Policy Communications Manager

The Policy and Public Affairs Department at Alzheimer’s Research UK is a dynamic and fast-growing team driving change to influence political stakeholders and shape policies that advance dementia research, improve access to early diagnosis, and prepare health systems for future treatments. The team also champions public health policies to reduce dementia risk.

The Policy Communications team sits within the Communications Department but works collaboratively with the Policy and Public Affairs Departments to maximise the success and influence of their work by gaining cut-through with key audiences and inspiring positive, urgent action.

The Policy Communications Manager plays a pivotal role in influencing government action, engaging campaigners, and shaping the media narrative on critical issues such as dementia risk reduction and new treatments. This high-impact position involves driving proactive media coverage, managing press bids, and pitching stories to national journalists, all while aligning efforts with broader communication strategies. With a focus on impactful storytelling, you’ll elevate the charity’s voice as a leading expert on dementia policy and grow its reputation as a thought leader nationally and internationally. You’ll also lead and inspire a small team, managing two Policy Communications Officers.

We’re seeking a talented, experienced media relations professional who thrives on securing high-profile coverage and creating meaningful change. If you’re passionate about communications, skilled at building relationships with journalists, and eager to make a difference for people affected by dementia, this is the role for you.

Main duties and responsibilities of the role:

Management and collaboration

·         Lead and manage your team effectively, embodying ARUK’s leadership values. This includes holding regular 1:1s, providing constructive feedback, managing workloads, and supporting training and development needs.

·         Build strong, collaborative relationships with colleagues in Policy and Public Affairs, as well as other senior thought leaders within ARUK and the broader dementia community.

·         Actively contribute to the press office by handling in-hours and out-of-hours media requests.

·         Foster positive relationships with senior stakeholders to highlight the value of PR activities, while developing and implementing KPIs and tools to measure and report on the impact of activities.

External communication

·         Develop and lead a PR plan for policy communications that aligns with the charity’s strategy, driving high-impact media coverage and audience engagement across multiple channels.

·         Identify opportunities to engage the public in Policy and Public Affairs activities, including through campaigns, petitions, or amplifying their voices in support of ARUK’s work.

·         Craft and oversee communications for the charity’s supporter-based campaigning network, both online and offline. This includes copywriting and editing content for the monthly Campaigner Newsflash and other materials.

·         Collaborate with the Social Media team to enhance public and priority audience engagement with the charity’s policy and public affairs initiatives.

·         Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and media outlets that connect with key audiences for Policy and Public Affairs.

·         Work closely with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs and Executive leadership team to identify ways to use their voices to raise the charity’s external profile on key political issues.

Messaging and copy development

·         Work collaboratively with the Policy and Public Affairs Departments to develop communications campaigns and messaging around key issues, informed by quantitative and qualitative research, where possible.

·         Develop topic briefs to equip media spokespeople and ambassadors with clear and consistent messaging on key issues.

·         Provide high-quality copywriting and editing for reports, web content, social media, and marketing materials for campaigns and events.

Event support

·         Oversee communications and branding for key events, including parliamentary engagements, roundtables, and other high-profile activities as needed.

Internal communications

·         Support teams internally in talking confidently and consistently about strategic policy and campaigning issues to their audiences.

What we are looking for:

·         Ability to develop and support a high-performing team that delivers on organisational priorities.

·         Confident setting KPIs and direction for teams and will have proven success leading integrated PR and digital campaigns.

·         Significant experience working within an influential press office, including a record of proactively securing top-tier coverage.

·         Lead projects with other communications disciplines, especially policy and public affairs, and project manage launches of key reports.

·         Demonstrates and encourages ownership and responsibility; builds drive and motivation in others – has a ‘can-do’ attitude, is committed to delivering results, and strives for continuous improvement.

·         Strong influencing and negotiation skills, comfortable working under pressure, with highly developed organisation and prioritisation skills.

·         A highly strategic and creative thinker, with exceptional problem-solving and decision-making skills.

·         Excellent written and verbal communication skills – capable of writing high-quality press releases, comments, briefings, and other written materials.

·         The ability to build strong relationships with senior internal and external colleagues in a short period of time.

·         In-tune with scientific progress, politics and the policy agenda.

·         Strong ethical standards and a high level of personal integrity.

·         Willingness and ability to travel independently in the UK and beyond, and to work outside of regular office hours.

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD. 

Salary: Circa £44,000 per annum, plus benefits

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 5th January 2025, with interviews likely to be held week commencing the 13th January 2025. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website.

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope. 

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure. 

In 2024, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement. This is the second consecutive time; we have been awarded a Best Companies 3-star accreditation.

We were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:

·         18th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.

·         10th in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.

·         2nd in the 30 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.

In addition, we were also shortlisted for a special award recognising the work undertaken on reducing our environmental impact.

In 2021, we were awarded the HR Management award by The Charity Times for our Wellbeing initiatives throughout the pandemic.

In 2020, we demonstrated our commitment to changing the way we think and act about mental health in the workplace and signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge. 

ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference. 

To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK