Public policy jobs

Government & Parliamentary Lead

Permanent. Full Time. Hybrid Working (2 days per week in the office)

Location: London

Salary: £57,977 per annum

About us

Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations who passionately champion dignity, equality and justice worldwide. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and recognise the value this brings in forming strong, creative and high performing teams. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and from those with experience from outside of the voluntary sector. And no, you don’t have to be Christian to work here – we encourage people of all faiths and none to apply. We just ask that everyone lives out our values of dignity, equality, justice and love. We value a good work-life balance, so we’re open to part-time and flexible working. We also offer hybrid working for our office-based colleagues.

About the role

Reporting in to the UK Influencing Lead, the Government & Parliamentary Lead supports the management of Christian Aid’s government influencing and UK specific public policy development and delivery in line with policy, advocacy and campaigns strategies that maximises impact. 

The post-holder will lead on the government and parliamentary aspects of the UK influencing strategy, and will ensure Christian Aid is engaged and develops and delivers excellent briefings on critical and current development issues in the UK.

The role will line manage the Parliamentary and Influencing Advisor, and matrix manage the Crisis Policy and Influencing Advisor.

Some of the main responsibilities of the Government & Parliamentary Lead includes:

• Cultivates and maintains influential relationships with influencers across Westminster, Whitehall, the Church, the private sector and the wider civil society sector, to maintain the organisation’s political and wider advocacy profile in the UK, to enable high-impact initiatives to maximise our impact. 
• Leads the development and delivery of UK public policy, in collaboration with relevant policy leads, to deliver high quality internal and external briefing papers and analysis.
• Collaborate with others and communicate political influencing strategies and tactics, to ensure that our influencing work has political traction to maximise impact.
• Collaborates with the Faith influencing and Civil Society Lead and Campaigns Lead to ensure our overarching engagement and campaigns strategies have political impact and influence change in the UK, as well as with wider audiences such as the INGO sector, the private sector and the Church ensuring alignment with organisational values and goals.
• Jointly with the Faith influencing and Civil Society Lead Civil Society Lead supervises and allocates work to Influencing and Engagement Advisor

About you

Who we are looking for:

Essential:

• Degree level qualification in a relevant field.
• Substantial experience of working in public affairs, policy and or advocacy.
• Substantial experience of working in an NGO, public policy, government or the private sector.
• Substantial experience of working with stakeholders including, government, or the private sector.
• Significant experience in effective lobbying of decision making, including at highest levels of government.
• Detailed understanding of UK’s foreign policies and impact on international spaces.
• Detailed understanding of the development sector and a strong working knowledge of the policy areas that Christian Aid has 
  prioritised.
• Understanding of civic space and faith networks, their policy positions and dynamic.
• Significant experience of high-quality political relationship management.
• Significant experience of public speaking.
• Highly developed skills in strategic planning, people management and project management.
• Detailed understanding of Westminster and Whitehall, and how to influence policy making and decision making in government 
  and parliament.
• Developed ability to understand, analyse and interpret complex policy and advocacy policies and strategies.

Further information

At Christian Aid we strive to be an inclusive and diverse employer and recognise the value that this brings in helping to build strong, creative and high performing teams.

We are actively encouraging racialised minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people with caring responsibilities, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women, and older workers to apply. This is because these groups are under-represented within our teams, especially at senior level, and we recognise and value the contributions members of these groups make to strong, creative and high performing teams. 

We have a strong Christian ethos and we encourage applications from all faiths. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and sympathy with Christian Aid’s faith identity. 

All successful candidates will require a DBS/police check appropriate to the role and location and a Counter Terrorism Sanction check as part of your clearance for commencing your role with us. We also participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information as part of the referencing process from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

This role requires applicants to have the right to live and work in the country where this position is based and undertake the role that you have been offered. If you are successful and we make you an offer for the role, we will be required to conduct a right to work check on your immigration status in the UK. We will contact you regarding the documentation you will need to provide to evidence this. 

The Public Affairs Lead sits within our Policy and Advocacy Team, working to build support for The Food Foundation’s work amongst Parliamentarians and to influence the government to help deliver policies that will transform the food system. This is an exciting opportunity to join a small organisation delivering big impact on the political agenda around food.

The Public Affairs Manager reports to our Head of Policy and Advocacy and will be responsible for planning and delivering our public affairs activity. This includes: 

• Political engagement: meeting MPs and Peers in parliament and building relationships with their teams with a view to identifying potential new supporters 
• Policy and research: working closely with colleagues to share perspectives on which priorities it may be tactical to pursue and to understand what evidence is available to inform engagement.
• Networking: working with public affairs professionals in other organisations to deliver joint programmes of engagement work which leverage respective organisational strengths.
• Monitoring: You will have excellent political instincts and a strong interest in policy developments,
  monitoring closely what is going on in Parliament and in Government,in order to identify opportune moments to maximise political attention and to galvanise support for policy change.
• Communicating: building compelling narratives targeted at different political stakeholders about the impacts of the food system on our diets, our health and our planet, and the need for evidence-based solutions. 
• Developing briefing materials and reports for policy audiences and formulate responses on behalf of the organisation to policy development processes and Parliamentary inquiries.
• Events: ensuring our messages and priorities are noticed and heard by policy-makers in a very crowded policy space, including by working closely with our events manager to deliver impactful parliamentary events.

