Public Affairs Jobs

Who we are:

Muslim Aid is a UK faith-based international development organisation that provides support to communities around the world affected by disasters, conflict, or endemic poverty without regard to their social, religious, or ethnic background. 

Established in 1985, Muslim Aid has facilitated the engagement of the British Muslim and non-Muslim community in support of its work in a variety of ways. Over the years, its humanitarian work has included responses to major crises around the world including, famine in East Africa, earthquakes and flooding in Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as conflicts in Syria and Yemen. 

We place strong emphasis on long-term development projects that build the capacity of local people to help themselves. In addition to the 5 country offices worldwide we also work with multiple partner offices focusing on sustainable Development Programmes and providing humanitarian relief during times of crisis.

Summary of the role:

The Policy, Advocacy & Public Affairs Officer is responsible for developing and implementing advocacy strategies that advance the organisation’s mission, influence public policy and help achieve strategic priorities. This role involves engaging with policy makers, building relationships with key stakeholders, researching and writing policy positions, planning advocacy campaigns and supporting public affairs initiatives. The Policy, Advocacy & PA Officer will work closely with the Head of Communications to ensure that advocacy and public affairs efforts are integrated into the organisation’s broader communication strategy.

About the Role:

1. Identify key policy issues and opportunities for targeted advocacy campaigns to achieve organisational goals.
2. Conduct stakeholder mapping to identify key influencers, decision-makers and partners in the public policy space.
3. Develop and maintain a comprehensive database of stakeholders and ensure regular engagement with them.
4. Maintain relationships with government officials, policymakers, and other key stakeholders in the public sector.
5. Provide updates on legislative, regulatory and policy developments/changes that impact the delivery of our advocacy approaches.
6. Execute public awareness campaigns that raise the profile of the organisation’s advocacy issues and educate audiences on key issues aligned with strategic priorities.
7. Report on the performance of communication activities using data and insights to inform future communication strategies and activities.

About You:

To be successful in this role, you will need:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, Law, or a related field.
2. Experience in advocacy, public affairs, or a related role, preferably within an INGO or nonprofit organisation.
3. Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to conduct policy analysis and develop evidence-based advocacy materials.
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
5. Proficiency in public affairs strategies, government relations, and coalition building.
6. Passionate advocate with a commitment to social justice and the organisation’s mission.

Why you should apply:

Join Muslim Aid as a Policy, Advocacy & Public Affairs Officer and drive meaningful change by influencing public policy and building key stakeholder relationships. If you are passionate about shaping policies, planning impactful campaigns, and collaborating with a dynamic team, apply now to contribute to an organisation committed to transforming lives and communities worldwide!

Benefits you will enjoy working for us: 

• 25 days annual leave + 4 Privilege days
• Hybrid working
• Paid time off for medical appointments 
• 2 hours lunch break on Fridays 
• Time off in Lieu (TOIL) 
• Pension Scheme

How to apply:

To apply please submit your cover letter (no more than 1 page) and CV.

Independent Age is the national charity focused on improving the lives of people facing financial hardship in later life. We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life.

Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free, practical support to older people without enough money to live on. Through our grants programme, we support hundreds of local organisations working with older people across the UK. 

We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.

We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification:

This role is strategic, creative and fast paced. The successful applicant will lead the public affairs team at Independent Age to develop influencing strategies targeting decision makers across national and local government, Parliament and Whitehall to ensure we secure policy change for older people facing financial hardship. You’ll need to be a strategic thinker, with an in-depth understanding and experience of different parliamentary levers, the ability to build strong external relationships and exceptional organisation skills. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to raise the issues that are faced by people in later life experiencing financial hardship up the political agenda, and further establish Independent Age’s profile as a key stakeholder in this space. 

For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification.  If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway. 

This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9 day fortnight.

What it’s like to work at Independent Age:

We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working. 

You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age by visiting our website.

Application Process:

To apply, please visit our website to submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification (please do not hesitate to contact us if you have specific requirements and need support to apply in an alternative format).

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Therefore, please do not include your name, photo, or information to indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement. Please do not omit dates of employment. Please ensure the title of any uploads does not contain your name. 

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Basic DBS Certificate will be required for this role.

Closing Date: 5th January 2025 11:59pm

Interview Dates: Remote interviews on 13th and 14th January 2025

Going back to our roots as a radical campaigning organisation, the Vegetarian Society has opened a new role as Public Affairs Lead to engage with policymakers across the UK.

