Public Affairs Jobs

Would like to join an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity, with a passion for finding a cure for brain tumours, and wanting to drive change for brain tumour patients?

Here at Brain Tumour Research, we are looking for a Policy and Public Affairs Officer to join a dynamic and influential campaigning team. You will play a pivotal role as a Policy and Publics Affairs Officer, working closely with the Head of Stakeholder Relations and the Policy and Public Affairs Manager. This will include supporting the development and implementation of effective public affairs and campaigning activities, at Westminster and across the devolved nations.

About You​

If you would like to join an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity, with a passion for finding a cure for brain tumours, and wanting to drive change for brain tumour patients, then we would love to hear from you.​

Do you have:

• ​A graduate qualification in a relevant discipline is desirable
• ​Knowledge of how the UK Parliament, Government and, ideally the Devolved administrations, operate 
• ​Excellent written communication skills with the ability to communicate to both expert and non-expert audiences

About the Role​

This is a great opportunity to further develop policy and public affairs skills as part of a high-performing and impactful team.  As the Policy and Public Affairs Officer, you will be working with others in the team help to develop and deliver public affairs and campaigning plans that support Brain Tumour Research’s organisational objectives. This includes highlighting the specific needs of brain tumour patients, and to promote a compelling and persuasive narrative to support our policy calls.

We're looking for a brilliant communicator and strategic thinker, with an excellent understanding of the parliamentary and policy process. Saving lives underpins everything we do.

As Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) you'll be responsible for taking the voices of survivors of cardiac arrest and their families to policy makers, elected representatives, and other decision-makers in each nation of the UK.

You'll have an exceptional understanding of how to build support for legislative and public policy change in Westminster and beyond. You'll lead the development of persuasive, evidence-based, policy arguments that cement our four strategic goals. Working with the wider Communications and Engagement team you’ll ensure that resuscitation continues to be seen as a priority area for decision-makers in government, the NHS and the wider stakeholder community.

The successful candidate will be proactive and high performing, using your expertise to drive real change within our resuscitation community and playing a vital part to contribute to our mission. You will come with a track record of developing effective networks and relationships with civil servants, special advisors, politicians, professional bodies and think tanks.

You will join RCUK at a crucial time as we work to improve the provision of post cardiac arrest support across the UK and increase bystander CPR rates through targeted monitoring of CPR training in schools. 

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager has one direct report, which is the Policy and Public Affairs Officer for the Devolved Nations. 

The post is hybrid working and based in London.  The successful candidate is expected to attend the office one day per week. 

Main responsibilities

You will have design and delivery responsibility for policy and public affairs across the UK. You will work to implement policy change by tailoring our policy recommendations to targeted influencing opportunities. 

Your day-to-day work will be varied. From leading the development of evidence-based policy recommendations that improve people’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest, wherever they are, to supporting our media and campaigning activity. 

The role involves:

• Cross-team working with a focus on providing support across a range of key campaigning areas.
• Taking the lead on report writing and blogs to effectively communicate our initiatives to key decision makers.
• Monitoring parliamentary activity and identify opportunities to influence policy development, legislation and service provision in line with RCUK’s strategic goals.
• Producing accessible and concise briefings to ensure RCUK’s research is presented clearly, in a way that makes it useful to policy and decision makers at a local and national level.
• Building new partnerships and strengthen existing relationships with likeminded organisations in line with our strategic plan, so we can broaden our reach.

Supporting the Director of Communications and Engagement, the successful candidate will lead and facilitate high-level influence and interaction with the wider statutory sector across all four nations, as that’s where decisions on training and commissioning are made that will have a crucial impact on RCUK’s work.

How to apply

Please email your CV, covering letter and Equality & Diversity monitoring form to us with 'Policy and Public Affairs Manager' in the subject line.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 12 midnight, Sunday 23rd March 2025.

Interviews will be held in person on Monday 7th April 2025.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if enough suitable applicants apply.

• Salary: £36,517 per annum, rising to £38,437 after 12 months in London (or £32,328 per annum rising to £34,248 after 12 months outside of London)
• Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week) Part time and job share applications are also welcomed.
• Contract: permanent Location: Home based, or office based at Society Building, 8 All Saints Street, London N1, in line with NCVO’s flexible working policy or home working policy.
• Closing date: 08.00 17 March 2025
• Shortlisting date: 18 March 2025
• Interviews: 24 March 2025

About the role

From local and national support services to green spaces, sports clubs, museums and the arts, voluntary organisations and volunteers are a vital part of communities across the country.

