Public affairs manager jobs

Help shape science policy that tackles the biggest challenges of our time.
From tackling the health impacts of climate change and supporting healthy ageing to advancing medical innovation, physiology – the science of how the body works – underpins some of the most urgent and exciting frontiers in research and policy today. At The Physiological Society, we bring together scientists from around the world to champion evidence-based policy and support a thriving research ecosystem. We’re looking for a Policy and Public Affairs Officer to join our team and help ensure science plays a central role in shaping policy for healthier, longer lives. Whether your background is in health, biomedical research, the environment or science policy more broadly, this role offers a unique opportunity to make an impact across a wide range of issues. You will join us at an exciting time, as we host the Global Climate & Health Summit.

About the role
You’ll play a vital role in delivering an ambitious programme of policy and public affairs activity, influencing government, engaging key stakeholders and championing evidence-based policy informed by physiology. Working closely with the Policy and Public Affairs Manager, internal teams, Society members and global experts, your work will span issues such as precision medicine, climate change and health, and research funding. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the broader R&D and policy landscape while supporting a dynamic scientific community.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing policy positions and crafting impactful responses to government consultations
• Monitoring political developments and advising internal stakeholders
• Building strong relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians and external partners
• Organising events such as policy briefings and parliamentary receptions
• Supporting funding proposals for policy-related initiatives
• Writing engaging briefings, statements and communications tailored to diverse audiences

About you
You’ll be passionate about policy and science, with a strong understanding of how public affairs can influence change. You’ll also bring:

• A degree in life sciences, public policy, political science, or a related field
• Proven experience developing and advocating for policy positions
• Excellent communication and writing skills, including the ability to translate complex ideas clearly
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects
• Confidence engaging with senior stakeholders and representing the organisation externally

Desirable:

• Familiarity with the UK and Ireland’s research and science policy landscape
• Experience using digital tools for public engagement and stakeholder management
• Event planning experience
• Understanding of climate, health or biomedical research policy

Why join us?
At The Physiological Society, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented communities.

You’ll be part of a supportive, mission-driven team making a real difference in how science shapes society.

We offer excellent benefits, including private medical insurance and a generous pension scheme.

How to apply
To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining how your experience aligns with the role.

The purpose of your role

We are looking for an energetic policy and corporate affairs professional to join the Police Now team and play a key role in shaping understanding of our programmes, build support amongst stakeholders, and lead the conversation on police reform and culture change.

Police Now’s mission is to transform communities, reduce crime and increase public confidence in policing. You will be instrumental in identifying and offering great opportunities to showcase the best of Police Now's work with Ministers, officials, MPs, Peers, committees, All-Party Parliamentary Groups, and other policy stakeholders and influencers. You will use your skills in advocacy and effective communication to increase awareness of and support for what we deliver, and be an effective partner to the Government demonstrating delivery of their 13,000 neighbourhood policing pledge and the difference good local policing makes to communities.

Key responsibilities

• Establish yourself within Police Now as a source of expert political advice and guidance in handling sensitive issues and relationships, working to protect and enhance our reputation.
• Be curious about police reform, be actively contributing on external thinking about this and ensure Police Now colleagues are kept abreast of key developments.
• Provide expert policy advice to officials at the Home Office, other Government Departments, and Parliamentarians on the work of Police Now through contributions to White Papers and Committee Investigations.
• Be proactive in looking for opportunities for Police Now such as organising visits, participating in roundtables, and playing an active role in relevant conferences.
• Ensure that Police Now fulfils its obligations to Government in return for public investment and is responsive to the needs of the Home Office and other organisations. You will provide accurate information for answers to Parliamentary Questions in a timely manner, input for Ministerial briefings and correspondence and advice on police and skills policy issues to the Government as appropriate.

Key Requirements

• Experience of influencing and advocating within a policy and public affairs environment, you will be confident in communicating with senior stakeholders.
• Engage Ministers, MPs, Mayors, Police and Crime Commissioners and their teams in a way that enhances Police Now's reputation as an expert, insight-led organisation with a strong record of delivery that represents excellent value-for-money.
• You will have a strong understanding of Westminster, Whitehall and the Mayoralities and build good working relationships with key decision-makers. Some experience of media handling around public policy issues is desirable as you will work closely with the communications manager at Police Now.
• Essential skills are the ability to write well, communicate effectively and be confident in engaging senior stakeholders. A demonstrable interest or background in policing or related public services would be of assistance in working with internal stakeholders.
• Above all, you must demonstrate for a passion the Police Now mission, be proactive in identifying opportunities to share Police Now's impact, and be a great team player.