You will bring a learning mindset to the role, assessing the impact of our policy engagement approaches in order to make continuous improvements.

A week in the job

Meeting with a Peer that is new to our work to brief them on evidence we have published and our current political priorities, completing a political stakeholder mapping exercise for a new campaign on sustainable diets to identify a shortlist of MPs to engage with, spending an afternoon in parliament to engage informally with passing MPs, pitching a new idea for a
parliamentary inquiry to parliamentary staff from the Health and Social Care Committee, drafting an MP briefing for an upcoming debate on the Government’ s obesity prevention priorities, reviewing next week’s parliamentary calendar to spot opportunities for engagement, attending a roundtable to share intelligence and discuss priorities for political party manifestos with other NGOs working on food issues, ringing round parliamentary offices to confirm attendance for
an upcoming parliamentary reception, meeting with an MP that is closely involved with The Food Foundation’s work to refine messaging for an upcoming campaign.

Your experience
You will have a strong knowledge of the UK political landscape and be comfortable and confident in engaging with stakeholders in Whitehall and in Parliament across the political spectrum. Ideally you would also have a knowledge of policy related to the food system, public health or the environmental crisis.

Your skills

• Proven ability to influence decision makers
• Strong knowledge and experience of the mechanics of the UK policy-making landscape
• Ability to work diplomatically and professionally with external stakeholders
• Significant experience working in a role with a major focus on external engagement in a policy/public affairs setting
• A confident networker who enjoys building connections and relationships with new people.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex and highly nuanced subject matter in plain English.
• Confidence in working as part of a team, with experience of working collaboratively with colleagues to share ideas, find solutions and help ensure the successful delivery of projects.
• Proactive and independent worker with strong organisational and project management skills and demonstrable experience of delivering on competing priorities within a timepressured environment.
• Close attention to detail and ability to accurately monitor policy developments, stakeholder views and engagement activity.
• You have a commitment to building equitable, diverse and inclusive policy.
• An existing network of relationships with MPs, Peers, advisors and policy officials.

Policy Specialist (children and young people)

Are you interested in improving the lives of children and young people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners like the Disabled Children's Partnership.

This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of children and young people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of children, young people, and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers. 

This is a full time position (37.5 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.

You will:

· Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.

· Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.

· Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the experiences of children and young people with a learning disability and their families.

· Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.

· Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.

· Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.

You will bring to this role:

· Experience of working on public policy issues.

· Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.

· Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.

· The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.

· Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.

· Knowledge the issues facing children and young people with a learning disability and/or the SEND system, as well as the wider parliamentary system.

· Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability.

If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for children and young people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. This advert has been extended and will now close on Sunday, 4th January, 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 12th January 2026.

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

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.

Camcycle is a bold and influential cycle advocacy charity. Our Communications Officer is responsible for delivering clear, compelling and consistent print, digital and in-person communications to support Camcycle’s campaign work and engage with our varied audiences. They will help to secure and grow our charity’s position as a knowledgeable, trusted voice on local transport, as well as amplifying the voices of local cyclists and potential cyclists across the region.

Building on Camcycle’s 30 years of campaigning expertise and community engagement, the role holder will help to build our archive of local transport knowledge and best practice, collating resources that empower community activists to successfully achieve better walking, cycling and public spaces in their neighbourhoods. They will provide an essential link between grassroots groups and transport decision-makers, helping local people make their voices heard in public meetings and consultations. They will also ensure that cycling policies and infrastructure respond to the existing needs of Cambridgeshire’s communities while being ready for a growing region and a more sustainable, equitable future.
 

Responsibilities include:

• Planning and executing compelling communications campaigns that inspire others and enable them to take action. 

• Building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders including media outlets, creative agencies and suppliers, officers, councillors, community groups and Camcycle members.

• Leading on the redevelopment of the Camcycle website and production of online content including managing our social media channels.

• Developing Camcycle’s profile through media interviews, columns and statements, and working with the team to produce our quarterly magazine.

• Managing weekly email updates to Camcycle members and providing support for member recruitment, fundraising and occasional events.
   

Your skills and experience:

You will have several years’ experience in marketing or communications in a professional and/or voluntary capacity and an excellent understanding of what motivates people to take action. 

With excellent written and spoken communication skills, you will be able to craft compelling copy for a range of audiences and summarise complex subject matter into accessible content which drives supporter engagement and response. Whatever your existing level of experience around sustainable transport advocacy, you’ll be keen to learn and grow in your role as a confident spokesperson for the needs and benefits of cycling.

You’ll have experience using design software such as Adobe Suite or Canva to produce content for print and digital materials, and be bursting with creative ideas about how Camcycle could grow its audience on our social media channels. You’ll be confident speaking in public meetings and on the radio or TV, as well as interviewing local cyclists about their experiences and pitching ideas for organisational improvements and strategies to the staff team and board of trustees.
 