Since 1847, we have been inspiring people to adopt vegetarian and vegan diets for the benefit of animals, people and the planet and we remain a mission driven organisation focused on both behaviour and systems change. But our work is now more urgent than ever with impacts from our food system increasingly recognised as a leading cause of the global climate and biodiversity crisis.

As a result, we are now seeking to recruit a Public Affairs professional, who can take our key policy and campaign messages into the political arena, securing policy and legislative support for change.

Working closely with our Head of Policy and our Communication Team, you will lead on the development and implementation of a political engagement strategy in support of our work and form effective working relationships with key ministerial departments in Whitehall, including civil servants and advisors, together with cross-party politicians in Westminster and their staff teams to enable delivery of our policy goals.

We’ll also ask you to lead on our engagement with the national parliaments and assembles in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland plus local authority elected members as required.

The ideal candidate will already have experience in a public affairs role with a strong understanding of current affairs and the political arena in Westminster and Whitehall. You will be a self-starter with experience of working with politicians, advisors and civil servants in support of defined goals.

A consummate networker, you are confident hosting meetings and events with key decision makers. Your ability to self-organise and generate momentum is critical, adapting rapidly to changing demands and with a strong desire to create meaningful change in line with our mission.

The Vegetarian Society offers a range of employment benefits, including hybrid and remote working opportunities, flexible working hours, a healthcare cashback scheme, generous leave allowance, cycle to work scheme, sustainable travel policy, animal compassionate leave policy and an ethical pension scheme.

We are committed to putting equity, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do and we actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities.

If you feel ready to take on the challenge, meet the criteria set out in the person specification and are confident in undertaking the role; we’d love to hear from you, and look forward to reading your application.

Job purpose:

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone enthusiastic about driving change to join the Huntington’s Disease Association, proactively working to advocate for and improve care for people with this rare neurological condition. 
 

As Policy and Public Affairs Officer, you will work closely with our Head of Public Affairs to influence decision makers in the NHS, and UK and Welsh governments. You will be joining the charity at an exciting time as we develop a new influencing strategy. You will help shape this work, while having opportunity to work with external stakeholders, including health professionals, civil servants and other charities, all whilst developing your skillset and policy and public affairs experience. We have had success over the past year in parliament in highlighting the issues faced by people living with Huntington’s disease, and we are now focused on building this work to help drive policy change.
 

This is a remote role, working from home mostly, but will require travel to London and other locations across England and Wales (which the charity will cover expenses for).

This is an essential role in a small, national organisation supporting people affected by Huntington's disease.

Learn more about the role in the job pack included.

Benefits:

* 25 days annual leave plus public holidays (pro rata for part-time staff)

* A pension scheme with 3% employer contribution

* Medicash scheme

* Tax-free working from home allowance

* Flexible working approach

* Supportive and positive working environment

* Fantastic learning and development opportunities

Applications:

Applications submitted without a CV and cover letter will not be considered.

Closing date for applications is Tuesday 7th January 2025, 9 am.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 22nd January 2025.

Suicide is preventable. That's why we're working to create a safer online world and to connect young people with the help and support they need to stay safe and well.

We're Molly Rose Foundation, founded following the death of 14-year Molly Russell. At Molly's inquest, a coroner ruled harmful online content contributed to her death. In her name, we've now got big plans to create change and save young lives. 

We're looking for two Policy and Public Affairs Managers that can help us grow and deliver our crucial mission. This is an important opportunity to shape policy, legislation and regulation, and to shape the tech accountability agenda in the UK and beyond.

You’ll have a clear track record in delivering high-impact policy interventions. You’ll be able to communicate sensitive and complex material and persuasively build and make the case for change.

You’ll have the strategic nous to succeed in a fast-moving policy landscape, with the skills and experience to set the weather with ministers, regulators and MPs. You’ll be as comfortable with the big picture as you are with the detail. Most importantly, you’ll be driven every day by the chance to make change that really matters.

We offer a competitive package that includes: 

- 25 days holiday (plus 2 wellbeing days)

- Employee pension scheme

- Employee wellbeing budget

- We welcome applications from a diverse range of applicants and circumstances, and actively welcome flexible working requests.

About Principle Consulting:
Principle Consulting is a social enterprise that supports charities to achieve meaningful change through policy, public affairs, and campaigns. We work with charities to influence decision-makers, improve public policy, and advocate for better outcomes for the people they support.