As the membership community for charities and voluntary organisations, NCVO has championed volunteers and the voluntary sector for over a hundred years.

Main elements of the role

This role will be at the heart of our work in improving the environment for charities. It will involve working with colleagues across the organisation, parliamentarians, government, and other external stakeholders.

You will:

• Support the running of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Charities and Volunteering
• Draft briefings and other material for parliamentarians and other external stakeholders
• Co-ordinate delivery of agreed policy and public affairs activity including supporting the development and delivery of strategies
• Monitor political and other external developments, highlighting opportunities for NCVO’s public affairs activity
• Contribute to setting of public affairs and policy objectives

Equity, diversity and inclusion

​NCVO is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our sector. We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and identities. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups in the voluntary sector and those with diverse, lived experience. As part of our commitment to employing disabled people, all disabled candidates who meet the minimum requirement for all competencies on the person specification will be guaranteed an interview.

​If you have access needs or require reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a pre-interview task and will have one week to complete the exercise. Interview questions will be shared in advance.

Contact us

​If you have any queries regarding our vacancies or experience any issues downloading or submitting your application form, please email us.

Benefits for NCVO employees

​NCVO offers attractive benefits including:

• ​25 days’ annual leave (for full time staff and pro-rata for part-time staff) and office closure between 25 December and 1 January inclusive. After three years' service annual holiday increases to 27 days, and after five years to 30 days, (pro rata for part time staff)
• ​the option to purchase or sell up to five more days each year
• ​five days’ volunteering leave (pro rata for part-time staff)
• ​2.5 extra ‘wellbeing’ days off during the year
• ​enhanced pay for sick/maternity/adoption leave
• ​subsidised gym membership
• ​season ticket loan
• ​flexible working, including opportunities to work from home/off site
• ​monthly homeworking allowance for permanent homeworkers
• ​monthly office worker allowance for those who have to work from the office on a daily basis
• ​generous employer pension contribution of up to 8.5% of salary, into our stakeholder pension scheme (linked to employee contribution)
• ​training and development opportunities.
• ​The opportunity to join Hospital Saturday Fund health cash plan for free at the basic level of cover, or at a reduced rate for other levels of cover
• ​24-hour free and confidential employee assistance programme

​We’re located a short walk from London King’s Cross station in a modern accessible building, overlooking Regent’s canal.

About NCVO

​We are the charities charity. For over 100 years, NCVO has stood shoulder to shoulder with communities, championing and celebrating voluntary action.

​Our membership is made up of over 17,000 voluntary organisations across England, from small, grassroots community groups and social enterprises, to large, far-reaching charities.

​We believe that communities are strengthened by voluntary action. We therefore want charities to thrive and be empowered to deliver for people and communities.

​We focus on empowering charities and volunteers by making sure they have the knowledge, tools, and resources they need. We advocate for and with our members, giving voice to those not often heard, and harnessing the collective power of partners to ensure the voluntary sector is valued. We bring charities together so they can learn, connect, and create greater impact.

​As the voluntary sector and volunteering adapt to new challenges and a changing context, so must NCVO. We are therefore prioritising work to evolve as an organisation to ensure we live our values of ambition, inclusion, openness and collaboration in everything we do internally and externally.

​We have around 80 staff and income of more than £7m per year. With our members at the heart of everything we do, our mission is to unite to champion the remarkable role of charities and volunteers. Because stronger charities make for stronger communities.

​NCVO is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from everyone. Charity No. 225922.

The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) is a Charity and Company Limited by guarantee and is the representative body for Directors of Public Health (DPH) in the UK.

It seeks to improve and protect the health of the population through collating and presenting the views of DsPH; advising on public health policy and legislation at a local, regional, national and international level; facilitating a support network for DsPH; and providing opportunities for DsPH to develop professional practice.

The Association has a rich heritage, its origins dating back more than 160 years. It is a collaborative organisation working in partnership with others to maximise the voice for public health.

We are now looking to appoint to the role of Public Affairs Manager who, supporting the Head of External Affairs, will help to deliver the Associations External Affairs strategy, influencing through strong relationships with key external stakeholders.

The successful candidate will have existing Public Affairs experience of developing successful strategies to influence legislation or government policy, be politically astute and have a proven ability to tailor their briefings etc to influence different audiences.

