We are seeking to recruit a Parliamentary and Policy Assistant to support our legislative and policy programme. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to develop a career in environmental policy while gaining first-hand experience of how Parliament and the legislative process work, and insight into the nuts and bolts of the operations of a small not-for-profit environmental organisation.
Working as part of a collaborative team, you will monitor parliamentary activity; research environmental policy; help prepare briefings and updates; support engagement with parliamentarians and stakeholders; contribute to communications; and help deliver events. No two days will be the same and you will gain broad exposure to the work of a busy policy team.
Role profile
- Monitor parliamentary activity including questions, debates, select committees, and legislation.
- Support with preparation of written briefings and other outputs, such as weekly summaries and updates.
- Undertake research on climate change, nature and other related environmental policy areas to inform legislative work, briefings and regular policy updates.
- Provide support to the legislative and policy team including through research, reviewing Hansard and logging and tracking updates
- Assist with data capture and entry into organisational databases.
- Support senior colleagues in preparing for meetings with parliamentarians and external stakeholders.
- Support the delivery of the organisation's communications activity as required, including assisting with drafting website content, blogs and social media posts.
- Support the team with the delivery of parliamentary and external events and visits including venue booking, coordinating invitations, assisting with preparation of event materials and providing administration and logistical support.
- Provide day-to-day administrative support to policy and legislative colleagues, including document filing, note taking in meetings and coordination of meetings.
- Attend parliamentary and external events to support policy research, insights and stakeholder outreach.
- Undertake ad hoc projects and tasks as required.
Skills/experience
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds who are interested in politics and parliamentary process. More important than any particular qualifications or experience is your ability to communicate effectively; express ideas clearly and precisely in writing; manage competing priorities with a can-do attitude; and work with accuracy and attention to detail. If you are intellectually curious, proactive, and eager to develop your skills and knowledge while contributing to meaningful policy change, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Key knowledge and skills for the role include:
- Knowledge of or an interest in legislation and parliamentary processes.
- Good judgement and eagerness to develop strong political instinct
- Persuasive and clear communicator (oral and written).
- Happy to work in a fast-paced environment with a willingness to work in a flexible and agile way.
- Team-oriented and collaborative: able to build great relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Good IT and social media skills.
- A personal commitment to climate change and environmental issues.
Our mission is to support legislators to act collaboratively, with urgency and ambition, to meet the challenges of climate change and nature loss.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
We're looking for an experienced Management Accountant who is excited by the role finance can play in creating social impact. Working closely with colleagues, senior leaders and trustees, you'll provide the financial insight, forecasting and analysis needed to support effective decision-making, ensure strong financial stewardship, and help us make the best use of our resources to deliver our strategy, Leading with Hope. This is an opportunity to combine technical accounting expertise with a commitment to using finance as a tool for positive change.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare monthly management accounts, forecasts and financial reports.
- Lead budgeting, forecasting and scenario planning across the Trust.
- Support and challenge budget holders to make informed financial decisions.
- Provide financial analysis, reports and insights to the Senior Management Team, Finance & Investment Committee and Board of Trustees.
- Support funding applications and grant reporting through budgeting, financial modelling and analysis.
- Oversee investment and property reporting, ensuring risks and opportunities are clearly communicated.
- Lead the annual audit process and support statutory reporting, compliance and financial controls.
- Help build financial confidence across the organisation by making financial information accessible, meaningful and actionable.
Empowering young people who face deep-rooted inequality to lead lasting change, by investing in their leadership, their communities, and their spaces.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Job Title: Parliamentary and Public Affairs Manager
Reporting to: Director of Campaigns
Line reports: None
Salary: £44,350 per annum pro-rata (£ 35,480 per annum for 4 days per week)
Hours: 4 days (30 hours) or 5 days (37.5 hours) per week, with flexibility over working hours (core hours are 10.00-16.00).
Duration: 1-year contract renewable subject to funding
Start Date: As soon as possible
Location: London/Hybrid – minimum 2 days in the office (core days in the office are Tues & Weds) further office attendance is encouraged
Anti-oppressive statement
Foodrise is actively seeking to move through an anti-racist and anti-oppressive journey in every aspect of its work. We acknowledge that the environmental sector is less open to people from under-represented backgrounds, and we are strongly committed to identifying and correcting where we may be perpetuating patriarchal, white supremacist values and other forms of oppression in our organisational culture, partnerships, and community work. We especially want to hear from you if you feel that you have lived experience of power structures preventing you from accessing opportunities like this.
Read our full Equity, Justice and Anti-oppression statement.
Inclusive Recruitment
We have an opt-in Enhanced Chance Interview Scheme for candidates who declare a disability and/or are a person of colour and meet the essential criteria of the role profile. The scheme aims to provide a first-stage interview for candidates who meet the essential criteria of the role and opt in to the scheme.
If you would like to be considered under this scheme you must meet the essential minimum criteria for the role as outlined on the job description. You should take time to provide examples that you meet each of the essential criteria in your cover letter. Please ensure you select the relevant tick box on the application page ‘Enhanced Chance Interview Scheme’.
We are always happy to speak to candidates informally about the role before applying and encourage you to do so by contacting us.
About Us
Foodrise is a charity transforming the food system for climate, nature and justice.
We take bold action to uncover the root causes of injustice in our food system and expose how corporate power exploits people and the planet, while building truly just and resilient alternatives from the ground-up.
We speak truth to power. We take risks. We act where and when others won’t.
From launching legal action and producing hard-hitting research to working directly with local communities, we drive systemic change across food and farming, powered by grassroots energy and backed by the facts.