How to apply:
Please send your CV and a supporting statement to the email address on our Work With Us webpage by 11.59pm on Monday 12 January, 2026. Interviews will begin w/c Monday 26 January.

Doctors of the World UK (DOTW UK) is part of the global Médecins du Monde (MDM) network, which delivers over 400 projects in more than 70 countries through 6,000 volunteers. 

Our vision is of a world in which vulnerable people affected by war, natural disasters, disease, hunger, poverty, or exclusion get the healthcare they need. 

Through our health programmes and advocacy, we work to ensure excluded people overcome barriers to realising their right to healthcare. Since opening in the UK in 1998, we’ve raised £10m for overseas programmes, helped 20,000 service users here and fought for healthcare as a human right for all. 

We believe that every person living in the UK has the right to healthcare, and we work to influence public policy and local implementation to reduce health inequalities and ensure access to healthcare for all.

DOTWUK have a fun and friendly finance team in a small, but high-performing function and are looking for a collaborative, experienced and energetic leader for the role of Head of Finance. 

In this exciting role, the successful candidate will provide the organisation with a timely, accurate and relevant financial management service by assuming day-to-day responsibility for the organisation’s accounting function, to enable the senior management team and the Board of Trustees to assess results and performance and make informed, strategic decisions, and ensure the organisation complies with statutory and corporate regulation and requirements. 

You will work closely with the treasurer, directors and managers to enable them to manage their programme finances and support them to report to donors and to devise sound plans for growth and sustainability. 

The UK chapter expects to grow income across all sources, including from institutions and foundations. You will play a critical role in maintaining and building on this success. 

You will also be responsible for and provide input from a financial and management perspective on strategic development and the general organisation-wide structure and management as part of the Senior Management Team. 

Those with lived experience of migration, the asylum system, homelessness, or exclusion from health services are encouraged to apply. 

For more information on the role, including a person specification, please refer to the role profile. 

Closing Date:

Sunday 18th January 2026 2330 hrs

How to Apply 

To apply, please submit your CV, covering Letter & additional information form to the email provided. Your CV and cover letter should be clearly tailored to the position and should reference points from the person specification section of the role profile. Interview dates TBC.

Applications which do not demonstrate the essential skills, knowledge, experience, and competencies will not be shortlisted. 

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.

Join the leading UK network for British Muslim-led charities and community organisations! Building on your passion for social justice and sector improvement, support the growing sector, advocate for change for minority communities and the user-led organisations who support them. 

Job role: Junior Policy and Advocacy Officer

Employer: Muslim Charities Forum

Salary: £29,000 –£32,000 per annum

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week (4 days office-based, 1 day hybrid/remote)

Position: Fixed Term Contract, 3 years.

Location: London SE1. Nearest stations: Waterloo, Lambeth North

Closing date for applications:  16th December 2025, 5.00pm or until a suitable candidate is identified. 

About Muslim Charities Forum (MCF)

Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) is the UK’s leading network for Muslim-led charities, strengthening the capacity, voice and impact of nearly 300 organisations. Guided by our pillars of Support, Connect and Represent, we champion excellence, transparency and social justice through resources, capacity-building, research and advocacy.

We work to tackle structural and funding barriers, influence government, policymakers and the wider sector, and build a more sustainable, equitable Muslim-led charitable landscape. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations, we drive systemic change and amplify the contributions of Muslim-led organisations across society.

Role Purpose

The Junior Policy & Advocacy Officer will support the delivery of MCF’s policy, advocacy and research work. Working closely with the Head of Policy & Advocacy, they will contribute to policy monitoring, research projects, member engagement, and influencing activities across government, civil society, and the wider third-sector ecosystem.

This role is ideal for an early-career professional with strong analytical skills, a passion for social justice, and an interest in policy, research, and advocacy relating to the Muslim-led voluntary and community sector.

Key Responsibilities

1. Policy Monitoring and Research Support

• Track and summarise relevant UK policy, regulatory, parliamentary and sector developments related to civil society, charity regulation, funding, equity, inclusion and climate-related legislation or sustainability policy, reflecting MCF’s commitment to sector-wide awareness of climate action.

• Assist in drafting policy briefings, consultation responses, evidence submissions, and research summaries.

• Support the Head of Policy & Advocacy in compiling data and insights for reports, position statements and strategic documents. • Conduct desk-based research on thematic issues affecting Muslim-led and minority-led organisations.

• Monitor media commentary relevant to the British Muslim-led Voluntary and Community Sector and contribute to the preparation of responses, in collaboration with the Policy and Communications teams.

2. Advocacy and Influencing Support

• Support engagement with government stakeholders by preparing meeting briefs, background notes, and follow-up materials.

• Help coordinate MCF’s involvement in roundtables, APPG sessions, consultations, and external events.

• Maintain databases of stakeholders including parliamentarians, policymakers, think tanks, regulators and sector partners. • Support public affairs monitoring, including parliamentary questions, debates and committee activity.

• Contribute to MCF’s work on climate action awareness and sustainability by supporting advocacy messaging, stakeholder engagement or policy monitoring relating to sustainable practice across the Muslim charity sector.