They will have a knowledge of the UK political system and the mechanisms and tactics that can be used to secure change, have excellent organisational and prioritisation skills and be an enthusiastic and pro-active self-starter, with a flexible in approach that can adapt to changing circumstances.

The Association has offices in central London, but is currently operating a hybrid working model so welcomes candidates from across the UK, though attendance at ‘in person’ ADPH team meetings will be expected. Further details can be requested ahead of your application by contacting Mark Hamblett.

Your application must be accompanied by a covering letter that outlining why you would be suitable for the role, and the successful candidate will be required to provide evidence that they are entitled to work on a permanent basis in the UK.

Please note we will be interviewing throughout the term of the recruitment process and so reserve the right to close this opportunity ahead of its stated closing date shouod a suitable candidate be selected. 

About the role

At a time of growth and of new opportunities for the Motability Foundation, we are looking for a Public Affairs Manager to join our Communications Team and lead our Public Affairs activity for the organisation.

Our vision is to fund, support, research, and innovate, so all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. There are an estimated 16 million disabled people in the UK, and this role will play a crucial part in our work to raise awareness of the work of the Motability Foundation, amplify the voices of disabled people and to influence policy.

·This new role will work alongside our new Evidence and Policy Manager, based in our Innovation team, and other colleagues across the organization as well as key partners (Motability Operations), to manage our horizon scanning and monitoring of the political landscape, leading on advising our Governors, CEO and senior management team on actions we need to take, and preparing detailed briefings for engagements, and events with Parliamentarians and senior Ministers. The role holder will develop, implement and lead our Public Affairs and Government Engagement Plan, and proactively identify and develop opportunities to influence and shape policy where it may have a positive impact for disabled people.

With a General Election and potential welfare reform on the horizon, this role is especially important and experience in creating and implementing post-election public affairs strategies, leading activities across the team and devising and managing structured results reporting to the organisation, is highly desirable.

What you will be doing

• Develop, implement and manage our public affairs strategy, leading on public affairs activities aligned with the Motability Foundation’s vision and overall strategy.
• Amplify the Motability Foundation’s voice in Parliament, across the devolved nations, and in political spheres, building, developing and managing relationships with parliamentarians, decision-makers and stakeholders.
• Manage our horizon scanning and monitoring of the political, legislative and regulatory landscape in relation to the work of the Motability Foundation, leading on advising the business on actions we need to take.
• Provide sharp political intelligence, insight, advice and briefings for Governors, directors, senior management and a variety of audiences across the organization.
• Support the establishment of the Motability Foundation’s policy positions and delivering our influencing objectives.
• Manage a contact program for Parliamentarians, raising awareness of the work of the Motability Foundation, establishing regular meetings for senior leaders where relevant, and facilitating dialogue on issues relevant to our work.
• Working closely with the Evidence and Policy Manager to manage the dissemination of any policy output for presentation to the external world.

Your experience

Must haves:

• Strong grasp of parliamentary processes in Westminster, Scotland and the other devolved nations.
• Ability to initiate and manage projects independently while contributing effectively to team efforts.
• Experience in proactively identifying opportunities to influence.
• Strong communication skills, with an ability to grasp complex issues quickly and share information in an accessible way across a variety of audiences.
• Ability to facilitate sensitive internal and stakeholder conversations to reach a point of consensus.
• Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders in Government, industry, and other charities and foundations.
• Experience of operating effectively in a complex environment with multiple agendas and stakeholders.
• Highly IT literate with extensive experience of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

Nice to haves:

• Understanding of key disability and transport issues, such as the social model of disability, inclusive micro mobility and the transition to electric vehicles.

• Salary: £36,500 - £39,950 gross per annum (depending on experience)

• Working pattern: 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours per week), or 0.9 or 0.8 FTE. Flexible working requests will be considered.

• Contract: Permanent with a 6 month probationary period

• Team: Campaigns Team

• Location: This role can be hybrid, or office based. At a minimum, candidates will be required to work from the London office at least 2 days a week, as well as be able to attend ad hoc events and away days in person.

• Reporting to: Head of Campaigns and Communications

Safe Passage International (SPI) is recruiting a Policy and Public Affairs Manager to lead a core area of our campaigns work, by building on the organisation’s strong record of creating diverse coalitions of public support and delivering systems change for our beneficiaries. This will support the continuing and sustainable growth in our ground-breaking work to ensure that safe routes to sanctuary exist for all people seeking asylum, and that the young people and families we work with have dignity and safety on arrival.

