External Affair Director Jobs in Edinburgh

Join Us in Driving Real Change! Lead Hope for the Future's Policy and Engagement Team

Location: Sheffield HQ or Remote (UK-wide)
Salary: £43,235.28 per annum (+ £3,000 London Weighting, where applicable)
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent 

Are you passionate about inspiring change in the fight against climate change?

At Hope for the Future (HFTF), our mission is to empower individuals and communities to engage in meaningful conversations with politicians and drive bold climate action. We believe that through collaboration across political divides, we can create a future where climate action is central to decision-making in government and beyond.

We are seeking an experienced, passionate leader to take on the role of Director of Policy and Engagement and help shape the future of climate action.

Are you an inspiring, strategic leader ready to make a tangible impact? If so, this is your opportunity to lead our Policy and Engagement team, drive meaningful change, and be part of an ambitious, forward-thinking organisation.

What you’ll be doing

As a key member of the senior leadership team, you’ll have the responsibility of overseeing the delivery of our impactful projects and ensuring that our ambitious three-year strategy is achieved. You’ll provide expert leadership, empowering your team to drive engagement with diverse communities and policymakers across the UK.

Your role will involve:

• Leading and growing HFTF’s impact by overseeing delivery programmes, achieving targets, and ensuring financial sustainability

• Managing and mentoring a talented, motivated team while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment

• Strengthening partnerships with organisations, policymakers, and stakeholders

• Representing the charity in external communications, events, and public speaking opportunities

• Actively contributing to the overall strategy and direction of HFTF

What we’re looking for
We’re looking for a leader who is not only strategic and results-driven but also passionate about climate action and empowering communities. You’ll need:

• At least 3 years’ experience in a management or leadership role within a charity, NGO, or social enterprise

• A strong understanding of UK politics, advocacy, and public engagement

• Proven success in building and maintaining partnerships, particularly those that generate income or support paid services

• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking and working with diverse stakeholders

• Ability to lead and motivate a team, with a commitment to personal development and performance management

• Familiarity with project management, CRM systems, and monitoring & evaluation

Why join us?
 

At HFTF, we offer a unique, supportive environment where you can make a real difference. By joining our passionate staff team who are dedicated to real change you will :

• Lead a dynamic, passionate team dedicated to tackling the climate and nature crises

• Be part of a charity with a strong mission to influence national and local decision-makers

• Have access to generous benefits, including 30 days of annual leave (plus bank holidays), a pension contribution, and wellbeing support

• Work with a flexible approach, including remote or hybrid options

• Receive a competitive salary with London Weighting where applicable

This is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference, lead our policy and engagement team, and contribute to the continued success of a leading climate charity.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary: £43,235.28 per annum + £3k London Weighting for qualifying areas

• 30 days annual leave + statutory holidays

• Employer Pension Contribution

• Flexible working options, with the ability to work remotely or from our Sheffield office

• Well-being support, Bike to Work Scheme, and Season Ticket Loan Scheme

Location
This role is flexible—either based in our Sheffield office or working remotely anywhere in the UK. Some national travel will be required.

Ready to lead for change?
If you are passionate about driving action on the climate and nature crises and have the leadership skills to take HFTF to the next level, we want to hear from you! Apply now and help us create lasting change in the fight for a better future.

Hope for the Future is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Apply now

Ready to take the lead in shaping the future of climate advocacy? If you’re ready to inspire action and help us make a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you. 

Applications close at 9am on Wednesday 2nd April 2025, click here to apply. 

Online interviews during week commencing 10th April 2025.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Strategy will be responsible for the day to day strategic operational scrutiny and reporting in order to meet the Bikeability Trust’s mission, contractual and legal obligations. This role is critical in the leadership of the Bikeability Trust as deputising for the CEO.

The Bikeability Trust’s purpose is to ensure that all cycle training is delivered to a gold standard, inspiring everyone to cycle with competence and confidence.   

We are:  

• Expert: The Trust has successfully administered the Bikeability programme on behalf of government since 2018, delivering high-quality delivery guides and instructor training, and our workforce has thousands of years combined experience teaching people to cycle.  

• Inspiring: Every rider completes our training feeling able, confident and motivated to cycle safely on the roads for short journeys. Transforming the traditional image of cycling to an everyday, everyone activity.    