Our work includes:

• Policy development: Finding evidence-based solutions through laws or policies that can improve outcomes. 
• Public affairs: Engaging with politicians, policymakers, and stakeholders to advocate for change.
• Campaigning: Empowering charity supporters and the wider public to amplify their voices and drive progress.

About the role:
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic professional to join our dynamic team in this varied and impactful role. This is an exciting opportunity to apply your skills across policy, public affairs, and campaigns while working closely with some of the UK’s leading charities.

While previous consultancy experience is not required, we’re seeking someone with 1-3 years’ relevant experience in public affairs, government, policy, or campaigning who is excited about working on diverse projects, learning quickly, and delivering results across multiple clients.

This experience could have been gained in a variety of ways for example through working directly for charities or other organisations in policy, public affairs, or campaigns based roles, working within Parliament, or working as part of the civil service or local government. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Engagement: Engage with politicians, civil servants, key opinion leaders and other stakeholders to advocate for our clients’ goals.
• Strategy Development: Support the planning and delivery of strategic advice to clients on policy, campaigns, and public affairs initiatives.
• Parliamentary Work: Draft letters, briefing notes and coordinate parliamentary meetings and events.
• Research and Analysis: Conduct thorough desk research and analysis to produce high-quality reports and briefings.
• Campaign and Media Support: Draft press releases, social media content, newsletters and monitor parliamentary/media activity.
• Event Planning: Support the organisation and delivery of events such as parliamentary receptions, conferences and webinars.
• Client-Focused Delivery: Balance multiple projects, ensuring deadlines are met while maintaining excellent attention to detail.

What We’re Looking For:

• Relevant Experience: 1-3 years’ experience in public affairs, policy, campaigning, or a related role within the charity sector, public sector, or another relevant industry.
• Passion for Charities: A clear commitment to supporting charities to achieve their goals.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
• Understanding of UK Policy and Politics: A basic understanding of parliamentary processes and stakeholder engagement.
• Adaptability and Drive: Ability to work flexibly across different policy areas and clients, picking up new issues quickly.
• Team Player: A proactive, self-motivated approach, combined with a collaborative mindset.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience using social media platforms for professional purposes.

Why Join Us?

• An opportunity to work on diverse and meaningful projects with leading UK charities.
• Exposure to multiple sectors and policy areas, helping you build a broad skill set and develop your career.
• A supportive and collaborative team environment that values your professional growth.
• Competitive salary: £30,000 – £35,000, dependent on experience.
• Opportunities for career progression in a growing and impactful organisation.

Place of work and flexible working:

Mix of in-office and home based. A full-time member of staff is expected to work from the Principle Consulting office (or at a client’s office if needed) for 2 days of each working week.  If the successful candidate would like to be office based for more than 2 days a week, we would be happy to discuss this.

We work at the Impact Hub Kings Cross, and at the offices of our clients where required.

Closing date: 12 noon, 9th January 2025

How to Apply: Please send your CV, and a cover letter outlining why you are the ideal candidate for the role by 12 noon, 9th January 2025.

Citizens UK 

Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems. 

Purpose 

At Citizens UK, our organisers and project staff work within communities to develop leaders, strengthen organisations, campaign for change and organise across difference. There are various project roles and operational, communication, finance and HR roles that support the organisation and project staff and organisers to deliver on this mission and work. This work is rewarding and can be challenging; it requires a personal commitment to inclusion, a willingness to listen and disagree respectfully, and an interest in working in an organisation where our staff, member institutions and leaders will come from a diversity of backgrounds and often hold views that may be very different from our own. More information about how we operate within this context and build trusted relationships across difference can be found on our website and is covered in induction. Onboarding and navigating this relational culture, and type of work, is supported by line managers and further training. 

We have a rich history of teams in our projects and campaigns successfully engaging with senior politicians - be that through developing longstanding relationships with local MPs or future City Mayors and Prime Ministers publicly committing to community-designed pledges. As a non-partisan organisation, engaging with politicians and decision-makers of all political colours is integral to the success of our leader-led campaigning. Much of our political engagement is driven by the institutions and the volunteer community leaders within them. All of CUK’s successes started there, in the powerbase of the community. Other aspects of our political engagement comes through our project- and campaign-specific work; for example around the real Living Wage or our refugee and migration work.

