Public policy jobs

This is a senior communications and public affairs role at The British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) at a pivotal moment for human rights in the UK. You will help shape public and political narratives about the Human Rights Act, amplify lived experience, and ensure BIHR’s expertise cuts through in national debates.

You will lead BIHR’s external communications -  including media, digital content, and website oversight – and support evidence‑informed policy positioning and parliamentary engagement. Working closely with colleagues across the charity, you’ll transform insights from our programmes into powerful, accessible messaging and high‑impact advocacy.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a small but mighty team known for its expertise, credibility, and influence on human rights in everyday systems.

Please note this is not an entry‑level role.

Key Responsibilities

Please refer to the Application Pack for the full details, but below is a summary.

 Communications

• Lead BIHR’s external communications strategy to ensure consistent, accessible, rights‑based messaging.
• Draft proactive and reactive press releases and media statements.
• Secure media opportunities highlighting BIHR’s work and the role of the HRA/ECHR.
• Manage the consistency and quality of website content.
• Create engaging digital content that translates complex human rights issues into clear, plain language.
• Maintain a content calendar aligned with key parliamentary, policy, and public affairs milestones.
• Track and analyse engagement data to inform strategy.

 Policy Evidence, Analysis & Positioning

• Conduct policy research grounded in the HRA/ECHR framework.
• Translate lived and practitioner experience into evidence‑informed policy positions and recommendations.
• Draft high‑quality briefings, consultation responses, reports, and messaging documents.
• Horizon‑scan for risks and opportunities to protect and advance human rights.
• Maintain BIHR’s internal knowledge base on HRA/ECHR and priority policy areas.

 Government & Parliamentary Engagement

• Monitor UK parliamentary activity and analyse implications for the HRA/ECHR and BIHR’s work.
• Build relationships with parliamentarians, government officials, and parliamentary offices.
• Support targeted advocacy to defend the HRA/ECHR and promote rights‑respecting law and policy.
• Represent BIHR at political and policy meetings and events.
• Ensure monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of public affairs activity.

 Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

• Build and sustain partnerships with NGOs, academics, policymakers, legal professionals, civil servants, and parliamentarians.
• Represent BIHR externally and engage in sector networks.
• Communicate BIHR’s policy positions and resources clearly and effectively.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and influence.

 Other organisational requirements

• Work collaboratively as part of a small team.
• Support organisational processes and continuous improvement.
• Undertake other duties as required.

Who the Role Is Suitable For

This role is ideal for someone who brings strong communications skills, policy and advocacy experience, and a commitment to human rights as practical tools for change.

You’ll thrive if you:

• Can translate complex law and policy into accessible, compelling communications.
• Have experience engaging with parliamentarians, officials, and senior stakeholders.
• Are confident in human rights frameworks, particularly the HRA.
• Enjoy working in a small, collaborative team.
• Can manage competing priorities in a fast‑moving, politically sensitive environment.
• Live within approximately one hour of London, as regular Westminster/Whitehall meetings are expected.

Please refer to the Application Pack for a detailed Person Specification.

Applying for the role

Please click on the 'Redirect to recruiter' button (above or below) to:

• Get more information about the role, how to apply, and the selection and intterview process/timing.
• Download an Application Pack and Application form (and an optional Equality & Diversity Form).

Please also note that:

• Completed application forms must be received by 10am on Wednesday 11 March 2026; we regret that late applications will not be considered.
• You should not submit a CV and cover letter instead of using the application form; such applications will also not be considered.

Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to receiving your application form.

We are looking for someone with excellent communication and organisational skills to support with developing and communicating policy positions that contribute to the charity’s key strategic objectives.

In this dynamic role, you’ll work as a core part of the team and across the wider organisation to coordinate and draft responses to consultations and lead on responding to policy enquiries.

Your ability to influence and work together with others will help you to succeed as Policy Officer to learn from colleagues and external networks in order to contribute to policy positions, confidently represent Diabetes UK and influence others appropriately.

You will also be keen to seek out opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills and have an appetite to develop expert knowledge in particular policy areas.

Join us and be a part of something truly transformative. Together, we can change the narrative around diabetes and make a positive difference to the lives of people impacted by the condition.

Luton Town FC Community Trust is seeking to recruit an Oral Health Project Officer. This is a full-time role focused on the delivery of an oral health education programme within targeted primary schools and community settings in Luton over 37.5 hours per week. The individual will be employed on a three-year fixed-term contract.

We are seeking an individual who has previous experience of delivery within an education setting to join our team. Specific oral health training will be provided as required.

The individual will be passionate about creating positive change and health outcomes for children and their families.

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, personable and flexible professional with an ability to create and deliver innovative engaging content. You will have an ability to recognise and develop new opportunities whilst maintaining and developing existing relationships across a broad range of project users and partners.

We will be looking for you to deliver positive and inspirational experiences to educate, stimulate positive change and reduce health inequalities. 

JOB ROLE OUTLINE

This role will lead the design, creation and delivery of an oral health education programme in primary schools and community settings that will provide vital awareness and support for children and their families.

Tooth decay rates in children, in Luton, are amongst the highest in the country. The project will work collaboratively with Luton Public Health and other locally focused oral health partners as a collective force for change.

AIMS

• Create awareness and lifelong habits of the importance of good oral health.
• Supporting children and families to understand contributing factors to poor oral health, including sharing public health messages that encourage positive behaviour change.
• Delivery of an outstanding programme of content.
• Support and strengthen the wider network of oral health partners to enable coordinated action and long-term behaviour change, including active participation in the Luton Dental Alliance.
• Highlighting demonstrable impact to support the sustainability and legacy of the project beyond the initial funding period.

ROLE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with partners to develop and design the educational element of the project.
• Deliver a high-quality educational offer which uses sport as a tool to engage disaffected young people, encouraging good oral health and enhancing their mental wellbeing, attendance, attainment, and life skills through innovative and tailored curriculum delivery.
• Recruit targeted schools to create a delivery plan throughout the academic year.
• In school delivery of the education programme to provide much needed support and awareness to children and families.
• Collect relevant data to ensure that Community Trust reporting obligations are met with funders.
• Work with schools and partners to create high quality case studies that demonstrate the impact of the project.
• Create a project steering group and deliver timely and relevant updates in both written and verbal form.

