Public policy jobs
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you want your work to influence Parliament, shape public debate and make a tangible difference to people’s lives?
We are looking for a driven, curious and politically savvy External Affairs Officer to join an excellent team that delivers for our members every day. This role offers a genuine opportunity to help build and strengthen our parliamentary engagement and wider external affairs activity at a pivotal time for social care.
You will join a supportive, intelligent and ambitious team that values evidence, collaboration and impact. We invest in our people, encourage professional development and give you real responsibility and exposure from day one. Your work will help shape national conversations and support a sector that matters.
About us
We are the UK’s membership body for over 2,200 homecare providers. Together, we work to ensure society values and invests in homecare so people can live well at home and flourish in their communities. We support our members with practical tools, trusted insight and strong representation, and we speak with authority to government, Parliament, the media and the wider public.
About the role
As External Affairs Officer, you will sit at the heart of our communications and parliamentary work. You will work closely with colleagues and members to raise awareness of the value of homecare and advance the interests of the sector.
You will help grow our profile in Parliament and the media, support campaigns, and strengthen relationships with MPs, journalists and stakeholders. You will also play a key role in translating member experience into compelling external messages and ensuring members feel heard, supported and represented.
This role suits someone who enjoys joining the dots, spots opportunities quickly and wants to build a career in external affairs, public affairs or communications within a respected, mission-driven organisation.
What you will do
- Track parliamentary activity and political developments, summarising key issues for colleagues and members
- Support parliamentary engagement, including drafting briefings, communications and Parliamentary Questions
- Build and maintain relationships with MPs, parliamentary staff and external stakeholders
- Monitor media coverage and help shape proactive and reactive media opportunities
- Draft clear, engaging content for press releases, member communications and external channels
- Plan and deliver social media activity that strengthens reach, engagement and influence
- Work closely with members to capture case studies, insights and lived experience
- Contribute to blogs, publications, events and conferences, including party conferences
- Support the team with coordination, reporting and continuous improvement
About you
You are bright, motivated and organised, with a strong interest in politics, policy and communications. You enjoy writing, relationship-building and working at pace. You take initiative, think critically and care about delivering high-quality work.
You will bring:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to tailor messages to different audiences
- Experience in public affairs, media, communications or campaigning, or a closely related field
- An understanding of UK parliamentary processes and political engagement
- Confidence using social media to inform, engage and influence
- Strong planning skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities
- An interest in social care, health or public services, or a desire to build expertise in this area
Why join us
If you want a role where your ideas count and your work makes a difference, we would love to hear from you.
How to apply
To apply, please submit your CV and a 2-page covering letter outlining how you meet the person specification.
The Homecare Association is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from all qualified candidates.
For the full role profile, and person specification, please go to our website and the 'About Us' page.
Closing date for applications
Monday 26 January 2026 at 11.59pm. We reserve the right to close applications early.
Please note that we are not accepting speculative approaches or CVs from recruitment agencies or third-party recruiters.
Interviews
First stage interviews will be w/c Monday 2 February 2026.
These will be held in person, at our office in London. The closest train station is Waterloo.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you an exceptional campaigner with a track record of creating, developing and implementing innovative and successful campaigns?
Age UK is recruiting for a Campaigns Officer with fantastic organisational and project management skills, along with an understanding of advocacy and campaigning with online and offline networks.
You will also have the creativity and communication skills to help us achieve real change, working with and for older people in line with our strategy and goals.
If this sounds like you, we welcome your application to join our collaborative and passionate External Affairs Team.
This role is permanent and offered on a Hybrid / London contract. There is a requirement to be in the office at least once a month and when required to support meetings and events in London. There will also be occasional travel to support at events across the country. Travel costs to the London office are the responsibility of the postholder and are not covered by the charity.
Must haves:
The below competencies will be assessed at the indicated stage of the recruitment process: Application = A, Interview = I, Test = T, Presentation = P
Experience
Good experience of writing persuasive communications to engage a range of supporters online and offline A, I, T
Extensive experience managing a complex workload and managing workflow when tight turnarounds are required A
Experience of organising events A, I
Experience of working collaboratively with others to achieve results A, I
Experience of building relationships with those with lived experience, supporters, beneficiaries or service users A, I, T
Skills and knowledge
Excellent project management skills A, I
Excellent written and oral communication skills T, I
Understanding of political processes and key decision-making environments, including the UK Parliament A
Ability to think strategically, be proactive, and to identify new opportunities I
Understanding of advocacy and campaigning tools A, I
Understanding of how to work in a politically balanced way I
Knowledge and understanding of what equal opportunities means in relation to this post and the ability to incorporate equality practices into all aspects of the work I
Personal attributes
Strong interest in creating change and passion for social justice A,I
What we offer in return
- Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
- Wellbeing days - 2 paid days per year (pro rata for our part-time colleagues)
- Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, Bupa health cashback plan and EAP
- Car Benefit scheme, Cycle to Work scheme
- Home & Tech - apply to buy any Home & Tech items from 'Currys' & 'IKEA', up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free. (subject to affordability)
- Blue Light Card scheme
- You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.