• Quality focussed: Our instructors deliver high-quality, consistent and standardised cycle training. We aim to ensure that every rider achieves the same outcomes to the same standard, taking into account their individual capabilities, including special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  

• Inclusive: We take action to reduce barriers to participation, support underrepresented groups and ensure that anyone who wishes to access Bikeability cycle training is able to do so, and cycling is seen as an activity for all.   

• Efficient: Our delivery programme offers value for money and is delivered in an economic, proportional and efficient way.  

• Influential: We share our evidence of the impact of cycle training across a variety of sectors (transport, education, environment, health, leisure, etc) and work collaboratively with stakeholders, partners and commercial organisations to achieve our vision and influence behaviour change.  

Key accountabilities: 

Leadership 

• Maintain a strong relationship and engaging with the CEO to lead the day to day operations of the Bikeability Trust ensuring the CEO can hold more external focus

• Provide leadership and management to the Operations Team including: 

• Research

• Communications 

Impact and Reporting  

• Develop and lead reporting on progress towards the Bikeability Trust strategy with the Board of Trustees through annual business plans and corporate dashboard, gathering evidence and analysis from across the Bikeability Trust

• Refine and implement monthly and quarterly impact and KPI reporting to fulfil the ATE, TfL and other funders reporting requirements

• Deliver high quality information, governance, and business insights to the CEO and Board to inform decision-making 

• Work with the Finance and grants team to ensure compliance with financial policies and reporting requirement

• Develop annual research plans to generate impactful information to generate support for Bikeability strategy with decision makers, public and media

Active Travel England engagement  

• Lead monthly reporting and scrutiny meetings for Active Travel to reduce reliance on the CEO for input 

Walking and Cycling Alliance (WACA) 

• Lead Bikeability input in the External Affairs group meetings and events to foster closer working relationships and promotion of the Bikeability Trust strategic and impact data to influence policy and campaigning activities

• Prepare briefings for the CEO to attend roundtables, CEO meetings and WACA events

Communications & Research  

• Manage the communications function increasing awareness, understanding and support for Bikeability strategy through an impactful communication strategy, marketing, PR, social media, media and campaigns

• Develop and maintain internal communications channels and engaging activities for employees, including Mental Health awareness, and regular staff surveys 

HR and Governance  

• Maintain internal policies recommending changes to Trustees for approval and annual audit of policies 

• Maintain HR function jointly with the CEO across Bikeability with a focus on developing talent, succession planning, performance and appraisals systems. Seek input from external suppliers as required on HR 

• Develop leadership and management capability across the Trust 

• Develop organisational competence in strategic planning, business development and regulatory issues 

General Duties 

• Provide support and leadership insight across the organisation 

• To undertake other related tasks as directed by the CEO or Board of Trustees 

• Ensure all systems and procedures are in line with best practice and relevant legislation including GDPR. 

• Recognise the need to be flexible when working for a small organisation and carry out other duties that may be required 

Person specification 

The successful applicants will have: 

• A first or higher degree 

• Excellent organisational and customer care skills 

• Strong written and oral communication skills 

• Have a growth and continuous improvement mindset 

• Ability to use Microsoft 365 packages including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams 

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently

It is also essential that the post holder has experience or skills in some of the following:

• Strategy development

• Sound strategic planning and a track record of achieving targets 

• Policy and public affairs experience 

• Charity governance 

• Diplomatic Skills to manage complex relationships with a range of stakeholders 

• GDPR 

• Analysis of complex information 

• HR

• Business / operational data analysis 

• Commununications, Marketing or PR 

Skills 

• Exceptional strategic thinking, decision making and problem-solving skills, especially under pressure; ability to set detailed vision and direction across large, complex sets of work 

• Leadership style, which encourages, motivates, inspires and develops staff and volunteers 

• Excellent communicator (both orally and in writing) with effective listening, influencing and negotiation skills 

• Highly effective decision-making skills with excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities 

• Excellent administrative, organisational and IT skills 

• Intellectual rigour, financial acumen and the ability to accurately analyse and explain complex issues 

• Politically astute, with high levels of self-awareness and emotional intelligence, outstanding communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to flex leadership and communication styles to inspire and motivate different audiences

• Ability to operate in complex governance structures whilst ensuring high standards of probity and transparency are maintained 

•  Robust programme and project management skills and a track record of delivering complex projects to deadline and budget 

The package 

The Bikeability Trust offers the successful candidates a competitive salary and: 

• Bikeability cycle training

• Generous contributory pension scheme 

• 38 days annual leave for full time members of staff (including public holidays) 

• Employee Assistance Programme

We value staff and a range of experience at the Bikeability Trust, so the person specification is a guide to the skills. We encourage diverse applicants and transferable skills.

A brilliant opportunity to lead a small charity delivering impact where it matters for people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) exists to improve MSK services in the UK. We are a membership organisation which brings together patient, research and healthcare professional organisations working in MSK health. Working together as an alliance we have a powerful voice to influence policy and improve standards of care across the UK.

After an incredibly successful 8 years at the helm, our CEO Sue Brown will be stepping down at the end of May.

We are looking for someone with a strong background in healthcare policy and campaigning who is confident engaging senior stakeholders in the NHS, Government, arms-length bodies and industry. You should be a natural relationship builder who is comfortable working with member organisations.

If this sounds like you, then please get in touch. We would love to hear from you. Click the Quick Apply button below. You will need to submit your CV together with a two-page cover letter explaining your interest in the role - don’t forget to address the person specification in your letter. Deadline for applications 10am on 27th March 2025.

Interviews will be held as follows:

Stage 1 (In person, Central London location): Monday 7th April 2025

Stage 2 (Virtual): Monday 14th April 2025

The Benefits

· Salary up to £55,000 p.a. for 28 hours work per week

· Employer pension contribution of 5%

· 20 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 3 additional days leave between Christmas and New Year

 Thank you for your interest in ARMA! 

· Reporting to: The post-holder will report to the Director of Public Affairs and Policy.

· Contract: Full time, permanent (Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:30)

· Salary: £49,848-£53,958 per year

· Location: Homebased, with travel to CST events and meetings as applicable

Key responsibilities

Working closely with colleagues in the Public Affairs and Policy team, and across CST and CST Professional Development, the Policy Manager will be a fast-paced and varied role. As a new role in a growing team, the successful candidate will likely take on line-management responsibility in the near future.

The successful candidate will play a critical part in representing the views of CST members to government and other stakeholders. They will need a keen eye for detail as well as strong political savvy to see the bigger picture.

This role will be output focused, delivering high-quality written material for a range of uses. Key responsibilities will include:

1) Representing CST and CST members in a senior policy capacity, attending meetings with government officials and others.

2) Policy monitoring, implementing processes and ensuring relevant colleagues are up to date with the latest policy and political developments, and recommending interventions as appropriate.

3) Drafting responses to consultations and calls for evidence, ensuring CST remains a key player in policy debate.

4) Creating briefings on policy issues for internal stakeholders, as well as developing and managing circulation of CST updates for external stakeholders including MPs, Peers, sector figures, and journalists.

5) Utilising public datasets and government announcements to identify opportunities for policy development.

6) Overseeing member queries, creating a triage process to ensure accurate and timely responses.

7) Support the wider work of CST as appropriate, including developing CST’s elected Policy Advisory Group, attending CST’s Professional Development events, and providing input for CST’s Professional Communities.  

8) Working closely with the Head of Communications and others to ensure publications, media releases and other content are reflective of CST views and identifies opportunity for promoting CST’s positions.

9) Working with colleagues, develop systems to promote and enhance CST’s policy voice through a range of channels. 

10)  Any other duties that may be delegated by the Director of Public Affairs and Policy or CST’s Leadership Group.

Person specification

As part of a small and growing team, the successful candidate will need to be enthusiastic and adaptable, switching between core delivery (e.g., drafting consultation responses) and proactive planning (e.g., identifying opportunities to promote CST’s policy voice).

Previous experience working in education or public policy is desirable. The education policy space is complex and nuanced; we do not expect the successful candidate to be an expert across all domains, however they should be able to evidence a passion for education alongside their ability to quickly understand, digest, and distil policy development. This will be tested at interview.

The post-holder will be:

· Passionate about education and outcomes for children.

· Adaptable, switching between complex policy areas and distilling information for CST members and others.

· People-centred, adept at forming and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, CST members, and external stakeholders.

· Politically astute with a deep interest in politics, public policy, data and research.

· Highly organised with the ability to prioritise and work flexibly to tight deadlines. 

· Embody the Nolan Principles, and act with integrity and discretion.

· Committed to ongoing development of themselves and their colleagues.