3. Engagement with Members and Sector Stakeholders

• Assist in organising policy workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building resources for MCF’s members.

• Help collect insights, feedback and lived experience from member organisations to inform MCF’s policy positions.

• Respond to member enquiries relating to policy, regulation or advocacy support.

• Contribute to resources that help Muslim-led charities navigate regulatory and structural barriers.

• Support member-facing materials and capacity-building related to sustainability, climate awareness, or environmental good practice where required. 4. Communications and Content Support

• Draft accessible summaries of policy developments for newsletters, blogs, briefings or social media (in collaboration with the Communications team).

• Ensure policy messages are communicated consistently and clearly to internal and external audiences.

• Help prepare slides, visuals or short reports for senior-level advocacy engagements.

• Work with the Communications team to cntribute to external messaging that aligns with MCF’s media monitoring, research findings and sector commentary.

5. Administration, Coordination and Reporting

• Provide administrative support for the policy and advocacy workstream, including scheduling, minutes, organisation of meetings and events. • Maintain systems for tracking policy work, research outputs and stakeholder engagement.

• Assist with monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the impact of policy activities.

• Ensure compliance with internal processes and external regulatory requirements (e.g., lobbying regulations).

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience (including internships or volunteering) in policy, research, public affairs, community advocacy or a related area.

• Strong understanding of UK political, charity or social policy landscapes.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to summarise complex information clearly.

• Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to interpret data and produce evidence-informed insights.

• Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

• Commitment to social justice, equity and strengthening underrepresented communities.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a small, fast-paced team.

• Sensitivity to issues affecting Muslim-led, minority-led or faith-based civil society.

• Awareness of key issues, legislation or trends relating to climate change or sustainability affecting civil society.

• Interest in media monitoring, public messaging or analysing public commentary related to the sector.

Desirable

• Experience working or volunteering within the voluntary sector, community organisations, or advocacy projects.

• Understanding of intersectionality and structural inequalities affecting minority and marginalised communities.

• Experience producing policy briefs, research notes or advocacy materials.

• Familiarity with parliamentary processes or government engagement.

• Lived experience relevant to the communities MCF represents.

Values and Behaviours

• Collaborative, inclusive and respectful approach to diverse stakeholders. Proactive, organised and self-motivated, with willingness to learn.

• Integrity and professionalism when representing MCF.

• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

• Ability to amplify underrepresented voices with care and accuracy.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to develop skills in policy, research, advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

• Mentorship and learning from experienced senior leaders.

• A supportive and inclusive working environment.

• Chance to contribute to meaningful, systemic change within the UK’s Muslim led charity sector.

Application Information

If you are a change maker who wishes to help us empower the sector, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role. We reserve the right to withdraw this role once a suitable candidate is identified.

If you have not heard from us concerning your application within 6 weeks, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Interviews: Initial online short interview (stage 1), face-to-face in-office interview (stage 2).

No agencies.

UK residents only. Sponsorship is not possible for this post. References will be taken up prior to appointment including relevant ID checks. 

The Head of Policy and Advocacy will lead the strategic development and delivery of MCF’s policy, advocacy and research agenda.Join the UK’s leading network for Muslim-led charities, strengthening the capacity, voice and impact of nearly 300 organisations.

Job role: Head of Policy and Advocacy

Employer: Muslim Charities Forum

Salary:£42,000 – 45,000 per annum

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week (4 days office-based, 1 day hybrid/remote)

Position: Fixed Term Contract, 3 years.

Location: London SE1.Nearest stations Waterloo, Lambeth North

Closing date for applications:16th December 2025, 5.00pm or until a suitable candidate is identified.

About Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) 

Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) is the UK’s leading network for Muslim-led charities, strengthening the capacity, voice and impact of nearly 300 organisations. Guided by our pillars of Support, Connect and Represent, we champion excellence, transparency and social justice through resources, capacity-building, research and advocacy. 

We work to tackle structural and funding barriers, influence government, policymakers and the wider sector, and build a more sustainable, equitable Muslim-led charitable landscape. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations, we drive systemic change and amplify the contributions of Muslim-led organisations across society. 

Role Purpose 

The Head of Policy and Advocacy will lead the strategic development and delivery of MCF’s policy, advocacy and research agenda. The role involves shaping long-term strategy, building a robust evidence base, influencing government and policymakers, and representing MCF at senior levels across the charity, public and political sectors. 

The postholder will engage proactively with central and local government, devolved authorities, and regional mayors, ensuring that the voices and experiences of Muslim-led organisations are represented in policy development and decision-making. 

They will work collaboratively with MCF’s Communications, Partnerships, and Systemic Change and Sector Capacity teams to ensure a coordinated and strategic approach that delivers sustainable, long-term impact. 

Key Responsibilities 

1. Strategy and Leadership 

• Develop and deliver the next three-year Policy and Advocacy Strategy aligned with MCF’s organisational objectives. 

• Provide strategic advice to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team, and Board on policy opportunities and risks. 

• Lead and develop the Policy and Advocacy team, fostering a high-performing, inclusive and collaborative culture. 