Additional Information
Supporting statements and anonymisation
Candidates are expected to provide a supporting statement that explains how they meet the competencies annotated with an 'A' in the job description, to assess suitability for the position. Age UK acknowledges and accepts that AI may be used to support the application; we do expect candidates to personalise experience, knowledge and skills and failure to do so, may result in your application being rejected.
Please submit a Word version of your CV as it will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role. Our system is unable to anonymise supporting statements and heavily formatted CVs. Please could you remove any personal information including your name before you upload to support our inclusive recruitment process. All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us if invited for interview.
Equal opportunities & Disability Confident Scheme
Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. Age UK is a Disability Confident Scheme employer. Due to high numbers of applications received, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.
Reasonable adjustments
Disabled job seekers can access reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. All requests for reasonable adjustments are considered on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the disabled job seeker to best meet their needs, by contacting the Recruitment Team. Disability disclosures will be kept confidential and only shared on a need-to-know basis to support the implementation of adjustments. Disclosures will not be used to inform hiring decisions.
Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.
Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.
Age UK politely requests no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.
For a full list of benefits please visit our website.
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 client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
AMR Action UK is the United Kingdom patient organisation for people impacted by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Our legitimacy comes through our small-scale research projects, our engagement with patients and their families, and from our direct support of patients through our information service and peer-support activities.
AMR Action UK seeks to empower patient, families, and carers to have their voices heard on matters that affect their lives and to be able to influence research priorities, policy and implementation changes at government level, and changes in NHS practices across the four nations of the UK.
The Policy and Advocacy lead will ensure that AMR Action UK is both well-informed across the broad-spectrum of topics relating to AMR and is impactful in its influencing work.
To be successful in the role you will need energy and enthusiasm to hit the ground running in order to make an immediate impact on appointment.
Closing date 12th January 2026, with a view to holding interviews week beginning 19th January 2026.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
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.
Our vision is a sustainable food system which delivers health and wellbeing for all.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you passionate about the role public fundraising can play in driving impact for people affected by ovarian cancer? Do you have the flair to supercharge our income at Target Ovarian Cancer?
We are an ambitious charity, building on our achievements and targeting what’s important to stop ovarian cancer devastating lives - symptoms awareness, early diagnosis, better treatments and support for all. We are also investing in our future. This is an exciting time to be joining Target Ovarian Cancer as we continue to grow as an organisation. Join us and together we'll fight for a world where everyone with ovarian cancer lives.
We are looking for a results-oriented, ambitious Head of Public Fundraising to lead an established team responsible for community, events, individual giving and legacy fundraising. This is a high growth area, and we have ringfenced an investment pot to further boost income.
In addition to leading a high-performing team, you will join Heads across the organisation to develop our next organisational strategy throughout 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to make your mark in an influential role, responsible for over half our income.
This role will suit you if you are confident in the principles of public fundraising and are ready to take on a leadership role, perhaps widening your remit.
This is a full time, permanent role. We currently offer a hybrid-working model. This means you may usually work from your home or remote location, but are expected to attend meetings and pay for your own travel to the office in Borough, London when required. You will also be required to attend events across the country, with travel funded as per our expenses policy.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
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.
Empower individuals with learning disabilities and autism to reach their full potential and lead the lives they choose.
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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Public Affairs Officer
Location: WWT Slimbridge, GL2 -Hybrid + Travel
Salary: £31,680 per annum
Contract: Permanent
About The Role
Are you passionate about building a political consensus for nature restoration? Are you able to translate public support into parliamentary will? Do you want to shift the political dial for one of our most superpowered habitats?
This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a well-respected and evidence-led organisation with an ambitious new strategy to restore 100,000 hectares of wetlands across the country. From providing homes for wildlife to protecting communities from flooding, we want to unlock the superpowers of wetlands so everyone can benefit.
