Policy Research Jobs

Are you organised and good with people with a desire to make a difference to young people’s mental health? 

Are you self-motivated and a collaborative team player, eager to provide administrative support in a small organisation? 

Do you have strong research and analytical skills, and a desire to help to shape the inner workings of a charity?

If so, we encourage you to apply for the exciting opportunity to become the Research and Administration Officer at Winchester Youth Counselling, a mental health charity. 

About Winchester Youth Counselling:  

At WYC our mission is to provide counselling, therapy and mental health support to young people aged 11-25 in Winchester as well as support and advice for parents and families, so that young people are supported to thrive and live happier lives. 

Our services include one to one counselling, walk and talk, and nature therapy sessions to local children and young people who are facing difficulties with their mental health. We also run a youth drop-in service in Winchester City Centre. We offer support to parents and carers too with parent consultations and parent workshops. 

It's a pivotal and exciting moment for our charity. Thanks to recently securing substantial funding, we're ready for exciting growth and looking to make an even greater impact on local young people's mental health.

About the Role: 

Based in the office, you will be the first point of contact for many children, young people and their families seeking counselling services. You will provide crucial administrative support to our team of counsellors and will work closely with the Operations Manager to create and synchronise processes for tracking clinical and non-clinical outcomes to help to evaluate and improve the performance of the charity.  You will work with the Fundraising and Partnerships team to research, plan and execute effective community engagement work which will help the charity to further its mission and vision, and communicate this to more stakeholders.  You will conduct research to aid the the charity as we move forwards.  You will take on project-based work, including assisting the Senior Management Team with the review and update of organisational policies and other key organisational documents. 

The Ideal Candidate;

• · Has strong research and analytical skills 
• · Has excellent organisational skills and is flexible, with the ability to prioritise workload effectively. 
• · Has great communication skills, both written and verbal, with a friendly and approachable manner. 
• · Is a team player who can work independently and as part of a team. 
• · Has a strong commitment to data protection and confidentiality. 
• · Is proficient in IT. Including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook). 
• · Experience working in a charity or similar environment desirable but not essential.

A4ID is a global charity with a vision to see the law and lawyers play their full part in the global eradication of poverty. The mission of A4ID is to be an authoritative voice of the legal community, to inspire and enable lawyers to join the fight against poverty, and to ensure that legal support is available for those engaged in that fight.

A4ID seeks to recruit a dynamic, vibrant and experienced Policy, Research and Learning (PRL) Officer who will champion and be responsible for supporting the development of A4ID’s policy, research and learning portfolio. In collaboration with the Programmes Team and under the supervision of the Policy, Research and Learning Lead, the PRL Officer will conduct cutting-edge and rigorous research, write policy papers and briefs and creative content for articles, reports, and presentations to communicate A4ID’s policy recommendations.

You will also have the opportunity to work with experienced staff across the organisation, and the PRL Officer will ensure that A4ID has up-to-date, relevant evidence and creative policy solutions on salient issues as delegated by the Policy, Research and Learning Lead in close consultation with the CEO, CPO and the Programmes team. You will contribute to the effective delivery and successful administration of the Law and Development Training Programme (LDTP) in the UK and in the development and roll-out of other learning offerings in close consultation with the PRL Lead and the Programmes team. The role requires a deep understanding of the intersection between law and international development, strong analytical skills, and the ability to translate complex research data into actionable policy recommendations.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 15 September 2024.

Our work

Our Consultancy Team has an excellent reputation in the social sector. The projects we deliver are diverse in their size and scale, but fall into three main categories:

· Mixed methods evaluation: supporting organisations to help them understand their impact and assess where value is created. We are also experienced in more developmental approaches to evaluation, helping organisations learn and adapt in real time.

· Social research: exploring social issues affecting people and communities in greater depth.

· Learning partnerships: supporting organisations with a more structural learning approach tailored to their context and culture. This can include long-term relationships over several years, as well as shorter more strategic advice.

Alongside or track record and expertise in place-based change and in large, complex programmes of change in places, we work across many policy and practice areas. We have particular expertise around youth social action and safety, systemic approaches, and using participatory, equity-driven approaches.

Our clients

Our clients are charities, local and regional government bodies and funders. Current and recent examples include The National Lottery Community Fund, BBC Children in Need, the Health Foundation, Youth Endowment Fund, Right to Succeed, and a range of local and regional government bodies including the London Mayor's Office and several London borough councils.

What to expect

You will work on a variety of projects and tasks, working with other consultants in our team to help a range of organisations with their research and evaluation needs. Your work will be varied and will depend on the needs of our clients; an opportunity to gain a flexible skillset in research and evaluation as well as build your knowledge of the non-profit sector and public sector.

This could look like:

• Training community researchers to explore the impact of a Social Housing Association’s community development project through the voice of residents.

• Visiting organisations across the UK to understand how they shared power with children and young people through youth social action funding.

• Working with government in London to understand how services for girls and young women at risk of exploitation or violence can coordinate better.

• Working with local coalitions up and down England who are pioneering new approaches to reducing homelessness, helping them learn and develop their work.

Junior Researcher and Researcher roles

A Junior Researcher position is for candidates who can demonstrate an enthusiasm for research but may be looking for an opportunity to build their experience and training. For example, you may have studied research methods but have less applied experience, or, you may have some applied experience, but you have never studied research methods.

A Researcher position is for candidates with at least 1-2 years of professional experience, especially in a research context. We welcome candidates who have worked in any sector, as long as you can demonstrate that you have relevant experience and alignment to our mission and values.

About you

You will be someone who: 

· Shares our values and demonstrates them through their work.

