Policy lead jobs

The Public Affairs Manager will be a key member of our busy External Affairs Team within the wider Policy and External Affairs directorate.

Reporting to the joint Heads of Public Affairs & Stakeholder Relations, and working closely with communications and public policy colleagues, you will play an essential role in enabling and driving engagement with parliamentary, government, political and sector stakeholders.

You will be politically astute, with experience engaging across Westminster and Whitehall with competent written and communication skills, able to both brief and prepare senior leaders within the organisation for key engagement activities as well as meeting stakeholders independently as appropriate.

Strong organisational, people and project management skills are essential; you will be responsible for managing dedicated key influencing ‘moments’ with stakeholders and partners, such as organising and managing panel events, roundtables, webinars and showcase programme visits. You will also lead the co-ordination and secretariat activity for the Youth Employment Group (YEG), working closely with the Director of Policy and External Affairs as one of the five co-chairs.

This role can be based at any of our hubs located in Birmingham, Leeds or London. We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

For more information and a full job description, please download the Recruitment Pack.

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.

As Senior Policy Manager, you will take a leadership role within the Policy and Influencing Team, providing strategic direction and subject matter expertise in health policy related to bowel cancer. Working closely with the Head of Policy and Influencing and Director of Research, Policy and Influencing, you will drive the development and implementation of policy initiatives that align with the organisation’s strategic priorities and positively impact the lives of people affected by bowel cancer. You will lead a team of policy officers and provide expert advice on complex policy issues, influencing decision-makers in government, healthcare organisations, and partner agencies across the UK.

Reporting to: Director of Policy and Engagement 

Direct reports: 1 x Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager and Legislative Lead, 2 x Policy and Public Affairs Officers, 1 x England Policy and Public Affairs Manager 

Location of work: Home-based. The post holder must be easily and quickly commutable to London and will require frequent meetings in London. The role may involve some irregular travel throughout England and Scotland to attend events and meetings.

Contract type: Full-time, 35 hours per week,  flexible hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work 

Contract Length: Permanent 

Salary: £54,500 - £56,500 

BACKGROUND

Our work has never been more needed. The latest research suggesting that the number of children and young people at risk of hunger has rocketed to 2.6 million* means that one in five children don't have enough to eat.When a child is too hungry to learn, when they’re aching for something to eat, they can’t concentrate. They can’t absorb information. Big feelings and worries can be impossible to control. They fall behind in their studies.

Magic Breakfast provide a nutritious and filling breakfast to over 300,000 children and young people every school day. We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target the children most in need without barrier or stigma.  Magic Breakfast are ambitious to grow our impact to remove hunger as a barrier to learning for all children and young people in the UK.

 This is an exciting time to join Magic Breakfast if you wish to make a difference to the lives of children as we work to influence both policy implementation, with the national rollout of primary-aged universal school breakfast, and legislative change, through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. There has also been commitment from the Scottish Government for a national breakfast scheme and we are seeking to expand our advocacy work into Wales. Magic Breakfast’s influence will be instrumental to ensuring school breakfasts are implemented in a way that is hunger-focused and barrier free.

In addition, thousands of secondary school children are at risk of losing their free school breakfasts from September next year. For many of these students, this is their only opportunity to have a nutritious meal before facing a demanding school day, including taking exams.  And for the very youngest, we know that the disadvantage gap begins before they even reach reception. With the Government commitment to another 100,000 places in school-based nurseries, early years is also a critical part of our advocacy work.

 Being part of the work of Magic Breakfast is your chance, together with parents, teachers and people across the UK, to demonstrate the power of school breakfasts and to shape the way forward to end morning hunger for good.

*Food Foundation Insecurity Tracker Jan 2025

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Policy & Public Affairs will review, develop and implement our advocacy strategy and lead a team to influence the devolved legislatures across the UK to address child morning hunger, with a view to the underlying systemic causes of child poverty and hunger, by driving change through policy and legislation. The role operates at our ‘Head of level’ which is the most senior operational specialist level and provides both operational and strategic leadership.

This role will also provide wider leadership across the charity and input into organisational strategy development and planning as part of the Core Management Group. This role will ensure that the Policy and Public Affairs function is aligned to the wider strategic aims and outcomes of Magic Breakfast as well as the internal operational systems and delivery.

The strategic leadership will ensure an external and long term view, with an outward looking and forward thinking approach that builds thought leadership, relationships and partnerships, with positioning to anticipate and build on new opportunities to end child morning hunger for good.

It will require an experienced Policy and Public Affairs professional, with significant experience of high impact and demonstrable outcomes at a senior level in the field. The postholder will lead the policy and public affairs team to influence the Early Adopters Scheme, the national rollout of primary school breakfast provision in England and breakfast legislation in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill (CWB).

They will also develop, guide and lead plans to influence the Scottish government, particularly in the run up to the election in May 2026 and the influencing of manifestos; and will lead Magic Breakfast’s upcoming influencing work in Wales. 

In the external leadership that the role provides they will build relationships with politicians, political influencers, special advisors and civil servants to establish long-term, sustainable solutions to child morning hunger in the UK.

As a compassionate, people centric and inspiring leader they will work to enable their team to grow and develop in their skills ensuring they can step away from the detail whilst retaining accountability, build effective resource management and progression pathways. This role may manage external consultants where necessary, and work collaboratively with external organisations to amplify our voice and asks and strengthen our position as a thought leader. 

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Review and define the advocacy strategy for 25/26 in line both with moving political environment and Magic Breakfast’s influencing agenda, considering the systemic barriers to ending child morning hunger for good.

· Develop and maintain close relationships with the Department for Education and other key departments including Department for Health and Social Care and Treasury, to secure hunger and child focus as key priorities for breakfast provision.