Based in the Communications Team, you’ll work closely with our Senior Campaigns Manager and colleagues across the organisation to build and deliver a public affairs strategy that fits the ambition of our 2030 aims. With a keen eye on UK politics and an ability to build relationships with key decision-makers, you’ll help us translate widespread public support for nature into the political will for action, and the policies to follow it up.
With support from our team of experts, you will lead stakeholder engagement across government, Parliament and policy organisations, ensuring WWT’s research and strategic priorities are communicated effectively. Your work will include developing policy positions, producing briefings and reports, managing public affairs events, and gathering intelligence on the external policy landscape.
This hands-on role demands a strategic thinker with strong political insights, capable of building relationships, monitoring political environments and crafting plans and strategies that deliver the political change we need to see.
About You
We are seeking an individual with:
- Relevant experience working within a public affairs, campaigns, parliamentary or government environment.
- Proven experience of developing and delivering public affairs and advocacy plans and strategies designed to influence Government, politicians and other stakeholders.
- Experience of working closely with senior colleagues, offering strategic advice and briefings ahead of political events.
- Strong working knowledge of the UK Parliament’s political processes and an understanding of the current political environment, including parliamentary tools and processes.
- Confidence building a network of strong and positive relationships with government officials, including politicians and civil servants to affect policy change.
- Confidence representing an organisation and its cause with high-profile and political audiences.
- Familiarity with campaigning to build political and public support that leads to policy change.
- Strong writing skills, confident communicating complex issues clearly and succinctly, and adapting style for different audiences.
About Us
We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.
Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.
Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?
Why you’ll love working at WWT
- Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
- Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
- 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
- Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
- Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
- Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
- Cycle to work scheme
- Contributory pension scheme
- Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
- Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme
We are based in Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire, but support hybrid working with an expectation for team members to be in Slimbridge at least once a week. While this post is based at a WWT site with the opportunity for hybrid working, travel will be necessary for parliamentary purposes, including outside of normal business hours when required.
If you want to make a direct contribution to the conservation of wetlands and wetland wildlife at a critical moment for the natural world, then click apply.
Closing Date: 18th January 2026
We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications from candidates who meet the required skills and experience. We therefore encourage early applications.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.
No agencies please.
Restore Wetlands and Unlock their Power



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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location: Hybrid
Department: External Affairs & Communications directorate
Salary: £51,000 - £57,500
Hours: This is a full-time post [35 hours per week], however, we welcome applicants with proposals for shared working arrangements or other flexibilities.
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 12th January 2026, 10.00am
Benefits: 10% employers pension contribution (NEST) HSF Health cash Plan-covering employee partners and dependants under 18 28 days Annual Leave plus bank holidays and increases with length of service 2 hours weekly wellbeing time out Employee assistance program , offering GP advice lines, virtual doctors, prescription services, emotional wellbeing support, a legal help line and counselling. Funded eye site test (Specsavers) Pay it forward days- 2 days volunteering Mindful Employer Perkbox and Reward Gateway – discount platforms
Overall Purpose
We are at a critical stage in the evolution of our strategy, and to help build the next era of healthcare, our influence with national decision makers will be crucial. The 10-year plan for the NHS creates opportunities for the NHS charity sector that we must capitalise on.
This role will report to the Associate Director of Policy and Influencing to help shape our policy and influencing activity, including assessing opportunities and risks, and make recommendations for action. This will involve building and utilising strategic relationships, as well as in-depth policy knowledge, to develop and take forward evidence-based and responsive propositions which translate into funded opportunities for the sector, and to influence for improvements in the policy and regulatory environment in which NHS charities operate, to enhance impact.
You will have experience of policy development, be a strategic thinker and excellent at building relationships in a complex stakeholder environment.
Overall objectives
• Work with the AD of Policy and Influencing to scope policy and influencing strategy, assessing opportunities and risks and make recommendations for action.
• Hold relevant policy, strategy and wider contextual expertise and knowledge for the organisation – and the sector – including in-depth understanding of current frameworks and horizon-scanning future developments, identifying issues of interest to the organisation and our members.
• Build long-term strategic relationships with policymakers – including Government, especially the Department of Health and Social Care, and other relevant NHS bodies and health organisations.
• Translate knowledge and strategic relationships into:
o Opportunities for the sector – including through propositions and influencing potential funders / commissioners / decision-makers.
o Improvements in the policy, regulatory and strategic environment within which NHS charities operate, through evidence-based policy calls and influencing.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The main duties and responsibilities of the role holder are as outlined below:
• Support the AD of Policy & Influencing on organisational policy and influencing strategy.