Health & Safety:

Employee requirements:

• Maintain up to date knowledge of Health & Safety related guidance and processes within your role and in line with the Club’s Health & Safety Policy.
• Consider the Health & Safety implications of all actions and inaction within your role.
• Support and uphold agreed standards for Health & Safety compliance, including assisting in accident, dangerous occurrence and near miss investigations within your role.
• Follow and adhere to; safe management systems and working practices in line with the Club’s Health & Safety Policy.
• Ensure you have been briefed and are confident in using any equipment prior to use and seek guidance from your line manager as required.
• Regularly review risk assessments, safe working, and management systems associated with your role.
• Liaise regularly with the Club’s appointed Health & Safety representatives to support and maintain compliance
• Maintain records of all Health & Safety issues within your role and area of responsibility.
• Oversee project finance and budgets in conjunction with department lead.
• Follow robust quality assurance processes for all aspects of Luton Town FC Community Trust’s educational offer.
• To represent Luton Town FC Community Trust when required, at internal and external meetings.
• Compliance with Luton Town FC Community Trusts’ policies.
• Compliance with data protection, confidentiality, safeguarding and health and safety guidelines.
• To always promote the welfare of children and adults at risk.
• To undertake required training, including mandatory Health and Safety and Safeguarding training.
• To adhere to all relevant safeguarding policies and procedures and report any concerns to Luton Town FC Community Trust’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected.
• To maintain professional conduct and demonstrate Luton Town FC Community Trusts’ core values.
• To support wider Trust projects when required.

MAIN JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education/Qualifications/Training:

Essentials

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience delivering programmes within school and/or community settings with children and young people
• Experience delivering education, health, or behaviour-change programmes
• Experience of working with schools, families, and community partners.
• Experience of collecting monitoring and evaluation data to meet reporting requirements
• Relevant qualification or demonstrable experience in education, youth work, community development, health promotion, or related field
• Willingness to undertake role specific oral health training
• Valid First Aid and Safeguarding qualifications (or willingness to obtain)
• Ability to design and deliver engaging, age-appropriate educational content
• Ability to communicate effectively with children, families, schools and partners
• Experience of producing high-quality written reports or case studies
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to build and maintain strong, mutually beneficial partnerships
• Ability to work to deadlines and meet project targets
• Confident IT skills, including use of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to manage groups of children safely and effectively
• Understanding of how children learn and develop
• Understanding of health inequalities and barriers faced by children and families
• Knowledge and understanding of the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004 & 2006, Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2023, SEND code of practice and child protection procedures including understanding the effects of deprivation and abuse
• Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion within community delivery
• Ability to recognise discrimination in its many forms and adhere to the Luton Town FC Community Trust’s EDI policies
• Ability to work effectively within a diverse community and promote inclusive practice
• Demonstrates appropriate motivation and commitment to working with children and young people
• Emotional resilience when working with challenging behaviours or sensitive family circumstances
• Strong commitment to high-quality, values led delivery
• A full valid driving licence and access to car to travel between sites throughout Bedfordshire.
• Willingness to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends
• Willingness to support wider Community Trust projects when required
• Ability to satisfy Safer Recruitment checks, including references and Enhanced DBS
• Enhanced DBS clearance

Desirables

• Experience of delivering oral health, public health, or wellbeing programmes
• Experience of partnership working with public health teams or health-related organisations

• Degree or equivalent qualification in relevant discipline
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Qualification or training related to health, dentistry, or public health
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
• Leadership skills within a community or education setting

Abilities/Skills/Knowledge:

• Committed, enthusiastic and passionate about Luton Town Football Club.
• Must be pro-active, motivated, organised, responsible and able to work independently as well as in a team
• Highly developed problem-solving skills, resilience, and the ability to perform well under pressure
• Demonstrate good listening skills and have the ability to resolve issues where appropriate
• Ability to multi-task whilst maintaining priority efficiencies
• Focused on achieving Club, departmental and individual success
• Willing to follow and promote the philosophy of the football club.
• Be an ambassador for the Club presenting the Club in a positive image at all times.

Job Title: Public Affairs & Policy Lead – Devolved Nations

Job Type: 12-month contract

Hours: 21 hours/ week

Department: External Affairs

Salary: Pro rata £22,173 – £23,205 (FTE £36,955 - £38,509)

Reports to: Director of External Affairs

Location: Hybrid – COSRH Office (London Bridge), home working. For anyone wishing to work remotely in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, home working with occasional travel to London will also be considered. Generally, travel to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and where applicable, London, should be assumed to occur at least 12 times a year in total.

The role:

The Policy and Public Affairs Lead for Devolved Nations will drive CoSRH’s engagement and policy work in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This key strategic liaison role will support the Director of External Affairs in enabling delivery of the CoSRH’s Hatfield Vision across all UK nations, and in supporting CoSRH members and interests in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For this new role, we are seeking an experienced and forward-looking individual interested in developing the strategic and influencing work of CoSRH in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in ensuring that CoSRH represents members and their interests across the UK.

Who we are:

The College of Sexual and Reproductive (CoSRH) is the leader in the field of sexual and reproductive healthcare, and we are the voice for professionals working in this area. As a multi-disciplinary professional membership organisation, we set clinical guidance and standards, provide training and lifelong education, and champion safe and effective sexual and reproductive healthcare across the life course for all. 

Key tasks:

 a. Stakeholder engagement:

• Lead CoSRH’s stakeholder engagement programme in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales - influencing policy debate, contributing to building internal capacity on devolved and regional issues, and in building key relationships.
• Collaborate with colleagues across CoSRH to develop and deliver a strategic programme of engagement across Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, ensuring that the work of member committees in devolved nations feeds into wider CoSRH activity, inclusive of the Hatfield Vision, and that the CoSRH President maintains appropriate oversight at Taskforce level. 
• Manage internal and external relationships with key individuals and organisations including parliamentarians, civil servants and policymakers in the devolved governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales; staff and member representatives of sister organisations like British Association for Sexual Health and HIV  and Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, and nation-specific networks and collaborative groups such as Cross-Party Group for Women’s Health in Scotland, and Women’s Health Wales.
• Develop, deliver, and evaluate plans for specific areas of policy and stakeholder engagement work, including influencing decision-makers, building, and strengthening support among key regional and national stakeholders in the devolved nations.
• Working in collaboration with the Director of External Affairs and Chairs of the CoSRH Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Committees, to represent CoSRH at a variety of conferences, meetings, and events across the three devolved nations.

b. Policy, Public Affairs & Partnership Building

• Monitor the external environment for issues that may impact on SRH, and help identify, analyse and grasp opportunities to influence policy and public opinion relevant to CoSRH’s work within the three devolved nations, outlining CoSRH’s position/response to policy and public opinion developments.
• Develop and oversee the effective monitoring of parliamentary activity in the devolved nations in relation to sexual and reproductive healthcare and related interests.
• Produce policy briefings for the organisation’s leadership including President, Officers and CEO as relevant.
• Advise on, assimilate evidence for and produce responses to external consultations issued by Government departments and other relevant agencies across the three devolved nations, consulting with members and drawing on relevant policy documents.
• Engage with CoSRH members, policy makers and the public across the three devolved nations including supporting the CoSRH Media and Communications Manager role where necessary, helping with media and social media output.

c. Committee support

• Work with the CoSRH External Affairs & Membership & Engagement Teams to provide secretariat support as required to CoSRH’s member committees in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• As required, work with the CoSRH External Affairs & Membership & Engagement Teams as well as devolved nation chairs to develop and implement meetings and their agendas, record actions and discuss strategic approaches to the delivery of actions with relevant leaders. 
• As required, work with the CoSRH External Affairs & Membership & Engagement Teams  to ensure that the work of member committees in devolved nations feeds into wider CoSRH activity, inclusive of the Hatfield Vision, and that the CoSRH President maintains appropriate oversight at Hatfield Vision Taskforce level. 