As a vital member of the Campaigns and Communications team, the Policy and Public Affairs Manager will work closely with press, digital, grassroots campaigns and youth advocacy colleagues to campaign for change. Key priorities for the role will include developing policy positions and recommendations in this fast-moving area of policy which will underpin all our campaigns and communications and developing and delivering a political engagement strategy to influence the new UK Government and parliamentarians.

The successful candidate will be passionate about ensuring that those with lived experience of seeking sanctuary and/or directly affected by the issues we campaign on, lead, and shape our policy positions and political campaigning.

This is a challenging and rewarding role for candidates with a good understanding of the challenges young people and refugees face on arrival to the UK.

We are looking for candidates with strong policy and public affairs skills, as detailed in the Person Specification. Experience in a similar role would be welcome, but this position will have a dedicated training budget, and you will be supported to grow and develop within your role.

We value equity and diversity in our organisation and are striving to build a workforce reflective of the communities we work with. We encourage applications from people of all ethnicities, working ages, genders, sex, sexual orientations, faiths (or none), marital statuses (or none) and pregnancy status. We also have full flexible working policies to support people with disabilities and caring responsibilities. People with refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds are experts by experience and are particularly encouraged to apply.

As a refugee charity, we offer a guaranteed interview for people with direct lived experience of seeking asylum who meet most of the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification. If you have first-hand experience of applying for asylum in any country, please let us know in your application.

We respect that people’s identities is not defined by their past experiences and do not expect candidates to describe their lived experience during the interview process unless they wish to.

If you are excited by this role and working at Safe Passage International but do not have all the experience you think is needed, we would encourage you to apply anyway and reach out for an informal chat beforehand to discuss why you would like to apply for the role and what skills or experiences you think are relevant.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please read the Job Description & Person Specification for information on how to do so. 

How do I apply?

Please read the full Job Description & Person Specification and our ‘Application Questions and Guidance’ document below.

Closing date: Sunday 30th March 2025 at 11.59 pm

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a role at the heart of the Law Society's campaigning and political influencing activity.

The Law Society is the independent professional body for over 200,000 solicitors in England and Wales.

With a new government in place, there is huge opportunity to campaign and influence on key issues such as access to justice, the rule of law and supporting greater international trade and cooperation.

This is an exciting role at the heart of our public affairs team, supporting our influencing and lobbying work on behalf of our members. This is an ideal role for somebody in the early stages of their career looking to develop a career in public affairs and campaigning.

As a Public Affairs Assistant you will support the Public Affairs team to deliver its influencing activity and support other core team functions such as campaigns, speechwriting, monitoring and stakeholder management.

What we're looking for

We're looking for candidates with a keen interest in politics and campaigning, and someone who meets the following criteria:

• Relevant experience of working within a public affairs, campaigns, parliamentary, government or related environment.
• Good written skills with the ability to communicate complex issues and develop innovative ways of communicating.
• An ability to work effectively in a fast paced and busy environment.

Please refer to the job description for further information.

What's in it for you

This is an excellent opportunity to work as part of a new team in a progressive membership organisation. The successful candidate will join a strong brand with a reputation for excellence and legal expertise, committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and a culture of trust, excellence clarity and respect.

We offer hybrid working, a generous flexible benefits package, a friendly working environment and the opportunity to develop your career within a professional organisation.

Please note: if you are an internal applicant, Pay Policy will apply.

The Law Society represents solicitors in England and Wales. From negotiating with and lobbying the profession's regulators, government and other decision makers, to offering training and advice, we're here to help, protect and promote solicitors.

Head of Policy and Public Affairs
£48-50K per annum
Home based / hybrid (Oxfordshire office) with regular travel to London 
Full time (37.5 hrs per week) – some flexibility will be considered 
Permanent

Would you like to make a positive impact for rural communities across England? Would you like to help tackle rural deprivation and ensure rural areas have fairer access to essential services? Would you like to help rural communities reach their full potential? 

About Us
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) champions thriving, sustainable and inclusive rural communities that have the services they need and the resources to secure equitable outcomes for everyone. We are the only national charity speaking up for everyone in rural areas, and work closely with our 38 member organisations who support local communities across England. Together we campaign for change, enable local action, and improve support for people most in need. We work with government and other national partners to explore the issues affecting rural communities and identify solutions so that no one is disadvantaged by where they live. 