· Is capable of building professional relationships with colleagues and partners.

· Manages their time effectively, capable of being flexible and adaptable.

· Is proactive about your professional growth and learning.

· Is great identifying challenges and good at problem solving.

· You will have relevant skills and experience. You may have gained this experience in an academic, professional or voluntary context.

We do not expect candidates to have all the experience described below, especially those applying for a Junior Researcher role.

Examples of relevant experience includes some of the following:

· Engaging with places and communities, working with people from diverse backgrounds.

· Conducting social research, which may include conducting literature reviews, conducting interviews, taking ethnographic approaches, coding qualitative data, designing surveys, summarising and visualising quantitative data.

· Conducting programme evaluations, which may include facilitating the design of a theory of change, designing an evaluation framework, or conducting an economic analysis (e.g., value for money, social return on investment).

· Creating polished outputs through a combination of excellent research skills and strong visual design skills.

Renaisi-TSIP encourages applicants from all backgrounds, including those with a disability. As a Disability Confident Employer, Renaisi-TSIP guarantee an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria set out in the job description.

Job description

Duties and responsibilities

Conducting Research and Analysis

· Supporting with drafting research tools, evaluation frameworks and analysis plans.

· Undertaking qualitative research (for example, conducting interviews with client's staff or programme participants in different locations in the UK, conducting document reviews and facilitating focus groups).

· Undertaking quantitative research (for example, analysing survey results).

· Managing analysis processes (for example, creating coding frameworks or summarising data in Excel).

· Researchers only: Taking the lead with research coordination (for example, arranging interviews and fieldwork visits).

Supporting clients

Especially relevant to the Researcher role.

• Drafting sections of professional reports in MS Word and PowerPoint.

• Presenting findings to clients and facilitating learning workshops.

• Supporting with day-to-day client relationships, such as attending meeting clients to give project updates.

Company

• Contribute to organisational learning, for example through internal initiatives such as sustainability or equitable evaluation.

• Promoting the image of Renaisi-TSIP, which may include attending conferences, training, exhibitions and other events and preparing publicity material.

• Promote equal opportunities and cultural development.

• Carry out all duties in accordance with Renaisi-TSIP’s Equal Opportunities Policy.

Person Specification

Values and equalities

• Demonstrable commitment to the principles and practice of equal opportunities in employment
• Identify with the values and ethos of Renaisi-TSIP

Experience

• 1-2 years of relevant professional or academic experience
• Experience of analysing and synthesising complex information
• Experience of producing written work to a high standard
• Experience using Excel or a similar software package
• Experience of performing quantitative and qualitative research using a range of methods (for example, interviewing or running focus groups, handling and analysing quantitative datasets in Excel)
• Experiencing of working or volunteering in the social sector

Knowledge

• Knowledge of good research ethics
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Understanding of safeguarding policies and protocols
• Knowledge of the social sector, or a specific part of the sector e.g., youth work, health equity

Skills

• Able to communicate ideas and principles, effectively, clearly and in a variety of formats and mediums
• Able to establish positive working relationships with people from a range of professional disciplines
• Able to complete tasks to tight deadlines
• Able to prioritise and plan work
• Able to take responsibility for managing small research and evaluation projects
• Interpersonal skills and empathy for others
• Excellent IT skills
• Good analytical skills and critical thinking
• Descriptive analysis skills, including summarising and visualising data
• Knowledge and awareness of economic evaluation methods or inferential statistics

Qualifications

None are specifically required for this role, and we would rather see evidence of skills through experience and previous outputs.

Policy and Communications Manager

 £40,000 per annum (FTE)

Full-time and Permanent (part-time option may be considered no less that 4 days per week 0.8 FTE)

Office base Liverpool Street, London EC2M – Commonweal operates a flexible hybrid working policy requiring staff to attend the office base at least 2 days per week one of which is our Tuesday anchor day when all staff are in the office.

Commonweal is an independent charity working to investigate, pilot and champion housing based solutions to social injustice.  Using our charitable resources, we provide experts and partner organisations with the opportunity to trial and test new approaches designed to enhance housing equality and justice. Independently evaluating each of our projects we share our experiences, using this learning to inspire new thinking. Through the replication of what works and the lessons from what doesn’t, we influence changes in policy and practice.  In addition, we commission other research identifying and spotlighting new areas of housing injustice. 

As Policy and Communications Manager, reporting directly to the CEO and working as part of and alongside our project leads you will formulate our policy messages.  You will help lead on stakeholder engagement and growing the understanding across our sector of who Commonweal are and what we can offer.  You will shape and then develop and deliver the strategy for effectively communicating our growing range of positive project findings and aligning our PR to public policy research initiatives. In short your role will be to put comms in to action!

You will need to have experience of the voluntary and community sector as well public policy, the political environment and its current and potential implications for the charity.  You will be regularly presenting to Trustee Board meetings, ensuring Trustees and colleagues are involved and updated on external affairs activities to embed support for communications activities.  You will be supported in this role by a Communications Officer therefore experience of staff management would be desirable but not necessarily essential.

You will possess experience of working in a communications or PR environment, with strong written skills and design skills along with demonstrable knowledge of a range of communication channels (including print, broadcast and online media). Experience of liaison with the press and media securing the take up of press releases, opinion pieces or other outputs is important.

Ideally you will have experience in the field of housing or, homelessness, but certainly a demonstrable interest in the positive role for housing whether professionally, personally or through lived experience.  However, more important is demonstrable experience of policy research and stakeholder engagement, especially communicating to influence and deliver impact to Parliamentarians, local authorities and others across the voluntary sector and public service environment.  Staff or volunteer management would be helpful however a track record of building successful working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, strong organisational skills and the ability to work on your own initiative are all a must.