Part of a busy team of communications and campaigns specialists in a fast-paced department, this is an exciting opportunity to support CUK’s political engagement. As CUK has grown, we want to be more strategic and use broader tactics to engage with decision-makers. A key part of your role will be to support teams to connect and coordinate stakeholder relationships that are held across the organisation whilst also supporting chapters and projects to build capacity in public affairs, develop their strategies and engage locally. You will play a critical role in shaping our public affairs work through monitoring, bringing together intelligence and drafting policy briefings, as well as advising on the best course of action to engage with decision makers and win key campaigns.

The ideal candidate will be someone who is excited by maintaining our commitment to being led by the community and our local alliances and maximising their ability to win change. You’ll be a strong and patient communicator with the ability to build meaningful relationships internally and externally, with brilliant instincts for how to take complex issues and translate them into engaging tactics. You’ll be politically savvy with a detailed knowledge of the workings of government and parliamentary procedure as well as a working knowledge of the devolved administrations. You’ll ideally already have experience working as part of a team to deliver campaign results on a national and local level and be excited by the breadth of work that Citizens UK does. 

Main Responsibilities 

Working as the Public Affairs Adviser for Citizens UK, reporting to the Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager, your responsibilities will include: 

Contribute to CUK mission and its strategic objectives 

• Help Citizens UK deliver on its mission and objectives, including developing leaders, making change on issues that matter to our members and developing our effectiveness in linking local organising to national campaigns. 

Situational Awareness and Research 

• Maintain and develop Citizens UK’s influencing stakeholder contact programme, identifying opportunities and strategies to improve engagement. 

• Monitor the shifting policy and political landscape, advising colleagues on opportunities and risks for Citizens UK. 

• Work with key sector stakeholders and internal teams to support a broad public affairs plan. 

• Help to shape campaign plans and mobilise the public and our campaign supporters and community leaders. 

Strategy Development 

• Lead on the design and implementation of a focused and effective influencing strategy, working closely with project and campaign leads and supporting community leaders. 

• Shape public affairs strategy at a project / campaign level, ensuring that plans deliver against the influencing goals of the project / campaign; evaluating effectiveness of the strategy and adjusting as required.

• Participate in development of the wider communications strategy, contributing tactical and creative ideas around implementation of public affairs plans. 

• Help to secure high level meetings, brief key staff and action team members in advance, attend as appropriate and ensure follow up actions are completed. 

• Ensure that the delivery of the public affairs strategy is aligned with Community Organising principles. 

Reputational and Risk Management 

• Awareness of potential reputational risks and proactively develops appropriate protocol \ messages. 

• Effectively represent the organisation according to the public affairs plan. 

Materials Development and Dissemination 

• Create policy briefing materials on key thematic areas such as migration, asylum and refugees, employment, social care etc. 

• Keep good records of our relationships with stakeholders. 

• Monitor, disseminate and respond to parliamentary activity that is relevant to our projects, campaigns and chapters. 

• Support colleagues and community leaders to draft consultation responses where relevant. 

• Produce high quality briefing materials that adheres to the brand guidelines and work with colleagues to support their capacity, understanding and use of public affairs assets. 

Social Media and Website 

• Work with the communications team on public affairs opportunities to build our reach and engagement with key audiences. 

• Ensure all content is produced to support accessibility and in latest formats. 

• Support on email campaigns – data management, copy and creative execution, testing strategy for optimisation. 

• Analyse and report on campaign response and ensure lessons learned are applied to future campaigns. 

External Relationships  

• Support community leaders in their engagement with politicians through training and advice. 

• Support others to build effective relationships with other organisations, parliamentarians and civil servants across Local Authorities, Regional Authorities, both Houses and relevant Government Departments. 

Campaign and Events Management 

• Generate ideas for political tactics which can support campaign actions and provide advice and support for them to be delivered. 

• Support events organised by colleagues with public affairs support where appropriate. 

Internal Comms and Knowledge Management 

• Work with members and other stakeholders to continually test, learn and improve on our public affairs approach. 

• Maintain centralised digital assets, e.g. photos, video, templates, slide-decks, trainings. 

• Update key public affairs files and assets; ensuring data protection (GDPR) compliance and that informed consent is obtained if required. 

• Contribute to the maintenance of organisational planning tools. 

• Act as a brand ambassador for the whole organisation. 

Internal Relationships 

• Demonstrate ability to coordinate and advise on the public affairs work of colleagues across the organisation and work with external suppliers and providers. 

• Support effective negotiation between colleagues across the organisation to ensure coherent engagement with political stakeholders. 

Learning, Expertise and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) 

• Keeps up to date with public affairs developments, good practice in third sector etc.

• Trains and advises others with relevant and helpful advice and technical support to upskill colleagues. 

• Proactive in maintaining own wellbeing at work.

• Displays self-awareness of DEI issues and the impact on colleagues.

• Acts as a role model for DEI awareness and implementation. Is alert to and manages the impact of DEI issues for stakeholders. 

Personal Specification 

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential 

Experience 

• Experience in working with parliamentarians of all political backgrounds (E) 

• Experience working with multiple internal project teams (E) 

• Experience of managing a stakeholder engagement campaign (E) 

• Experience developing evidence-based policy positions to influence policy at local and national levels (D) 

• Experience of utilising digital tactics to enhance public affairs strategies (D) 

  KEY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

• Strong political instincts and strategic awareness (E) 

• A clear and demonstrable understanding of parliamentary processes and procedures with in-depth understanding of the way that decisions are made within policy and parliamentary processes (E) 

• Ability to support others in their influencing strategies (E) 

• Excellent influencing skills (E) 

• Strong understanding of integrated campaigning tactics (E) 

• Ability to interpret data and research to utilise in lobbying tactics (E) 

• Excellent written and verbal communication and ability to tell stories (E) 

• Ability to map, analyse and evaluate national policy (E) 

• Ability to work independently and prioritise effectively (E) 

• Excellent time and project management skills (E) 

• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines (E) 

• A flexible and adaptable approach to work (E) 

• A passion for social justice and communities (E) 

• Good understanding of local and regional government (D) 

• Comfortable working with diverse people of all faiths and none (E) 

  PERSONAL QUALITIES & VALUES 

• Inclusive (E) 

• Self-motivated (E) 

• A strong team player (E) 

• Adaptable and innovative (E) 

• Creative and curious (E) 

• A willingness to learn about and embed the practice of Community Organising (E) 

• Accountable (E) 

Interview date: 21 January 2025

Are you an experienced Public Affairs Manager with good political connections, looking to help influence the agenda in building a Net Zero future in the Scottish Parliament? I have an exciting opportunity to join a leading UK charity as their new Public Affairs Manager as they set up their Scottish team. You will work remotely, but live close by to Edinburgh, to be at key meetings and events.

As Public Affairs Manager you will be instrumental in helping to shape and deliver the charity’s advocacy engagement strategy and creating real change through campaigns and priority areas of focus within the Scottish Parliament.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in a leading UK charity working to decarbonise homes, heat, and energy and forwarding the renewables agenda. I’d love to hear from someone with good political connections in Scotland, experience developing policy briefings, advocacy engagement strategy experience and an interest in influencing and informing this debate.

You may have developed your skills as a Member of Scottish Parliament, at an NGO, or in the climate change space.

• This is a home-based role, which needs to be based close enough to Edinburgh to attend events and meetings, with occasional travel across the UK.
• Salary £39,000 - £43,000 dependent upon experience
• Permanent, full-time (35 hour week)
• Range of benefits, some are25 days’ annual leave per annum, increasing to 28 days with 3 years’ service and to 30 days with 5 years’ service, Annual Health and Wellbeing subscription, 8% company Pension contribution, Enhanced maternity/ paternity leave, 5 x salary life assurance.

Please apply for more information on this exciting, new opportunity! Firm closing date 9am Wednesday 8^th January.

Interviews scheduled for 20^th and 24^th January.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Do you want to work with a vibrant, dynamic and youth driven organisation that is committed to creating healthy futures for British children by improving the food system?

Be part of the creative, agile and growing team behind Bite Back’s exceptional teenage activists. Join us as our Senior Public Affairs Manager and contribute to our journey to help make the food system healthier and fairer.

We are seeking a Senior Public Affairs Manager, to lead our national public affairs activity, influencing the government to help deliver evidence-based policies that will make a real difference to children’s health. This is an exciting opportunity to work on the forefront of an urgent and politically salient policy area while also collaborating with young people to ensure their voices and lived experiences are heard by policymakers. 

This is an exciting time to join Bite Back and take our public affairs strategy forward with the Government. We have already seen significant policy wins in the past year and have big ambitions to drive more progress in 2025. In 2024 our youth activists gave evidence to the House of Lords, hosted parliamentary drop-in sessions and made memorable appearances at party conference fringe sessions. This is an opportunity to build on that success and raise Bite Back’s profile even further amongst policymakers at a time when the Government is charting its new strategic approach to improving the food system as well as its 10 year plan to save the NHS. The Senior Public Affairs Manager will report to our Director of Strategy & Delivery and be responsible for developing and implementing all our public affairs activity, ensuring alignment with our campaigns team and working closely with our partners in other organisations to bring about meaningful change. This is a great opportunity for someone looking for the chance to lead high profile public affairs activity at an organisation with growing impact.

Policy and Public Affairs Intern (Scotland)
£13.85 per hour plus expenses
Scotland, home working with regular travel to Edinburgh and occasionally other parts of Scotland and the UK
35 hours per week
Fixed-term contract for 5 months

The Policy and Public Affairs Intern is an exciting opportunity at The College as you will provide a wide range of policy, research, communications and administrative support for the RCPCH Scotland team, helping to promote public awareness of the RCPCH and core child health priorities.

As Policy and Public Affairs Intern you will support the development of policy positions unique to Scotland and assist in drafting responses to Scottish Government consultations and parliamentary inquiries, whilst also providing ad hoc administrative support to the wider the Devolved Nations Team.

Reporting to the Policy and Public Affairs Manager, you will produce content for blogs, social media, bulk email, web and other digital communications specific to our audiences in Scotland, working collaboratively with colleagues, College members and Officers.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work at the heart of Policy and Public Affairs, and to learn and understand complex issues in relation to health policy and guidance within a leading Royal Medical College.

A recent graduate with an interest in a career in policy, public affairs or strategic communications, you should be passionate about developing skills and gaining experience in policy and public affairs and be self-motivated and able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team, with internal and external colleagues.

With strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to analyse and problem-solve, you will be capable of presenting complex information in a concise manner.

A working knowledge and understanding of policy and political processes in Scotland is essential, whilst knowledge of public health, child health inequalities or health services would be desirable.

Experience of producing high quality policy and communications outputs such as consultation responses, reports, policy briefings along with experience of producing high quality content for digital and social media would also be advantageous. 

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 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.

Closing date: 12 January 2025

Context and Background

The NSPCC's mission is to prevent cruelty to children in the UK. We're leading the fight against child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. We believe that every childhood is worth fighting for. 

The Strategy and Knowledge directorate (S&K) is responsible for organisational strategy, developing and influencing public policy, championing an evidence-based approach in all our work, developing innovative services and managing our knowledge and information. It sits at the heart of all that we do and is responsible for ensuring we have a consistent, authoritative, evidenced voice across all the activities that will advance our strategy; policy influencing, service, products and campaigns. 

The Team Assistant will work across two teams, in the directorate: Research & Evidence and Policy & Public Affairs. 

The Research & Evidence team carries out, commissions and facilitates high quality research, evaluation and evidence-gathering to advance NSPCC's understanding, and improve the evidence base, about the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and how to support children who have experienced it. Our research helps us to understand the impact we have in our work with children, families and communities, how we can improve that work, and enables us to understand the needs, wants and experiences of children and families we seek to support. 

The Policy and Public-Affairs team works to ensure that national laws, policies and guidance across the UK are fit-for-purpose in preventing cruelty to children. We develop and maintain the NSPCC's positions on key public policy issues, drawing on research and policy analysis and feed in organisational insight and expertise gained through our services We use our evidence-based positions to shape and influence national policy discussions on issues affecting child protection and manage the NSPCC's political relations and work with governments, legislatures and stakeholders across the UK. 

Job purpose

· To provide an effective and efficient administrative support service to the Research & Evidence and Policy & Public Affairs teams.

· To work with the Research & Evidence Assistant and the Policy & Public Affairs assistants, to ensure the smooth running of internal and external meetings and events

· To provide administrative support for individual research and/or policy projects, as the need arises from time to time.

Key relationships - Internal

· Report to the heads of Research & Evidence and Policy & Public Affairs, and works closely with staff across both teams.

· Build and maintains working relationships with other executive assistants (Particularly the Research & Evidence Assistant and the Policy & Public Affairs Assistant), administrative and support staff and colleagues across the directorate, to enable the provision of high quality administrative support and information.

· Liaise with colleagues in NSPCC People, Procurement, Legal and Finance teams to ensure smooth running of recruitment and purchasing processes

· Responding to queries from colleagues across the NSPCC that come into the "research advice" inbox

· Part of a group of assistants in the directorate that provide support and cover for one another.

Key relationships - External

· Provide a customer service for NSPCC stakeholders externally, such as members of the NSPCC Research Ethics Committee.

· Maintain and builds relationships with suppliers and other service providers, such as Dod's Parliamentary Services.

Main duties and responsibilities

· Provide support to senior management of the Research & Evidence and Policy & Public Affairs teams, including supporting recruitment and induction, procurement

processes, financial processing and reporting, in line with NSPCC policies and procedures.

· Plan and organise meetings and events, both internally and externally, including drafting agendas, taking minutes and ensuring meeting rooms, venues and refreshments etc. are booked.

· Provide a professional and helpful service by handling and triaging calls, emails and messages from staff across NSPCC for: the Research Review Clinic, the Research

Ethics Committee, the Policy and Public Affairs inquiry email and external supporter queries

· Represent the teams at relevant internal forums and working groups (e.g. facilities and using our buildings, health & safety).

· Manage the Research & Evidence and Policy & Public Affairs team pages on The Green, alongside members of the teams and the Associate Heads of both teams

· Manage the Policy and Public Affairs team pages on The Green, alongside members

· Undertake ad hoe tasks, including projects and reporting, as requested by the Senior Management Teams of the Research & Evidence and Policy & Public Affairs teams, which may involve gathering and analysing information.

· Deal with confidential and sensitive information in an appropriate manner.

Responsibilities for all Staff within Strategy and Knowledge

· A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

· Application of NSPCC values and behaviours to all aspects of work

· At all times to carry out the responsibilities of the post in a manner consistent with promoting equalities and diversity, and which demonstrates respect for children's rights.

· To actively participate in regular team meetings and training, contributing at an appropriate level to strategy, discussions and decisions.

· To maintain an awareness of own and others' health and safety and comply with local

· Health and Safety policy and procedures.

Person specification

The right candidate for this role will have:

1. Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to organise and plan own work and help others to organise theirs.

2. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to deal appropriately with internal and external stakeholders and colleagues.

3. Ability to work with others as part of a team, providing support as required, and building and maintaining effective working relationships.

4. Excellent written communication skills and the ability to understand, interpret and present information in a clear and accurate way for a range of audiences.

5. Sufficient numeracy skills, attention to detail and accuracy of information to enter and record financial and other data, as well as carrying out calculations and reporting on them.

6. Ability to deal with confidential information sensitively and appropriately.

7. Experience of running meetings, including arranging, facilitating, and taking accurate minutes and notes.

8. Experience of developing, maintaining and reviewing administrative systems and information systems.

9. Experience in using Windows-based software packages including Word, Outlook, Tearns and Excel.

Safer Recruitment

As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.

Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.

The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.

Our principles:

· Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and

selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.

· Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who

meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.

· We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or

volunteering their time with us.

· Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is

suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.

· As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18's joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and

activities are safe and appropriate.

· All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.

About SafeLives

We are SafeLives, the UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good.    

Last year alone, 14,000 professionals received our training. Over 80,000 adults at risk of serious harm or murder and more than 100,000 children received support through dedicated multi-agency support designed by us and delivered with partners. In the last six years, over 4,000 perpetrators have been challenged and supported to change by interventions we created with partners, and that’s just the start. 

Together we can end domestic abuse. Forever. For everyone.

About the role

Our influencing work is changing the UK conversation about domestic abuse, with both national and locally based elected representatives and the officials and colleagues who work alongside them. Our PPAC Officer, reporting to the PPAC Manager, will be crucial in helping us to develop our engagement, as well as deepen our policy influencing capacity to support our roll-out of ground-breaking interventions to end domestic abuse and ensure support for the whole family to keep people safe sooner.

You will be joining the organisation at a very busy time as we seek to influence the new Government to improve response to Perpetrators and stick to their commitment of halving VAWG within ten years.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week.

Contract: Fixed term until March 2026, with possibility of extension.

Location: London office and/or hybrid working available, but to note regular meetings in London. Occasional travel to other locations around the UK, including our Bristol office.

Benefits

• 34 days' holiday incl. public holidays
• Flexible working e.g. compressed hours
• Cycle to work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Pension scheme with 4% employer contribution
• Childcare vouchers
• Employee assistance programme
• Clinical supervision
• Holiday purchase scheme to buy up to an additional 5 days
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Enhanced sick pay
• Professional development fund
• Individual learning budget
• Restorative practice training
• Time off in lieu 

If this challenge sounds as exciting to you as it does to us and you believe you have the qualities we have described, please take a look over the job description and submit a 500-word cover letter and CV.

Closing date: 9am on 6th January 2025.

SafeLives is a committed provider of equal opportunities for all; please see our job description for full details.

No agencies, please.

We need someone who understands social issues and with data gathering, interpretation and communication skills to join us from April 2025.

Senior Policy and Public Affairs Advisor (Part time 21 hours a week) 
Starting salary: £39,312 (£23,587 pro rata)

Newcastle upon Tyne 

At the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, we share a love for North East England and believe in the importance of giving and philanthropy, backing local charities and championing disadvantaged people. Every year, we award grants to hundreds of local charities and community organisations through funds set up by donors and partners.

As our new Senior Policy and Public Affairs Advisor, you’ll ensure we understand the policy environment for our work, lead on gathering data from our grant-making and related fields, oversee our research projects and work on influencing key stakeholders. You’ll lead our flagship Vital Signs project and commission projects including our Third Sector Trends Study. You don’t need to have worked in the funding field, but you’ll bring understanding of policy relevant to our work. You’ll be able to research, analyse, interpret and present different types of data. You’ll believe in backing the brilliant work of small charities and embracing equality and diversity.

Alongside an attractive salary and benefits package, we offer a great office environment, travel-to-work schemes and flexible/hybrid working opportunities. 

To apply, visit our website and download the application pack. 

We embrace diversity and positively welcome applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. 

Deadline for applications: 9am on Thursday 16 January 2025 

Shortlisted applications notified by 12 noon on Friday 17 January 2025

In-person interviews for shortlisted applicants at our office: Friday 24 January 2025 

Registered charity number 700510 

About us

This is an exciting time for the WI, as we are planning the next stages of our strategy and building on our strategic vision launched in 2020 – to be bold and inspiring, growing and relevant, flexible and inclusive. We  are proud to say that we continue to be the largest and most influential UK-based women’s organisation, with over 180,000 members. Our campaigns push for change on the issues that matter to women and their communities, and we have been a powerful voice throughout our 108 year history on issues from equal pay for women to protecting the environment from pollution. Today we continue to support and empower women to campaign to tackle climate change, for more awareness of mental health and to end violence against women. The WI has a track record of achieving real change on a huge range of issues, and this record of action shows that we are as relevant today as we were in 1915 when we began.

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (the NFWI) is responsible for running the organisation and provides support and advice to members at both regional and local levels. The NFWI also works with the Denman Trust to fulfil its charitable objectives and implement a comprehensive educational programme of courses and activities, both online and in person, to WI members and non-members.

As a staff team, our strength is in trusting and engaging each other. We champion flexibility and inclusion, having implemented a bold hybrid model that supports a good work life balance and wellbeing, whilst at the same time allows the charity to flourish and do our best for our members.

About the Campaigns Assistant role

Our Public Affairs department is responsible for the WI’s high-profile, national campaigns, policy and research work. In this varied role as Campaigns Assistant, you will provide administrative, event, communications, research and project management support to the team, the Public Affairs Committee and WI members. From responding to queries from members and the public, to coordinating the NFWI’s annual resolution process, you will play a key part in helping the NFWI achieve real and impactful change in its campaigning and lobbying activities.

About you

Educated to degree level, or with equivalent experience, you will have strong administrative skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with people at various levels. Experience of working within a campaigns or public affairs department, preferably in a charity or membership organisation, would be beneficial, as would an understanding of social and environmental issues.

In return, we will offer you a hybrid working arrangement, which means a minimum of one day a week in the office and the rest from home although you can work up to three days in the office if preferred, 28 days’ annual leave rising to 30 days on completion of 5 years’ service, membership of our Healthcare scheme, Cycle to Work scheme, and more.

How to apply

For further information about this Campaigns Assistant role, please download the recruitment pack which includes the job description and person specification.

To apply, please submit your current CV with a covering letter clearly explaining why you would be suitable for the role to the HR department. 

Closing date: 8 January 2025

First-round interview date: 20 January 2025 (virtual)

Second-round interview date: 22 January 2025 (in-person)

No other media or agencies, please.

The WI is an equal opportunities employer. Reg. Charity No. 803793.