Public Affairs Administrator Jobs in Edinburgh

Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Wales)
£33,824 pa plus excellent benefits
Home-based
35 hours per week, full-time

The Policy and Public Affairs Officer is an exciting and influential role as you will work with the Policy and Public Affairs Manager (Wales), Head of Devolved Nations and colleagues across the College to develop and deliver policy and communications activity for Wales.

As Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Wales) you will work with key stakeholders to coordinate and develop policy position statements unique to Wales, coordinating and producing draft responses to consultations in Wales, whilst supporting colleagues across the College with expertise on the political, governmental and health service landscape in Wales.

Communicating policy and public affairs priorities to stakeholders to maximise influence and impact, you will attend meetings with senior figures in Wales, produce content for blogs, social media, bulk email, web and other digital communications specific to our audiences in Wales, whilst also providing administrative support for the Wales Executive Committee.

With a good standard of education, you should have demonstrable experience in policy and public affairs and a solid knowledge and understanding of policy and legislative processes in Wales.

You will have proven experience of producing high quality policy and communications outputs such as consultation responses, reports, policy briefings and press copy, as well as demonstrable experience of producing high quality content for digital and social media.

With outstanding oral communication skills you will be able to manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

Your excellent communication, organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills will ensure you are capable of supporting committees and other governance structures, particularly supporting the delivery of new processes and identifying opportunities for improvement.

The Membership, Policy and External Affairs Division actively promotes the membership, stakeholders and the public awareness of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and core child health priorities.

The RCPCH sets and maintains standards for the education and training of all doctors working in paediatrics and child health in the UK. We advocate on child health issues at home and internationally. Additionally, through a variety of activities, the College influences the quality of medical practice for children in hospital and in the community.

The RCPCH has more than 23,000 members and fellows and employs around 200 staff, most of whom work in our London office in Holborn. We have a Devolved Nations team operating from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Our College values: Include, Influence, Innovate and Lead, are important to us. These values ensure we bring out the best in each other, strive forward together to make the College a positive and dynamic place to work. 

The RCPCH champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our workplace is inclusive, offering a supportive environment where staff can thrive. The College is keen to accept applications from people with protected characteristics. We believe that our staff should represent all of the diverse communities we serve. Join us to help realise our vision of a world where every child is healthy and well.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities. The RCPCH expects all staff to share this commitment – we place a high priority on ensuring only those who do so are recruited to work for us. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records.

Closing date: 16 March 2025
interview date: 27 March 2025 (remote)

Dimensions is proud to be one of very few social care organisations that are accredited by the Great Places To Work programme in 2024 – now 6 years in a row!

You will influence change by putting the issues that matter most, both to Dimensions and to the people we support, on the public’s agenda.

You will help Dimensions to work towards our vision of better lives for more people by building relationships with key journalists so we can reach our target audiences more frequently and more impactfully.

Through your work, Dimensions will build on its reputation as an expert on sector issues, a good sector partner and an organisation dedicated to supporting people with lived experience to tell their own stories.

Applications will be shortlisted on receipt and interviews will be held on the 25th March, face to face in London. The closing date of this role may close early depending on volume of applications.

About the role: Your main duties will include: 

• To develop a media relations plan and co-ordinate public relations activity in line with Dimensions’ corporate priorities to ensure consistent messaging across PR, social media, and campaigns.
• To build strong, trusting relationships with journalists and producers with an interest in social care and related issues, fielding all media enquiries.
• To create content for press releases, byline articles and op-ed pieces by delivering newsworthy stories based on original data, personal stories and clear calls to action.
• To deliver a frequent roundup of news to key internal stakeholders, supporting internal sector awareness on issues and seeking resulting opportunities to project our voice on the issues that matter most to us.

About you: The successful applicant will have:

• Able to draft stories that generate headlines and communicate key messages as a result of strong relationships with journalists.
• Able to demonstrate extensive experience of designing, executing, and evaluating successful public relations campaigns on social affairs issues at both a local and national level.
• Possess exceptional writing, editing and verbal communication skills.
• Strong, demonstrable social media experience and impact.

The rewards

• Up to 35 days’ annual leave entitlement (including bank holidays)
• Staff discount shopping scheme ‘Rewarding Dimensions’
• We offer a salary advance scheme where you can access up to 50% of the money you've earned before payday. 
• Employee Assistance Programme 
• Pension scheme
• Long Service Awards
• Qualification scheme
• Employee recognition scheme 'Inspiring People' 
• Discounted health and dental cover 
• Life Assurance 
• Bike to Work Scheme 
• Season Ticket Loan

Apply now

• We welcome applications from everyone who has the right to work in the UK, and value diversity in our workforce
• As Disability Confident Leaders , we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy - Dimensions has been awarded this symbol by Jobcentre Plus to recognise our commitment towards the employment, retention, training and career development of disabled employees
• As part of our commitment to making reasonable adjustments we can offer support to complete your application. Please contact the Resourcing Consultant Team on 03 003 039 150.
• We now have British Sign Language (BSL) translated videos for all of our recruitment communications.

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

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

We are:  

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key accountabilities: 

Leadership 

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

• Provide leadership and management to the Operations Team including: 

• Research

• Communications 

Impact and Reporting  

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

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

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

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

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

Active Travel England engagement  

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

Walking and Cycling Alliance (WACA) 

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

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

Communications & Research  

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

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

HR and Governance  

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

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

• Develop leadership and management capability across the Trust 

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

General Duties 

• Provide support and leadership insight across the organisation 

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

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

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

Person specification 

The successful applicants will have: 

• A first or higher degree 

• Excellent organisational and customer care skills 

• Strong written and oral communication skills 

• Have a growth and continuous improvement mindset 

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

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

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

• Strategy development

• Sound strategic planning and a track record of achieving targets 

• Policy and public affairs experience 

• Charity governance 

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

• GDPR 

• Analysis of complex information 

• HR

• Business / operational data analysis 

• Commununications, Marketing or PR 

Skills 

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

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

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

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

• Excellent administrative, organisational and IT skills 

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

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

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

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

The package 

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

• Bikeability cycle training

• Generous contributory pension scheme 

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

• Employee Assistance Programme

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