Publications officer jobs in Belfast

Policy and Public Affairs Officer at the British Liver Trust  

Communications Team 

Building momentum, Changing lives 

The British Liver Trust is the UK’s leading charity supporting children and adults affected by liver disease and liver cancer. We advocate for improved prevention, early detection, and equitable access to care for all people affected by liver conditions across the UK. Liver disease is a public health emergency – it is the third leading cause of premature death in the UK, with deaths increasing by 400% over the past two generations. 

We believe that liver disease and liver cancer are at a tipping point. By taking bold action ourselves and with others, we will start to shift that balance and seize this moment. We are looking for an experienced policy officer to support us on this journey and to directly contribute to change.

This is an exciting time for the Trust as liver disease is increasingly being recognised as a priority by the NHS and we have recently launched our new organisation strategy.   

We are seeking a policy and public affairs professional to support existing work and support our advocacy with key stakeholders across the UK and to help improve outcomes and care for all liver disease patients.

The role  

• Run the Secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Liver Disease and Liver Cancer

• Support our policy development, including supporting our consultation responses

• Help secure parliamentary debates and speakers, and provide tailored and impactful briefings 

• Coordinate political outreach to grow our pool of supportive MPs 

• Monitor and horizon scanning 

• Represent the Trust at external meetings to amplify our profile and policy messaging

• Work closely with colleagues in the communications, outreach, roadshow and fundraising teams to ensure policy is embedded across the Trust’s work. 

The postholder will have the opportunity to influence change and improve outcomes and services for liver disease and liver cancer patients. 

Policy and Public Affairs Officer 

Salary £32,000 – £35,500 per annum  

Full time 35 hours per week  

Home-based with regular access to London and occasional visits to Winchester (HQ).  

We offer a range of benefits for our employees, including: 

• Life assurance 4x your salary starting from date of employment 

• 5% employer pension contribution, rising to 7.5% at 15 months and 10% at 27 months service (optional on contribution increase) 

• Holiday buy-back scheme (up to 3 days per annum) 

• 25 days paid annual leave (FTE) 

• BUPA health cash-back scheme; money back on everyday healthcare costs, 24/7 health advice line, employee assist programme, mental health support & wellbeing resources 

• Cycle-to-work scheme 

• Contractual sick pay offering up to five weeks’ full pay, dependant on length of service to support employee wellbeing 

• 3 days additional gifted leave between Christmas and New Year 

If you would like to apply for the role, please send:

• a covering letter explaining how your experience, skills and knowledge make you suitable for the role, with particular relevance to the Job Description

• an up-to-date CV, including two referees

Closing date: 5pm on Friday the 10th of April 

Interviews: to be held on Tuesday the 21st of April 

Please note: Clinks would welcome the opportunity to discuss potential secondments from locally or regionally based voluntary organisations. 

About Us

Clinks supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families. Our vision is of a vibrant, independent and resilient voluntary sector that enables people to transform their lives. 

Job purpose 

To identify, communicate and engage with the range of voluntary sector organisations working with individuals and their families within the CJS across a geographical area ensuring Clinks provides effective support to help voluntary organisations better meet their aims. To enable Clinks to share information about the sector with HMPPS and other stakeholders

Job summary 

This role will increase awareness and understanding of the criminal justice voluntary sector operating within across the Midlands area. The post holder will undertake an initial analysis project to identify place-based voluntary sector organisations and the range of, and types of services and support provided to people in contact with the criminal justice system and their families. They will identify place-based needs and lead on the collation and sharing of information across the Clinks team and with stakeholders, to highlight the challenges and opportunities. The post holder will need to build new, and nurture existing relationships, with key partners and a range of agencies across sectors.

The post will work within the Area Engagement & Partnerships Directorate and with other Clinks’ staff to identify new members and engagement opportunities, deliver events and training, and provide opportunities to support the capacity and capability needs of the voluntary sector, with a focus on place-based small and specialist organisations working in the CJS.

The post will deliver activity to meet funder requirements, aims and objectives.