Deadline for applications: 9.00 am on Friday 13th September 2024

Initial interview date: Thursday 19th September – via Zoom or TEAMS video platforms.

 Final interview in person at the Commonweal Offices: Friday 27th September

How to Apply

Please read the job description for the role. The person specification sets out the skills and experience we are looking for. For an application pack containing further information please click on the apply button and follow the link to download the relevant documentation.  If you wish to apply for the role, we ask that you upload an up-to-date CV plus a covering statement of no more than 2 sides of A4 setting out how you meet the requirements for this post and your motivations for applying

In addition, you will need to answer the following question in your covering statement. In no more than 200 words please answer: ‘From what you have read about Commonweal Housing, which of our projects would you be most passionate about promoting further and why?’ 

 No agencies please. 

Commonweal Housing is committed to equal opportunities and values diversity in its workforce.

 You may have experience of the following: Policy & Communications Manager, Internal Communications Manager, External Communications, Policy Officer, Public Affairs, Senior Policy Officer, Housing, Charity, Charities, Third Sector, Policy Officer, Policy Planning, Researcher, Not for Profit, Public Affairs, Communications Manager, Marketing Communications Manager, Marketing Manager, Senior Communications Executive, Press Officer, PR, Public Relations, etc. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Policy & Communications Manager

RESPONSIBLE TO: CEO

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Communications Officer

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Full-time permanent (part-time option may be considered no less that 0.8FTE)

LOCATION: New Broad Street, Liverpool Street, London EC2M 1NH

SALARY: £40,000 per annum

 BACKGROUND:

Commonweal Housing is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to join our impactful team. Working at the heart of an exciting and unique housing charity, the role of Policy & Communications Manager is an excellent opportunity for someone keen to use their communications skills and housing sector interest to help turn our innovative thinking into long term practice and demonstrable change.

 JOB CONTEXT:

Commonweal Housing is an action learning charity using housing to combat social injustice. We provide the space for partner organisations to investigate and test bespoke housing for people facing different social injustices. Since 2007 we have allocated over £12 million for such projects and currently have a portfolio of around 40 homes which are used by our partners to deliver innovative pilot models. 

Whilst investigating and testing new ideas is central to our mission, we believe that sharing knowledge and replicating projects is a fundamental measure of our success.

The role of Policy & Communications Manager at Commonweal Housing is to share the learning from our projects. From inception through to evaluation, each project produces learning about how best to support people through housing. The Policy & Communications Manager is at the forefront of making sure this learning is seen and understood by the right people and has the impact we aim for.

Using a range of communications tactics, the Policy & Communications Manager will help to spread the word about our projects and our purpose in order to influence practice and policy. Managing a Communications Officer, the post-holder will be able to spot opportunities and communicate our work in a creative and engaging way to ensure that we not only test housing solutions to social injustice, but embed them and that our communications has impact and changes policy

Building upon a range of comms platforms and innovations such as podcasts, specially commissioned anthologies and reports, webinars and traditional press releases and social media you can be imaginative, bold and ambitious about how we can achieve our 2025 ambition:

 ‘By 2025 Commonweal will be widely viewed as a ‘go to’ organisation for innovative and deliverable housing-based solutions to social injustice – at the forefront of imaginative thinking.’

JOB SUMMARY:

Working with colleagues, notably the Chief Executive, Deputy CEO and Senior Programmes Manager, the Policy & Communications Manager will lead on Commonweal Housing’s communications and policy influencing. 

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Communications

• Oversee all communications channels, including but not limited to media and press, content writing, branding, website and social channels, events, newsletters, reports and briefings
• Effectively line manage the Communications Officer in accordance with Commonweal’s policies and procedures supporting their personal and career development
• Work with colleagues and external partners to identify key project learning messages and opportunities for policy influencing.
• Maintain a continued output of communications content to highlight our work, partnerships and charitable goals effectively
• Take the lead on planning and management events organised by the charity such as receptions, seminars, round table meetings and / or other events
• Grow the reputation of Commonweal in the sector to ensure impact on policy decisions
• Brief and manage external suppliers such as printers and designers to support the delivery of communications activity
• Track and evaluate communications performance to achieve continual improvement and to keep key internal stakeholders (namely Trustees and staff) up to date on progress via internal briefings and board papers
• Develop relevant key media contacts to highlight and profile Commonweal’s work effectively

Policy & Influencing

• Identify and develop opportunities for influencing policy across a broad spectrum of social injustices
• Working with and advising the Commonweal Executive Team to establish positive links with Parliamentarians, civil servants and others to ensure our communications and policy messages are heard and understood in the right palces.
• Work with colleagues and external partners to ensure project reports are accessible, meaningful and impactful within the policy arena
• Work with sector experts and project delivery partners to raise the profile of social injustices identified by our projects to support existing or developing campaigns
• Maintain an up to date and coherent map of stakeholders and opportunities for influence from Commonweal’s work and learning
• Work with the CEO, DCEO and Senior Programme Manager to horizon scan for future opportunities for Commonweal and/or partners and projects
• Be Commonweal’s key point of contact with the University of Birmingham for whom we sponsor a third-year student bursary for the School of Social Policy – engaging with the student bursary awardees and presenting annually to second year students about the bursary opportunity
• Maintain up to date knowledge and awareness of the growing social investment market and the opportunity this offers for the replication of Commonweal supported projects

Other

1. Represent and promote the image of the charity at both internal and external events and maintain a good working relationship with suppliers, service users, external stakeholders and other charities.