About the Role
We are seeking a Head of Policy and Public Affairs to join our ambitious team. This is a new post that will play a key role in delivering our forthcoming strategy and the next phase of our development. You will lead our engagement with policy makers and stakeholders, and work with our members to campaign on the issues that will have the greatest impact on rural communities. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will also manage the Senior Communications Officer, and advise and support the wider team and our member bodies. You will have the chance to shape ACRE’s future development and priorities and build innovative new partnerships. 

About You
You will have a track record of developing and executing public affairs strategies that deliver tangible results, bringing organisations together to work in partnership, and creating eye catching, integrated campaigns that raise awareness of low profile issues and drive change. A confident networker, you will be used to working with politicians, advisers and officials at senior level.  A strategic thinker, you will also enjoy getting the job done, and be used to dealing with multiple projects at one time as well as spotting new opportunities. You will have direct experience of living in a rural community or have a strong empathy with our cause.

This role is a great opportunity for an experienced policy and public affairs professional to make a real impact for communities that are often unheard and poorly understood. You will be joining a small, focused and energetic organisation while being part of a unique national network. If you share our vision and ambition please get in touch.

Working at ACRE
The ACRE team is largely home based.  Most of the team meet once a week in our office in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, and we all meet together at least once a month.  Benefits include up to 30 days holiday, contributory pension scheme, life cover and flexible working arrangements. 

We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, traditions and ways of life.  Please note you will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK prior to interview selection.  

Closing date for applications: 9am on Thursday 13 March.
First round interviews: Online on Monday 24 and Thursday 27 March.
Second round interviews: In person at ACRE in Woodstock on Friday 4 April. 

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.

Are you a public affairs professional looking for a new and exciting challenge?   

About the Foundation 
 
We’re an independent charitable foundation funded by Lloyds Banking Group. We work in partnership with small and local charities, people and communities, changing lives and working towards a more just and compassionate society.   

Through unrestricted funding, support to develop, and influencing policy and practice we help small and local charities thrive, communities grow stronger, and people overcome complex issues and barriers so they can transform their lives.  

 
The Role 
 
We are looking for someone with a proven track record in public affairs to join the Foundation’s Policy, Communications and Research directorate.   

You will be responsible for growing our public affairs activity to increase the impact of both the Foundation’s and our charity partners’ influencing. With experience of building strong relationships with key stakeholders, you will help to ensure the Foundation, and our partners are helping to shape government policy and practice across a range of complex issues.   

A varied and interesting role, alongside this public affairs focus, you will also work across the Policy team’s wider influencing – from analysing charities’ reports to managing grants focused on influencing change. You will get to work with a range of partners and stakeholders, from frontline charities and the people they support to think tanks, infrastructure charities and high-profile parliamentarians.   

It is an exciting time to join the Foundation, under new leadership and as we shape a new organisation-wide strategy for 2026 – and at a critical time for charities and the people they support facing significant challenges and with a government that has publicly committed to increased partnership with charities.    

The Benefits  

• - Comprehensive training and development plan with a dedicated budget 
• - The chance to make a difference to small charities and the people they support across England and Wales
• - Ability to work across a number of interesting issues  
• - Opportunity to grow our public affairs activity

About You 
 
To be considered as our Public Affairs and National Programmes Manager, you will need: 
 
Key requirements and competencies:  

• Helping the Foundation deliver changes to practice and policy in a selected number of issues at national level (England and Wales) based on evidence generated through the Foundation’s funding, through building relationships, disseminating learning and influencing others.  

• Building relationships across government and with key stakeholders to increase the Foundation’s influence and increase opportunities for charity partners to influence change.  

• Supporting the Policy & National Programmes Manager in developing and delivering a programme of activity to champion and raise the profile of small and local charities, their value and the issues facing them to bring about changes in policy and practice to deliver change in communities.  

• Building relationships with key stakeholders to develop ideas and identify potential partners for strategic funding opportunities.   

• Providing programme support for grants programmes focused on influencing including managing application and reporting requirements and working alongside grant holders influencing change to increase both their and the Foundation’s impact.  

• Taking the learning from the Foundation’s and our charity partners’ work to share knowledge and expertise across the organisation and externally.   