What you'll get from us

• A bright, airy and modern office in Zone 1.
• Competitive salary of £53,500-£58,000, per annum, pro rata (dependent on experience and inclusive of London weighting).
• Flexible working.
• 27 days holiday each year, plus bank holidays.
• A range of hospitality discounts.
• Access to coaching through our online platform, Kinhub, to support your wellbeing and career goals.
• Access to our health cover provider, which includes healthcare benefits, an Employee Assistance Programme and discounts.
• Training opportunities for personal development.
• Participation in a pension scheme (with 6% employer contributions and 2% employee contributions).

Please note

The closing date for this role is at 9am on Tuesday 6th May.

Please note this role is London based with requirements to travel to our London office approximately 2-3 days per week.

The Role

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

Managing a busy in-house team of public affairs professionals, this role will lead our day-to-day engagement and relationships with key political stakeholders, providing oversight of our activity and working closely with senior leadership to support our members.

We lobby on a range of legislation in Parliament - from Bill's you might expect such as the Crime and Policing Bill or the Employment Rights Bill - but also on Bill's such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the Terminally Ill Adults Bill or on recent trade legislation.

The Law Society is the independent professional body for over 200,000 solicitors in England and Wales. Our members work across all areas of law - and the issues we work on are just as diverse. This is an exciting and varied role where your political expertise and knowledge will be used to great effect to make a real impact for our members.

We have positive access and relationships to policymakers, parliamentarians and ministers, and an excellent reputation in Westminster. As we approach the end of the first year of the new Labour Government, there is huge opportunity to influence the political debate, driving our influencing on important issues such as access to justice, the rule of law and supporting a thriving legal business sector up the agenda and influence on behalf of our members.

As Public Affairs Manager, you will lead the effective delivery of Public Affairs and influencing activity, supporting and advising the work of our officeholders and senior leadership team in developing key relationships and identifying opportunities to influence.

What we're looking for

We're looking for candidates with a keen interest in politics and campaigning, and someone who has:

• Relevant experience in a public affairs role or equivalent in a complex organisation, and experience of designing, implementing and evaluating persuasive influencing campaigns which has delivered positive outcomes
• Strong stakeholder management abilities, with expertise in influencing and developing relationships with senior level stakeholders, while credibly representing the Law Society
• Experience of line management or leading a high performing team that delivers work on time, to brief and to a high standard.

What's in it for you

This is an excellent opportunity to join a team of marketing experts within a fast-paced, 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 (2 days per week in our central London office), 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.

Are you an established Policy and Public Affairs Manager, with knowledge of health policy, who enjoys both strategic and hands-on work? If yes, I’d love to hear from you! As Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager you will play a pivotal role in positioning the charity as a key voice in influencing policies to improve cancer education, awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of young people. 

As Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager you’ll have the opportunity to lead the function, and set the future direction, ensuring that the charity’s policy and public affairs activities are data- and insight-driven, centring the voices and experiences of young people, those who have had a cancer diagnosis, and healthcare professionals. A key focus of this work will be to highlight the health inequities and unique challenges faced by young people—particularly those from underserved groups—and ensure these are reflected in policy development.

Your experience:

- In-depth experience in a policy and public affairs related environment, delivering impact and notable change

- Experience working in health policy

- Experience of undertaking research and analysing complex data to support policy development

- Experience of leading projects, including producing plans and working across teams to lead their implementation

You’ll join a fantastic team, with a bright, innovative brand! The team are supportive and go the extra mile to affect change. They are proud to foster an inclusive working environment that champions and uplifts marginalised communities.

- This is a full-time, permanent role

- Flexible working- Core hours between 10am and 4pm.

- Hybrid, London office 2 days a week, 3 days from home.

- Salary £45,000- £50,000

Please apply now for more information! Apply now to avoid disappointment, the organisation will review applications on a rolling basis.

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.

Reporting to: Director of Policy and Engagement 

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

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

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

Contract Length: Permanent 

Salary: £54,500 - £56,500 

BACKGROUND

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

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

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

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

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

*Food Foundation Insecurity Tracker Jan 2025

JOB PURPOSE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

· Develop and monitor annual team budgets

General

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role

 PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Desirable

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

Skills and Abilities

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHAT WE OFFER

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

Please find attached our job pack

APPLICATION PROCCESS

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

Shortlisting - w/c 5th May

Interview 1 - 15th and 16th May

Interview 2 - w/c 21st May

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

Position: Director of External Affairs
Type: Full-time (35 hours a week), permanent
Location: Office-based in London with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £73,653 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band 5

About us

We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.

Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information. 

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.

About this job

It is a very exciting time to join the MS Society as Director of External Affairs a brand-new role in the organisation. We are implementing an ambitious cross-organisational transformation programme. And we have just started a new 2025-29 strategy.

We’re looking for an experienced and focused leader who has the ability to drive forward our brilliant Policy & Evidence, Campaign & Public Affairs and PR teams. We’re looking for someone who can work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure our work has a positive impact for the MS community.

With the ability to provide strategic and thought leadership, you’ll act as the leading authority on matters relating to external affairs, providing advice across the organisation including to the Executive Group and Trustees.

You’ll have significant experience of developing and implementing relevant external affairs strategies and of successfully leading policy, communications or campaigning functions in an organisation of comparable size and complexity. You’ll also need to be influential both internally and externally, including representing the MS Society at a range of external meetings with a variety of audiences.

As well as leading on planning and budget setting for the external affairs functions, as a member of the leadership team, you will also contribute to the strategic leadership, planning and policy formulation of the MS Society as a whole.

We’re looking for someone who is committed to collaborative working, who is excellent at building relationships and trust with colleagues at all levels, and whose focus is on supporting high performing teams and enabling them to do their best for the MS community.

Closing date for applications: 9:00 am Monday 12 May 2025

Anticipated interview date:

First interviews: Friday 23 May 2025

Second interviews: Wednesday 28 May 2025 or Thursday 29 May 2025

Interested?

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Equal Opportunities 
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application. 

Disability Confident Employer 
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.

You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.

If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.

More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to): 

Encouraging work life balance

• 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
• More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
• Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us) 
• Flexible working options 

Caring for you and your family 

• Generous sick pay entitlement
• More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment 
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year 
• Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis 
• Enhanced leave for new parents 
• Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
• Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
• 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Death in service scheme
• New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
  • In the event of miscarriage or still birth 
  • To support fertility treatments
  • For antenatal appointments for both parents

Thinking about your finances 

• Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
• Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
• New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing

Enriching your life at work

• Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
• Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
• New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely 
• Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups) 
• Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community) 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal

Safeguarding 
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.

This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.

We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.

We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.

Your right to work in the UK 
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.

You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.

No agencies please.

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

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

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

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

For 140 years, the Forces Employment Charity has proudly supported Service leavers, veterans, and their families in building successful civilian careers.

We provide veterans with life-long, life-changing support, jobs, and training opportunities, regardless of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving.

Brief role description:

The Communications Manager will play a key role in sharing the inspiring and powerful stories of our clients and the wider military community we support across the UK. They will be responsible for securing high-profile, meaningful media coverage that raises awareness of our mission to provide life-long, life-changing support, employment and training opportunities to Service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families. As we mark our 140th anniversary, this is a pivotal time for the Communications Manager to develop and deliver an integrated communications strategy across PR, traditional and new media, social media, and public affairs. Reporting to the Head of Brand and Communications, you will work closely with the Marketing Manager and the Community Engagement Manager and their teams to ensure consistent and aligned messaging across all marketing and
communication activity.​​

Interested? Want to know more about the Charity? Please visit the Charity Website

Eager to know more the role? Have a look at the Job Description attached.                                                                           

What’s in it for you? Check out the Benefits sheet attached.

Have we convinced you to apply? If so, submit your CV and Covering Letter by closing date Wednesday 14 May 2025.

​Please note: Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert; therefore, we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. ​If you are an internal applicant, please ensure you have made The People Team aware before applying.​

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff by fostering an inclusive, supportive environment where everyone, including those with disabilities, can thrive, develop, and achieve their full potential. We actively encourage applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and ensure reasonable adjustments are made to support candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.​

​We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process.

Background

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is a trade body which represents the independent schools’ sector in the UK. It comprises seven stakeholder associations who represent over 1,400 independent schools, educating more than half a million children. ISC schools are diverse, spanning day and boarding, single sex, SEND and faith provision. The great majority of children in UK independent schools are in ISC schools. ISC is strictly independent of all political parties and acts to support member schools in the interests of all children. 

Debates over the taxation of independent schools has meant the sector having a high political profile. With a new government, it is important the sector continues to build relationships with Ministers, civil servants and politicians of all parties to highlight the positive work of our schools in supporting pupils across the independent and state sectors and addressing the challenges facing education.

The role will be a permanent, full-time contract operating out of our London offices near St James’s Park underground station. Staff are able to work from home for part of the week.

Main purpose of job

Reporting to the Head of Policy, the successful candidate will deliver our public affairs workplan and support the development of policy positions. In particular, they will be responsible for building political relationships at national level while supporting schools to build local relationships with their MPs.

Person specification

· At least three years relevant political or public affairs experience.

· Ability to deliver public affairs work independently, working under the strategic supervision of the Head of Policy.

· Compelling, credible and confident communicator, able to:

o Write persuasively and with clarity

o Represent ISC in meetings with MPs, peers, civils servants and externals stakeholders at senior level

· Excellent working knowledge of Parliamentary and Whitehall processes.

· Ability to provide political counsel to senior ISC staff and member associations.

· Ability to build and develop a portfolio of external contacts and advocates.

· Can analyse policy documents and highlight issues of concern for member schools.

· Experience of responding to government consultations and select committee calls for evidence.

· Used to dealing with complex and changing issues in a challenging environment and able to respond flexibly and quickly as priorities change.

· Excellent planning and project management skills, with ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.

· Knowledge of education policy would be an advantage.

Personal attributes

· Highly literate and well versed in current affairs with excellent attention to detail.

· Motivated and proactive. Able to build productive internal and external relationships through professionalism, earning trust through the quality of work.

· Able to work well under pressure and prioritise effectively.

· Track record of seeing projects through to completion

· Able to communicate with confidence and clarity.

Specific responsibilities

To deliver ISC’s public affairs and policy activity including, but not restricted to, the tasks below:

· A priority is to develop good working relationships and links with association staff in the interests of maximising impact by working together.

· Develop and implement the public affairs and Parliamentary strategy for ISC.

· Implement political contact programme with Parliamentarians and external stakeholders; including attendance at party conferences.

· Advise and support school heads when engaging with local MPs and councillors; produce engagement toolkits.

· Advise the Chief Executive, senior staff and member associations and schools on effective public affairs approaches.

· Become a trusted source of political advice to member associations and schools, present at member meetings and conferences.

· Monitor Parliamentary activity – identifying issues, people to contact and writing weekly political update.

· Write briefings ahead of Parliamentary debates and engage with those taking part.

· Draft submissions to government consultations and select committee inquiries, working with members associations and schools to develop relevant policy positions.

· Work with the ISC media and communications team to ensure messaging is aligned, supporting the public affairs strategy and campaigns.

Other Benefits: 25 days holiday per annum (plus bank holidays) rising to 30 days after one year’s service (and at the commencement of the next holiday year); in addition to the annual allowance the office is closed between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day; 10% employer pension contribution; hybrid working with a minimum of two days per week in the office.

ISC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people.

About the role

We are looking to hire a confident and politically astute public affairs and communications professional to help drive our UK strategy at the intersection of law, climate, nature, and corporate accountability. In this role, you’ll work closely with the Head of UK and CEO, to shape clear and compelling policy strategies, and engage directly with UK policymakers and the media, connecting our mission to the heart of UK politics.

Meet your Manager

In this role, you will be managed by Andrea Lee, who joined ClientEarth in 2013 and is based in the UK. She has over ten years’ experience of working on sustainability projects and campaigns across the voluntary and public sectors in the UK, Spain and the USA. She first worked on the Healthy Air London community engagement project and now coordinates the national Healthy Air Campaign. Before joining ClientEarth, Andrea worked on sustainable transport behaviour change projects funded by Transport for London, and later at national charity Living Streets.