· Develop, monitor and evaluate influencing plans for each devolved nation

· Support the development of influencing plans with coalition groups and organisations to influence school breakfast policy, commitments and implementation

· Review policy positions in Wales and Northern Ireland and define our advocacy approach, gaining external insights and analysing available research and data to shape the plan

· Develop a vision for advocacy beyond current demands, considering political appetite and gaining insight from lived experience communities and relevant sectors, to ensure that we are clear on future asks, and can build the foundation towards them.

· Work with Impact and Insights team to define future research needs to meet our longer-term advocacy plans

· Enhance and establish internal processes and ensure good internal information dissemination 

· Work closely with key internal stakeholders to shape advocacy work and support broader organisational objectives

· Embed learnings and develop a fail fast, learn fast culture in the team

· Coach, support and lead direct reports enabling increased professional development, strategic decision making, proactive project management and robust political influencing

· Contribute to and help shape the work of the Core Management Group to ensure ongoing alignment for in year implementation of the strategic plan and create integrated future year plans which meet organisational goals

· Monitor and review KPIs to monitor and measure both team and cross organisational performance, using the results to guide teams and surface learnings

· Assess areas of risk and escalate where necessary and according to policy

· Develop and monitor annual team budgets

General

• Work collaboratively across the organisation, building good working relations and providing ad-hoc support to other teams and members of staff

• Passion and commitment to Magic Breakfast’s aim of alleviating morning hunger as a barrier to learning for children in the UK.

• Help to maintain a positive working environment; keeping the vision of Magic Breakfast at the heart of everything we do. 

• Share Magic Breakfast’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

• Establish and ensure existing Ways of Working are adhered to across team

• Adhere to all Magic Breakfast policies and procedures and ensure that all activity is compliant with current legislation, GDPR, data protection and child safeguarding requirements

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role

 PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

· Strategy development, demonstrating a deep understanding of how to craft, implement, and evolve strategies that align to operational outcomes for the Policy and Advocacy function as well as enabling our organisation strategy in our aim to end child morning for good.

· Stakeholder management and partnership building with extensive experience of engaging, influencing, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including senior political figures, policymakers, funders and sector leaders.

· Ability to confidently and flexibly deal with volatile political environment, anticipating potential developments and adapting to emerging situations to meet aims

· Highly experienced in developing and shaping policy positions, using insights, research and data sets to inform and guide decision-making

· Understanding and experience of the role of the broader external environment to shape policy asks and political influencing, including the implications of a policy ask in one sector on another.

· Experience of influencing key political events such as budgets, national elections and the legislative process.

· Significant experience of coaching, supporting and managing the development of a team, with the ability to make difficult decisions and challenge where needed to deliver the organisational strategy.

Desirable

· Experience of education, food insecurity, child poverty or childcare sectors

Skills and Abilities

• Effective leadership mentality with confidence to step away from the detail and delegate responsibility, enabling others to use judgements, make decisions, learn from failures and continuously improve.

• Analytical and evidence based decision making, with the ability to turn data and analysis into policy and advocacy related recommendations or outcomes for action.

• Effective planning, prioritisation and project management skills. Able to organise self and team to meet planned objectives and strategic direction with the ability to pivot and manage the unexpected.

• Strong, influential and impactful interpersonal and communication skills and to advocate for own specialism, department and Magic Breakfast's mission, effectively conveying the organisation's impact and needs to a wide range of audiences.

• Operational and financial acumen and analysis: understanding and practical application of knowledge as required around funding considerations, budget development and management, risk management, and ensuring systems in place for efficiency by setting and maintaining policy and procedural frameworks.

• An outward looking and forward thinking approach that drives a sense of curiosity, innovation and continuous improvement. Always thinking what can we learn from others, what new developments can be explored and what are the opportunities for the function to improve and grow with others too.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Magic Breakfast we value our employees and work hard to develop offer a supportive, respectful culture which enables everyone to bring their whole self to work.

Please find attached our job pack

APPLICATION PROCCESS

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team, recruitment @ magicbreakfast. com

Shortlisting - w/c 5th May

Interview 1 - 15th and 16th May

Interview 2 - w/c 21st May

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Policy and Communications Manager

Job Description and Person Specification

Job title Policy and Communications Manager

Hours 28 hours per week (can be flexible on work pattern)

Salary £42,000 FTE Actual for this role £33,600 pro rata

Location Hybrid work between home and our Vauxhall office – please read more about our approach to hybrid working in the relevant section below. Please note that our offices are fully wheelchair accessible and that we are committed to making our workplace fully inclusive

Reports to Director of Policy and External Affairs

National Voices

Making what matters to people matter in health and care

National Voices is the leading coalition of health and social care charities in England. We have more than 200 members covering a diverse range of health conditions and communities, connecting us with the experiences of millions of people. We work together to strengthen the voice of people: patients, service users, carers, their families, and the voluntary organisations that work for them.

Our Vision:

People shaping their health and care.

Our Mission:

We advocate for more inclusive and person centred health and care, shaped by the people who use and need it the most.

We do this by:

· Understanding and advocating for what matters to people especially those living with health conditions and groups who experience inequalities.

· Finding common cause across communities and conditions by working with member charities and those they support.

· Connecting and convening charities, decision makers and citizens to work together to change health and care for good.

The Role

The purpose of the Policy and Communications Manager role is to:

• Deliver against our National Voices’ policy and project work through a programme’s life cycle, from inception to delivery and evaluation, and within budget
• Manage our communications work to our members and external stakeholders to successfully communicate all relevant organisational output including policy, improvement, lived experience and insight work.
• Work with voluntary sector organisations and people with the greatest health and care needs to develop National Voices’ deliver our policy and communications positions in line with our strategy and members priorities.