Key skills and attributes

 Essential:

• Proven public policy experience, ideally within the health sector, with a good understanding of devolved policymaking and influencing opportunities.
• Knowledge of the healthcare systems across the three devolved nations.
• Experience in developing relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including developing partnerships for collaboration on joint initiatives, projects and/or events, in order to deliver organisational impact.
• Demonstrable experience of drafting clear and engaging briefings and policy submissions, tailored to different audiences.
• Ability to work proactively and independently supporting colleagues in nations as well as part of a broader team function.
• Demonstrable evidence of supporting the delivery of business priorities and delivering stakeholder engagement plans.
• Ability to manage a varied workload with flexibility and adaptability.
• Ability to quickly grasp complex issues and provide analysis.
• Outstanding attention to detail
• Excellent prioritisation and time-management skills.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in charity and/or membership organisation.
• Experience of organising parliamentary or stakeholder events.
• Knowledge of sexual & reproductive healthcare policy.

Join our team and contribute to the exciting work of the External Affairs team - influencing policy and practice through evidence-based advocacy as well as raising awareness of SRH among our partners, members and the wider public across the UK.

A flexible approach to working hours is necessary as there are some evening meetings in various locations and, with occasional travel possibility elsewhere in the UK, although many of them take place virtually.

 NB:  In order to fulfil this role you should be resident in the UK with a valid right to work; we are unable to sponsor people requiring a work visa.

We will offer you:

We offer a range of benefits at CoSRH to support staff wellbeing, including:

• 25 days holiday, with an additional 2 days leave after 2 years of service, and a further 3 days after 5 years.
• Birthday leave
• Flexible working culture
• Pension and life assurance scheme: 10% employer contribution / 5% employee contribution after successful completion of probation. This also includes access to life assurance at 4x annual salary and an income protection scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Employee discounts portal
• Free Lunch Thursday
• Enhanced maternity, paternity & adoption pay
• Free eye tests
• ­Training and development

To Apply

To apply please follow this link – Public Affairs & Policy Lead – Devolved Nations job - Hybrid - College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare

Deadline for applications is 15 February 2026 at 12pm

Interviews are likely to take place w/c 2 March 2026

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

We value diversity, promote equality and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We are working hard to minimise unconscious bias and your application will be anonymised to support this.

NB:  In order to fulfil this role you should be resident in the UK with a valid right to work; we are unable to sponsor people requiring a work visa.

Job Title: PR & Social Media Officer

Department: Communications (Engagement Group)

Reports to: External Communications Senior Manager

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £34,350 - £38,000 (depending on experience)

Location: Hybrid - London, EC1Y and homeworking

About Better Society Capital (BSC):

Better Society Capital (BSC) is the UK's leading social impact-led investor. Our mission is to grow the amount of money invested in tackling social issues and inequalities in the UK; we do this by investing ourselves and enabling others to invest for impact too.  Since 2011, we have helped the social impact investment market grow twelve-fold to over £10 billion. This capital has financed social purpose organisations tackling everything from homelessness to mental health and fuel poverty. BSC manages £634m of its own investments as well as acting as portfolio manager for the Schroder BSC Social Impact Investment Trust (SBSI) managing its £83m portfolio. As BSC begins delivering its next five-year strategy, the organisation is embarking on a period of significant opportunity, growth and impact.

The opportunity:

We are seeking an enthusiastic PR and Social Media Officer to support our external communications, thought leadership initiatives, and events programme, with a particular focus on communicating complex financial and investment-led ideas in a clear, engaging way.

The role will be responsible for executing PR and social media strategies that elevate Better Society Capital's reputation, amplify our thought leadership, and create meaningful engagement with our diverse stakeholder ecosystem, including investors, policymakers, financial institutions, and impact-focused organisations.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who already has a grounding in finance or financial services communications and is looking to develop specialist expertise within the impact investing sector.

What you will do:

PR Support & Content Creation

• Support the execution of PR strategies and campaigns under senior management guidance

• Help translate technical financial concepts into accessible narratives for non-specialist audiences, while maintaining accuracy and credibility

• Draft press releases, media statements, and thought leadership content relating to investment activity, market development, and financial policy, for review and approval

• Research industry trends across financial services, impact investing, and public policy, identifying credible story opportunities

• Monitor media coverage and compile regular media reports and analysis

• Support communications around investment announcements, fund performance, market data, and research outputs

• Assist with crisis communications planning and response activities

Social Media Management & Content Creation

• Execute daily social media activities across all platforms (LinkedIn and Bluesky)

• Create engaging social media content including graphics, videos, and written posts

• Manage social media calendars and scheduling, ensuring consistent brand voice and messaging

• Monitor social media performance, compile analytics reports, and suggest optimisation strategies

• Stay current with social media trends and platform updates, making recommendations for new approaches

Administrative & Operational Support

• Maintain communications databases and contact management systems

• Coordinate with design and external agencies on communications materials

• Assist with compliance and regulatory requirements for communications

• Provide general administrative support to the communications team

• Other duties as required

What you will bring:

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• 1–2 years’ experience in PR, social media, or communications roles within a finance-adjacent environment (e.g. agency clients in financial services, impact investing, asset management, banking, or in-house roles)

• Strong writing and editing skills across multiple formats and platforms, with the ability to communicate financial or investment-related content clearly

• Familiarity with trade & national media landscape in the UK

• Experience creating content for professional and stakeholder audiences, including investors, policymakers, or sector specialists

• Familiarity with the UK investment, charity, or social enterprise landscape

• Confidence working with data, evidence, and financial information to support communications outputs

• Experience with social media management, content creation, and analytics

Desirable:

• Educational background in finance, economics, business, or a related subject, or equivalent professional experience

• Experience working in or for financial services, investment firms, impact funds, or financial PR agencies

• Demonstrable understanding of impact investing, social investment, or sustainable finance

• Experience with graphic design software (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)

Skills, Abilities and Attributes

• Strong written and verbal communication abilities

• Ability to quickly understand and accurately communicate financial products, investment structures, and market developments

• Strong judgement when handling financially sensitive or market-facing communications

• Comfortable working with senior stakeholders and subject matter experts to shape finance-led narratives

• Creative thinking with strong attention to detail

• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines

• Proficiency with social media platforms and management tools

• Experience with analytics and reporting tools

• Passionate about social impact and mission-driven work

• Proactive and entrepreneurial mindset with strong work ethic

• Collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal skills

• Adaptable and eager to learn in a fast-paced environment

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality

Embody Better Society Capital core values:

Ø  Purposeful –We are passionate and energetic in our work to bring about our long-term vision of a thriving social investment market that enables positive social impact.

Ø  Pioneering Spirit - We give our team the autonomy and flexibility to be entrepreneurial and creative. We have the courage to push boundaries and a restless drive for change

Ø  Openness - We listen, learn, experiment and collaborate.  And we are adaptive and flexible in responding to what we learn.

Ø  Rigorous - We take a rigorous approach in all we do.  We expect the highest standards and continually strive for excellence

Ø  Respectful - We are genuine in both our approach and aspiration.  We value each member of our team and our partners for what they bring.

Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from racialised communities are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

How to apply:

Closing Date:  11.59pm on Sunday 15 February 2026

Please apply via Applied which is designed to minimise unconscious bias in recruitment. We will review your CV and a short cover letter which should answer the following:

We want to understand why you are interested in a career here at BSC. As such, please include a short cover letter (1-2 paragraphs maximum) telling us about a time where you tried to do something to create a positive change. What was the goal, did it happen, and what did you learn about yourself along the way?

Your CV and statement will be anonymised and reviewed by the hiring panel to help minimise unconscious bias.

NB we screen for answers and CVs generated by Gen AI. To get a 5 star score, we ask that your statement and CV are authentic and reflect your own knowledge, skills and motivations.

Interviews

Round 1 virtual interviews: w/c 23 February 2026

Round 2 in-person interviews: w/c 02 March 2026

We are a Disability Confident Committed employer. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria will be considered for an initial screening interview. When application numbers are high and we are unable to interview everyone who meets the minimum criteria, we will prioritise those who best meet the essential requirements of the role.

We are defining a disability in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, as a person who has a physical or mental impairment, and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. You will be asked in your Applied application whether this applies to you.

If you have a disability or other access needs and require any support to assist you through the recruitment process, please get in touch

 Other terms

Location: We are a UK-based business with an office in the Old Street area of London, accessible via a number of public transport links. Colleagues typically spend 40% - 60% of their working hours in the office, and the remainder from home. However, the exact requirements for this role can be discussed at interview. We hope that this working pattern encourages Better Society Capital employees to achieve a healthy balance between work and personal life, as we adapt to the needs of our diverse workforce.

Right to work: We are unable to provide sponsorship for this role. Candidates need to have the existing right to work in the UK

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Better Society Capital is committed to being a diverse organisation that is truly representative of the communities we serve. We therefore welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those under-represented in the social impact investment sector (e.g. people from LGBTQIA+, racialised, disabled, or under-served communities).

We are an equal opportunities employer with an inclusive environment where all employees can contribute to their fullest potential. We want every colleague to be able to deliver their work with dignity, equality, comfort and independence. Our office is fully accessible with step-free access and an open-plan set up. We are open to accommodation requests regarding assistive technologies, accessibility tools, flexible working or any other reasonable adjustments that will make working or visiting here more accessible for you. If you have a disability or other access needs and require any support to assist you through the recruitment process, please get in touch

Annual leave: 33 days (plus eight bank holidays)

Benefits:

• enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental pay
• family-friendly policies
• 8% employer pension contribution (Aviva) 
• three x basic salary life assurance cover
• free health cashback plan (Medicash): employee cover plus up to four dependent children
• 24/7 virtual GP access (UK registered), plus access to Best Doctors
  free, confidential employee assistance programme (Medicash)
• access to a wellbeing app
• flexible working options including hybrid working, flexible working patterns such as part-time, compressed hours, and more*
• learning and development opportunities including bespoke training and access to LinkedIn Learning)
• commitment to employee health and wellbeing.
• we have a Menopause Friendly accreditation and are a Disability Confident employer

Join Dementia UK as a Policy Officer where you will play a crucial role in driving our long-term policy and influencing strategy in alignment with our 2025-30 strategic plan. As a member of our dedicated Policy, Campaigns, and Public Affairs division, you will lead and shape areas of public policy that affect the quality of healthcare delivered for people living dementia and their carers.

You will play a pivotal role in advocating for improvements to legislation, public policies, and statutory services on behalf of individuals affected by dementia in England. Reporting to the Policy Manager, yourresponsibilities will include monitoring and analysing policy developments while establishing external relationships with sector colleagues and central government. Working closely with the Insights and Evaluation team, Research team, and the broader Clinical Directorate, you will conduct and interpret both qualitative and quantitative research. Your findings will inform the creation of comprehensive public policy documents, reports, briefings, and consultation responses on behalf of the organisation.

The ideal candidate for this role will bring prior experience in public policy within a charity or public sector setting. You should possess a strong track record in policy making and influencing, with  proficiency in conducting qualitative and quantitative research. Effective communication skills will be essential, as you will need to adeptly negotiate and influence stakeholders to drive positive change.

If this sounds like you, join us in making a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by dementia.

We would love to hear from you! 

Our culture

In addition to a competitive salary and a generous benefits package, we truly value our people. It’s important for us to create a working environment that looks after our workforce to support them in achieving their full potential. You will become part of a diverse and dedicated team who are supported to use and develop their skills. We recognise and value the key role you will play in delivering our strategic plans for the benefit of those living with dementia.

Our staff have a voice. Representatives from different roles and levels across the organisation positively contribute to and lead on our working groups around health and wellbeing, menopause, and equity, diversity and inclusion.

Dementia UK is proud to welcome everyone. We aim for a truly inclusive culture with talented, diverse teams that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We celebrate difference and individuality and encourage everyone to join us and be their whole selves always.

Dementia UK is a Disability Confident Employer. 

By applying to join Dementia UK, you acknowledge that in the event you are successful for the role, any offer and your ongoing employment will be conditional on you having or obtaining the right to work in the UK.

*Please note that any decision on flexible working is based on business needs 

When you apply for a job at Dementia UK, we will collect certain information about you to process your application and assess your suitability for the role. Further details can be found in our privacy notice.

The Difference is an education charity, founded to change the story on lost learning. Our vision is to see lost learning falling nationally by 2030 and for schools to be better equipped to support all children, particularly those most vulnerable.

Leading national policy strategy

As Head of Policy and Public Affairs, you will work closely with the CEO to develop and execute a four-year influencing plan.  Together we’ll aim to shift local and national incentives on inclusion by 2030, which see the national trend of rising suspension and absence begin to fall. 

You will hold relationships with the Department for Education and Ofsted and advise on policy priorities ahead, such as:

• Widening the definition of inclusion beyond special needs, recognising the needs of those young people historically or currently interacting with social services

• Reducing perverse incentives for schools to alter their school roll through admissions and pupil exits

• Expectations for multi-academy trusts in capturing and analysing data on lost learning, including how it disproportionately affects different groups

• Improving local alternative provision eco-systems, to improve outcomes for young people

• National standards for inclusive school practice, at a universal and targeted level

• Professional development standards for school inclusion

Developing implementation expertise in the middle tier

In your first six months, you will advise on the internal development of a new programme for middle tier policy actors: multi-academy trust and local authority leaders.  You will support the Programme team in its design, to plan strategically for the recruitment of trusts and local authorities, and you will plan the research and influencing work which will seek to share their success nationally.

Building the evidence base

In your second six months, you will work with the CEO to build out our research function. Your influencing plan will include how The Difference can learn from the work across our multi-academy trust, local authority and internal AP pioneer partners over the next four years, to develop influential publications. Research work ahead will include publishing sector-facing publications of The Difference’s own research, carried out by our research lead and associates; alongside managing external contractors and internal colleagues to bid for and deliver aligned research disseminating our ideas.

Raising your voice

This is an exciting opportunity for someone committed to inclusive policy change. The Difference has always punched above our weight in national and sector press reach. In post,  you will publish blogs and comment pieces, disseminating our shared ideas.  You will be a prominent voice on inclusion.

The Difference is still a small and growing charity. This means that our work is fast-paced, our roles are broad, and there is a culture of being highly autonomous, reactive and flexible, as the needs of the organisation evolve. If this sounds exciting rather than daunting, then this could be the role and team for you!

The Role
This is an exciting time to join The Difference as we increase our impact, reach more schools, and develop our influencing strategy. As Head of Policy and Public Affairs you will: 

Design and execute an impactful influencing plan 

• Design an influencing plan - Identify via horizon scanning opportunities to influence national policy using open policy windows, or by nudging/creating new ones. 

• Execute an influencing plan - Utilise own assets and assets across the organisation, including the Director team, to deliver against the influencing plan.

• Relationship building - Build highly credible and impactful relationships with a variety of stakeholders who hold power. This will include policy makers in national governments, local government officials, politicians, other third sector organisations and think tanks. 

• Leadership - Play a significant role internally and externally in communicating the organisation’s policy position, raising organisational and own brand.

Build policy capacity and credibility across the organisation

• Policy positions and solutions- Use the concepts, work and experience of The Difference’s programmes to develop new, and refine existing, national policy positions to shift incentives. 

• Thought leadership - Be the organisation’s education policy and political expert. 

• Generating income - Use own and team’s expertise and credibility to generate income via speaking engagements and consultancy to support the organisation’s financial sustainability. 

Person Specification

Essential – We are looking for someone with the following knowledge, experience and skills, though you may be stronger in some areas than others:

• Deep expertise in education policy, particularly on the topic of lost learning and the various policy and political debates, including areas of controversy, surrounding this policy topic. 

• Strategic thinker with a proven track record in identifying policy windows and designing activities that lead to meaningful national policy change. 

• Excellent relationship builder, who brings with them their own network of influential stakeholders and has a plan for building new relationships. Adept at navigating tricky situations and explaining complex, sometimes difficult, messages.

• Expert convener with a strong knowledge of the education sector, including which schools, trusts and local authorities are influential and experience in bringing a variety of perspectives together to generate consensus. 

• Persuasive and clear writing style for publication, including reports, press, blogs and ghost writing for members of the senior leadership team, often based on consensus positions, and designed to communicate key messages for impact. 

• Confidence and credibility in communicating nuanced messages in a contentious landscape, in writing, verbally and in public (e.g. on panels), to raise the profile of The Difference. 

• Strong project manager who can design systems and processes to keep self, team and other stakeholders on task and on time. Experience of designing programmes of work and monitoring their effectiveness. Flexible project management style that can adapt to a changing environment. Confidence in managing a variety of stakeholders and supporting them to deliver on time. 

Desired – You are more likely to be successful in your application if you have one or more of the following: 

• Familiarity with The Difference’s programmatic work, theory and practice. 

• Lived experience or insight into the school experiences of marginalised young people (e.g. those with experience of the care system, mental ill health, special educational needs, exclusion, and racism).

We know that some people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution, we warmly encourage you to apply. 
We actively welcome applications from people whose backgrounds are under-represented in the charity sector, including but not limited to: people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people with experience in the case system, non-graduates and first-in-family graduates.

Job Title: Public Affairs and Policy Officer  

Location: Hybrid with 1 day per week in the London Office

Hours: 35 hours per week  

Contract type:  Permanent  

Salary: £35,355 per annum

What we do:  We help young people through cancer 

How we work:  We’re Determined, United, Spirited and Kind 

What we’re looking for:

• Someone with enthusiasm for driving change for young people with cancer using tools from across the policy and public affairs

• Someone with experience of effectively engaging stakeholders, including politicians and/or policy makers, in influencing work

• Someone with strong skills in analysing, developing and communicating complex information in a clear way

• Someone with proven knowledge of UK political systems

• Someone with a commitment to keeping young people at the heart of everything while shaping cancer policy and engaging decision makers across the UK

How to apply:

You’ll need to register on our portal, complete a short application form and answer questions about your skills and experience in relation to the role.

Key dates:

Applications by 04 February 2026, 1st stage interviews online 11 February 2026 online and 2nd Stage interviews on 17 February 2026 in London.

What we offer: 

• Leave: 25 days of annual leave, which increases with service, in addition to bank holidays and a 3 or 4 day closure over the Christmas period. We also have finish early Fridays in August and quarterly rest days to step away from day to day work and refocus.

• Flexible bank holidays: the option to swap five UK public holidays (except 25th, 26th December, and 1st January or any substitute bank holidays for these dates) for other dates off. 

• Paid Carer and Compassionate Leave: paid time off to care for family members or dependants. 