2. Promote Equal Opportunities, particularly with regard to service delivery, decision making processes and working practices.

3. Undertake all duties in accordance with Commonweal’s policies and procedures.

4. Carry out any appropriate duties as directed by the Chief Executive.

CHANGES:

This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the practice of Commonweal Housing to examine job descriptions from time to time and to update it to ensure it relates to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed.  This will be conducted in consultation with you.

 This job description is supported by annual objectives and performance standards to provide an indication of the level of performance expected from the role.

We are seeking a Policy & Public Affairs Officer who will drive forward the organisation’s policy and public affairs work, securing key policy recommendations from the 'Every second counts' report across Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Influence policy and legislation to ensure everyone across the devolved nations has the skills to save a life.
• Develop, deliver, and evaluate strategies for specific areas of policy and stakeholder engagement work, including influencing decision-makers, building and strengthening support among key regional and national stakeholders in the devolved nations.
• Lead on a number of policy and stakeholder events and activities, which could include in-depth research and writing of policy analyses.
• Write Parliamentary questions; briefings for parliamentary debates; briefings for individual MPs and internal briefings as and when needed.
• Manage Policy & Public Affairs customer relationship management systems, regularly reporting on external engagement processes.
• Rally MPs / and or Peers to support any amendments to Bills.
• Collaborate with colleagues to identify and prepare proactive and reactive policy communications.
• Develop and oversee the effective monitoring of parliamentary activity in the devolved nations.
• Build new relationships and strengthen existing relationships with spads, think tanks, offices of Parliamentarians, All Party Parliamentary Groups.
• Draft high-quality policy-related paperwork, such as relevant public/private consultation and inquiry responses, parliamentary briefs, media responses and official correspondence.
• Coordinate the building and maintaining of policy stakeholder relationships, including with partner organisations and other stakeholders; working to ensure that the voices of a broad intersection of communities are heard in the work we do.
• Support the organisation’s equity, diversity, and inclusion work, displaying a genuine commitment to understanding issues faced by the diversity of communities we support.

How to apply

Please email your CV, covering letter and Equality & Diversity monitoring form to us with 'Devolved Nations Policy & Public Affairs Officer' in the subject line.

The closing date for applications is 17:00 Monday 16 September 2024.

Interviews for this role will take place the week commencing 23 September 2024.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if enough suitable applicants apply.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available.

I am excited to be working with a fantastic social welfare charity in search of a temporary, part-time (22.5 hours a week) Policy Manager. This is a London based hybrid role for up to 6-months. You will join a friendly and supportive team and play a key role in ensuring the organisations policy influencing work is current and supported by strong analysis and evidence.

Main duties:

Lead on developing our policy positions and ensure that they are clear and well evidenced.

Lead on keeping our knowledge of housing policy up to date, tracking political changes post the General Election and seeking opportunities for influence.

Lead on keeping our knowledge of related sectors up to date, where there is overlap. E.g. social care, health and the environment.

Work with colleagues to refine our national and local influencing strategies.

Support on wider communications where appropriate, including writing blogs and developing content for social media.

Keep the charity’s positions up to date, and work with colleagues to update and develop new positions where needed

Track developments post the General Election and pivoting our work where necessary to align with national and local priorities

Develop and update a ‘policy positions’ document, including outlining key facts and stats to support our positions

Write responses to relevant consultations and other policy and public affairs opportunities, in collaboration with public affairs colleagues

Work with the Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager (Homes) to refine our national and local influencing strategies to ensure our policy positions are enacted, including stakeholder mapping

Work with the wider Homes team to provide advice on how to incorporate policy work into their interactions with local leaders and projects

Work with the Homes and Communications team to craft impactful, meaningful media lines

Write content for our national and local influencing activities

Produce policy research to help the Homes team develop policy and influencing positions

Undertake literature & evidence reviews and interview sector experts and practitioners

Use the findings to come to clear conclusions, and develop new policy positions – testing ideas with external stakeholders where appropriate

If you have the above skills and experience and are immediately available, please apply online today, I would love to have a conversation with you!

This Grade 6 rated post will support the systems which ensure that Alumni & Development deliver successful fundraising by providing efficient and accurate prospect research support to the fundraising team. Daily tasks will include identifying, researching and rating high net worth individuals and organisations, identifying event speakers, guests and award nominees. The post-holder will also have responsibility for prospect pool management and supporting the research needs of the fundraisers, and wider University for writing prospect profiles, event briefings and due diligence reports, while keeping the database up to date.

With strong investigative and research skills, and excellent verbal and written communication skills, you will be a self-motivated, flexible, team player with a methodical approach to work tasks, excellent data entry, accuracy, time management and communication skills.  Knowledge of the fundraising environment and The Raiser’s Edge would be an advantage.

The Difference is launching the role of an Research, Impact and Influence (RII) Officer. This role focuses on providing administrative, logistical, and operational support to colleagues in the Research, Impact and Influence (RII) team. This is the right role for an individual with good organisational skills who would like to learn on-the-job in a friendly, dynamic and ambitious organisation. 

The role works across a small directorate that includes the Impact, Influencing and Fundraising teams, giving the opportunity to get a deep understanding of what each part of the team does and how best to support them. 

This role will give you the foundation to grow within the organisation, with the aim that you eventually step into a future role at The Difference as the organisation continues to grow. You will be a valuable member of our hard-working and enthusiastic team, and the team in turn will support you in your development and learning. 

Person Specification

• You are driven by the social injustice of exclusion, and the work of The Difference and want to join us in our aim of making schools measurably more inclusive, nationally, by 2030. 

• You are highly organised, and enjoy keeping things in order with systems and processes. 

