 
• Strong oral and written communication.
• Willingness and ability to work across time zones, collaborate with diverse teams, and accommodate some early start times to work with colleagues in Asia.
• Ability to travel once per year internationally, potentially twice a year in Europe, and to meet irregularly with the UK-based ED and/or Netherlands and Belgium-based Operations team in person.

Desirable

• Prior experience in a non-governmental organisation (NGO) setting is preferred.
• Experience in a fast-paced, start-up environment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide variety of audiences from analysts to communication experts and campaigners.
• Proven strong organisational skills to coordinate multiple inputs and manage different deadlines, working on immediate tasks as well as longer pieces of work.
• Demonstrated ability to think both strategically and creatively.
• Desire and ability to take initiative and to learn as you go.
• Enthusiasm to work with colleagues who bring different skills and expertise, and many of whom are on a learning curve about steel.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Location/remote working

• The position is fully remote with some occasional face-to-face time with colleagues, particularly the Executive Director and Operations Director.
• The UK is the preferred location due to ease of travel and contracting, but we will also consider exceptional applicants located in Belgium and the Netherlands.
• The successful applicant must be based in a time zone within one hour of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
• Being within a four-hour train journey of London is strongly preferred to facilitate travel and in-person collaboration, though we will consider exceptional candidates outside this range.
• While we offer some flexibility for you to work away from home base, this will need to be coordinated with travel of other colleagues, may depend on timezone changes and/or be limited by legal contracting constraints.
• You must have the right to work in your location. You will be employed in that country. SteelWatch is unable to support any visa application process. Work environment/Travel
• Working hours are flexible, but to facilitate collaboration, the core coordination window is 08:00-17:00 GMT/BST, Monday-Friday and you should be reasonably accessible during this window for meetings and coordination purposes. Work may occasionally be required outside of this standard time frame to meet deliverables.
• You will have the flexibility to adjust your weekly schedule to balance out those hours and fit into other commitments.
• Occasional travel will be required to collaborate with the team, including:
  • Annual full team retreat (once per year, may be in Asia, Europe or elsewhere) - essential.
  • Additional travel for events and face-to-face time with the team as needed.
• Face-to-face time with other colleagues may not be frequent, but it is essential. If you are constrained in your ability or permissions to travel, please discuss this before investing in an application.
• We pride ourselves on building a collaborative team of different cultures and working styles. Team members embrace the flexibility and learning curve of a start-up, and adapt to supporting each other as priorities arise.

Terms

This role is full time, 5 days/week. The initial contract period will be up to 12 months with a possibility to renew, depending on country regulations. The type of contract will depend on the location.

The gross salary for this position, if based in the UK, is in the range of £33,423-£44,576, based on experience and qualifications. Salaries are adjusted by location.

Our leave policy, unless varied by national regulation, provides 34 days in total combining public holidays and paid leave in all countries, plus birthday leave and inspiration time.

Ethics

We are a values-based organisation. Every staff member and consultant is asked to sign our Ethics statement and help us as an organisation live up to our values.

Equal opportunities

We strive to be an equal opportunities employer. We actively welcome applications from candidates from historically underrepresented groups in the climate change movement. If you require any adaptation or assistance during the application process, please be sure to let us know so that we can adjust.

Lead policy and research projects that shape national conversations on cohesion and integration. Join Belong and help create lasting change across the UK.

This is an exciting opportunity to take a pivotal role in delivering high-impact projects that inform practice and influence decision-makers. As Belong enters its next phase of growth, we are determined to deepen our impact, strengthen our resilience, and champion cohesion and integration at scale.

About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation focused on building a more united and less divided society. Established in 2019, we work across sectors to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience in communities. Through research, policy influence, and place-based programmes, we connect people, places, and organisations to share learning and drive systemic change. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses. Belong is collaborative, evidence-led, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Role
As Policy and Research Lead, you will design and deliver research and policy projects that inform practice and influence decision-makers. You will produce high-quality outputs, translate evidence into actionable recommendations, and contribute to Belong’s thought leadership. This role combines strategic insight with hands-on delivery and offers the chance to shape national conversations on social cohesion.

Key Responsibilities

• Policy and Research Leadership

  • Lead the design and delivery of policy and research projects, ensuring quality, relevance, and impact.
  • Produce policy briefings, reports, consultation responses, and thought leadership pieces.
  • Translate research findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners.
  • Ensure projects are inclusive, participatory, and informed by lived experience.
  • Monitor policy developments and contribute to strategic positioning and horizon scanning.

• Stakeholder Engagement

  • Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, researchers, funders, and sector leaders.
  • Represent Belong at external meetings, events, and networks.
  • Support collaborative research and policy initiatives with partners and commissioners.
  • Contribute to dissemination of Belong’s work through events, media, and digital channels.

• Internal Collaboration

  • Support the Director of Policy & Research in developing Belong’s policy influencing strategy.
  • Contribute to organisational learning and cross-team collaboration.
  • Assist with proposal development and funder engagement.
  • Line manage junior staff or associates as required.

About You
We are seeking a strategic and thoughtful leader with:

• Proven experience in leading policy and applied research programmes.
• Experience working in or with government, think tanks, or advocacy organisations.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Knowledge of cohesion, integration, and community development.
• Excellent project management and organisational abilities.
• Familiarity with participatory and inclusive research methods.
• Experience in income generation or bid development.
• Relevant qualification in public policy, social research, or related field.
• Ability to translate complex ideas into accessible messages.
• Politically aware and intellectually curious.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.

Personal Qualities

• Passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK.
• Strategic and solutions-focused.
• Collaborative and inclusive.
• Practical, reliable, and detail-oriented.
• Committed to personal and professional development.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:

• 30 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Hybrid working
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Join us and help shape policy and research that builds stronger, kinder, and more connected communities across the UK.

Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.