The role will be a mix of policy and communications, with 75% of the role likely focused on policy.

Responsibilities

Management oversight

· Manage projects or programmes which are significant in terms of income, profile or risk, and which are often delivered in partnership with others.

· Identify possible future partnerships, follow-on work and funding opportunities that arise from our policy and external affairs work, including from stakeholder relationships, and proactively work to secure income

· Line-manage staff, in the first instance our Communications and Events Officer, to include appraisals, setting objectives, monitoring performance and supporting development.

· Support the policy and external affairs team to deliver against our priorities and projects, including deputising for the Director of Policy and External Affairs, working in sync with other team managers and holistically supporting junior staff members

Deliver against our policy priorities and projects

· Identify, monitor and evaluate policy issues to formulate new policy positions, taking responsibility and action for our position on specific policy areas. This may include developing policy briefings, position papers, consultation responses, blogs, reports, letters and other policy and public affairs documents that capture our policy positions.

· Lead on policy projects from inception to delivery and evaluation including keeping to a set budget where appropriate.

· Develop and collate qualitative and quantitative policy evidence, from analysing previous reports and external stakeholder guidance to developing and delivering against workshops, focus groups, round tables, engagement events and in-depth interviews.

· Work with voluntary sector organisations and people with the greatest health and care needs to understand their experiences, perspectives and ambition using methods laid out above but with a willingness to adapt and flex where needed.

· Connect with policy and comms stakeholders both within our membership and in the wider policy landscape, to spot and make connections among members and to deliver against our five-year strategy objectives

· Work with the wider team to consider how our we evaluate and monitor the success of our project work and our wider influencing wins

· Represent National Voices at external events and conferences where required

Deliver on our communications work

· Work with the Communications and Events officer to help them develop engaging content that conveys National Voices messages to members, external stakeholders, and media to maximise the reach and impact of the organisation’s policy messages and funded project work

· With the support of Communications and Events Officer support media relations activity by drafting media statements, liaising with journalists and other media activity as required

· Manage the sign-off of relevant comms materials including social media, member newsletter, blogs, articles and media statements

· Liaise with senior external stakeholders such as from the Department of Health and Social Care, including attending relevant briefings, and supporting larger joint press activity with other stakeholders when required.

· Oversee management of comms and events calendar, which will be proactively compiled by the Policy and Communications officer, especially where there are conflicts or competing needs

· Along with other managers provide a second review of reports we produce including ensuring adherence to brand guidelines

General

• Take a pro-active approach to including our members and people with lived experience in all areas of our work.
• Support the senior team in identifying potential new members and funding opportunities where possible, as well as costing and drafting bids or supporting others to do so.
• Follow processes set out to measure, monitor and communicate the impact of our work.
• Support good project, financial and data management.
• Contribute to the team’s planning activities and undertake other relevant duties as appropriate.
• Deputise for other members of the team when needed.

• Be prepared to take part in full day events, including providing planning and support
• Be prepared to take part in events outside of core hours, when sufficient notice has been given

Person Specification

Values, attitudes and behaviours

• Passionate about National Voices’ mission and work.
• Proactive, flexible and responsive
• Comfortable working in a team, as well as under own initiative
• Calm under pressure and able to work to tight deadlines while maintaining accuracy.
• Committed to reducing inequality and embracing diversity.
• Comfortable with a range of views and perspectives and keen to make connections and build relationships.
• Willing and confident to assert views, constructively challenge others and receive constructive feedback.

Skills and abilities

• Excellent communication skills, including written and oral, including stakeholder engagement
• Demonstrable experience in delivering against a policy influencing agenda
• Able to synthesise complex information and present it in simple and impactful ways.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, including demonstrable ability to prioritise workload and maintain quality.
• Excellent people skills, able to work collaboratively and flexibly in a small, friendly team, and communicate and collaborate with a wide range of external stakeholders at all levels
• Experience in Identifying and developing funding opportunities, ideally including costing and drafting bids
• Ability to embed clear and reliable processes amongst a team of creative and busy people
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office programmes, CRM systems, online conference/meeting software and other programmes where required.
• Able to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines while maintaining attention to detail
• Previous line management experience is preferred

Our approach to hybrid working

We recognise the importance of coming together regularly, in-person, as a team, so we can share learnings and spend social time with each other. We also recognise that people need flexibility, and that homeworking enables focused work and can fit well in people’s lives.

We ask all staff to take part in pre-arranged team meetings which take place every six weeks in our office space. We also might ask you to meet in-person with members of your team from time to time, or to be available for face-to- face meetings with clients and partners where this enhances the work.

We assume that this would usually not amount to more than one day per fortnight for people who work full time. We are happy to discuss how this sits in your life. This can be agreed by your line manager.

Equality and Inclusion

As reflected in our Equality Action Plan, we are committed to being a truly diverse organisation. We want to ensure that our trustees, staff members, lived experience partners and volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, each bringing their own unique perspectives and experiences. We want to ensure that everyone feels heard and is fully able to participate and thrive.

We are committed to diversifying our team in order to broaden the insight and experiences we can draw on, and to do our work more credibly. So we strongly encourage people from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background, and people who live with health conditions or disability to apply. Our offices are fully accessible and we are an LGBT+ friendly employer. Men are currently underrepresented in our team so we would welcome applications from men and non-binary people.

We welcome applications from people who have been in contact with the criminal justice system. For some roles, you may be asked to undergo a basic or enhanced DBS check, but you will only be deemed ineligible for roles which relate to any offences on your criminal record.

We have a range of benefits in place to ensure everyone can thrive, for example:

· We are a Disability Confident employer

· We offer enhanced parental and sickness leave

· We offer flexible working wherever possible

· We provide our employees with an annual wellbeing allowance

· And much more

Application guidance

Please submit a cover letter along with a CV to apply.