• You have an eye for detail, tracking the small stuff and making sure work is high quality and accurate. 

• You can multitask, working on a number of different projects at one time and are able to prioritise and organise in line with changing deadlines and priorities. 

• You’re a good communicator, able to communicate with a wide range of external stakeholders, as well as communicating clearly with colleagues on when you will deliver work and when you need help or support. 

• You’re a team player who wants to get stuck in when and where needed. 

• You’re a self-starter, happy to take initiative and work out the best way to do things - we are always looking for ways to improve!

• You’re agile, flexible, and can adapt when priorities change and tasks shift last minute - a common occurrence in small and nimble organisations. 

• You’re ambitious to grow and learn.

Areas of Responsibility

Planning and Logistics across Communications and Research: 

• Supporting event planning (e.g. managing venues, hospitality, invitations). 

• Working with our Research team to support fieldwork planning and travel.

• Working closely with our Head of Communications to develop and plan social media posts and email campaigns around our work.

• Planning and managing event logistics from round-tables with senior politicians to our annual conference IncludEd.

• Scheduling of meetings for internal team members, important external stakeholders including journalists, research participants (like our headteachers, parents, young people) and policymakers.

Tracking Press, Research and Data: 

• Ensuring we are aware of upcoming publications and events relevant to our team or community. 

• Ensuring all relevant information is logged on a database Hubspot to continue clear communication between our team and funders/ stakeholders.

• Working closely with the Impact team to manage and log collected data, and support analysis and reporting.

Fundraising Events and Stakeholder Management:

• Supporting the delivery of stewardship and engagement activities for funders and prospects including scheduling meetings, coordinating events and school visits

• Ensuring that the prospect pipeline is up to date and that actions are recorded

• Working across the Impact and Fundraising Teams to ensure fundraising reporting requirements are factored in to impact plans and providing impact and evaluation insight and stats for funder reports and applications 

• Ensuring all fundraising information is logged on our database Hubspot

Hours: 35 hours per week, part-time will be considered minimum 21 hours.

As the leading specialist mental health charity for women who have experienced domestic abuse, Woman’s Trust is on a mission to help women and their children to overcome the devastating mental health impact of Domestic Abuse. This is a pivotal time to join our Communications team.

As the Public Affairs/Policy Officer, you work with the CEO, Senior Communications Manager and Research and Data Team along with internal and external stakeholders to help design, manage and deliver a cutting-edge policy agenda and stakeholder outreach programme.

Woman's Trust

The charity was originally established by a group of survivors and Counsellors to meet the gap in specialist mental health services, designed by and for women, to ensure that women affected by DA can live a life free from further harm and abuse.

This is a pivotal time to join the Woman’s Trust Communication’s team, as we want to proactively generate more awareness of our work, capitalising on our unique position in the women’s and mental health sectors by ensuring that the public and key stakeholders understand the impact of our work; that we can generate more support and funding for what we do, helping more women as a result; and that we can influence public policy to ensure even more survivors of domestic abuse have access to specialist mental health support.

If you are looking to make a real impact in your Communications career, then we would like to hear from you, so please do get in touch. 

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter of no more than 2 pages outlining your experience, skills and knowledge, relevant to this post and showing us, through examples, why we should choose you.

Please also provide us with the details of two referees. We require their name, contact information, and relationship to you. Referees will not be contacted until an offer of employment is made.

Interviews will be held on a rolling basis.

Closing date for applications: Monday, 16th September 2024.

Please note, that this post is open to female applicants only, the Equality Act 100 pursuant to Schedule, 9 Part 1 applies. Thank you again for your interest in our work.

We are a not-for-profit organisation committed to increasing the diversity and numbers of young people entering engineering and technology to meet the future workforce needs, as well as promoting roles that help us work towards net zero and drive environmental sustainability.

Are you looking for a role in a dynamic and busy policy and public affairs team operating in the education and skills policy arena? Are you interested in a role that will provide you with the opportunity to work with a range of stakeholders on developing impactful policy? Then this is your opportunity. EngineeringUK is looking for a Policy Manager ready to lead on the development of some of our organisational policy priorities and positions to ensure that government policy addresses EngineeringUK’s concerns in relation to for example apprenticeships and the ‘growth and skills levy’, Skills England, STEM teacher shortages, and the forthcoming curriculum review.

It is an exciting time to work in policy and if you have excellent verbal and written communication skills, experience in drafting policy reports and recommendations and a good understanding of how to sell these to policymakers, we want to hear from you.

About EngineeringUK

Our purpose is to drive change so more young people choose engineering and technology careers.

Our vision is that the UK has the workforce needed for engineering and technology to thrive, to improve sustainability and to achieve net zero.

Our mission is to enable more young people from all backgrounds to be informed, inspired and progress into engineering and technology.

In the UK, we don’t have enough engineers and demand is going up. So, we need more young people to realise there could be a future for them in engineering and technology. To really thrive, we need a stronger, more diverse and representative workforce and for that we have to do things differently to make engineering more appealing.

We are a not-for-profit working with hundreds of organisations across business, education, professional institutions and the third sector so we can all grow the future talent pool together. We drive that collective effort through research and evidence, leadership, activities for schools and advocacy, with a focus on long-term sustainability.

We guided by a series of values that we apply to all our activity:

• We are inclusive and care about diversity. We understand that we have different needs and create opportunities for everyone's voice to be heard
• We are collaborative. We listen, share and work in partnership to achieve our vision
• We are curious and keen to learn. We challenge ourselves and others to innovate and experiment
• We are insightful. We evaluate what we do and draw on research to make decisions and to improve our collective understanding
• We are driven by a strong sense of purpose. We are determined to make an impact and achieve our goals
   

About the role

You will report to the Head of Policy and Public Affairs and work closely with colleagues across EngineeringUK and with our partners. You will be instrumental in the delivery of our policy and public affairs programme and lead on key elements and policy projects.