Reports to: Area Engagement and Partnerships Manager

Responsible for: N/A 

1. Duties and key responsibilities 

Area Engagement and Impact 

• Identify and increase awareness of voluntary sector organisations based in the Midlands, the range of and types of services and support provided to people in contact with the criminal justice system and their families, where they deliver and how they are funded. 
• Understand the work of local and regional voluntary sector infrastructure organisations in a geographical area to identify and increase partnership working and collaborative approaches to strengthen the support offered by Clinks, 
• Gather intelligence from the sector to identify and understand the needs of place-based organisations and share feedback with HMPPS and other key stakeholders to develop operational processes and influence future commissioning opportunities. 
• Work alongside the National Influencing & Networks team to use this intelligence to influence key decision making at a local and national level.
• Provide support to voluntary sector organisations, keeping the sector informed and up to date and capturing the support provided and its impact. 
• Respond to requests from voluntary sector organisations in need of support and signpost or consider what assistance Clinks (and others) can provide. 
• Work alongside the Area Insights and Impact Officer to capture the needs of the sector to influence and inform future activity. 
• Provide regular area specific communications to organisations utilising Clinks communication channels to share good practice, resources and publications.
• Produce regular blogs, case studies and social media activity to showcase the work of place-based voluntary sector organisations.   
• Develop and build upon existing place-based networks to support collaboration and co-ordination between the voluntary, statutory, and private sectors in the criminal justice system. 
• Provide information to help statutory partners and key stakeholders to understand the voluntary sector, its structures and how to work with it. 

External Relationships 

• Identify and explore opportunities to develop relationships with area-specific agencies working within criminal justice including Probation, Prisons and local statutory agencies to increase knowledge of locally based voluntary sector services and establish, and embed Clinks’ support 
• Provide representation at various meetings, both internally and externally with partners and stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively to ensure effective information flow across directorates and to and from the sector and stakeholders 
• Develop relationships with regional and local infrastructure organisations to widen Clinks reach and identify joint working opportunities. 

2. General responsibilities   

• Represent and be an ambassador for Clinks 
• Work to support the mission, ethos, and values of Clinks 
• Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop, or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position 
• Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace 
• Work collaboratively with others in all aspects of our work 

This job description does not form part of your contract of employment and can be amended from time to time as the needs of the organisation require.

Person specification 

Experience, Skills and Abilities  

• Significant experience of working or volunteering in the voluntary sector in the Midlands area
• Relationship building and management with a range of stakeholders and networks. 
• Good attention to detail and ability to maintain effective records, utilising a range of different methods. 
• Ability to think strategically about the voluntary criminal justice sector, and to analyse and respond to change. 
• Ability to prioritise, multi-task and work under pressure, juggling a busy and varied workload. 
• Excellent IT and digital skills, including use of Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams and Zoom. 
• Adaptability and flexibility in being able to deal with new situations quickly and efficiently.   
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both written and spoken, and ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders, at all levels of seniority.   
• Convening meetings, arranging and chairing events both in-person and online. 
• Ability to support and coordinate a complex network of organisations including representing diverse views, and promoting their work and issues. 
• A collaborative approach to working with colleagues but also able to work alone. 
• Highly organised with good project and time management skills. 

Knowledge  

• Role of the voluntary sector in addressing social exclusion. 
• The criminal justice context and related policy. 
• Understanding the role of national and local infrastructure organisations 
• An understanding of the Midlands geographical area 

Personal attributes and other requirements

• Able to travel extensively across the Midlands area with occasional travel across England and Wales. 
• Able to work evenings and weekends and stay away from home overnight where necessary. 
• Work well as part of a small team and independently, with a flexible approach to work. 
• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.  
• Commitment to the values and ethos of supporting people in the criminal justice system 

We are seeking an exceptional leader who can act as a credible spokesperson and ambassador for the Catholic Union, building trusted relationships across the Church, parliament and wider society and helping to grow the Catholic Union’s influence and engagement in the years ahead.

Founded in 1870, the Catholic Union of Great Britain brings Catholic laity and Catholic social teaching to the public square across England, Wales and Scotland. Working in partnership with dioceses, parishes, MPs, MSPs, MSs, peers and Catholic organisations, our vision is of a society in which Catholic laity are informed, equipped and encouraged to engage in public life.

Our work is shaped by three key themes: engagement, education and encouragement. Through these we foster informed participation in public debate, help Catholics and the wider public understand contemporary social and political issues through a Catholic lens, and inspire greater confidence for Catholics to contribute to civic and community life.

In recent years the Catholic Union has developed from being largely volunteer-led into a more professional and strategically focused organisation, strengthening relationships across the Church and wider society. Our Weekly Briefing, now read by around 6,500 people each week, has become a key channel for parliamentary reporting, Catholic news and reflection.

As Director, you will lead the Catholic Union at an exciting moment in its development. You will represent the Catholic Union publicly, strengthening relationships with bishops, diocesan leaders, parliamentarians and Catholic organisations. You will act as a trusted ambassador for the Union, grow our channels of influence and engagement, and work with Trustees, Council and a small experienced team to support the organisation’s continued development.

If you are inspired by the opportunity to serve as a public voice for a respected Catholic organisation and help foster thoughtful dialogue and engagement in public life, we would love to hear from you.

For more information, please see the job pack attached. Closing date 10th April.