• Paid Parental Leave: enhanced pay for parental leave such as maternity leave, paternity leave or adoption leave. 

• Paid Volunteering Leave: support your community by taking paid leave for volunteering activities. 

• Health Cashback Plan: access a health cashback plan to cover medical expenses. 

• Life assurance and Income Protection: financial support if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.

• Discount scheme: access exclusive savings at various high street retailers and gyms. 

• Flexible Working: we care about your wellbeing and encourage flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance. 

Our commitment to inclusion and accessibility: 

At Teenage Cancer Trust one of our key focuses is around equity and making sure our services are accessible and inclusive to all young people with cancer, with no-one left behind. We have the same goal for people working with us.

Teenage Cancer Trust is committed to recognising and valuing individual differences and the contributions of all people.
Should you require any assistance or adjustments to support your interview process, such as additional time for tasks, meeting the panellists beforehand, information in another format or a different interview format (online/offline/in person), please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the HR Team and we will do our best to accommodate your request. 

We are a Disability Confident employer which means we have committed to offering interviews to disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role listed under the 'What you'll bring to the team' section of the job description and shortlisting questions.

To opt into this scheme, please enter ‘yes’ in the appropriate question on the application form.

Please note that in recruitment campaigns with a high volume of candidates opting into the scheme, interview offers will be made only to those who best meet the essential criteria and provide the strongest responses to the shortlisting questions. 

We are unable to offer individual feedback at the shortlisting stage. 

Privacy and Safeguarding: 

At Teenage Cancer Trust we take our commitment to safeguarding seriously and work to protect and promote the rights of the young people who we support. Our safeguarding responsibilities extend to the children and adults who work to support the charity, who we also have a duty of care to protect. Safeguarding is at the forefront of each activity we carry out. In line with our approach, this role is subject to a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service).  

For information on how we collect, store and process personal data please contact the HR Team.

Public Affairs and Media Officer
£37,264 pa pro rata plus excellent benefits
London WC1 and home-based – hybrid working (minimum 40% in the office)
35 hours per week, full-time
Fixed Term Contract to 27 November 2026

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking a confident and proactive Public Affairs and Media Officer to join our Media and Public Affairs team at an exciting time for child health policy and advocacy.

This is a varied and high-impact role at the heart of our influencing work. You will help shape and deliver campaigns that call on decision-makers to strengthen the child health workforce and services, tackle child health inequalities across the UK, and protect children’s rights. You will support the College’s public affairs, campaigning and media activity; ensuring paediatricians’ voices are heard where they matter most.

As Public Affairs and Media Officer, you will monitor political and media developments, identify opportunities to influence parliamentarians and stakeholders, and provide high-quality briefings and communications content to support our advocacy priorities. You will work collaboratively across the College, including with colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to deliver coordinated, UK-wide influencing activity.

The role also includes supporting the day-to-day management of the RCPCH press office, drafting press materials, leading media monitoring, and contributing to social media and digital campaigning activity.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the delivery of public affairs and influencing activity aligned to the College’s strategy
• Monitoring political and policy developments and identifying opportunities for engagement
• Preparing high-quality briefings for senior paediatricians and staff to support engagement with MPs, Peers and stakeholders
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with external partners, coalitions and key stakeholders
• Producing compelling content for newsletters, website, social media and e-campaigning platforms
• Coordinating cross-team collaboration to deliver integrated influencing campaigns
• Leading daily media monitoring and supporting press office activity, including drafting press releases
• Contributing to social media planning and acting as a social media champion within the team

Essential skills and experience:

• Degree or equivalent relevant professional experience
• Experience in public affairs, stakeholder engagement and/or campaigning
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to tailor content for a range of audiences and channels
• Experience producing media and social media content
• Experience working collaboratively, including in coalitions or partnerships
• Strong project management and organisational skills

Desirable experience includes working in a press office, delivering social media campaigns, and formal project management training.

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows and employs around 200 staff, most of whom work in our London office in Holborn. We have a Devolved Nations team operating from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Our College values: Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire, are important to us. These values ensure we bring out the best in each other, strive forward together to make the College a positive and dynamic place to work. 

The RCPCH champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our workplace is inclusive, offering a supportive environment where staff can thrive. The College is keen to accept applications from people with protected characteristics. We believe that our staff should represent all of the diverse communities we serve. Join us to help realise our vision of a world where every child is healthy and well.

The College operates a flexible and modern working policy, whereby our colleagues work in the office for a minimum of 40% over a 4 week cycle and the remainder from home.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities. The RCPCH expects all staff to share this commitment – we place a high priority on ensuring only those who do so are recruited to work for us. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. 

Closing date: 15 February 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Location:  Hybrid working between the Aldgate, London office and home.

A great opportunity has arisen for a Policy and Public Affairs Officer to support our ambitious external affairs team as we influence national and regional policy, driving improvements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory conditions.

Asthma + Lung UK is the only charity in the UK fighting for everyone with a lung condition, aiming for a world where everyone can breathe with healthy lungs. We fund cutting-edge research, provide advice and support for the 12 million people who will get a lung condition during their lifetime. We also campaign for clean air and for better NHS diagnosis and treatment.

We are looking for an ambitious and experienced policy and public affairs professional who can produce new ideas, inspire others in the team, and catalyse policy change that will benefit people with lung disease.  You’ll contribute to high quality policy products, identify new influencing opportunities, and deliver a programme of political engagement to ensure that lung health is on the political agenda.

You’ll have a strong political understanding, an excellent working knowledge of routes for influencing UK government and be skilled at tailoring campaign messages for different audiences. You’ll be organised, a good communicator, and able to work both independently and collaboratively. You’ll thrive in a fast-paced environment and be motivated by the opportunity to make a real impact on national lung health policy.

As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits including 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), membership of a health cash plan, employee assistance programme, cycle-to-work scheme, interest-free annual season Travelcard loan and pension scheme. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an organisation committed to being the driving force behind the transformation of lung health.

By providing finance and support, at SIB we enable charities and social enterprises to exist, grow and thrive. We have disbursed £0.8bn to thousands of organisations since 2002. Our team believes in the power of the social economy, champions the charities and social enterprises we support - and we are all working together to build stronger communities and a fairer society. 

It is a hugely exciting time to join the organisation. We are growing, investing in our expert team, and building on the successes of the last few years. 

Find out more about our values and what we do by visiting our website.

Our values are: People First, Curious, Bold, Collaborative, Accountable

About this role:

Reporting to the Head of Policy and Communications, the Policy and Communications Coordinator will support SIB’s track record of sector, government and media engagement, notably the high standard of publication set through its media partnerships with Tortoise and the Financial Times, its contributions to the policy landscape in the social sector, and its in-house data analysis and insight generation. This new post will contribute to SIB’s ongoing communications and public policy work and its reach and influence, building on a growing base of expertise across SIB’s three strategic priority areas: Green Transition, Infrastructure and Services.