You will take the lead on developing organisational policy positions, producing reports and responses to government consultations (with a focus on education and skills) as well as our engagement with stakeholders, internally and externally. You will also work closely with the Public Affairs Advisor and other colleagues to communicate these messages to government and government departments.

The role is London based at our office at 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN and may involve some travel in the UK from time to time.  We believe that hybrid working has many benefits and are pleased to offer flexible working with a minimum of 2 days (or 40%) a week in the office and the option for a flexible start and end to the working day in our vibrant central London office overlooking the Thames. Further details on our flexible working practices can be discussed at interview or you can reach out to a member of our HR team.

Further details of the role can be found in the job description and person specification.
 

Person specification

Essential Skills / Competencies

• Demonstrable experience of developing organisational policy positions, policy responses and report writing as well as leading on impactful policy engagement with government stakeholders - typically this would be developed through 3-5 years of experience in a similar role.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including a proven ability to simplify complex research and policy message, and to write confidently and concisely for a variety of audiences.
• Proven experience in stakeholder management and engaging a range of different sectors and organisations in public policy development.
• Good understanding of the education and skills landscape in England, as well as the political environment surrounding it.
• Proven ability to lead a project and take people with you.
• Proven ability to work independently and prioritise in response to many competing demands and time, but also take direction, be flexible and work collaboratively with others, contributing to team decisions and facilitating cross-organisational working.
• Commitment to our mission and values, in particular, you will be able work in a way that supports our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Education / level of experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, or similar ability gained through work experience relevant to the role.

EngineeringUK is committed to being an inclusive workplace, where everyone feels they belong.  This is supported by the dedicated work we are doing to ensure our policies and practices are inclusive and that our staff are trained to be able to fulfil this commitment.

We value the benefits of a diverse workforce and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.  Our recruitment process is designed to be as accessible and inclusive as possible and to ensure people are individually assessed regardless of their backgrounds or characteristics. We are an equal opportunities employer and are open to flexible working, including job share.

Applying for this role

Applications

If you would like to request to submit your application in an alternative format to support accessibility, please let us know.

The deadline for applications is 12:00 noon on 4th September.

Interviews

Applications will be assessed against the requirements for the post as set out in the Role Profile and Person Specification.

We are a Disability Confident committed employer. We guarantee an interview to any disabled person who meets the minimum requirements of the role. If this applies to you please complete the relevant sections of the application form. Additionally, if there are any reasonable adjustments that would make this recruitment process smoother for you just complete the relevant section of the application form. 

We aim to notify candidates who have been shortlisted by Monday 9 September. If you have not heard from us after this date, please assume that you have not been successful.

First interviews will be held on Friday 13 September and Monday 16 September.
 

What can we offer you?

• Competitive salary
• 28 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), in addition we normally close for the Christmas week
• Competitive pension (10% employer contribution)
• Annual bonus opportunity
• Flexible working
• A vibrant office with terrace overlooking the Thames embankment and Tower Bridge
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Insurance (4 x salary)
• Long term illness/incapacity insurance cover (permanent health insurance or PHI)
• Annual private health check for all employees over 40 once they have completed their probationary period and to employees over 35 after 3 years’ service
• Discounted gym membership
• Yearly flu vaccination

We are a not-for-profit organisation committed to increasing the diversity and numbers of young people entering engineering and technology to meet the future workforce needs, as well as promoting roles that help us work towards net zero and drive environmental sustainability.

Are you looking for a role in a dynamic and busy policy and public affairs team operating in the education and skills policy arena? Are you interested in a role that will provide you with the opportunity to work with a range of stakeholders on developing impactful policy? Then this is your opportunity. EngineeringUK is looking for a temporary Policy Manager ready to lead on the development of some of our organisational policy priorities and positions to ensure that government policy addresses EngineeringUK’s concerns in relation to for example apprenticeships and the ‘growth and skills levy’, Skills England, STEM teacher shortages, and the forthcoming curriculum review.

It is an exciting time to work in policy and if you have excellent verbal and written communication skills, experience in drafting policy reports and recommendations and a good understanding of how to sell these to policymakers, we want to hear from you.

About EngineeringUK
 

Our purpose is to drive change so more young people choose engineering and technology careers.

Our vision is that the UK has the workforce needed for engineering and technology to thrive, to improve sustainability and to achieve net zero.

Our mission is to enable more young people from all backgrounds to be informed, inspired and progress into engineering and technology.

In the UK, we don’t have enough engineers and demand is going up. So, we need more young people to realise there could be a future for them in engineering and technology. To really thrive, we need a stronger, more diverse and representative workforce and for that we have to do things differently to make engineering more appealing.

We are a not-for-profit working with hundreds of organisations across business, education, professional institutions and the third sector so we can all grow the future talent pool together. We drive that collective effort through research and evidence, leadership, activities for schools and advocacy, with a focus on long-term sustainability.

We guided by a series of values that we apply to all our activity:

• We are inclusive and care about diversity. We understand that we have different needs and create opportunities for everyone's voice to be heard
• We are collaborative. We listen, share and work in partnership to achieve our vision
• We are curious and keen to learn. We challenge ourselves and others to innovate and experiment
• We are insightful. We evaluate what we do and draw on research to make decisions and to improve our collective understanding
• We are driven by a strong sense of purpose. We are determined to make an impact and achieve our goals
  
   

About the role

You will report to the Head of Policy and Public Affairs and work closely with colleagues across EngineeringUK and with our partners. You will be instrumental in the delivery of our policy and public affairs programme and lead on key elements and policy projects.

You will take the lead on developing organisational policy positions, producing reports and responses to government consultations (with a focus on education and skills) as well as our engagement with stakeholders, internally and externally. You will also work closely with the Public Affairs Advisor and other colleagues to communicate these messages to government and government departments.

The role is London based at our office at 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN and may involve some travel in the UK from time to time.  We believe that hybrid working has many benefits and are pleased to offer flexible working with a minimum of 2 days (or 40%) a week in the office and the option for a flexible start and end to the working day in our vibrant central London office overlooking the Thames. Further details on our flexible working practices can be discussed at interview or you can reach out to a member of our HR team.

Further details of the role can be found in the job description and person specification.

 

Person specification

Essential Skills / Competencies

• Demonstrable experience of developing organisational policy positions, policy responses and report writing as well as leading on impactful policy engagement with government stakeholders - typically this would be developed through 3-5 years of experience in a similar role.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including a proven ability to simplify complex research and policy message, and to write confidently and concisely for a variety of audiences.
• Proven experience in stakeholder management and engaging a range of different sectors and organisations in public policy development.
• Good understanding of the education and skills landscape in England, as well as the political environment surrounding it.
• Proven ability to lead a project and take people with you.
• Proven ability to work independently and prioritise in response to many competing demands and time, but also take direction, be flexible and work collaboratively with others, contributing to team decisions and facilitating cross-organisational working.
• Commitment to our mission and values, in particular, you will be able work in a way that supports our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
   

Education / level of experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, or similar ability gained through work experience relevant to the role.

EngineeringUK is committed to being an inclusive workplace, where everyone feels they belong.  This is supported by the dedicated work we are doing to ensure our policies and practices are inclusive and that our staff are trained to be able to fulfil this commitment.
 

We value the benefits of a diverse workforce and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.  Our recruitment process is designed to be as accessible and inclusive as possible and to ensure people are individually assessed regardless of their backgrounds or characteristics. We are an equal opportunities employer and are open to flexible working, including job share.

Applying for this role

Applications

If you would like to request to submit your application in an alternative format to support accessibility, please let us know.

Please also tell us where you saw the job advertised in your email as we are tracking our applications.
 

The deadline for applications is before 12:00 noon on Thursday 4th September 2024.

Interviews

Applications will be assessed against the requirements for the post as set out in the Role Profile and Person Specification.
 

We are a Disability Confident committed employer. We guarantee an interview to any disabled person who meets the minimum requirements of the role. If this applies to you please complete the relevant sections of the application form. Additionally, if there are any reasonable adjustments would make this recruitment process smoother for you just complete the relevant section of the application form. 
 

We aim to notify candidates who have been shortlisted by Monday 9 September. If you have not heard from us after this date, please assume that you have not been successful.
 

First interviews will be held on Friday 13 September and Monday 16 September.

What can we offer you?

• Competitive salary
• 28 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), in addition we normally close for the Christmas week
• Competitive pension (10% employer contribution)
• Annual bonus opportunity
• Flexible working
•  A vibrant office with terrace overlooking the Thames embankment and Tower Bridge
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Insurance (4 x salary)
• Long term illness/incapacity insurance cover (permanent health insurance or PHI)
• Annual private health check for all employees over 40 once they have completed their probationary period and to employees over 35 after 3 years’ service
• Discounted gym membership
• Yearly flu vaccination

Policy, Programmes and Research Officer

We are looking for a Policy, Programmes and Research Officer to join the team in this instrumental role offering agile and flexible working.

As an equal opportunities employer, diversity is important and we appreciate difference through inclusiveness and belonging. It gives a deeper understanding of the world, society and the diverse communities the charity is working with.

We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+), people with a disability, and people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Position: Policy, Programmes and Research Officer

Location: Agile (required to work from the London office a minimum of 2 days a week)

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week (flexible working available)

Salary: Starting salary of £26,457 (within a bracket of £26,457 - £34,363, plus London Weighting Allowance of 3k if applicable)

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 4th September

Interview Date: 18th – 20th September

Work for an organisation that research shows is one of the most trusted major voluntary sector brands.

The Role

The Policy, Programmes and Research Officer role is based within the ‘Policy and Practice’ department which has the overall function of elevating the voice of lived experience and diverse communities to influence systemic change and ensuring it is delivered on the ground.

You will be instrumental in supporting a range of activity across ‘Policy and Practice’ including the following teams: Policy and Influencing (where this role primarily sits), Programmes, Co-Production and Programme Development. The role also has a dotted line into the Racial Justice and Equity team and may also work with other teams, such as Campaigns and Communications and Evidence and Impact.

The post is ideal for you if you are keen to gain a range of experience and develop your skills in an engaging and supportive team environment.

About You

• I have the essentials covered:
• I am proficient in Microsoft Office software (e.g. Outlook, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Forms)
• I have an aptitude for organising information and activities to meet the objectives of a plan
• I can produce updates and reports and adapt the information and tone of voice for a variety of different audiences
• I can review and understand different types of data (qualitative and quantitative)
• I can synthesise and analyse new and complex information
• I can produce clear and concise written work
• I can take a flexible approach to find ways to overcome obstacles
• I can work in an inclusive way, championing equality and diversity
• I am able to work independently, prioritise tasks, and positively respond to unforeseen challenges
• I have an interest in mental health and health policy and practice more generally
• I can engage and build rapport with Experts by Experience (people with lived experience of mental illness)

I may also have:

• Experience in mental health policy
• Experience in providing support services to people severely affected by mental illness

About the Organisation

In a rapidly changing world, the charity brings together the heritage and experience of four charities from across the country who’ve been supporting people with their mental health for over 50 years, challenging the causes of poor mental health and providing people with the tools they need to live their best possible life at home, school and work.