Policy development/ expertise
• Hold organisational policy expertise on identified issues for the NHS charity sector; developing evidenced-based policy positions and relevant strategy for influence.
• Working with the Insights and Impact Specialist ensure sector learnings and impact data inform organisational policy and are shared with policymakers.
• Produce policy briefings and reports for targeted stakeholders.
• Respond to relevant policy consultations.
• Provides reports and information for colleagues within NHS Charities Together to ensure understanding of policy and public affairs and to support organisational strategy.
• Lead on the policy content and analysis for policy and influencing tools such as Financial Comparison survey.
Influencing
• Build relationships with relevant strategic partners (and potential partners) in Government, health care, academia, VCSE and other sectors to support organisational strategy.
• Identify and connect into relevant networks, including representing the organisation and the sector.
• Arrange briefings and roundtable events for targeted stakeholders.
Membership Policy engagement
• Support communication and sector engagement related to policy and public affairs, including identifying relevant policy information needed from members; mobilisation of membership behind relevant calls, and supporting development of members’ skills and capacity relating to influencing and government relations.
Other Duties
• Act as a champion for NHS Charities Together and NHS charities.
• Visibly live NHS Charities Together’s values, including our commitment to diversity and inclusion, particularly by ensuring that our policy and public affairs activity takes into account the diversity of the communities and members that we support.
• Carrying out the duties of post in accordance with NHS Charities Together’s policies and procedures on Health and Safety and take responsibility for ensuring personal health and safety.
• Working flexibly, prioritising workload and working effectively as part of a team.
• Adhere to relevant legislation, best practice, policies and processes including, but not limited to charity law, the fundraising regulator, GDPR and professional codes and standards.
• Represent NHS Charities Together as needed.
REF-225 785
In the decade to 2030 we aim for 30% of Suffolk to be connected and well looked after for nature and for 1 in 4 people in Suffolk actively helping to make that happen. This role is about building the public power to get us there through mobilising communities, strengthening local movements and driving visible, people-led action that influences decision-makers & accelerates nature recovery.
The post holder will lead & deliver public-facing campaigns that build support for nature recovery and shift local and regional decisions. That includes creating campaign moments and public actions through workshops, petitions, creative stunts, digital mobilisation and days of action alongside delivering campaigning workshops to young people and engaging communities of all ages.
You’ll also mobilise people for action, recruiting and supporting activists, volunteers and community leaders across Suffolk. You’ll develop local campaign groups and activist networks, provide training and mentoring and help nurture an inclusive activist culture rooted in equity, diversity and wellbeing. You’ll ensure campaigning and volunteering are safe and ethical, with appropriate safeguarding, risk assessment and safety guidance in place.
Finally, you’ll drive strategic influence, translating policy goals into public campaigns that influence councils, MPs, planners, landowners and other key decision-makers. Working closely with the Planning & Advocacy Manager, you’ll track political opportunities, coordinate response activism and use insight and evaluation to strengthen future campaign strategy.
A key part of the role is volunteer leadership. You’ll use the Team Kinetic system to recruit, coordinate and engage with your own volunteers to support campaigning and activism alongside strengthen the wider work of Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
To succeed in this role, you’ll be a mission-driven campaigner with a strong track record of designing & delivering impactful public campaigns and event programmes. You’ll be experienced in mobilising and supporting volunteers, activists and community groups with a solid understanding of grassroots organising and movement-building. You’ll also be a confident communicator with good Microsoft 365 skills, comfortable working in political, environmental or advocacy settings and able to stay resilient under pressure.
This is a permanent position working 37.5 hours per week (standard hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm) based at Foxburrow Nature Reserve. We operate flexible homeworking arrangements where colleagues spend more time working together than homeworking. The starting salary will be between £31,000 and £35,000 per annum depending on skills, knowledge and experience.
To apply for this opportunity, please submit an application via our website by 9:00am on Monday 19 January 2026. The interviews are planned for Friday 30 January 2026 at Foxburrow Nature Reserve. The application process will include a safer recruitment process.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting a safe and secure environment for all children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Therefore, the successful applicant for this position will be subject to safer recruitment checks including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Annual leave entitlement starts at 33 days per annum (including Bank Holidays), increasing annually to 38 days plus employees receive an extra day off for their birthday. We offer a 9% employer pension contribution with no employee contribution required, free 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme, free life insurance from day one of employment, free access to a private GP and discounts at high street retailers. Staff can also enjoy a 10% discount in our visitor centre cafes, including retail.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is welcome. As a conservation charity, we recognise the importance of diversity in both nature and our workforce of staff and volunteers. We strive to ensure that everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute to our vision of “A Wilder Suffolk where nature is thriving and abundant because everyone is doing more to help”.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
If you’re passionate about securing justice and protection for the world’s most vulnerable children, thrive in political environment, and have the skills to build powerful advocacy movements, this is your opportunity to lead bold and impactful advocacy at War Child UK.