2. Policy, Research and Insight 

• Monitor and analyse UK policy and regulatory developments affecting Muslim-led civil society. 

• Oversee research, consultations and data-driven insight to inform MCF’s policy positions. 

• Produce high-quality policy outputs, including reports, consultation responses and position statements. 

3. Influencing and Stakeholder Engagement 

• Lead MCF’s engagement with central government, local authorities, devolved administrations and regional mayors, as well as regulators and sector networks. 

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with ministers, parliamentarians, senior officials, think tanks and sector leaders. 

• Coordinate MCF’s public affairs activity, including roundtables, Select Committee and APPG engagement, and representation at high-level external forums. 

• Strengthen MCF’s profile as a credible and influential voice for Muslim-led civil society across all tiers of government and the voluntary sector. 

4. Sector Capacity and Member Support 

• Engage MCF’s members and Muslim-led organisations in collective policy development and advocacy. 

• Design and deliver tools, training and resources to build members’ influencing capacity. 

• Identify and advocate for structural solutions to sector-wide challenges, including funding inequality, regulatory barriers and intersectional disadvantage. 

5. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting 

• Develop and implement frameworks to assess the effectiveness and impact of MCF’s policy and advocacy work. 

• Provide regular progress reports to the CEO. 

• Ensure compliance with charity law, lobbying and regulatory requirements. 

Person Specification 

Essential Criteria 

• Significant experience (5+ years) in senior policy, advocacy or influencing roles within the UK charity or voluntary sector. 

• Demonstrable success influencing government at national, local or devolved levels, achieving measurable policy or funding change. 

• Strong understanding of the UK charity policy, funding and regulatory environment. 

• Knowledge of the UK Muslim-led and/or faith-based civil society landscape. 

• Experience amplifying marginalised voices and embedding lived experience into policy and advocacy work. 

• Proven ability to lead teams and deliver organisational strategy. 

• Excellent analytical, written and verbal communication skills, with strong political acumen. 

• Commitment to social justice, equity and strengthening Muslim-led civil society. 

Desirable Criteria 

• Experience working with Muslim-led, faith-based or minority-led organisations. 

• Understanding of intersectionality and its impact on underrepresented communities. 

• Experience of research collaboration with academic institutions or think tanks. 

• Proven track record in building partnerships for policy or advocacy initiatives. 

Values and Behaviours 

• Strategic and forward-thinking leadership. 

• Collaborative and inclusive approach to diverse stakeholders. 

• Resilience and adaptability in complex, fast-changing environments. 

• Integrity and credibility in representing MCF and the wider sector. 

• Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. 

• Excellent communication skills, particularly in amplifying underrepresented voices. 

Additional Information 

This is a senior leadership position. Occasional evening or parliamentary activities may be required, along with UK-wide travel. 

What We Offer 

• The opportunity to lead impactful change within one of the UK’s most dynamic faith-based networks. 

• A collaborative, inclusive, and supportive working environment. 

• Opportunities for professional growth, leadership, and innovation. 

Application Information 

To apply, please send a CV (no more than 2 pages) and a covering letter (max 1,000 words) explaining how you meet the essential criteria and your motivation and suitability for the post.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from candidates with lived experience of marginalisation and an understanding of Islamic ethos.  

We reserve the right to withdraw this role once a suitable candidate is identified. 

If you have not heard from us concerning your application within 6 weeks, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. 

Interviews: Initial online short interview (stage 1), face-to-face in-office interview (stage 2). 

No agencies.

UK residents only.Sponsorship is not possible for this post. References will be taken up prior to appointment including relevant ID checks. 

Would you like to join an organisation that is striving for systemic change? We believe it is not enough to reform structures and systems which are foundationally discriminatory. We are calling for a complete overhaul, and for people with lived experience to lead that change.

Migration is one of the most hotly debated political topics with rapid policy changes shaping the lives of millions. We’re looking for a proactive and inspiring leader to join us as Interim Head of Policy and Communications.

In this vital role, you will champion our mission to create a just society for all migrants, ensuring those with lived experience are at the centre of our work and heard by policymakers and supporters alike. You will influence national policies, engage diverse stakeholders, from policymakers to grassroots groups, and build impactful communication campaigns.

Working closely with our CEO and as part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will help shape the strategic direction of our policy and communication efforts during this critical time.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in contributing to a vision for intersectional campaigns that call for systemic change, and for those with lived experience to lead the changes we need.

If you’re passionate about social justice, experienced in policy and advocacy, and a skilled communicator, we want to hear from you! 

As a lived experience and values-led organisation, and diverse team, we are looking for candidates with a:

• Commitment to upholding the rights of ALL migrants

• Real vision as to how this can be done in the current political, social and economic climate 

• A commitment to MRN's vision and values

The salary will be £43,817 per annum, pro-rata. In addition, MRN contributes up to 6% of salary to pensions. We are keen to have someone start in the role immediately.

Closing date for applications: 9am, 14 January 2026

Date for candidate interviews: 26 January 2026

Would you like to join an organisation that is striving for systemic change? We believe it is not enough to reform structures and systems which are foundationally discriminatory. We are calling for a complete overhaul, and for people with lived experience to lead that change.

If that appeals to you. We are seeking a Policy and Communications Officer to play a vital role in shaping public understanding of migration and influencing policy. 

As part of our dedicated team, you will have the chance to make a real impact, engaging with diverse audiences and advocating for positive change. If you're motivated by social justice and have skills in policy engagement, digital campaigning, media, and stakeholder engagement, we want to hear from you.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in contributing to a vision for intersectional campaigns that call for systemic change, and for those with lived experience to be instrumental in these campaigns.

As a lived experience and values-led organisation, and diverse team, we are looking for candidates with a:

• Commitment to upholding the rights of ALL migrants

• Real vision as to how this can be done in the current political, social and economic climate 

• A commitment to MRN's vision and values

The salary will be £32,414 per year. In addition, MRN contributes up to 6% of salary to pensions.

Closing date for applications: 9am, 14 January 2026

Date for candidate interviews: 22-23 January 2026

This is an exciting role leading our committed policy team leading the fight to end child poverty in the UK. The development and implementation of a UK-wide cross-government child poverty strategy means this is a great time to join CPAG as we look to influence policy makers to adopt our evidence-based policy solutions to child poverty.

We are looking for someone to take a lead role in developing evidence-based policy positions to support CPAG’s influencing and campaigns work. You will have knowledge of political processes and how external organisations can effect change. You will have a track record of producing high quality research and analysis, including policy briefings, on social policy issues. You will have experience of managing a small team and working collaboratively to identify policy issues and develop solutions with colleagues across the organisation, as well as externally.

The postholder will be working in a fast moving, high profile and complex policy environment and will need to balance short term priorities with long term objectives. Current priorities include influencing the implementation of the forthcoming child poverty strategy, gathering and sharing analysis and expertise with the DWP as part of their review of universal credit, and monitoring the development of forthcoming changes to disability benefits.

We welcome applications from individuals with the skills and experience outlined and we can be flexible about working arrangements. We operate a hybrid working system and would be happy to discuss any flexibilities required. CPAG is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion which you can read more about in the job pack.

We welcome applications on a secondment basis.

For more information about this post and to apply download the Head of Policy job pack.

If you have questions or need specific arrangements or reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please contact us.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 4th January 2026 (midnight)

Interviews will take place: Tuesday 13th January 2026

Role Summary

Job title: Communications Lead
Contract: Part-time (80% FTE), permanent position 
Location: Hybrid working: office base is at Somerset House, London: we are flexible on approach, within a hybrid model of in-person & virtual. This can be discussed at interview (*) 
Salary: £44k p.a. (pro rata)
Reporting to: Director of Julie’s Bicycle
Start date: Ideally beginning of March 2026 - depending on candidate’s notice period 
Hours: Working hours are 9.30am - 5.30pm, Monday to Friday
(requests for flexible working hours will be considered) 

Other:

• Annual leave is 25 days per year (pro rata) plus standard bank holidays
• Cultural entitlement of £250 per annum (pro rata) to spend on arts/cultural events & activities
• All employees are able to claim 1 hour a week for personal wellbeing
• Pension scheme enrolment and 6% employer contributions (reviewed annually)

(*) Access to office space in London is always available to staff who can't or don't want to work from home. 

If you would like this application pack in a different format (e.g. large print or audio file), please contact us (information in the link provided).

About Julie’s Bicycle (JB)

JB is a leading non-profit putting climate action at the heart of culture. We believe that creativity is a powerful catalyst for change — and that the arts and cultural sector has a vital role to play in building a just, regenerative future.

For over 15 years, we’ve worked with artists, cultural institutions, funders, and policymakers to mobilise creative climate leadership and action through advocacy, research, policy influence, training, path-finding projects and community building. We champion climate justice, centre equity, and believe that environmental solutions must be driven by cultural shifts as well as systems change. For more information on all our programmes, please visit our website.

The Role

We’re seeking a visionary and collaborative Communications Lead to lead the next phase of our communications strategy. This role is about more than messaging — it’s about shaping a compelling and inspiring public voice for creative climate action.

You will be responsible for our brand, storytelling, content strategy, and creative outputs—ensuring that everything we do reflects our values, amplifies our impact, and deepens our reach across the cultural and climate landscape. You’ll also play a key role in supporting our impact including welcoming new cultural organisations, creative practitioners, environmental partners, and funders into our network.

This is a digital-first communications role, with a strong focus on content development, storytelling, and designing varied communication campaigns. You’ll oversee our editorial voice across blogs, email, social media, and digital content. Alongside our Marketing Lead, you will ensure our insights, tools, and narratives are warm, purpose-focused, clear, accessible, and optimised for reach and engagement. You will be someone who thrives on the combination of ambitious strategic thinking and delivering content and projects on the ground.

You will collaborate with partner organisations to co-create communications, support joint campaigns, and ensure our voice is visible and aligned in the broader climate and culture movement. And while press/media remains part of the role, your primary focus will be digital content, brand positioning, and reaching new audiences.