Applications should be addressed to our Director of Policy and External Affairs, Sharon Brennan, and submitted through CharityJob.

Please apply by Monday the 5th May 2025

We will let you know the outcome of your application by Friday 9th May 2025  

Interviews will be held on 22nd May 2025 on Teams

Please note, we will be blind shortlisting all applications, so we ask you not to include your name in your application.

If you are invited to interview, we will ask you about any reasonable adjustments you will need to be able to participate. We will share interview questions in advance of the interview. If you require any adjustments at any stage of your application, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Matthew Haslehurst Director of Finance and Operations

Please specify any access or other requirements of which we need to be aware for the online interview.

About us 

The Early Education and Childcare Coalition unites the voices of parents, children, providers, early years professionals and the wider business community, working together for investment and reform of early education and childcare in England. 

We believe that we all benefit from investing in early education and childcare, and we all have a role to play in shaping a system that delivers for children, families and the economy. 

We are backed by some of the most high-profile campaign and research organisations in England. Our members include early years provider membership bodies, parent campaign groups, early childhood experts, trade unions, the business lobby, anti-poverty campaigners and NGOs. Together, we use our collective voice and research to build public and political support for early education and childcare.

And it’s worked. Thanks to the dedication of our members, early years is now one of the top six priorities for the new government’s Plan for Change, but our work isn’t done – we have an ambitious agenda to ‘rescue and reform’ the system, ensuring that: 

• every child can access high-quality education and care that their parents can afford and that will support them to thrive 

• every provider is funded fairly for the places they offer 

• every early years professional is rewarded and recognised for the skilled work they do 

About the role

We are now recruiting a Senior Research and Policy Officer on a fixed-term contract to help drive our aims during this exciting period. 

• Hours: 37.5 hours (5 days per week). Some out-of-hours work may be required for which TOIL will be given. 

• Duration: One-year contract with possible extension subject to funding. 

• Location: Home-working but located in Greater Manchester 

• Salary: £44,755 per annum 

Your time will be split between two key strands of work: 

• Our core research and policy function which responds to emerging early years policy, government consultations and shapes our own original research 

• A ‘test and learn’ pilot on workforce development. 

The former will require you to have a good grasp of mixed research methods, some understanding of the challenges facing early education and childcare, as well as a good understanding of the political and economic climate we’re working in. Naturally, you should be able to produce clear and compelling briefings that can be of use to policymakers and our members. 

The latter is an exciting new project that is a key output in our three-year programme, ‘Building the Early Education Workforce in England’. It will see you partner with combined authorities, think tanks and coalition partners. You will need to be comfortable handling data in this role.

We are a fully remote organisation, but ideally you should be based in Greater Manchester where the ‘test and learn’ pilot is being conducted. This will be important in building relationships with providers and local authorities that are participating in the project. 

We work flexibly and it won’t come as a surprise to you that we understand the challenge of caring commitments. We trust you to manage your time, but as a minimum requirement, we expect you to be available on Thursday mornings for our staff meeting. As a remote team this helps us to stay in touch and connect. 

The Coalition has experienced significant growth over the last two years and with early years firmly on the political agenda, we expect this to continue. Our hope is that this role will evolve and the successful candidate will continue to progress within this growing and impactful organisation. 

For the last two years, the Coalition has been incubated by the Women’s Budget Group, the UK’s leading feminist economic think tank. Our growth means that we are now ready to spin out into a separate and independent legal entity. That means that your employment contract will initially be with WBG on behalf of the Coalition but will then transfer across to the newly constituted organisation. This won’t change your role, your terms or your pay, but we want to tell you now. We are happy to answer questions at interview about that. 

What you can expect to be doing 

• Use detailed knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methodologies to produce policy papers  and reports on topics relevant to the Coalition’s aims 

• Work closely with our Associate Director of Research and Coproduction, to deliver our ‘test and learn’ pilot analysing data from local authorities and early years providers and codesigning the final outputs with stakeholders. 

• Support our response to key fiscal events including the Spending Review 

• Work with Coalition members to promote shared learning of innovative practices and coordinate joint research 

• Maintain awareness and knowledge of research and policy literature related to early education and childcare 

• Support the advocacy and communications team with the dissemination of research and policy 

About you 

You will have experience in a research or policy role where you’ve been responsible for responding to government policy, producing briefings and reports, and shaping future research. Given the nature of coalition-working, experience of working with a broad range of stakeholders would be beneficial, as would any experience of codesigning policy solutions, although this is not essential.

We are looking for someone who is comfortable handling data and using data to make policy recommendations. Experience of working on public service reform would be a bonus. 

Person specification 

Essential 

• Educated to degree level in social sciences and/or demonstrable research experience in public service reform issues 

• Experience of data collation and statistical analysis, working with large datasets and data analysis packages 

• Experience of working in research within an applied setting 

• Knowledge and experience of analysing and summarising quantitative and qualitative research 

• Comfortable with remote-working with the ability to work on own initiative 

• Commitment to the aims of the EECC and our principles. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to write reports for a policy audience 

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and in person with a range of different audiences 

• Experience of liaising with a wide range of stakeholders in the context of a research and policy project 

Desirable 

• Experience of leading on research projects 

• Experience of working on codesigned projects 

• Some knowledge of the challenges facing the early education and childcare system 

• Experience of stakeholder engagement or engaging research participants

The application process 

Please apply with CV and cover letter by the listed closing date. No agencies please. We are using anonymous recruitment via Charity Jobs so please apply via that process.

The EECC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We use anonymous recruiting during the application process and we use positive action under section 159 of the Equality Act in relation to disability or race. This means that if we have two candidates of equal merit in our process, we will seek to take forward the disabled or Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic candidate in order to diversify our staff team. 

Please note we can only consider applications from candidates with the right to work in the UK.

We regret that our small team does not have capacity to respond to unsuccessful applicants individually. 

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 12th May

Interviews: w/c 19th May 

Start date: ASAP 

the3million is the largest grassroots organisation for EU citizens* in the UK, formed after the 2016 referendum to protect the rights of people who have made the UK their home. 

Our work ranges from organising EU citizens’ communities and informing people about their rights, to holding the Government to account on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and advocating for social justice.

We are now looking for a Research and Policy Manager to lead on evidence-based research and support in the analysis of government policy and legislation which impacts EU citizens in the UK. 

We are looking for a creative problem solver who is detail orientated and approaches research through an investigative lens. 

This work often intersects with the wider issues of social justice, migrant rights, race equality, and data rights. 

You will work closely with the Head of Policy and Advocacy to direct strategic research initiatives, presenting recommendations to influence decision-makers and guide advocacy efforts, ensuring the3million’s campaigns are informed and led by robust evidence of EU citizens’ lived experience. 

*the3million uses ‘EU citizens’ as shorthand for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who were resident in the UK before 31 December 2020, and their family members (of any nationality) with derived rights.

Main duties and responsibilities: 

1. Strategic research and issue analysis

You will lead on the3million’s research, working closely with the Head of Policy and Advocacy to ensure our work is shaped by lived experience, analysing issues experienced by EU citizens related to applying for immigration status, proving their rights and accessing services in the UK. 

• Collect, analyse and categorise issues raised by EU citizens through the3million’s reporting channels, including highlighting correlations to equality characteristics such as race and ethnicity, age, gender etc (including our ReportIt! system, email, social media and listening campaigns). 
• Interview EU citizens who report issues, sharing information about rights, signposting to relevant legal advice organisations.
• Identify trends in the challenges faced by EU citizens, documenting these in detail, analysing systemic issues.
• Provide strategic guidance on how research findings can inform the3million’s advocacy, campaigns and communications activities.

2. Policy development and advocacy

• Contribute to the production of high-quality policy briefings, reports and strategic recommendations that are clear, actionable and directly relevant to stakeholders including the Government.
• Support in the research and analysis of government policy developments, legislative changes and public consultations affecting EU citizens in the UK, specifically on areas related to immigration and welfare, assessing their potential impact.

3. Report writing and presentation 

• Lead on the development of in-depth reports and support in the production of policy papers and position statements, presenting complex data into clear and accessible documents.
• Present research findings and policy recommendations at meetings and events, effectively communicating complex issues to audiences. 
• Contribute to the production of advocacy materials, including media briefings, campaigns’ resources and informational content for the3million’s website, social media channels and for event distribution.

4. Stakeholder engagement 

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including civil society organisations and other advocacy groups.
• Collaborate with other team members within the organisation to ensure research and policy recommendations are effectively integrated into the3million’s community organising activities, campaigns and strategic communications.

5. Monitoring and evaluation 

• Report on the progress and outcomes of research and policy activities regularly, within the organisation and to the3million’s funders. 

6. General responsibilities 

• Represent the views of the3million in the media, when appropriate.
• Provide assistance in other areas of the3million’s work as and when deemed necessary by the CEO.

Person specification 

Knowledge and experience:

• Experience (2+ years) working within research or investigative settings 
• Proven track record in producing research reports and presenting research findings

Skills: 

• Expertise in investigative research and analysis, including the ability to summarise complex information and communicate it effectively to different audiences
• Excellent attention to detail 
• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to produce high quality reports and other written materials
• Strong presentation skills
• Ability to build rapport with research participants through individual or group interviews
• Proficient in using spreadsheets for data analysis
• Awareness of research ethics and data protection

Personal attributes: 

• A deep commitment to migrants’ rights and a passion for social justice
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently and thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, external partners, and community groups

Desirable 

• Experience working on immigration policy, human rights, or social justice
• Experience of obtaining information through Freedom of Information requests 
• Experience of building research tools and developing creative methods and techniques of research
• Knowledge of the Citizens’ Rights Part Two of the Withdrawal Agreement, its current implementation in the UK, and the EU Settlement Scheme

Before you apply

One of the3million’s core values is equity - we are people led, we value diversity and are enriched by differences. We strive to listen to, engage with and represent the broadest range of people. 

We recognise our team is not currently representative of communities that experience racism and that our own ways of working may replicate wider societal oppression and injustices. We are actively working towards becoming an anti-oppressive organisation, including taking steps to create a more inclusive recruitment process.

You may not have worked in an organisation whose focus is campaigning for migrants’ rights. Or you may have experience in a grassroots setting which is not formalised. Please still consider applying as many other settings offer transferable skills.

If you are from a background that is underrepresented in the migration sector - for example you are from a community that experiences racism, or you have lived experience of migration, or you are a disabled person, or you did not go to University or had free school meals as a child - we strongly encourage you to apply.

We believe our work will be stronger with greater diversity. the3million welcomes the whole person to work, and we understand that each of us brings our experiences, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do.

Working conditions

Position: Full time 
Duration: Initial 12 months contract, with possibility of extension, subject to funding
Salary: £38,419 per year
Location: Remote, must be UK based. Travel may be required (all travel expenses covered)
Benefits: 28 days holiday + bank holidays, contributory pension scheme, flexible working patterns.
Reporting to: Head of Policy and Advocacy
Preferred start date: 7th July 2025
Interviews will be held on 28th, 29th and 30th May.

About Us
The Microbiology Society is a membership charity for scientists interested in microbes, their effects and their practical uses. It is one of the largest microbiology societies in Europe with a worldwide membership based in universities, industry, hospitals, research institutes and schools.

Our members have a unique depth and breadth of knowledge about the discipline. The Society’s role is to help unlock and harness the potential of that knowledge.

Our commitment to anyone who studies microbes is “whoever you are, wherever you are, we will amplify your voice”.

Read more about our Mission and Values on our website.

“We are interested in every candidate who is eligible to work in the United Kingdom. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.”

About You
The Policy and Engagement Manager is responsible for the development, delivery and evaluation of the Society’s growing policy and engagement programme.

This role will report to the Head of Engagement and Storytelling, with managerial responsibilties for the Policy and Engagement Officer, and will have responsibility for leading the development and coordination of key strategic policy and engagement activities, including progressing external scientific and higher education policy for the Society and promoting the importance of engaging in policy-making to members of the Society.

Suitable candidates will have experience in developing evidence-based policy, including in research, innovation and higher education policy. They will also have excellent communication and organisational skills, and the ability to manage and build effective relationships with key stakeholders engaging in the Society’s activities.

Please note that the organisation operates a hybrid working policy.

For more information about the Society, please visit our website.

Our generous benefits package includes;
• Flexible working hours
• Highly competitive salaries with an annual cost of living increase
• 23 days holiday + eight bank holidays and three additional days over the Christmas break
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Life insurance including free (health and wellbeing) employee support services
• Enhanced maternity pay to include 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave and 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay
• Enhanced Adoption pay to include 26 weeks of fully paid adoption leave and 13 weeks of statutory adoption pay
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• £50 contribution towards eye care

To Apply

Please attach your CV and Cover Letter.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Closing date: 1st May 2025.

It is important that you DO NOT include your Personal Information i.e. name and contact details in your CV or Cover Letter. This is because the Microbiology Society is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. We value, promote, and seek diversity.

The Society also takes the security of your data seriously. It has internal policies and controls in place to ensure that your data is not lost, accidentally destroyed, misused, or disclosed, and is not accessed except by our employees in the proper performance of their duties.

Please note that due to limited resources it is not possible for the Society to acknowledge receipt of applications. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

About This Job

This is an exciting training role in Army Cadet Headquarters responsible for the coordination, development and implementation of strategic training policy across the Army Cadets.

We are looking for a training professional to bring their skills, enthusiasm, and personal credibility to the team and lead on the training governance, strategic policy, and implementation of training requirements across both our volunteer staff and employed workforce.

This role is key to ensuring Army Cadets training meets the governance requirements of the MOD, and follows required process and procedure, whilst forging its own dynamic and flexible youth training policies to meet the needs of a modern youth organisation.

This position is a permanent full-time post (40 hours per week) which will be office based in Cadets Branch, HQ Regional Command in Aldershot, however significant homeworking will be permitted.  The starting salary for the post will be £32,600 per annum.

Essential Skills

· Experience of delivering strategic training policy for a large organisation

· Risk Management or Safety qualifications.

· Experience in delivering training.

· Demonstrable success in establishing effective working relationships across a range of organisations.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, effective interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence.

Please refer to the attached Job Description for further information.

Our charity

ACCT UK is a national youth charity dedicated to improving the life chances of young people. The Combined Cadet Force Association (CCFA) is a charity dedicated to the promotion of the ideals and activities of the Combined Cadet Force in schools. Together we want to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence and be inspired through their cadet experience.

We want to develop the youth leadership and training abilities of adult volunteers whilst also helping young people to access cadet activities through fundraising, grant-making, developing new resources and direct support.

We strongly believe that everyone benefits when you help young people to develop their character and values through activities that stretch and mature them. We also know that when young people engage with others at a range of levels in their communities it builds confidence and improves empathy for other’s lives.

Who we are

You will enjoy being part of our small team who work very happily together. By joining ACCT UK you will help us to reach more young people and make a greater difference and we look forward to working with you. We actively promote and encourage you to explore ideas that improve all aspects of the charity’s work in pursuit of its charitable aims.

What we can offer you

In addition to your salary, we offer all staff:

· Flexible working arrangements (you agree a working pattern with your line manager).

· The ability to work both from home and from our Aldershot office.

· Personal Accident Insurance, including loss of earnings cover and death benefit.

· 15 days of sick pay in any 12-month period (after 12 months employment - pro-rata for part time staff).

· A contributory pension scheme (you contribute at least 5% and we will contribute 10%).

· Good leave allowances (which are offered pro-rata for part time staff):

o 20 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays.

o Additional privilege leave, on set days each year, such as between Christmas and New Year.

o An additional five days of volunteering leave.

· Support for qualifications and personal development.

· Employee Assistance Programme.

· Season ticket loan.

· Railcard (if you are eligible)

· A caring and supportive team environment.

How to apply

Please upload a covering letter that details how you meet the requirements of the job description along with a CV by Sunday 27th April 2025. Please note, AI should not be used to produce either the covering letter or CV.

Interviews will be held (virtually) during the week commencing Monday 5th May 2025.

Please note that as a charity dedicated to improving the lives of young people, we require staff to make a declaration about any relevant convictions, undergo both a Disclosure and Barring Service check and a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check (one of the requirements being that applicants must have been resident in the UK for 3 years). In addition, we will follow up references.

Please note that previous applicants need not apply.

At Endometriosis UK, we are passionate about driving political change for the 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth living with endometriosis in the UK. This role will play an instrumental role in supporting the campaigns and policy function within the wider Communications Team.

This will be a busy, varied and important role working closely with the Policy and Public Affairs Manager and Head of Campaigns and Communications to provide administration and wider support for the charity’s growing policy and campaigns function. This will include contributing to the production of government consultation responses, writing letters to politicians, producing background briefings ahead of parliamentary meetings and taking responsibility for political monitoring and informing the team of any engagement opportunities. A key part of the role will also be providing administration support for the policy function of the charity and the Head of Communications and Campaigns, including administrative support for the All-Party-Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis which Endometriosis UK provides secretariat support for. Tasks will include writing minutes, helping produce briefing papers, and booking events and meeting rooms.

You will also be the first point of call for our campaign supporters, and will be aiding our supporters to take campaign actions through the drafting and creation of e-actions using Engaging Networks.

This is an exciting opportunity to help build our campaigning work and work towards the goals of our new 2025 organisational strategy. 

About Equally Ours:

We’re the UK charity that brings together people and organisations working across equality, human rights and social justice to make a reality of these in everyone’s lives. Our vision is a just and compassionate society, where we are free from harm and can all contribute and flourish, whoever we are, whatever we believe in, and whatever we do and don’t have. A society that is equally ours.

About the role:

We’re on the lookout for a new Director of Policy and Public Affairs, to protect and advance equality and human rights in the UK, by increasing our policy impact and working collaboratively to harness the power of our network.

The Director of Policy and Public Affairs will play an important role in protecting and advancing equality and human rights in the UK. This role will focus on growing our policy and public affairs capacity so that we can achieve the goals set out in Together for Social Justice, our 10-year strategy. 

You’ll develop and deliver high-impact policy influencing strategies on our three big issues of law, climate and investment. This will mean working on vital public policy issues such as embedding equality and human rights in the government’s mission-driven approach, ensuring a strong legal framework of rights protections, improving public awareness of the value of human rights, and creating a work programme to ensure that people’s whose rights are most at risk can lead policy development on climate breakdown.

You’ll have a strong track record of creating innovative policy solutions that influence public policy and secure social change; the ability to forge and nurture constructive dialogue and working relationships across the political spectrum and within civil society, and a deep understanding of how to increase racial justice at systemic level. You’ll be confident communicating complex legal and technical issues in an engaging way that brings their practical impacts to life for a wide range of audiences, including the media. You’ll be skilled at bringing people together and working collaboratively. 

We’re a small team whose strength comes from combining our own lived and professional expertise with that of the leading thinkers and organisations who make up our network. We offer flexible working and lots of autonomy within a collaborative and supportive environment where it’s your job to make things happen. 

Why Equally Ours?

• Generous benefits including enhanced pension, 26 days of annual leave, health and wellbeing support, and more. 

• Flexible working arrangements to help you balance your professional and personal life. 

• A collaborative culture that values lived experience alongside professional expertise. 

If you are looking for an opportunity to use your skills to drive meaningful social change, we would love to hear from you. 

How to Apply: 

Please read through the full job pack and then submit your CV and cover letter (max 2 pages) outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the criteria. Please ensure that you address all the criteria, providing sufficient relevant evidence, including examples, to show how your skills and experience match those required in the person specification. Applications without cover letters will not be accepted.

Closing date for applications: 6th May, 12 noon

Summary
 

Our goal is to build health equity so that everyone living in urban areas has a fair and just opportunity to thrive and live in good health.
 

The Director of Policy, Influencing and Change will lead our efforts to shape policy, influence practice, and channel resources towards effective approaches to advancing health equity, this include spreading and scaling our proven projects and ensuring our work has a wider impact.

Policy, Influencing and Change
 

· Strategic leadership of IoUH Policy and Influencing: Delivering and evolving Policy & Influencing strategy that embeds policy, influencing into all IoUH’s programmes and work, overseeing effective execution of the strategy by the Policy & Influencing Team.
 

· Strategic leadership of IoUH Change function: Responsible for a strategic approach to partnerships focussed on scaling and sustaining what we know works. Overseeing delivery of a select portfolio of projects that are operating at scale and being replicated, particularly with a view to influencing local and national policy making and co-funding partnerships.
 

· Impact delivery: Overseeing the development and delivery of Policy and Influencing and Change strategies to support IoUH to achieve strategic aims and stated impact goals, including influencing decision making, policy debate and the policy and practice of key stakeholders.
 

· Stakeholder engagement and thought leadership: Working with the Director of Comms to manage IoUH’s external presence. Coordinating Policy, Influencing & Change stakeholder relations ensuring that IoUH has strong relationships with key stakeholders that support
scaling of effective approaches and enables wider policy and practice changes, with priority given to Government, Parliament, Lambeth and Southwark Councils, the Greater London Authority, other funders and policy influencing organisations. Supporting the IoUH Director Team to embed good stakeholder management practices within the work of their own teams.
 

· Thought leadership: Acting as a thought leader and supporting IoUH to be the go-to experts on urban health and health equity, representing IoUH and the Foundation externally

IoUH Leadership

· Champion inclusive leadership and be an effective member of IoUH’s Director’s Team
 

· Line management responsibility for national and international Partnership Manager, Head of Policy & Influencing and dotted line to Portfolio Managers holding day-to-day responsibility for scaled/to be scaled programmes
 

· Other responsibilities that can reasonably be expected to help ensure the successful delivery of your role

Corporate responsibilities

· Take strategic responsibility for ensuring consistency and identifying synergies in policy and influencing work across the Foundation, identifying opportunities to use insights from our work to influence policy and key audiences.
 

