Senior Policy Manager

About Internet Matters 

Internet Matters is a not-for-profit dedicated to supporting parents, carers and professionals to keep children safe and happy online. We are a key information source for parents: our website received almost 13 million visits last year and more than 9 in 10 parents would recommend our resources.  

Our expertise in children’s online safety is reflected in our memberships of a number of influential boards and groups, enabling us to engage closely with policymakers, including Ofcom’s Making Sense of Media Panel and The Executive Board of UKCIS (the UK Council for Internet Safety) where we are the Chair of its Vulnerable Users Working Group. 

Collaboration is in our DNA at Internet Matters. Our work is supported by a broad coalition of leading brands, including BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media O2. We regularly partner with other not-for-profits and charities, universities and Government.  

About this role 

It is a hugely exciting time to be working in the online safety field. New regulation created by the Online Safety Act is set to significantly increase companies’ duties to keep users safe, especially children. At the same time, the online issues which families are contending with continue to evolve at pace: from mis- and dis-information in the age of generative AI, to increasing volumes of misogynistic online abuse, and data and privacy risks to name just a few.  

There is cross-party consensus on the importance of tackling these issues, and a real appetite for practical, evidence-led solutions – especially as a new Government form.  

Against this backdrop, Internet Matters is recruiting a Senior Policy Manager to help ensure that our voice is heard in these conversations, advocating for the interests of children and families to be put first. This wide-ranging role will include:  

• Supporting the development of Internet Matters’ policy positions, ensuring our positions are underpinned by the latest research and informed by the sector and political landscape. 

• Leading policy projects (e.g., reports, briefings, roundtables) from inception to completion and supporting other projects that have a policy element. This will include authoring external-facing reports.  

• Presenting and sharing policy and research in a range of settings, including at external meetings and events, tailoring messages to different audiences.  

• Stakeholder engagement, public affairs and influencing, including maintaining and developing a network of contacts across Government, Parliament, regulators, the third sector and industry. Identifying opportunities to push forward our agenda with high-level decision-makers, including through convening meetings and events and actively contributing to events held by others.   

• Reactive policy work such as media requests, writing blogs, producing briefings and responding to consultations. 

• Contributing your ideas to team discussions about the overarching strategy for our policy and research work. 

This role sits within the Policy and Research team and a core aspect of the role will be the ability to shape research and insights for policy and sector audiences. You will also support with the analysis of research in relation to policy related tasks. 

About you 

The successful candidate will have professional experience of working in policy, public affairs, or a closely related field. Although not mandatory, it is desirable that they have knowledge of online safety and/or tech policy. 

You may have worked for another charity/not-for-profit, a regulator, in government, parliament or industry. You are excited by the opportunities of working in a small organisation, where everyone lends a hand to deliver key priorities, and where you can contribute actively to our wider thinking and strategy.  

We are particularly keen to hear from candidates that have experience writing policy reports and developing policy positions from primary research, as well as experiencing disseminating information to a range of expert and non-expert audiences.  

Skills, knowledge and experience  

Essential 

• Professional experience of working in policy, public affairs, or a closely related field. 

• Knowledge of the policymaking process and how it can be influenced, e.g., through Parliament.  

• Excellent analytical skills – ability to read and dissect complex information. 

• Experience of producing high quality written outputs at speed, including reports, briefings, consultations, and blogs.  

• Project management experience. 

• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders 

• Experience presenting and sharing policy and research in a range of settings, including at external meetings and events, tailoring messages to different audiences.  

• A proactive outlook. 

Desirable 

• Experience working in online safety and/or technology policy.  

• Experience conducting research and managing research projects  

Please note that the postholder may be required to attend occasional evening events or meetings.  

All applicants must have legal authorisation to work in the UK.   

What else you should know 

We offer all employees: 

• 28 days holiday per annum plus all UK Bank Holidays, rising to 31 days after five years.

• An extra day off for your birthday.  

• Hybrid working – split between our office in Central London and home working 

• Enhanced maternity pay scheme.

• Enchanced sick pay scheme.

• Season ticket loan scheme.

• Option to take two volunteering days each year. 

• Quarterly team events. 

Application process 

Please submit a cover letter (max 2 sides) setting out how you meet the skills, knowledge and experience criteria set out above, along with your CV.

When you submit your application, please can you also provide the following information: 

• Where you heard about this vacancy. 

• Your current notice period (if applicable). 

• Confirmation that you have legal authorisation to work in the UK. 

The deadline for applications is Sunday 15 September.