Key responsibilities

1. Support the Head of Policy and Communications to deliver the Policy and Communications strategy for SIB.

2. Making use of media and parliamentary tracking software keep abreast of SIB’s strategic policy areas, sharing accessible updates and digests of relevant legislation and central and local government programming and media coverage.

3. Attend / watch online relevant parliamentary committees, All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) and Commons and Lords sessions, capturing relevant outcomes and identifying MPs and Lords that SIB should seek to work with / influence.

4. Support the Head of Policy and Communications to identify a key parliamentary contacts list. Create tailored communications for these key contacts which share relevant statistics and case studies from SIB’s portfolio, alongside policy influencing lines. This will include drafting questions and briefings where relevant, and ensuring that regular contact is maintained. 

5. Support the drafting of consultation responses and press releases using SIB’s core messaging, reporting, research and data.

6. Support SIB’s annual party conference attendance with coordination and administration in advance and in person.

7. Support the Head of Policy and Communications with attendance at influencing meetings and webinars with, for example, the Association of Decentralised Energy, Community Energy England, Locality, Better Society Capital, the Access Foundation and others.

8. Draft internal and external copy for newsletters and the SIB intranet and website.

9. Monitor the press email address and support correspondence with journalists on reactive and proactive stories.

10. Attend and provide oversight to the Social Investment Forum, as part of SIB’s secretariat and hosting.

11. Write, edit and produce engaging and relevant content at pace for web, social media and e-newsletters, as well as earned and paid channels.

12. Management of external suppliers of communications and policy activities, including agencies, designers, consultants and think tanks.

13. Work with the Marketing Manager, Marketing and Events Coordinator, Business Development Manager and wider team to deliver successful external events with customers, stakeholders and partners including attendance at Party Conferences.

14. Work in line with the organisation's values, principles and processes to achieve operational excellence.

15. Adopt our continuous improvement and learning ethos

16. Support and embed equality, diversity and inclusion into day-to-day behaviours and activities within your role as well as contributing more widely across SIB’s commitment to E, D & I

17. Support and contribute to the implementation and delivery of SIB’s strategy

18. In agreement with manager to undertake other tasks and work on cross team projects that support the objectives of SIB as required

Core competencies

• Previous experience of working in a public policy, PR, marketing, external affairs or communications role
• Excellent writing skills
• Good research skills, with an ability to absorb large amounts of information at pace, including in unfamiliar policy areas and produce cogent syntheses
• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively teams across functions in an integrated way
• Good established networks through experience in a similar role, and a commitment to expanding those networks to support SIB’s strategic aims
• Experience of building effective media partnerships
• Good working knowledge of data-driven storytelling in a variety of outlets from organisation websites to mainstream media and confidence in interpreting data and understanding the key points to be drawn from it to gain traction in media and campaigning environments
• Experience of developing and delivering effective communications campaigns, including through a range of digital channels
• Strong planning skills and an ability to multi-task, work well under pressure and meet deadlines
• Strong understanding of UK political context, especially as it concerns the social economy, and parliamentary process
• An understanding of how to promote research, policy papers, data analysis and other activities of a think tank and consultancy
• Excellent IT skills and the ability to learn new programmes quickly

Desirable competencies

• Data visualisation skills
• Data storytelling
• A good aesthetic eye and ability to shape images, visuals and formatting, and to liaise confidently with designers
• Understanding of the UK charity and social enterprise sectors

Education / Professional experience

• Experience in policy, research and media
• Experience of collaborative working across teams
• In-depth digital communications expertise

Job Title: Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Wales)

Directorate: Strategy and Knowledge

Team/Department:  Policy and Public Affairs

Salary range: £ 28,337 - £33,301 (recruitment is typically at the bottom of the range)

Location: Cardiff (hybrid working, with at least one day per week in the Cardiff office). The post holder maybe expected to travel to locations across the UK to support business needs, as and when required.

Working hours: 35 hours per week

Context and Background

The NSPCC’s vision is that together, we can stop child abuse and neglect. Through the collective power of our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, and over 100 years of experience we will move closer to achieving that vision.

We launched our ten-year strategy in 2021, which is centred around three impact goals. This is the difference we want to make by 2031:

1.  Everyone plays their part to prevent child abuse: we’ll work together to make it easier for everyone to play their part and create a social safety net that prevents child abuse and neglect.
2. Every child is safe online: together, we’ll transform the online world, so it’s safe for every child to go online.
3. Children feel safe, listened to and supported: more children will be able to speak out, so they feel safe, listened to and understood – and abuse doesn’t shape their future.

The Policy and Public Affairs team works to ensure that national laws, policies and guidance across the UK are fit-for-purpose in preventing cruelty to children. We work across the four nations of the UK. We develop and maintain the NSPCC’s positions on key public policy issues, drawing on research and policy analysis and feed in organisational insight and expertise gained through our services. We use our evidence-based positions to shape and influence national policy discussions on issues affecting child protection and manage the NSPCC’s political relations and work with governments, legislatures and stakeholders across the UK.

We focus on five key policy priorities: the child protection system and children’s social care; early years and health; child sexual abuse; online safety; and young victims and witnesses.

Job purpose

We are recruiting a Policy and Public Affairs Officer to contribute to the work of the Wales Policy and Public Affairs team in delivering real change and reform in the best interests of children.

The Policy and Public Affairs Officer will be responsible for undertaking policy work to achieve the NSPCC’s strategic goals, using their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC’s impact on public policy, and in doing so make a significant contribution to keeping children safe. The post holder will support the delivery of a range of policy-focused projects both within the Wales policy team, and across the wider UK policy team:

• Within the Wales team, the Officer will research and help build persuasive, evidence-based policy positions, support the NSPCC’s influencing activity as appropriate, and write consultations and impactful briefings. They will play a key role in supporting policy analysis, policy research and public affairs activity with a range of external stakeholders, including relevant elected members and government officials. The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this role.
• Across the wider UK team, the Officer will also support policy colleagues working on one or more of our policy priority areas (which are focussed on: child protection; child sexual abuse; early years; online safety; young victims and witnesses). The post holder will help to coordinate collaboration across the teams, facilitate information-sharing and support the delivery of relevant cross-nation projects

Key relationships - Internal

• Reports to the Policy and Public Affairs Manager Wales)
• Colleagues in the wider Policy and Public Affairs and Campaigns teams across the UK
• Colleagues in the Strategy and Knowledge directorate
• Colleagues in the Media team
• Colleagues in the Services directorate (to ensure policy development is informed by experiences and learning from our frontline professionals/ volunteers)
• Colleagues working with children and young people (to ensure the experiences and voices of young people are embedded in policy and influencing work)

Key relationships - External

• Key civil servants and policy advisers in Welsh Government
• Elected representatives in the Senedd and local government structures
• Colleagues in relevant voluntary and statutory agencies
• Practitioner bodies
• Key academics, researchers and research networks

Main duties and responsibilities

• Develop and maintain expertise on key policy areas, enabling the NSPCC to predict and react to changes in the external environment.
• Scope, develop and refine key policies on priority issues, in line with the NSPCC’s strategic goals and outcomes.
• Support the smooth running of one of more NSPCC policy workstreams, supporting effective four-nations collaboration
• Prepare high-quality briefings, summaries and papers for internal and external audiences.
• Draft responses to government consultations and other public policy initiatives.
• Use project management skills to plan effectively the delivery of policy development activity and aligned public affairs activities.
• Undertake policy research and analysis, using a wide range of primary and secondary sources of evidence (such as policy documents, academic literature, survey data and qualitative data from interviews and focus groups), to develop high impact, credible policy positions
• Be a point of contact for internal and external requests for information and advice on NSPCC’s positions public positions
• Coordinate the delivery of NSPCC policy events and conferences (working with colleagues from across the organisation) and represent the NSPCC at external events.

Responsibilities for all Staff within the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate

There is a set of responsibilities for all staff within each directorate.

• A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people
• To carry out the responsibilities of the post in a manner consistent with promoting equality and diversity, and which demonstrates respect for children’s rights
• To participate actively in regular department and team meetings, contributing to strategy, discussions and decisions
• To maintain an awareness of own and other’s health and safety and comply with the NSPCC’s Health and Safety policy and procedures
• A willingness to take a flexible approach to work.

Person specification

1.  A good understanding of public policy relating to the NSPCC’s work, child protection issues and knowledge of the wider legal and political context in Wales.
2. Demonstrable public affairs skills, with good knowledge of policymaking and parliamentary processes in Wales and experience of successfully influencing government or other policymakers.
3. Proven policy development and policy research skills, with experience of collecting and analysing data, forming robust, evidence-based policy positions, and clearly presenting findings to make a clear and compelling case for policy and legislative change. 
4. Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively in a variety of formats for a variety of audiences and deal effectively, efficiently and appropriately with internal and external stakeholders.
5. Good organisational and project management skills, with demonstrable experience of delivering on competing priorities within a time-pressured environment.
6. Confidence in working as part of a team, with experience of working collaboratively with colleagues to help ensure the successful delivery of projects.
7. Experience of organising and successfully delivering external influencing events
8. Support for the NSPCC’s mission and values

Safer Recruitment

As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.

Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.

The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.

Our principles:

• Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.
• Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.
• We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.
• Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.
• As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18’s joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.
• All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.

The position is offered on a full time basis (36.25 hours per week). This role will be home-based but will require travel to Edinburgh and/or other parts of Scotland and the UK for in-person meetings as required.

Interviews will be held w/c 16th February in person at our Edinburgh offices.

Are you passionate about making a real difference in children's lives through impactful policy and public affairs engagement in Scotland and across the UK? Do you want to influence key decisions on child poverty and social policy while working with Scottish Government, MSPs, and UK-wide stakeholders? If so, we want to hear from you. 

Barnardo's is looking for a Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Scotland) to help shape our influencing in Scotland and strengthen our UK-wide work on child poverty. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone eager to build on their existing knowledge and experience with policy makers in Scotland while playing a pivotal role in creating positive, lasting change for children, young people, and families. 

In this role, you'll work closely with our Senior Policy and Public Affairs Lead (Scotland) to implement our influencing plan. You'll help raise Barnardo's Scotland's profile among key stakeholders and policy influencers. You'll be involved in: 

• Monitoring key developments within the Scottish policy landscape 

• Managing relationships and liaising with stakeholders at all levels 

• Conducting research and producing reports to support our policy objectives 

• Supporting reactive policy work to respond to emerging issues 

• Organising events to showcase Barnardo's vital work and engage decision-makers 

Your efforts will ensure that the voices of children, young people, families, and our services are central to our influencing activities in Scotland.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification and Job Description. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Role outline and purpose

The Senior Policy & Public Affairs Manager will be accountable for overseeing public affairs activities, policy development and supporting influencing activity to advance the goals of the Supportive Communities programme.  The role will plan and lead public affairs activities, policy development and support influencing strategy and activities, providing in-depth expertise across the programme with a specific focus on our emerging community design priorities and our work with a range of stakeholders, local/regional decision-makers and national policy-makers in the communities space.

This role is part of Trussell’s Supportive Communities programme, the goal of which is to enable local communities to become places where people at risk of needing to use a food bank are supported and are using their agency to bring about meaningful changes that prevent anybody from needing emergency food.  This role is focused on the successful delivery of the overall programme outcomes, contributing to the fulfilment of our long term vision of a UK without the need for food banks.

Role responsibilities

· Lead public affairs activities linked to the Community Design portfolio within the Supportive Communities programme, including developing and delivering an effective public affairs strategy reaching key decision-makers including parliamentarians, mayors and local authority leaders.

· Work collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders from the sector and among policymakers to shape and deliver the programme’s policy strategy.

· Lead policy development to achieve the goals of the Supportive Communities programme.

· Establish and maintain momentum in policy development across the programme, ensuring the creation of credible proposals and building a strong case for policymakers to implement asks.

• Support with wider strategic development as part of Trussell’s policy and influencing strategy, including working with colleagues to align policy development and asks within the programme across the UK, nations and regions.

· Provide advice and line management, including regular 1:1s and assessment against objectives, and identify development needs.

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

· Significant experience of developing and delivering effective public affairs strategies and interventions with evidence of securing local or national policy-change

· Significant track record of successfully developing policy solutions and influencing politicians and/or key decision-makers to achieve policy change

· Strong communication skills (written and oral) with impact and for a range of audiences

· Experience of providing strategic input to support senior leadership

· Experience of line managing, including dealing with performance issues and supporting team development

· Self-sufficient use of IT, including proficiency in Work, Excel, PowerPoint, and experience in project management processes and software

Behaviours and competencies:

· Works collaboratively, managing challenges in a constructive manner

· Balances competing priorities and work to tight deadlines

· Demonstrates a dedication to the values of Trussell

· Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially-excluded backgrounds

· Role models inclusive behaviour, values and leadership