As our Advocacy Lead, you’ll play a key role in driving change for children affected by conflict. This is an opportunity to be at the forefront of influencing the UK Government, ensuring that decision-makers take meaningful action to protect and support children globally affected by war and conflict.
You’ll lead War Child UK’s political engagement, forging influential relationships with MPs, civil servants, think tanks and parliamentary groups, ensuring that children’s voices are heard where it matters most. It’s essential that you’re skilled at building and managing long-term relationships with senior parliamentarians, influencing policymakers, and engaging government officials to drive meaningful policy change. With a strategic approach, you’ll mobilise cross-party support, help shape public campaigns to mobilise public action and support and push for tangible action and increased resources for children in conflict zones.
Working alongside a committed and high-performing team, you’ll ensure that War Child UK’s policy and advocacy priorities resonate across government, parliament, the media, social channels and the wider public.
This role offers an incredible platform to make a tangible difference at a time of unprecedented need. Join us in standing up for children affected by war and help create a future where no child’s life is torn apart by conflict.
Below are some of the experiences and qualities we’re looking for. You can read the full job advert on our website.
- A track record of delivering tangible outcomes in advocacy, public affairs, particularly within the UK Government and Parliament, ideally within an international development and/or humanitarian context.
- Demonstrable examples of building and managing long term relationships with senior parliamentarians and engaging and influencing policymakers, government officials, and other MPs to achieve policy change.
- A record of creating ambitious advocacy strategies that tangibly advance organisational objectives.
- Experience of successfully engaging with Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to secure speeches in parliament, interventions, oral and written questions, EDMs, secure debates and other parliamentary procedures.
- Strong understanding of UK political systems, parliamentary processes, and key government departments (e.g., FCDO, Home Office, MOD).
- Demonstrated ability to build strategic relationships with civil society organisations, coalitions, and political stakeholders.
- Experience working on public campaigns to further advocacy objectives.
What we can offer you
At War Child, we genuinely value different ways of working. From day one, we’re open to discussing flexible options, including hybrid working and flexible hours. Our goal is to support our employees to do their best work while ensuring we continue to deliver for children affected by conflict. Some of our benefits include:
- Flexible working culture and flexible public holidays 28 days annual leave (pro-rata), plus bank holidays, which increases by one day per year on your work anniversary, up to a maximum of 33 days.
- Pension - 5% employer contribution (increasing to 6% after one year’s service), with minimum employee contribution.
- Health and wellbeing - employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan, a GP 24/7 helpline, cancer cover, and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training.
- All employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.
This role offers an incredible opportunity to make a tangible difference at a time of unprecedented need. Join us in standing up for children affected by war and help create a future where no child’s life is torn apart by conflict.
Start date: We’re hoping for someone who can join us as soon as possible, though we can offer some flexibility for the right candidate.
No child should be a part of war. Ever.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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
Child Poverty Action Group works to prevent and end child poverty – for good.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Birthrights is recruiting a Campaigns and Policy Manager to help drive transformative change in maternity care. This is a powerful opportunity to shape national policy and campaigns that centre human rights, racial justice and the lived experiences of women and birthing people.
Reporting to the CEO, you will lead our policy and campaigns strategy, shaping how we influence government, the NHS, regulators and professional bodies. You will identify leverage points for change, develop strong and persuasive policy positions, and deliver bold, creative campaigns that challenge harmful practice and shift power. Working closely with our legal, information & advice, training and communications teams, you will ensure our policy and campaigning work is grounded in evidence, lived experience and human rights law.
You will also contribute strategically to Communities Imagine — a core organisational initiative rooted in racial justice, community leadership and a radical re-imagining of maternity care — while working alongside and supporting dedicated roles focused on its delivery.
Birthrights is a small but mighty charity with a national profile and a strong track record of influencing maternity policy and practice. We offer flexible, remote working, a supportive team culture and generous benefits.
If you are a values-driven campaigner with a passion for racial justice, reproductive justice and human rights, we would love to hear from you.
Closing date: 12 noon on Monday 26th January – please refer to the candidate pack for full details.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