Main Duties

• Support the Head of UK to develop and implement a UK public affairs and communications plan to meet the strategic needs of the organisation across climate, nature, corporate accountability, the rule of law, and in partnership with communications, digital and programmes teams. 
• Proactively stay abreast of political and media developments and any relevant priority policy developments in the UK and manage reactions to political developments.
• Monitor relevant developments in the UK Parliament, in line with the agreed UK strategy and coordinate and track engagement.
• Develop communications plans for CEO profile on priority communications and policy issues, working with colleagues across the communications team to do so.
• Support senior leaders in the UK to build and maintain relationships in line with the strategic needs of ClientEarth, and in line with the agreed priorities, including with elected officials, political advisers, journalists, civil servants, local leaders and their advisers and other public bodies. 

See the job description (below) for a full list of duties for this role.

Role requirements

• Experience of delivering high quality, impactful public affairs and communications strategies (essential).
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of UK politics (essential). 
• Experience of working in media, politics or parliament, including briefing politicians (essential). 
• Strong presentational skills with high standards of oral and written fluency and the ability to present complex information and concepts into simple and persuasive briefings, media statements and presentations (essential). 
• Strong alignment with ClientEarth’s values and commitment to our vision, and mission and equity, diversity and inclusion strategy objectives (essential) 

See the job description (below) for a full list of requirements for this role.

Note to candidates: We know that long lists of criteria can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

Further Information

Have a question about this job? Please visit our Careers site for advice on applying, FAQs, and more.

Flexible working:  We are proud to be a Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home/another location in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based  See our Benefits page for more.

ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. 

Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in the UK.

ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.

About you

You will be a policy, campaigns and public affairs professional with a passion for change and social justice. You will have good working knowledge of the policy and political landscape. You will have experience of developing policy and research which helps to bring about change. Self-motivation, planning, and ability to respond quickly to a changing external environment, will be at the heart of your approach. You’ll have a strong sense of purpose to bring about change that improves carers’ lives and will be results driven. Collaboration internally and externally will be important to you. 

About the role

The Policy and Public Affairs team is responsible for Carers UK’s policy, media, campaigns, research, public affairs and media functions, working with our colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We are a small team carrying out the full range of public affairs activity, from raising awareness of caring through public campaigns and in the media, to influencing Parliament, Government and wider stakeholders through new research, policy expertise and our campaigning work.

This role plays a vital part in delivering the charity’s core aims to make life better for carers by:

• Contributing to Carers UK's policy and campaigns function in the development and dissemination of policy and supporting key projects to maintain and improve the reputation of the organisation.
• Monitoring, highlighting, and analysing key policy developments by the UK Government and other public bodies regarding their potential impact on carers.
• Liaising and building strong working relationships across the organisation to help deliver the policy and public affairs team’s objectives.
• Ensuring that Carers UK effectively communicates its purpose, policy, and campaigns to achieve change, helping to build the carers movement.
• Having responsibility for aspects of the organisations work and being involved in the full range of Carers UK’s policy, public affairs, and campaigns activities.

About us

Carers UK’s vision is to create a society that recognises, values and supports carers. As the leading national charity for unpaid carers, we exist to make life better for carers, however caring affects them. Our support, advice, information and campaigning work are now needed more than ever, as unpaid carers are providing more and more care, adversely impacting on their own health and wellbeing.

Diversity and inclusion

Carers UK is committed to becoming a diverse and truly inclusive organisation. We strive to create a workplace where our colleagues and volunteers can truly be themselves and feel like they belong and constantly seek to ensure all voices are heard.

To embrace this culture of diversity, our employee and volunteer recruitment should reflect our stakeholders and the society that we serve and support, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities, disabilities or religious practices. We value individual diversity and are actively building diverse teams here at Carers UK and value our colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds.

As a membership charity for carers, we particularly seek employees and volunteers with a real understanding of the issues faced by carers. Reasonable adjustments can be made to the process and role dependent on the needs of the applicant.

At Carers UK we want our application process to be as accessible as possible. If you need any adjustments to apply please email the recruitment team to discuss.

The closing date for applications is 5pm, Monday 28 April 2025

Carers UK anonymises all applications prior to shortlisting.

Carers UK reserves the right to appoint at any stage, should an outstanding candidate emerge.

Carers UK are actively interviewing as we receive applications.

Carers UK may carry out online and social media checks as well as seek references before a formal offer is made.

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

As part of a team, this post will support the Policy, Public Affairs and Communications Manager to advance internal and external stakeholder communications and the development of, and public and political interest in, a more strategic approach to perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week.

Location: Bristol/London/remote, with occasional travel across UK.

About The Drive Partnership

The Drive Partnership, formed by Respect, SafeLives and Social Finance, is working to transform the national response to perpetrators of domestic abuse. We work to end domestic abuse and protect victims by disrupting, challenging, and changing the behaviour of those who are causing harm. Together we have developed the Drive Project to address a gap in work with high-harm, high-risk perpetrators of domestic abuse. We also work to advocate for systems and policy change- to develop sustainable, national systems that respond more effectively to all perpetrators of domestic abuse.

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: 9.00am on Monday 5th May 2025.

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

No agencies, please.

About Reprieve

Reprieve works with the most disenfranchised people in society. Our aim is simple: to consign the death penalty and abuses carried out in the name of “counter-terrorism” or “national security” to history, drawing public and political attention to these past harms with a view to preventing them from occurring again. 

In our view, you can best judge a society by how it treats prisoners, criminal defendants, and the far-flung targets of an ever-changing counter-terror policy. To us, the rule of law means little if we selectively apply it to people we agree with. It is for all of us. Liberty is always eroded at the margins.

Reprieve’s staff is made up of courageous and committed human rights defenders. Founded in 1999, we provide free legal and investigative support to people facing the death penalty and those victimised by states’ abusive counter-terror policies – rendition, torture, arbitrary detention and extrajudicial killing. 

We fight our clients’ cases in courts around the world; investigate their mistreatment; and advocate on their behalf, encouraging public and political debate of human rights issues. 

Reprieve’s main office is in Aldgate, London, UK. Reprieve also supports full-time Fellows, who work as lawyers, investigators and campaigners in the countries in which we work. We work closely with a number of partner organisations in jurisdictions all over the world, who provide access to clients, expertise, knowledge and guidance on specific issues or regions. We work in cooperation with relevant government officials, individual lawyers and human rights defenders, as well as individual, corporate and foundation funders to further the cause of our shared goals.

Reprieve works in close partnership with its independent sibling organisation Reprieve US.  This collaboration is mutually beneficial to both Reprieve and Reprieve US as it enables each organisation to work more effectively and take advantage of the strategic locations to increase the impact of our work.

Reprieve is an equal opportunity employer and we particularly welcome applicants from Black and minority ethnic communities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those with disabilities. Reprieve is committed to fighting racism and advancing racial justice, both in our work and within Reprieve. For more information, please see our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement. You can also read more about our recruitment process.

About the Role

The Head of Public Affairs and Policy is responsible for overseeing Reprieve’s political engagement and policy work; managing public affairs and policy focused staff; and steering forward advocacy and policy that advances Reprieve’s strategic objectives on behalf of our clients in all the jurisdictions where we operate. 

Reprieve’s current policy goals in the UK include prohibiting intelligence sharing where there is a risk of torture or the death penalty, ensuring UK security assistance doesn’t contribute to human rights violations, and ending the practice of citizenship stripping. The role involves close collaboration with Reprieve’s regional and thematic casework teams to encourage states to restrict or end the use of the death penalty or involvement in other human rights abuses such as torture and arbitrary detention. 

Reprieve’s work encompasses a number of regions across the world, including the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, and the United States. The policy team provides cross-cutting support to those teams and local experts to advocate for our clients, secure political representation for them, and advance strategic goals.
You will share our commitment to fighting against racism and advancing
racial justice, and understand our responsibility to do our work in a way that does not compound racist structures.

Location, contract and salary

This is a full-time role, on a one-year fixed term contract, with the possibility to extend, subject to funding. The annual salary is £61,003 per annum, less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance. 
This role is based in Reprieve’s London office. Reprieve operates a hybrid working model and we require staff to work 40% of their working hours from the London office and the rest of the week from home. Applicants must have the current right to work in the UK, which will be checked prior to interview.

Full details and how to apply

Please review the job description and person specification for full details.To apply, please submit the application form at the web address provided. Please note that CVs and cover letters cannot be accepted for this role. 

The deadline for applications is 23:58 BST on 27 April 2025. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK currently and for the duration of the contract. 

About Equally Ours:

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

About the role:

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

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

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

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

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

Why Equally Ours?

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

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

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

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

How to Apply: 

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

Closing date for applications: 6th May, 12 noon