• Producing reports, consultation responses, briefings and presentations which highlight our policy positions and spread our influence  

• Working closely with the Wales Policy & Partnerships Manager to strengthen our public affairs activity in Wales.   

• Working closely with colleagues across the Policy, Communications and Research team to strengthen our insights and the impact of our influencing.   

• Representing the Foundation at a range of forums and events and working with Communications colleagues to arrange / host events / meetings / roundtables to convene key stakeholders.  

• Working closely with Lloyds Banking Group’s policy and public affairs colleagues, sharing insight and learning to increase our influencing impact and achieve shared goals.   

• Develop and maintain an approach to tracking political engagement and the impact of our influencing.    

 
We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community, irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, religion or belief, or because someone is married or in a civil partnership. We want an inclusive organisation that reflects our community and where everyone feels empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We believe our organisation will be a better, more creative and innovative place to work if we can harness the benefit of different perspectives. 
 
So, if you’re looking to develop your skillset as a Public Affairs and National Programmes Manager, please apply via the button shown.

ATLEU is looking for a Communications and Public Affairs Officer. This is an exciting new role, working with colleagues across policy, communications and lived experience. We are looking for candidates who have a track record in speaking out and are not afraid to be bold in seeking change for survivors of trafficking. ATLEU’s work and our role as an expert voice in the sector is survivor informed, change focussed and ambitious and this role will make a significant contribution to developing our communications and influencing strategies. 

Head of Policy and Public Affairs
Reporting to: Director of Development & External Relations
Responsible for: 2 staff
Based: Our Head Office is based in London, but we have an agile working policy enabling people to work at another UK location up to 4 days/week. There will be regular travel for external meetings, where needed, particularly in London/Westminster 
Terms: Full-time (35 hours per week), permanent
Salary: £45,448 to £55,744 per annum

About the role

The Head of Policy and Public Affairs plays a key strategic role in the BSA, with leadership of our policy and advocacy activities.

Working with senior colleagues, you will ensure insights and evidence from our programmes and partnerships are helping to shape public and national policy, and that the BSA is able to influence the systems-change we believe is needed to achieve our three-year goals and manifesto.

You will build strong relationships with policy-makers and other key stakeholders, and be an important ambassador for the BSA. And you will lead the delivery of key projects such as our public insights work, For Thought (our thought leadership programme), Future Forum (our youth insights programme) and the BSA’s role as secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Diversity and Inclusion in STEM.

This is an exciting role, working in a dynamic sector and landscape – and which makes a demonstrable impact on the BSA’s mission to put people at the heart of science.

Key responsibilities 

Advocacy

• Develop and deliver the BSA’s public affairs strategy, including engagement with Parliamentarians and policy-makers; responding to relevant consultations; and briefing relevant colleagues (e.g., the CEO, Chair) for stakeholder meetings.
• Provide leadership on BSA’s role as secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Diversity and Inclusion, working closely with the Policy and External Relations Manager.
• Lead on the BSA’s engagement with Parliamentary and policy stakeholders for British Science Week, encouraging their involvement and support.
• Lead on the BSA’s delivery of key strategic advocacy projects, working with external partners.
• Represent the BSA at relevant meetings, which may require regular travel, particularly to London / Westminster.

Insights and policy development

• Develop the BSA’s policy positions, working closely with the Director of Development & External Relations and CEO, and with BSA programme teams (Community Engagement, Ideas Fund, Education, Festivals) to ensure insights and evidence from our programmes are helping to shape our policy recommendations, and the BSA is advancing its goals in our Business Plan (2024-2027) and manifesto.
• Lead on the delivery and oversight of the BSA’s public insights work (including programmes such as Future Forum (our youth insights work) and our involvement in Sciencewise.
• Lead on horizon-scanning, so that the BSA is kept informed of relevant policy announcements and political updates, and proactively working with colleagues to shape the BSA’s response.

Project delivery and partnerships

• Lead on the BSA’s ‘thought leadership’ work, including relevant opportunities such as our annual For Thought Summit.
• Develop and maintain relevant funding and other strategic partnerships, responding to new initiatives in the sector.
• Leadership
• Lead and inspire the Policy & Insights team, with line-management responsibility for two manager-level roles.
• Foster a collaborative, values-driven working environment for the team across the organisation, including close working with Business Development, Communications, and Programme teams.
• Work closely with the Director of Development & External Relations and CEO on key strategic and emerging issues such as stakeholder-engagement and emerging policy and political issues.