We exist to say what others won’t, do what others don’t, and never settle for “it can’t be done”. Change is possible, and we are rising to make it happen.
We are based in the UK and the Netherlands. See more about us on our website.
About the Role
The Parliamentary and Public Affairs Manager is a brand-new role for Foodrise. The successful candidate will lead on developing our first public and parliamentary affairs strategy to engage with political representatives and policymakers to advance our campaigning objectives and ensure progress towards our new strategic goals:
- Dismantling the animal industrial complex and supporting the transition to plant-rich food
- Eroding the social licence of large supermarkets and building alternative food economies
Ultimately, this role is about securing wins to meet our vision of a greener, fairer food system, where food is a commons, not a commodity.
This role is key to shaping public policy and legislative outcomes by building relationships, influencing decision-makers, and positioning Foodrise as an ambitious yet trusted voice in Westminster, Holyrood and amongst civil society across the UK. This role will work collaboratively with colleagues across campaigns, so would suit an adaptive candidate with strong communication skills, keen to advocate for Foodrise.
Job Description
Parliamentary and Public Affairs Strategy
- Develop and deliver a public affairs strategy aligned with organisational priorities and campaigns
- Identify and maximise opportunities to influence legislation, policy development, and public debate
- Monitor the UK political landscape, including Parliament, Government departments, and devolved administrations
Political Engagement & Influencing
- Build and maintain strong relationships with MPs, Peers, civil servants, special advisers, and political stakeholders
- Lead engagement with All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs), select committees, and public consultations
- Draft and coordinate parliamentary briefings, speeches, amendments, parliamentary questions and responses
- Work with lawyers to draft proposed legislation and legislative changes in support of our objectives
- Register for the UK lobbying register and keep our account up to date
- Lead high-impact advocacy moments such as parliamentary events, receptions, and policy launches
Integration of Parliamentary/Advocacy Asks into Foodrise’s Wider Work
- Work closely with campaigns and communications teams to integrate parliamentary and public affairs into campaigns
- Work closely with fundraisers and senior leadership to integrate parliamentary and policy asks in our fundraising and business development
- Ensure consistent and compelling advocacy messaging across all channels
- Provide regular updates and analysis on political developments relevant to the organisation’s work
- Track and evaluate the impact of public affairs activities
- Maintain accurate stakeholder records and engagement logs
- Work closely with our colleagues at Foodrise in the EU to support EU level advocacy where relevant to our campaigns
- Any other relevant tasks as requested by senior colleagues to support the organisation and further our objectives
Ways of Working
- Collaborative by default; independent work is balanced with regular coordination.
- Contribute to the development and embedding of anti-oppressive work across the organisation
- Flexible and adaptable in response to changing priorities.
- Present and available for colleagues, including regular in‑office presence.
- Proactive in communication, planning, and follow‑through.
Person Specification
Essential Knowledge, Experience and Network
- Extensive experience in public affairs, government relations, or political advocacy (at least 7 years’ working experience)
- Strong understanding of the UK political system, legislative processes, and policy-making
- Networks within the UK political and policy systems
- Knowledge of the key issues in food systems, environment and/or climate in the UK
Essential Skills
- Demonstrable experience of influencing political representatives, policymakers and delivering policy or campaign wins
- Excellent writing, analytical and research skills.
- Excellent organisational skills, with strong attention to detail.
- Outstanding communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.
- The ability to work collaboratively; build, maintain and develop flexible working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
What You Will Bring to Foodrise
- A can-do attitude, flexibility and adaptability, alongside a willingness to pitch in on delivery and help colleagues across the team, recognising that Foodrise is a small, nimble organisation with fast-changing priorities.
- An understanding of anti-oppressive practice and how it applies to Foodrise’s work and the role, and the ability to represent diverse perspectives through the work of the organisation.
- Sharing Foodrise’s values: audacity, collaboration, impact, celebration, solidarity.
- Willingness to undertake some limited travel domestically and abroad.
What We Offer
- Personal training and wellbeing funds
- Regular team socials
- Workplace pension
- Enhanced parental leave
- Enhanced sick leave
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Home & Tech scheme
- Flexible working hours (core hours 10am-4pm)
How to Apply
Please apply via Charity Jobs with:
- Your CV (no longer than 2 A4 pages total)
- A cover letter (no longer than 1 A4 page) explaining how you meet the criteria in the person specification with examples, and why you would like to work at Foodrise.
Deadline to apply: 10am, Tuesday 22nd September
Successful candidates for interview will be notified by Thursday 24th September.
Shortlisted candidates will be sent our new strategy ahead of the interview, along with details of an hour-long written task to be completed at home – this will be sent prior to the interview at a time convenient for you.
First round interviews will be held on Thursday 1st October.
Second round interviews will be held on Thursday 8th October.
Sign up to join our Recruitment Q&A Zoom session on Wednesday 2nd September, 12-1pm. Our HR & Operations Manager will talk through the recruitment process and answer any questions you may have. Please note that this session is focussed on the recruitment process. If you have any questions specific to the role, please contact us.
For any questions, access requirements, or if you require the job description in a different format, please contact us.
AI policy – We understand that you may use AI to help with your application, however we want to hear your authentic voice throughout your application.
Please apply via Charity Jobs with:
• Your CV (no longer than 2 A4 pages total)
• A cover letter (no longer than 1 A4 page) explaining how you meet the criteria in the person specification with examples, and why you would like to work at Foodrise.
Deadline to apply: 10am, Tuesday 22nd September
Foodrise is a charity transforming the food system for climate, nature and justice.