What will you receive?

You will have plenty of opportunities to enhance your abilities by making a real difference every day. In addition, you will have excellent development opportunities including funded training, career development, and a range of e-learning courses.

You will also receive: 

• Employer funded pension
• Flexible working
• Life assurance
• Eye care vouchers
• Training opportunities
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 plus Bank Holidays
• Rewards, benefits and recognition platform
• Employee assistance programme
• Your birthday off
• Plus many more great benefits…

“It feels very rewarding to be part of such a meaningful Organisation where everyone is valued and has the opportunity to make a difference” Current staff member

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation

The charity has an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in these efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in the anti-racist statement. The team have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in the Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates the intention to hold the organisation accountable and be judged on progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

You may also have experience in areas such as Policy, Programmes, Research, Policy Officer, Programmes Officer, Research Officer, Policy and Research Officer.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Scope is a disability equality charity in the United Kingdom. Together we are Disability Gamechangers. We work to a society where all disabled people enjoy equality and fairness. We campaign tirelessly for everyday equality for disabled people.

Join us in making a real difference!

With the recent UK election ushering in a period of political change, now is a crucial time for helping us ensure our vision for an Equal Future for disabled people in the UK.

Scope is at the forefront of shaping the new government’s agenda in disability employment, and with a series of commitments to big ambitions in this area, we have a unique opportunity to influence policy.

Join us and help ensure the next decade is defined by real progress so all disabled people who want to can move into, stay in, and progress in work.

Permanent, 35 hours per week

Location: Here East Press Centre, 14 East Bay Lane, London, E15 2GW with flexibility to work from home some or most of the time.

The role 

If you want to help us end the Disability Employment Gap, Lead Policy Adviser (Employment) is the role for you. You’ll help us turn the evidence we have into robust policy recommendations.

We’re looking for someone who will:

• Use their detailed knowledge of policy influencing to come up with creative and effective ways to ensure that the next Government prioritises these issues.

• Throughout it all, ensure disabled people’s experiences are included and their voices amplified. 

• Pass a basic DBS check.

For more information about the role’s responsibilities, and the skills and experience required please use the link to job description above. 

About you

We are looking for someone experienced in securing policy change.

You will:

• Have good understanding of how Whitehall and Westminster work, and you’ll know how to create change.

• Know how government policy is made, influenced and the role research plays in the process.

• Ideally have experience of working in a large organisation, and you will understand the need for a collaborative approach that works for different audiences. 

• Be passionate about disability equality and understand the challenges disabled people face.

• Have experience of working with people from marginalised backgrounds would be another advantage.

Please make sure you explain in your application, with examples, how you can meet these important skills.

We ask you to show an appreciation of Scope’s values and our ambition of everyday equality for disabled people.  

Our values are being pioneering, courageous, connected, open and fair

By living our values and trusting each other, we give our colleagues freedom and space to be creative, push boundaries and change minds.

Disabled candidates

We are a disability equality charity. We encourage applications from disabled people and people with impairments, conditions, and access needs. We want to create a workforce that is a true reflection of the communities we serve.

Scope will interview all disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the post. This is part of our commitment as a Disability Confident Leader. Just let us know in your application that you are applying under the Offer an Interview Scheme. This was previously known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

Some applicants might need adjustments during the application process. If you require adjustments through your journey with us you can find out more about interview adjustments on the Scope website.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

At the heart of everything we do at Scope is Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

We want everyone to feel like they belong. We value each person as an individual. We will treat everyone with dignity and respect and we want to recognise all parts of a person's identity.

We are a disability equality charity. So, we will build a culture that is accessible and inclusive first. We will aim for the same high standards in all our work. We will listen, learn and keep improving.

You can find out more about our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion on the Scope website.

Scope benefits

We believe hard work deserves reward and recognition. We offer a wide range of benefits including:

• 27 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Flexible, hybrid and remote working options
• Pay progression at 6 months and 2 years
• Company pension 
• Excellent training and career development 
• Strong colleague networks across disability, race and LGBTQ+
• Discounted gym membership, cycle to work scheme and much more.

How to apply

If you want to become a Disability Gamechanger, we'd love to hear from you.

Click the apply button to create an account and complete your application form. 

• Salary: £28,088 per annum, pro rata, subject to deductions for tax and national insurance contributions as required by law.
• Hours: Full time, 5 days, equivalent to 37.5 hours per week. This may be flexible. There is also the option to work part time at 0.8 FTE (30 hours per week).
• Location: FLEX office, Vauxhall, London – Flexible hybrid working with a mixture of in person and home/office working.
• Pension: 4%, incremental pension contributions.
• Contract: 2 years, fixed term (with possibilities of extension subject to funding)

In this role, you will support FLEX’s policy and advocacy work to secure access to rights for all workers in the UK and prevent labour exploitation. As well as work delivered directly by FLEX our policy strategy includes  work through coalitions such as the Labour Exploitation Advisory Group (LEAG) and the Taskforce on Survivors of Trafficking in Immigration Detention, two networks made of expert organisations directly supporting people who have experienced or are at risk of exploitation.

This role requires someone with real passion and commitment to FLEX’s work to end labour exploitation and our values of Respect, Courage, Integrity, Justice and Accountability as we work to challenge and positively transform policies, attitudes and practices that drive labour exploitation.