· Satisfy governance and accountability requirements including monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the impact of our policy, influencing and change activities

Knowledge, experience, and qualifications:
 

· Deep understanding of UK political environment and the operation of government
 

· Experience of overseeing complex large-scale programmes and handling significant (multi-million pound) budgets
 

· Experience of securing large funding partnerships or financial commitments
 

· Experience leading and developing teams and managing multiple project demands
 

· Experience in consistently embedding DEI into ways of working and create a feeling of inclusion for others, a presence to manage and lead others
 

· You are experienced and comfortable in handling uncertainty and navigating complexity

Benefits

• Up to 12% employer pension contributions
• Annual personal development budget
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities. 
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit. 
• Shower facilities and bike lock area. 
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
• Subsidies for glasses
• Employee Assistance Programme

We are seeking a candidate with a keen interest in national healthcare policy to provide a crucial underpinning role that supports and enables the policy managers and policy officer to deliver the Academy’s committee and wider policy and influencing work. This is an ideal role for someone who is driven by the desire to influence positive societal change through gaining experience in a complex national policy environment. The role would suit either a recent graduate looking to gain experience or a career administrator who enjoys a busy role in a small organisation. 

The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Senior UK Policy Manager to support the Policy team based at our London or Glasgow office.

Deadline: 5pm on Monday 5th May
Location: London OR Glasgow
Salary: Starting at £41,800 rising to £48,070 pro rata, plus £3,285 London Weighting if applicable
Hours: Full-time, 32 hours per week (as part of our 32-hour week pilot and may revert to 35 hours after July 2025) [part-time hours may be considered]
Contract type: Permanent

This exciting role will develop and bring together our policy and public affairs work from across all four nations of the UK to drive better understanding and action on public mental health.

What does the role involve?​

• Working with our Head of Policy and Heads of Nations to design and help implement our UK policy and public affairs programme.
• Working collaboratively with teams across the UK to align our policy goals, taking into account different contexts in each of the nations.
• Influence and inform policy-makers, opinion-formers, professional bodies and politicians to support and promote public mental health.

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?​

• Strong intellectual, analysis and influencing skills.
• Experience of working in a UK organisation seeking to shape policy in all four nations of the UK.
• Good understanding of Westminster and at least one of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd or Northern Ireland Assembly.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.

About us

Since 1949, the Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health.

Our vision is for a world with good mental health for all. With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

We will drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

The Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week.

How to apply

If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application form by clicking 'Redirect to recruiter'. Please note that all sections of the application form should be completed as CVs alone will not be accepted. Applications will close at 5pm on Monday 5th May and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned for week commencing 19th May.

We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme. Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.

If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview. Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 / Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing). We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home for full time staff, pro rata for part time staff.

We look forward to hearing from you!

About Respect  

Respect is a pioneering UK membership organisation in the domestic abuse sector.  Founded in 2000, we have built our expertise over the last 23 years in what was then a fledgling sector and recently have seen significant and rapid growth.     

Respect supports frontline organisations across the UK, so that together we can end domestic abuse.  Our work is wide ranging: we offer accreditation of specialist services; we provide training for individuals and organisations working in the sector; we work in partnership with others to innovate and develop practice;  we provide two helplines to enable service users to get the help and advice they need; we lobby influencers to improve policy and practice; we support up-to-date research undertaken by specialists in the field; and we fundraise to ensure important work continues to happen. 

Respect has seen rapid growth over the last few years, and we now have 60+ staff running a range of projects and core activities and have ambitious plans for further growth and influence. 

Our vision   

We want a world where everyone is free from domestic abuse. Where it is never ok to control, harm or cause fear. Where those who perpetrate domestic abuse are stopped, held to account and given the chance to change.    

Our mission   

We work with our members, partners and allies to stop the harms done by those who perpetrate domestic abuse.  With innovative practice, robust research and quality data, we build evidence of what works, promote safe, effective practice and drive high standards.  We use our voice, in collaboration with others, to call for a response to domestic abuse that matches the scale of the problem.  We will not stop, until domestic abuse stops.    

Our Focus   

Respect was founded to focus on perpetrators of domestic abuse and this, including our vital work with young people who cause harm, will remain our key priority.  Our work with male victims will continue as an important, distinct, project.    

Our Values   

• Pioneering - We explore innovative ideas and develop new approaches with curiosity and rigour.   
   

• Collaborative - We work in partnership with our members, partners and allies to bring about individual, societal and systems change.   
   

• Accountable- We listen to survivors and centre their needs in our work.  We hold perpetrators to account for their behaviour and hold ourselves and our members accountable for ours.   
   

• Respectful - We live up to our name.  We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do.  We are honest, compassionate and boldly challenge injustice.    

Make a Change 

Make a Change is a community-wide, early response approach to people using abusive behaviours (or who are concerned that they might be) towards a current or ex-partner. The model has been developed by Respect in partnership with Women’s Aid Federation England, drawing inspiration from their Change that Lasts approach. It includes three strands: expert support programme for perpetrators with parallel support for survivors, workforce development and community outreach.

Improving the safety, freedom and wellbeing of adult and child survivors of domestic abuse is a key outcome for our work with perpetrators.  The Make a Change model is a multi-partner project offering local areas a framework for delivering perpetrator work. Where feasible, we aim to establish partnerships with local survivor domestic abuse service to deliver parallel support for survivors (referred to as Integrated Support Service) as part the expert support strand.

Purpose of the role: 

The Senior Communications and Policy Officer will work with the Make a Change team at Respect to advance the development of communication and policy activities for the Make a Change model in project sites and nationally to encourage uptake in new areas. They will also work with Respect’s Communications and Influence leads to ensure alignment with the organisation's broader messaging and advocacy efforts, maximising the impact of Make a Change initiatives. The postholder will lead on developing and implementing communication strategies and plans in partnership with our delivery partners across the sites.

We would particularly welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and across all protected characteristics1, particularly from people from the following under-represented groups: 

• Black and minoritised people 

• Disabled people 

We always welcome and support applications from those who have personal experience of domestic abuse. 

Please follow the link to find out more.