You will be part of a small Marketing and Communications team and work closely with the rest of JB’s 20-person, supportive and mission-driven team.

We encourage people from any background to apply for this post. We are committed to creating a workforce which is representative of our society, and to bringing together those with a variety of skills and experiences to help shape what we do and how we work. We are particularly keen to hear from people of colour and those who self-identify as disabled.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and deliver an inclusive, digital-first communications strategy that positions Julie’s Bicycle as a cultural leader in climate action.
• Work with senior leadership to drive communications that support organisational growth, impact and fundraising, helping to expand our network and deepen engagement with the arts and cultural sector and the climate and environmental movement.
• Embed climate justice and equity throughout our communications, ensuring our language, images, and stories reflect a diverse, accessible, and fair transition.
• Champion our core narrative: putting climate action at the heart of culture.

Brand, Creative & Campaigns

• Lead on brand implementation, ensuring coherence of messaging and tone across all channels and materials.
• Deliver innovative and values-led communications campaigns in collaboration with partners and internal teams. Lead on key messaging, ensuring we are consistent and confident across all our channels.
• Take a data-led approach to maximise impact of our communications.
• Oversee design and creative production for campaigns, reports and digital content, (working alongside our Marketing Lead and with support from external designers/freelancers).
• Ensure communications projects are managed on time and on budget.
• Develop and implement communications for newer target audiences in particular leaders and change-makers across the environmental sector.
• Collaborate with our Marketing Lead to co-develop mar/comms strategies for individual programmes and projects, working closely with our programme leads.

Content & Digital

• Develop engaging, inclusive content across web, blogs, newsletters and social media.
• Shape and oversee editorial calendars that reflect our programmes, partnerships, research, and events.
• Lead on our content management and storytelling strategy.
• Ensure all content is optimised for audience growth, accessibility, and search (SEO), working closely with our Marketing Lead who leads on our overall web and SEO strategy.
• Support on the production of public reports and external briefing materials, ensuring appropriate tone and key messages.
• Manage internal and freelance team members producing social media content.

Partnerships & Profile

• Collaborate with cultural, environmental, and funding partners to co-create shared messaging, campaigns, and communications assets.
• Ensure JB’s story, voice, and impact are clearly represented in all collaborations and public-facing materials.
• Support JB’s role in coalitions and networks by developing communications that reflect collective aims and shared values.
• Work with the JB CEO and programme leads to create and implement a strategy for public-facing thought leadership.

Media & External Relations

• Maintain relationships with relevant journalists and media outlets, responding to media opportunities that align with our strategy.
• Support the Director and other team members with media briefings and public communications as needed.
• When funded opportunities arise, lead liaison with external PR and media consultants.

Team & Collaboration

• Line manage / support the management of the Marketing and Communications Coordinator.
• Work closely with all internal teams — partnership, consultancy, research, advocacy, programmes — to align messaging and amplify impact.
• Contribute to organisational learning, planning, and shared values.
• Support the implementation and day to day running of JB’s new CRM.
• With the Marketing Lead, strengthen internal editorial and brand sign off processes for publications, media releases and key content.
• Support impact measurement and communication of impact.

Person Specification

Essential

• Substantial experience in a senior communications role, ideally within the cultural, environmental, or non-profit sectors.
• Significant experience in designing and delivering successful communications strategies.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with a track record of developing clear, creative, and inclusive content.
• Strong experience in campaign development, brand implementation, visual storytelling, and communications project management.
• Knowledge of content strategy, SEO, and audience engagement across digital platforms.
• Demonstrable ability to embed equity, diversity, and commitment to climate justice into communications practice.
• Collaborative and confident communicator with experience working across teams and with external partners.
• Strategic thinker with a commitment to Julie’s Bicycle’s mission and values.
• Strong design aesthetic and use of design skills (e.g. Adobe Creative Cloud suite and Canva).
• Strong project management skills: the ability to meet deadlines and work flexibly across priorities in a fast-changing environment.
• Attention to detail and excellent proof reading.

Desirable

• Familiarity with climate and/or cultural policy environments.
• Experience working with funders, public bodies, or large-scale cultural partnerships.
• PR and media relations experience and contacts across digital and print channels
• Design, photography, or multimedia experience (or managing those with those skills).
• Experience contributing to organisational growth and development through communications.

Why Join Us?

At Julie’s Bicycle, you’ll join a passionate team working at the intersection of creativity and climate action. We offer a collaborative, inclusive, and flexible working culture — where your voice will shape how the cultural sector responds to one of the greatest challenges of our time. 

How to Apply

If you’d like to apply, please complete the application form and equal opportunities monitoring form on our website and submit these by 11.59pm on Sunday 18th Jan 2026.

We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer; we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, gender, disability, culture, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

Please note, this post is open to people who already have the right to live and work in the UK, as Julie’s Bicycle is not currently in a position to sponsor a work visa.

A note on AI

While we understand that some people may use AI tools for accessibility (and recognise and support that many assistive technologies may use elements of AI), we ask candidates to consider what tools are most appropriate during the application process. For example, we recognise the value for many people of machine learning language tools like Grammarly. On the other hand we would discourage the use of generative AI tools in writing your application, as we'd like to understand your personal interest in working for Julie's Bicycle, and be able to understand your non-AI-assisted communication skills just as they are. We also recognise that for many of the people and creative communities we work with, the rise of generative AI poses a threat to their livelihoods, while the environmental impacts of AI are only set to grow: this means we also have a responsibility as Julie's Bicycle to consider where and when (and if) we use AI in our work. 

Thank you for your interest in working at Julie’s Bicycle.

The Senior Fundraising & Grants Manager will lead the development and delivery of Bite Back's fundraising strategy with a primary focus on trusts, foundations and institutional grants. You’ll oversee the organisation’s grants pipeline, coordinate funding applications and reports, and ensure excellent standards of funder stewardship and compliance. You’ll also play a role in developing early-stage public fundraising activities to diversify income and support the long-term sustainability of Bite Back’s youth-led mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Fundraising and Grants Manager is accountable for:

Fundraising Strategy & Planning

• Design, deliver and monitor a values-aligned fundraising strategy, with a primary focus on trusts and foundations.

• Set annual income targets, track progress against goals, and report performance to senior leadership and trustees.

• Identify new income opportunities to support Bite Back’s strategic growth and impact.

• Develop and maintain a 12–24 month grant pipeline to forecast income and manage funding cycles.

• Ensure all fundraising activity complies with the Code of Fundraising Practice, GDPR, and Bite Back’s ethical standards.

Grants from Trusts and Foundations

• Lead the processes for securing income from trusts, foundations and institutional funders, from prospect research through to submission, reporting and renewal.

• Research, identify and prioritise funding opportunities aligned with Bite Back’s youth-led mission and programmes. Collaborate with internal teams to conduct due diligence to ensure funding sources are aligned with our values.

• Prepare and submit high-quality, evidence-led, and compelling grant proposals in collaboration with the CEO, Director of Finance & Operations, Monitoring & Evaluation Manager, and programme leads.

• Coordinate grant management and tracking: maintain accurate records of deadlines, deliverables, and reporting requirements.

• Work with the finance team to develop accurate project budgets and ensure financial reporting meets funder expectations and our operational needs.

• Produce and submit clear, engaging progress reports to funders that highlight impact, learning, and youth voices.

• Monitor grant income and expenditure, ensuring compliance and timely claims against restricted funding.

• Work with the Operations and Contracts Manager and the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager to develop and improve systems for grant tracking and data integrity within the CRM (Salesforce).

Donor Stewardship and Relationship Management

• Work closely with the CEO to build and maintain strong relationships with existing and potential funders, ensuring high-quality engagement and stewardship.

• Coordinate communications, updates, and thank-you processes for donors to encourage repeat and multi-year funding.

• Lead workstreams, working closely with the Brand Manager and leadership team for support, in order to deliver meetings, presentations, and reports to funders.

• Represent Bite Back at relevant events, funder briefings, and networking opportunities.

• Promote a culture of fundraising awareness and collaboration across the organisation.

Fundraising Development

• Work with the Communications and Operations teams to explore and pilot small-scale public fundraising initiatives (e.g. individual giving, online campaigns, web donation tool).

• Work with the CEO and Communications team to develop a new strategy to build a strong and committed donor network of high net worth individuals aligned with Bite Back’s values

• Develop systems, messaging, and supporter journeys that reflect Bite Back’s youth-led identity.

• Explore opportunities for revenue from the public sector.

• Test new public fundraising channels and evaluate their return on investment to inform future strategy.

Other

• Champion Bite Back’s values - Fresh, Resilient, Respectful, Energetic, and Real - in all fundraising work.

• Collaborate with the youth activism, communications, and policy teams to translate programme outcomes into fundable opportunities and compelling narratives.

• Stay informed about trends in the fundraising and grant-making sectors and share learning across the team.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

We will be looking for applications that demonstrate experience in at least some of these, and evidence of capacity to build skills in other areas. Please don’t be put off applying for one of our jobs because you can’t demonstrate every skill. If you're passionate and excited about working for us, and possess the main skills and experience we are looking for, go ahead and apply. You could be just what we are looking for!

The ideal candidate would have the following:

Essential

• Proven experience in securing income from trusts and foundations, ideally within the non-profit or campaigning sector.

• Track record of developing and managing a grant pipeline and meeting income targets.

• Excellent written communication skills with experience producing high-quality funding applications and impact reports.

• Strong organisational and project management skills with the ability to meet multiple deadlines.

• Understanding of budgeting and financial management for grant-funded projects.

• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Experience using CRM systems for tracking income and reporting (ideally Salesforce).

• Knowledge of fundraising regulations, GDPR, and ethical standards.

• Commitment to Bite Back’s youth-led, systems-change mission.

Desirable

• Experience of developing public fundraising initiatives (individual giving, digital, community).

• Familiarity with youth-led or campaigning charities.

• Experience managing cross-team collaboration on proposals and reports.

• Understanding of impact measurement and evaluation in fundraising contexts.

• Confidence presenting to funders or representing the organisation externally.