In addition, the post-holder will be expected to:

• Support colleagues across the organisation especially at busy times or on specific areas of expertise.
• Other duties as reasonably required by your line manager.

About you

The Head of Policy and Public Affairs role would suit someone who has significant experience of leading and delivering influencing strategies, and of developing policy positions. 

You will have keen political instincts, able to spot opportunities and challenges. You will be a confident, diplomatic, and proactive networker, able to communicate complex information in an engaging and impact way. And you will manage and lead key strategic projects, requiring significant project management skills, the ability to manage multiple projects to deadlines, and excellent stakeholder management.

You will lead a small, high-performing team and support their development and contribution to the team’s plans.

You do not need to have worked in a science-based organisation previously, but it would be beneficial to have an understanding of, or interest, in the UK’s research and/or education and youth landscape.

Benefits 

• Agile working policy enabling you to work at home or in another UK location up to 4 days per week, if office-based, and to vary your working hours outside our 10am – 12pm and 2pm – 4pm core hours, subject to the needs of the BSA;
• 27 days holiday per annum plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time employees)
• Up to two days paid leave per year for significant voluntary commitments in support of professional and personal development, such as being a trustee of a charity or a school governor
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme (4% paid by employer)
• Up to five days’ unpaid leave per year (this is down to the Manager’s decision and ensuring it does not affect work)
• Life assurance from your first day, subject to scheme rules
• Occupational sick pay: up to six weeks’ full pay per year (pro-rata for part-time employees)
• Confidential telephone counselling service, offered by our legal insurance
• Interest-free loan for season ticket, bike to work, and assisted study
• Discounts may be offered on Science Museum tickets and in the shop.

The closing date for applications is midnight 20th March 2025.

First interviews are due to take place w/c 31st March 2025, and second interviews are likely to be 7th/8th April.You will be informed as soon as possible after the application deadline whether you have been selected for interview.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

As part of the British Science Association’s commitment to being a Disability Confident employer, all disabled* applicants who meet the ‘essential criteria’ for this vacancy will be offered an interview under our guaranteed interview scheme.

If you wish to apply under the guaranteed interview scheme, you will be asked to indicate this when you submit your application by selecting ‘yes’ in the relevant box when asked during the application process. Applicants do not need to state any further information or declare their disability at the application stage.

The BSA follows government advice in that it is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations (such as a high number of applications), we may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.

In these circumstances, we could select the disabled candidates who best meet the minimum criteria for the job rather than all of those that meet the minimum criteria, as we would do for non-disabled applicants.

Whether you are applying under the scheme or not, if you are successful in being shortlisted, we will ask candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions to let us know if they need any adjustments during the recruitment process.

No agencies please.

Guide Dogs is looking for two policy officers to join our award-winning Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns team.

At Guide Dogs we’re passionate about making a difference to the lives of people with sight loss. And our passion is persuasive. As a much-loved and respected charity, we have a track record of successful campaigns that bring about meaningful change. We have strong relationships with politicians and are consistently named by MPs as one of the most influential charities.

We are recruiting two policy officers: one to support our work on making the built environment and transport accessible and inclusive, as well as working on our campaigns to tackle guide dog access refusals (Live Actively). The other policy officer will work on our campaigns to ensure that children and young people get the support they need to flourish (Live Independently & Well).

In these roles you will have the opportunity to shape and develop evidenced-based policy positions, draft consultation responses and policy briefings; monitor and respond to relevant policy developments; support the implementation of the public affairs strategy; and support the mobilisation of the public and our campaigns supporters and volunteers.

We offer a flexible benefits package, discounts and cashback scheme, a generous holiday allowance and matched contributory pension scheme to care for our people.

We value in-person collaboration with our teams, so we are looking for you to attend the office at least 2/3 days per week, and occasionally over weekends for party conferences.

How to apply 

Further details on the full role are attached below. When you are ready to apply, submit an online application form via this page by 9am on Monday 24th March 2025

If you require any accessibility support to apply, our friendly recruitment team is ready and waiting to help. 

We anticipate holding interviews at our London office week commencing 7th April 2025.

As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description.

If you want to know more about the teams who work at Guide Dogs, you can find it on our Careers Page

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment. For more details, visit our careers site.

If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.

Safeguarding

Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.

At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually, taking into account the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the incident. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.

Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.

About the role: 

We believe everyone should be able to take part in life, no matter their disability.  

Sense is a leading disability charity with extensive knowledge and expertise in delivering personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. ​

The Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Research will join a department that thinks big and is delivering life-changing work. We are looking for someone to step into the role on a 12 month fixed term contract to cover an internal secondment. This is a brilliant opportunity to lead influencing on several high-profile policy issues for the current government, including social care, special educational needs and welfare reform. 

It's also an exciting time to join the charity as it’s our 70th anniversary and a year where we’ll be developing our new Sense strategy. 

The role is responsible for:

• Leading delivery of Sense’s policy and political influencing strategy, driving forward our work to deliver change for and with disabled people with complex needs and their families.
• Ensuring the development of robust and influential evidence informed by disabled people’s experiences and our expertise as a frontline social care provider.
• Growing Sense’s external profile, as a media spokesperson and with key politicians. Ensuring that the organisation is seen as credible, influential and accurate by external partners through our policy and research outputs.
• Playing a senior leadership role in Sense’s Leadership Team, Engagement Directorate and Marketing Communications team.

To succeed in this role you will meet the following requirements: 

• Relevant graduate level qualification, or equivalent experience
• Evidence of effective influencing of public policy
• Evidence of continuing development of relevant knowledge and skills in the field of public policy development and research
• Able to demonstrate a significant history of achievement at a senior management level
• Able to demonstrate significant achievement in influencing the development of public policy
• Able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the way that public policy and new legislation is formulated and developed
• Track record of successfully influencing MPs, policy makers and opinion formers to achieve improvements on behalf of disadvantaged groups within society through the use of evidence, information and data gathered from a diverse range of stakeholders
• A passionate commitment to people with complex needs and Sense’s vision and values
• Evidence of effective consultation with stakeholders using a range of methodologies to gather evidence to inform the development of policies
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence at a senior level

To Apply 

Please use the link below to complete your application.  
 
Managers will use your supporting statement to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly.  We would recommend that you read the candidate guidelines, job description and person specification (found at the base of this advert) before applying. 

Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time. 

No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable. 

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to an enhanced DBS check. 

For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone's contribution is valued and we ensure they're given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. 

About the role: 

We believe everyone should be able to take part in life, no matter their disability.  

Sense is a leading disability charity with extensive knowledge and expertise in delivering personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. ​

The Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Research will join a department that thinks big and is delivering life-changing work. We are looking for someone to step into the role on a 12 month fixed term contract to cover an internal secondment. This is a brilliant opportunity to lead influencing on several high-profile policy issues for the current government, including social care, special educational needs and welfare reform. 

It's also an exciting time to join the charity as it’s our 70th anniversary and a year where we’ll be developing our new Sense strategy. 

The role is responsible for:

• Leading delivery of Sense’s policy and political influencing strategy, driving forward our work to deliver change for and with disabled people with complex needs and their families.
• Ensuring the development of robust and influential evidence informed by disabled people’s experiences and our expertise as a frontline social care provider.
• Growing Sense’s external profile, as a media spokesperson and with key politicians. Ensuring that the organisation is seen as credible, influential and accurate by external partners through our policy and research outputs.
• Playing a senior leadership role in Sense’s Leadership Team, Engagement Directorate and Marketing Communications team.

To succeed in this role you will meet the following requirements: 

• Relevant graduate level qualification, or equivalent experience
• Evidence of effective influencing of public policy
• Evidence of continuing development of relevant knowledge and skills in the field of public policy development and research
• Able to demonstrate a significant history of achievement at a senior management level
• Able to demonstrate significant achievement in influencing the development of public policy
• Able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the way that public policy and new legislation is formulated and developed
• Track record of successfully influencing MPs, policy makers and opinion formers to achieve improvements on behalf of disadvantaged groups within society through the use of evidence, information and data gathered from a diverse range of stakeholders
• A passionate commitment to people with complex needs and Sense’s vision and values
• Evidence of effective consultation with stakeholders using a range of methodologies to gather evidence to inform the development of policies
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence at a senior level

To Apply 

Please use the link below to complete your application.  
 
Managers will use your supporting statement to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly.  We would recommend that you read the candidate guidelines, job description and person specification (found at the base of this advert) before applying. 

Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time. 

No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable. 

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to an enhanced DBS check. 

For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone's contribution is valued and we ensure they're given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential.