Public Affairs Officers Jobs

This is an exciting time to join the Royal Society for Public Health to use your passion for policy and communications and your experience of delivering high quality strategic and operational support to help fulfil our mission for everyone to lead a healthier longer life. We have a clear strategy, a great staff team and deliver high quality work. We are looking to move the next stage of our strategy and want someone brilliant to help us do that.

RSPH is the UKs leading public health membership and education charity, and we are looking for the right person to support our Chief Executive in delivering our strategic vision to reduce health inequalities, support the wider public health workforce and make public health everyone’s responsibility.

As the world’s oldest public health agency and the UK’s leading specialist provider of public health qualifications, the Royal Society for Public Health is uniquely placed to make a difference. With health and social care services facing increasing pressure, healthy life expectancy stalling, inequalities increasing and more people leaving the workforce due to ill-health, our remit couldn’t be more important.

What you will bring

We are looking for someone with experience in of working at Director level in an organisation of comparable scale and complexity.  You should have a proven track record of representing organisations to interested parties, and of persuading and influencing at senior levels including experience of managing relationships with Government, Parliament, regulators, trade bodies, consumer organisations, firms and the media.

This role will require experience of developing and delivering organisational strategy. You will have experience in building effective teams of senior staff through people management skills such as leadership, vision, communication, motivation, constructive challenge and delegation. 

An effective communicator, you will excel at engaging with key internal and external stakeholders to achieve organisational goals. Most importantly we want someone who wants to come and work with the organisation to deliver our strategy and make a difference.

In return we offer:

· 25 days annual leave

· Agile hybrid working structure – 9-day fortnight available

· Pension contributions

· BUPA Cash plan

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Membership of the Royal Society for Public Health

· Access to public health knowledge and skills training courses and qualifications

· Organisational commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of our employees

· Welcoming and friendly team of colleagues, and an active Health Champions programme

RSPH values and actively strives to have a diverse and inclusive workforce in a working environment free from discrimination.

Please do let us know if you require any adjustment to allow you to participate in this recruitment process.

RSPH operates an agile working policy with some attendance at our London office according to business need.

Interviews will be held at our offices in Whitechapel on Wednesday 31 July.  If you are unable to attend please indicate this on your application.

Please visit our website for more information and the full job description.

Location: Flexible – remote or hybrid (UK based) with required travel to London and occasionally Bristol

Salary: £29,450 per year (Grade 3) plus Inner London Weighting of £3,483.94 (if eligible)

Length of contract: Permanent

Hours per week: 37 hours per week (flexible working hours)

Closing date: 5th July 2024

Interviews: Week commencing 15th July 2024

Who are Women’s Aid?

Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children. We are a federation of over 170 organisations which provide just under 300 local lifesaving services to women and children across England. For almost 50 years we have campaigned on behalf of our members and survivors to shape policy and practice, and to raise awareness of domestic abuse.

Purpose of the Public Affairs Officer role: 

As the Public Affairs Officer in the External Affairs team at Women’s Aid, you will play a pivotal role in our government and parliamentary engagement work. This will include leading on monitoring parliamentary activity and identifying opportunities for Women’s Aid to influence the political agenda and ensure parliamentarians are kept up to date on issues related to domestic abuse. You will play a pivotal role in supporting our influencing work with the new government on key pieces of legislation, Women’s Aid’s next big campaign and assisting Women’s Aid’s secretariat role to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Domestic Violence and Abuse. Alongside organising meetings and events for the APPG and with key political stakeholders, you will lead on the development of public affairs and campaigns materials, including policy bulletins, briefings, speaking notes and letters to government ministers.

Key duties and responsibilities of the Public Affairs Officer:

• Carry out regular political monitoring, keeping the team updated with important developments for Women’s Aid, identifying opportunities for influence and providing analysis on policy announcements.
• Draft newsletters, correspondence, and website and social media content for parliamentarians, Women’s Aid’s member services and campaigners on a range of campaign and policy priorities.
• Support Women’s Aid’s work on key pieces of legislation - responding to queries, drafting briefings and parliamentary questions, working with Parliamentarians on draft amendments, and the development of joint sector work.
• Lead on projects that widen participation in Women’s Aid public affairs and campaigning work, including organising meetings with sector colleagues, survivors, and our member services.

What we are looking for in our Public Affairs Officer:

• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to write copy for a range of audiences and formats, e.g., briefings, consultation submissions, correspondence and speaking notes.
• Experience of working in a political role or exposure within parliamentary institutions.
• Experience in liaising and working with external organisations and individuals, including via correspondence and joint working groups/joint sector meetings.
• Experience in supporting the delivery of projects and campaigns.
• Ability to communicate sensitively about the issues facing women and children affected by domestic abuse.

Benefits of joining us as our Public Affairs Officer include:

• Generous Annual Leave: 25 days + 2 Company Holidays + 8 UK Bank Holidays, with an extra 1 day per year after 1 year of service, up to a maximum of 5 additional days.
• Valuable Pension Benefits: a generous 7% employer contribution.
• Flexible Working: Remote working, family-friendly policies and paid leave for maternity, paternity, and adoption.
• Wellness and Support: Cycle to Work Scheme, free optician check-ups, annual flu vaccines, access to a 24-hour employee assistance counselling helpline, a ‘Headspace’ app for mindfulness, and ‘Reflective Practice’ sessions.
• Making a genuine difference: in a rewarding role where your work will directly result in helping Women’s Aid to be able to provide lifesaving services for women and children across England.

How to apply? 

• Please submit your CV and a Cover Letter. Your Cover Letter should be no more than 2 pages long and should include a summary of your reasons for applying for the position. You should also include details of how your skills, behaviours and experience meet those necessary for the role, as listed in the Job Description and Person Specification.
• Please ensure that you also complete the EDI form and send all completed paperwork to the recruitment email address (Please clearly mark your name and the role title in the subject line of your email).

NB:

• Women only need apply under schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010
• If you have been shortlisted for interview, you will be informed by email. Regrettably, we are normally unable to acknowledge unsuccessful applicants.
• All posts, including remote posts, must be based in the UK.
• Women’s Aid is committed to quality, equality, and valuing diversity. Applications are particularly welcome from Black and minoritised women.
• Please read our Single Sex Statement on the Women's Aid website.
• Please note that applications will be reviewed, and interviews arranged, on a rolling basis, so for the best chance of success, please apply ASAP.

This role will support the delivery of our ambitious policy influencing programme, helping to implement influencing plans to bring about the changes needed to reduce, prevent and eventually end the need for food banks in the UK. The Public Affairs Officer will be responsible for planning, delivering and monitoring public affairs activity with a particular focus on the UK Parliament. This will include a focus on engaging with parliamentarians and policy influencers who are part of Christian communities.

Role responsibilities

· Planning and delivering impactful public affairs activity: Supporting the development and delivery of public affairs plans for key projects, including high profile policy influencing campaigns, and planning and delivering engaging events in Parliament and at party conferences.

· Build support for the Trussell Trust’s policy influencing goals among UK parliamentarians and policy influencers who are part of Christian communities: Working closely with the Church Engagement team to identify opportunities to engage key audiences and effectively communicate our policy asks and strategic goal to end the need for food banks.

· Supporting a strategic approach to public affairs activity: Making effective use of public affairs systems and processes, including stakeholder mapping and horizon scanning for opportunities to engage, mobilise and work with key audiences, including UK Parliamentarians, UK Government Ministers and advisers, and assessing their impact.

· Building and managing strong relationships with key external stakeholders: Developing relationships, partnerships and networks to help raise the profile, credibility and influence of the Trussell Trust and our policy positions, particularly in the UK Parliament and with faith-based organisations.

· Working closely across the wider organisation to support our policy influencing aims: Supporting key stakeholders across the Trussell Trust to plan, deliver and participate in the Trussell Trust’s policy influencing work, including senior leaders, people with lived experience of poverty and food bank staff and volunteers.

· Building awareness of our public affairs activity and impact across the Trussell Trust: Providing accessible and engaging updates and insights from the UK Parliament and Government relating to key policy areas and helping ensure alignment with public affairs activity across the UK’s nations and regions.

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

· Experience of working or volunteering in a political, public affairs or policy environment

· Knowledge of the machinery and structure of government and the UK Parliament including knowledge of faith-based structures and groupings within Parliament

· Experience of successfully delivering impactful public affairs or campaigns activity to engage UK Parliamentarians including those who are part of Christian communities

· An effective and confident communicator (written and verbal) with strong stakeholder relationship management skills 

· Experience of delivering events and projects, using project management processes to meet agreed objectives and deadlines

· Self-sufficient use of I.T., including proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and cloud-based software, such as Salesforce.

Behaviours and competencies:

· Works collaboratively across teams and organisations, managing challenges in a constructive manner

· Balances competing priorities and work to tight deadlines

· Demonstrates a commitment to the values of the Trussell Trust 

· Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially- excluded backgrounds

· Role models inclusive behaviours, values and leadership

The NSPCC’s vision is that together, we can stop child abuse and neglect. Through the collective power of our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, and over 100 years of experience we will move closer to achieving that vision.

We launched our ten-year strategy in 2021, which is centred around three impact goals. This is the difference we want to make by 2031:

1. Everyone plays their part to prevent child abuse: we’ll work together to make it easier for everyone to play their part and create a social safety net that prevents child abuse and neglect.

2. Every child is safe online: together, we’ll transform the online world, so it’s safe for every child to go online.

3. Children feel safe, listened to, and supported: more children will be able to speak out, so they feel safe, listened to, and understood – and abuse doesn’t shape their future.

The Policy and Public Affairs (PAPA) team is part of the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate at the NSPCC. The Directorate exists to help shape the world around us – and what the NSPCC does – so that it reflects what we have learned and can help keep children safe from abuse. The PAPA team develops and holds the NSPCC’s positions on key public policy issues and harnesses these to influence policy makers and external stakeholders across the UK. The PAPA team’s strategic focus is divided into five ‘workstreams’: child protection and children’s social care; early years; child sexual abuse; online safety; supporting young victims and witnesses.

We are now seeking a Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer to play a leading role in the online safety workstream to ensure legislative and policy frameworks in England and the UK are fit for purpose in preventing online abuse and harm to children.

You will join the team at a crucial moment for children in the UK and help us make the case for strong and ambitious regulation and legislation to ensure every child is safe online.

The Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer will lead the development of new policy positions and delivery of public affairs strategies to achieve regulatory, policy and legal change which tackles abuse and harm to children online. This will involve evidence-based policy development, being responsible for thematic policy areas, and playing a key role in forming and delivering public affairs and influencing strategies.

You’ll be able to demonstrate that you can hit the ground running and deliver high impact policy outputs and public affairs initiatives to ensure the NSPCC delivers real change in the best interests of children and continues to be seen as a credible and authoritative voice on online harms.

As an effective communicator you’ll have excellent written and oral advocacy skills, with a proven record of building in-depth knowledge of complex subject matter and developing a wide range of relationships to successfully influence policy decision making. Most of all, you will be passionate about preventing abuse and have a good understanding of challenges facing children and families in England.

Job purpose

The Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer will be responsible for undertaking public affairs and policy work to achieve the NSPCC’s strategic goals, using their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC’s impact on public policy, and in doing so make a significant contribution to keeping children safe online.

Key relationships - Internal

· Reports to Policy and Regulatory Manager

· Colleagues in the Policy and Public Affairs team

· Colleagues in the Strategy and Knowledge directorate

· Colleagues in the Media and Campaigns teams

· Colleagues in the Child Safety Online Solutions team, including working with the Online Safety Youth Taskforce

Key relationships - External

· MPs, Peers, and their advisors

· Parliamentary audiences, e.g., Select Committees, clerks, and APPGs

· Key civil servants in central government departments (such as the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology and the Home Office)

· Regulators (particularly Ofcom)

· Technology companies, including social media and gaming companies

· Other charities and organisations focused on children's safety online

Main duties and responsibilities

· Develop and implement high impact public affairs and parliamentary strategies to support the delivery of our objectives to keep children safe online.

· Scope and deliver high quality, evidence-based policy outputs including briefings, position statements, and responses to consultations, developing innovative solutions to complex problems.

· Maintain a network of key contacts across parliament, the civil service, industry and civil society, using this network to amplify the NSPCC’s voice and maximise impact.

· Develop and maintain a high level of expertise on key policy areas, with lead responsibility for specified thematic areas.

· Analyse a wide range of primary and secondary sources of evidence (such as policy documents, academic literature and survey data) to develop innovative and evidence-based policy solutions to complex problems.

· Proactively identify threats and opportunities to our work programme, enabling the NSPCC to predict and react to changes in the external environment.

· Lead the delivery of NSPCC public affairs events, such as parliamentary receptions and roundtables (working with colleagues from across the organisation).

· Prepare high-quality briefings, summaries, and papers for internal and external audiences.

· Use strong project management skills to plan the delivery of policy development and aligned public affairs work, planning both your and colleagues’ time effectively.

· Represent the NSPCC on relevant internal and external advisory groups, meetings, and stakeholder events.

· Act as media spokesperson for the NSPCC on relevant subject areas, including live and pre-recorded broadcasts and interviews as well as background discussions with journalists on issues relating to policy expertise.

• Responsibilities for all Staff within the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate

There is a set of responsibilities for all staff within each directorate.

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

· To maintain an overview of child protection policy and practice

· To maintain an awareness of own and other’s health and safety and comply with NSPCC’s Health and Safety procedures

· An active commitment to promoting ED&I, safeguarding and trauma informed practice

· An agile approach to work

· To maintain and develop competence in the use of IT systems

Person specification

1. Strong public affairs and influencing skills, including excellent knowledge of parliamentary processes, sound political judgement, and proven ability to influence and build support amongst a variety of stakeholders – including Parliamentarians, civil servants, and regulators.

2. Excellent policy development skills, with demonstrable experience forming credible, evidence-based positions and producing policy outputs on complex and highly nuanced subject matter.

3. Excellent communication skills including the ability to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively in a variety of formats for a range of audiences and very good oral presentation skills.

4. Strong analytical skills with proven ability to collate data from various sources, analyse findings and present them clearly and accurately to make a clear and compelling case for policy and legislative change.

5. Strong interpersonal skills to build and influence external networks and deal effectively and persuasively with internal and external stakeholders.

6. Confidence in working as part of a team, with experience of working collaboratively with colleagues to help ensure the successful delivery of projects.

7. Ability to work on own initiative with strong organisational and project management skills and demonstrable experience of delivering on competing priorities within a time-pressured environment. 

8. Knowledge of online safety policy or issues affecting vulnerable groups is desirable.

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.

Salary: £37,181 pa plus £5,023 pa London Weighting allowance

Contract: Fixed Term Contract for 3 Years

Location: Hybrid – weekly travel to our London Office (EC1) will be expected 2 days a week, as well as occasional travel to corporate partners offices

Hours: Full time (37.5)

Closing date: Monday 22nd July at 11.30pm 

Do you have relevant experience of working in a busy press office or a PR agency, plus a good track record of managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders? Then join Shelter as a Senior Media Officer and you could soon be playing a vital role at the heart of our Media team.

About Shelter

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

At Shelter we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.

We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

About the team

A key part of a broader Communications, Policy and Campaigns division, our media team serves the media needs of the whole organisation. Collaboration and relationship building skills are the name of the game, as we work closely with a broad range of internal stakeholders and external partners to generate influential coverage across Shelter’s campaigns, fundraising, community and services outputs. Our aim is to make sure housing and homelessness rides high on the political and public agenda through timely and powerful storytelling. We help Shelter to deliver change by amplifying our hard-hitting research, giving a platform to people directly impacted by the housing emergency, profiling our incredible services, capitalising on high-profile supporters and partnerships, and by swiftly seizing reactive opportunities.

About the role

If you care about storytelling, are a great team player and want to end the housing emergency, this unique opportunity to join a fast paced and high performing team with a heritage of ground-breaking campaigns is the job for you.

This senior media officer position is an exciting role that’s been created in partnership with our High Value Partnerships team to help boost the media cut through and support the smooth running of our partnerships with big brand names like Ikea, HSBC, B&Q and Marks & Spencer. It is a new role that you will have the opportunity to mould within a supportive framework and team.

But you won’t just work closely with our corporate partners and internal income generating teams, you will also have the chance to flex your skills and get stuck into a whole range of media activities that drive forward our organisational strategy. You’ll also play a big part in the day to day running of a busy press office, get to matrix manage high profile projects, and deputise for the Media Managers as necessary.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About you

Creative and results driven, you have extensive knowledge of media across print, online and broadcast channels, as well as the different tools and tactics in the PR toolbox.  You know what makes something newsworthy and how to land high-impact coverage, and , you’re great at translating research and information  into pithy soundbites and key messages suitable for public audiences. What’s more you’re used to thinking on your feet and working under pressure to meet tight deadlines.

A knack for building rapport and relationships with lots of different people is essential too, as is the enthusiasm, expertise, and collaborative approach to work that can help to upskill other teams to better understand and utilise the media to meet our shared goals. Crucially, you have a keen grasp of what journalists and producers are looking for and are as comfortable speaking to a consumer journalist, as you are the policy editor of the Times– and you will know how to tailor your pitch accordingly.

Adept at managing your own time and projects, and happy to contribute new ideas and try different approaches, you also know what it takes to support, enable and motivate others. Your keen eye for risks and opportunities, and strong attention to detail will help ensure your team and colleagues deliver to a high standard. Finally, while prior knowledge of housing and homelessness is not a requirement, you must have a passion for social justice. There’s a huge amount we need to achieve together, and you’ll need to thrive on this challenge.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society

Policy Officer 
Harrogate, North Yorkshire 

We offer hybrid working and we are committed to paying the Real Living Wage. 

 
About Us 

Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer. Together, we can change this.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity dedicated to funding research so that you and those you love live longer healthier lives, free of cancer. 

Thanks to supporters, the charity funds vital cancer research and pioneers innovative new services for people with cancer. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire, and beyond.

As an inclusive employer, our aim is to ensure our workforce reflects the rich diversity of our region. We believe a diverse workforce is vital to us taking action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire. We offer equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnerships. 

 
The Benefits 

We offer all employees a wide range of benefits including an enhanced contributory pension scheme, 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service), flexible working arrangements, private medical insurance, enhanced maternity leave, career progression, learning and development, wellbeing initiatives, offices within walking distance of Hornbeam Park train station, free onsite parking and a whole lot more. 

We’ve got a strong set of values that inform everything we do and we’re looking for people who are aligned with these. As our Policy Officer, you will put people in Yorkshire at the heart of everything you do, unite with colleagues and other organisations in this cause, and dare to think big and bold to make positive solutions happen. 

 
The Role 
 
As our Policy Officer you will use the latest evidence and insight to drive the creation of policies and position statements and related key messages. The subject of these will be informed by the charity’s strategy as well as our priority setting processes but will largely be focused around: 

• Prevention - Reducing smoking rates particularly focusing on people who are already interacting with the health system, as well as other messaging around reducing risk of cancer. 

• Diagnosis - Improving the early diagnosis of cancer through promoting existing and new pathways for cancer diagnosis.

• Treatment - Improving treatments available to patients across Yorkshire and improving access to clinical trials. 

Specifically, you will: 

Policy development 

• Work with the Policy and Public Affairs Manager to research and produce high quality, evidence-based cancer-related policies and position statements.

• Work with relevant internal teams to create key messages for a range of internal and external stakeholders, ensuring these are in line with the latest evidence. 

• Ensure existing policies and position statements are kept up to date, taking ownership for these updates when new evidence is published. 

Influencing 

• Develop written policy materials and reports to aid influencing, considering priorities identified by PPI groups, the NHS, and coupled with insights from the latest data. 

• Support the charity’s response to regional and national consultations relevant to cancer in Yorkshire, ensuring responses are clear, succinct and evidence-based.

• Represent the charity at external events and meetings, developing contacts, building relationships and increasing the charity’s profile. 

External communications 

• Work in collaboration with the Brand and Relationships team to support the delivery of public-facing brand and PR campaigns and messaging to ensure key policy messages are accurate and well-integrated.

• Support idea generation, development and delivery of future public health campaigns where the focus could be on topics like screening, stopping smoking or cancer symptom awareness. 

 
About You 

To be considered for this role, you will need: 

• To have a degree in a relevant subject area, for example politics and government affairs, public policy etc.  

• To have experience of researching and writing evidence-based policies, including by conducting literature reviews.

• To have experience of writing associated policy documentation such as briefings, letters, blogs and campaign materials.

• To have experience of working with others to integrate key messages into external communications, such as blogs, press releases or campaigns. 

• To have a good understanding of a good understanding of local, regional, and national government, the current health policy landscape as well as knowledge of UK parliamentary processes.   

• To have excellent verbal, written communication and presentation skills. 

• To be a strategic thinker with strong analytical, judgement and decision-making skills. 

• To be able to sift out the essential elements from a mass of complex information, integrate and synthesise ideas, and present information to others in an accessible way.  

• To have excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise work, handle conflicting demands and meet tight deadlines.   

Application 

Before applying, please visit our Careers Page to view the full role profile and find out more about working for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

To apply please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to Claire Wooldridge, Head of People before 14 July 2024. Please read our privacy notice before applying. 

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a responsible and flexible employer.  We welcome any discussion for flexible working at the interview/offer stage where we will consider an individual’s circumstances against the needs of the charity. 

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. If we can make any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us via our website. 

The Policy Communications Officer will assist in increasing the visibility of Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) to external audiences, with a particular focus on influencing key political stakeholders, such as the next UK government, to support policy change.

The Policy Communications team sits within the Communications Department but works closely and collaboratively with the Policy and Public Affairs Department to maximise the success and influence of their work by gaining cut-through with key audiences and inspiring positive, urgent action. This is a varied role, covering areas across diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The postholder will also assist with efforts to shape public health policy around dementia, including dementia risk reduction and brain health messaging.

The postholder will develop engaging and compelling content for a range of communications channels, with the aim of developing the charity’s voice as an expert commentator on dementia policy and establishing the charity as a thought leader in the UK.

Main duties and responsibilities of the role:

· Working with the Policy Communications Manager to lead on the creation and delivery of communications and content to support ARUK's policy and public affairs activity, working through multiple channels including national media, newsletters, website content and social media.

· Develop effective relationships with ARUK’s Communications Department, Policy & Public Affairs Department, and with external stakeholders and partners, in order to identify and deliver on communications needs.

· Help find, develop and pitch news stories, press releases, thought leadership pieces and other content to national press on ARUK’s policy and public affairs activity, bringing the charity’s expertise and key messages to the forefront.

· Support the running of ARUK’s press office by co-ordinating responses to breaking news stories relating to relevant dementia policy developments, including drafting reactive comments, briefing spokespeople and accompanying spokespeople to interviews when appropriate.

· Monitor relevant media coverage; keep up to date with policy, social, scientific and charitable sector issues which could benefit, or have relevance to, ARUK.

· Assist with the organisation and delivery of events, including ARUK’s research conference and events in parliament.

· Develop effective working relationships with relevant members of the media, government and NHS communications contacts; respond promptly to queries, including occasional out-of-hours queries.

· Work with the Public Affairs team to build on existing relationships with ARUK’s campaigners and parliamentary advocates, developing engaging content to strengthen our communications with these groups.

· Work with the Internal Communications team to create and disseminate materials to support staff across the organisation in engaging their stakeholders and the wider public with ARUK's policy and public affairs work, including toolkits and Q&As.

· Liaise with the Social Media team to develop compelling content in support of the charity’s policy and public affairs work.

· Ensure activities comply with ARUK’s branding and style guide.

· Undertake any other relevant duties and projects delegated by the Policy Communications Manager in line with the responsibilities of the post. 

What we are looking for:

· Educated to degree level in related subject or equivalent level of experience.

· Experience of working with national media on health/science or policy issues.

· Experience of working with external stakeholders and partners.

· Experience of delivering communications programmes through a variety of media (e.g. press, social media, email, events).

· Confidence working with computers; knowledge of Microsoft office packages and databases, good keyboard skills.

· Understanding of the UK political landscape, its potential impact on health policy and the role communication plays in policy change.

· Excellent journalistic skills and news sense.

· Ability to understand and translate complex policy into consumable communications for journalists and the public.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a high standard of accuracy and attention to detail.

· Excellent organisational skills; the ability to manage many tasks with internal and external stakeholders to multiple deadlines.

· Ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with a broad range of people, including journalists, policymakers, representatives from partner organisations, and people affected by dementia.

· A confident and friendly manner; would feel at ease representing the charity to a range of audiences.

· Working with independence, intelligence, drive and initiative.

· Willingness and ability to travel independently in the UK and to work outside of regular office hours when needed.

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals. This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD. 

Salary: Circa £30,000 per annum, plus benefits

Please download the Vacancy Pack for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 7th July 2024, with interviews likely to be held week commencing the 15th July 2024. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity as the closing date may be brought forward at any time. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to be an inclusive employer and ensure fairness and consistency in selecting the best candidate for this role, your CV will be anonymised as part of the selection process.  Should you need any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, then please do contact us via our website. 

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK:

Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope. 

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure. 

In 2022, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement and were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:

• 48th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.

• 19th in the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.

• 3rd in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.

In addition, we were also shortlisted for a special award recognising the work undertaken on reducing our environmental impact.

In 2021, we were awarded the HR Management award by The Charity Times for our Wellbeing initiatives throughout the pandemic.

In 2020, we demonstrated our commitment to changing the way we think and act about mental health in the workplace and signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge. 

ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference. 

To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK

Do you have experience of working in an in-house policy, public affairs and campaigns team for a campaigning charity or NGO, for a creative campaigns consultancy, or on a political party campaign? Are you looking to drive change to help tackle one of the UK’s biggest killers?

If so, you may be the Campaigns Officer we’re looking for!

About the role

Our Policy and Public Affairs team exists to develop evidence-based policies that we can use to help inform and influence Government and health service decisions relating to heart and circulatory diseases and research.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Campaigns Officer to join our award winning and high impact team during a very exciting time in politics. This is a new position, which will play a critical role in the development and delivery of activity aimed at getting the public involved in our flagship Hearts Need More Westminster influencing campaign. The role will also provide campaigns support for our work to influence the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on key issues affecting heart patients in each of the four UK nations.

You’ll work closely with teams across the BHF to proactively spot opportunities to mobilise our supporters and cross-promote other BHF campaigns, including our Customer Journey and Marketing teams, and will be responsible for drafting copy in multiple formats for warm and cold audiences. You’ll also involve and engage people with lived experience in our campaigns work, working closely with our Heart Stories and Patient and Public Involvement teams.

Working arrangements

This is a blended role, where your work will be dual located between your home and one of four UK offices (Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh or London). There will be an expectation to travel to the London office (if this is not your preferred location) at least once a month, with some travel to each of the other nation offices throughout the year.

At BHF we believe in the power of being together, so our colleagues on blended contracts can expect to spend some time in their office, at least one day each week, on average. The use of our office spaces is driven in part by your role and the activities you need to do. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause. 

About you

With an interest in advocacy and political campaigning, you’ll have an understanding of the relationship between campaigning and public affairs, and the value of mobilising the public to secure policy change. You'll have experience of campaigning, either for a political party or within an in-house public affairs and campaigns team or campaigns consultancy, with experience of using a campaigning platform or CRM software.

You'll have a solid grasp of the workings of the UK and Devolved Governments and parliamentary procedures. You'll have an understanding of the role of BHF and other health and medical research charities in general, and particularly in the political arena.

With a proven ability to write clearly, concisely and persuasively, you’ll be able to draft campaign copy in a variety of formats, and especially for lay audiences. You'll also have strong organisational skills, including experience of project management. You will have experience of using social media and other comms channels for campaigning and will think creatively about how to engage our existing supporters and attract new ones. You’ll also be collaborative, with an ability to build strong relationships with key internal and external colleagues.

This is an opportunity to make a profound impact for our patients, their families, and our supporters at an exciting time in the electoral cycle.

About us

We value and respect every individual’s unique contribution, celebrate diversity, and make inclusion part of what we do every day. 

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy, Igniting Change, along with our internal EDI group, Kaleidoscope, and a growing number of employee network groups (our Affinity Groups), help us create an environment where all our colleagues and volunteers can succeed.

Interview process

Interviews will be held virtually via MS Teams during week commencing 15th July 2024.

How to apply 

It’s quick and easy to apply for a role at the BHF. Just click through to our careers site to apply. All you’ll need is an up to date CV and a supporting statement, outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the role’s criteria.

As part of our commitment to be an inclusive employer, and ensure fairness and consistency in selecting the best candidate for this role, the BHF will use anonymous CV software as part of the application journey.

Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us.

Campaigns Officer

Are you looking to build a career in campaigning? Do you want to work in a rewarding role where you can make a difference to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness? If so, you may be the person we are looking for!

We are seeking an organised, passionate and results-driven Campaigns Officer to join the team, working for the leading charity provider of mental health services in England.

This is a permanent, hybrid-working role, offering flexible working and some amazing benefits!

Position: Campaigns Officer

Location: London/hybrid (working in the London office a minimum of 2 days a week)

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week (flexible working available)

Salary: £26,457 to £30,140 per annum (£29,457 to £33,140 per annum inclusive of London Allowance)

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Close of play on Monday 8 July 2024

Interview Date: Tuesday 16 July

Work for an organisation that research shows is one of the most trusted major voluntary sector brands

The Role

This is an exciting time to join the team, with a new integrated campaign planned for the late summer. In this role, you will be central to the mission to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness. You will help to plan and deliver creative campaigns that mobilise supporters to bring about change in Westminster and Whitehall.

You will be responsible for monitoring the performance of campaigns to raise awareness and drive engagement to achieve the campaign objectives. You will also be responsible for the day-to-day administrative tasks for the campaigns team and manage the online software platforms to ensure campaigns are engaging and targeting the right decision-makers.

The role sits within the dynamic Communications and Campaigns team, and you will work alongside, draw on the expertise of and learn from social media, digital content and media specialists.

About You

I have the essentials covered:

• I am passionate about the power of campaigning to make a difference to people’s lives.
• I have a meticulous eye for detail and am a self-starter, using my own initiative to drive campaigns.
• I am comfortable working with data, with experience of using databases and Microsoft Excel.
• I am a persuasive communicator, able to build good relationships.
• I have excellent project management skills.
• I have a good understanding of how to devise and use a range campaigning tactics.
• I have a good understanding of government and parliamentary processes and ways of influencing key decision makers.
• I am very confident using email marketing software to communicate with warm audiences.
• I have experience of website content management systems and creating engaging web content.
• I am creative, with the ability to develop new ways of delivering messages.
• I have experience of using petitions, email-to-target actions and other tactics.

About the Organisation

Join a leading charity provider of mental health services in England that supports thousands of people through groups, services, campaigns and advice and information. This work supports the organisation in delivering its mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”

In everything the charity does, it seeks to demonstrate the values: Passion, Equity, Commitment, Openness, Hope, Expertise and Understanding. If these values resonate with you, we would love to hear from you.

What will you receive?

You will have plenty of opportunities to enhance your abilities with the opportunity to make a real difference every day. In addition, you will have excellent development opportunities including funded training, career development, and a range of e-learning courses.

You will also receive: 

• Employer funded pension
• Flexible working
• Life assurance
• Eye care vouchers
• Training opportunities
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 plus Bank Holidays
• Rewards, benefits and recognition platform
• Employee assistance programme
• Your birthday off
• Plus many more great benefits…

“It feels very rewarding to be part of such a meaningful Organisation where everyone is valued and has the opportunity to make a difference” Current staff member

We actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and (asexual) (LGBTQIA+), people with a disability, and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

You may also have experience in areas such as Campaigns, Communications, External Affairs, Online Campaigns, Campaigns Officer, Communications Officer, External Affairs Officer, Online Press Campaigns Officer, Marketing Officer, Digital Marketing Officer, Digital Campaigns Officer, Policy, Website, Content, Campaign, Marketing and Campaigns Officer, Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer, Campaign Manager. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Are you looking to make a positive change in society through policy work? Are you a skilled communicator with a passion for people and communities across Scotland? At Samaritans Scotland we are seeking  an experienced Policy and Engagement Officer to join our friendly team. 

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You’ll support our work to reduce suicide by developing and influencing policy and practice at national and local levels. You’ll also support positive, informed engagement with communities and key stakeholders to strengthen the effective delivery of

Samaritans’ policy work in Scotland.   

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We are a flexible and inclusive organisation. Our team is growing in Scotland and you’ll be able to influence key policy and practice in our community. We are moving from strength to strength and this role will make a real and lasting difference to ensure fewer lives are lost to suicide.

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• £33,000-£33,500 per annum plus benefits

• Permanent role

• Full time (35 hours per week)

• Hybrid working – Regular office working in Edinburgh with travel in and around Scotland, plus home working

• We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences

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Samaritans Scotland

Join a friendly, supportive, and ambitious staff team in Scotland. Our established Policy and Communications team is working with Scottish Government, MSPs and partners to achieve change and have an impact on suicide risk. There are around 1000 Samaritans volunteers across Scotland working in our 19 branches. These volunteers respond to calls for help every day of the week via telephone, e-mail, text and in person at our branches or at events across Scotland.

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We also work with the public and the media to inform them about Samaritans and explain how we can help people find their own way forward. We reach out to groups where there is a high risk of suicide and emotional distress. 

Job Description is here

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What’s in it for you – our benefits 

So, you want to work for us? Good choice. We like it here too. We offer competitive salaries, flexible and hybrid working to suit your needs, family-friendly policies, 28 days annual leave inclusive of wellbeing days and a matched pension contribution up to 5%. You’ll have a structured induction and ongoing projects, secondments & learning opportunities. We also have colleague-led affinity groups made up of people with shared identities. 

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Your health and wellbeing is our priority. We have a staff community of Mental Health First Aiders, a Health Cash Plan and an Employee Assistance Programme. You’ll have free subscriptions to Headspace (your personal guide to mindfulness, sleep, focus, movement, and more) & Perkbox (an employee benefits platform with online exercise classes). That’s not all. We listen to your ideas and have staff forum and social committee networks.

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Hybrid and flexible working 

We are a flexible organisation, and we embrace hybrid working – a mix of connecting in person and remotely. We’re aware that the world is changing, and we all want and need different things from our work and home lives. So, if you need to walk the dog, go to the gym, or have commitments outside of work, we’re open to talking through flexible working options that work for you and us. 

Being Inclusive 

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from Disabled, BAME and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans. 

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Application 

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You’ll be asked to upload your CV, a 1 page cover letter outlining how you meet the essential skills and answer a couple of application questions about your transferable skills and experience. 

Applications close at 9 am on 5 July, with video interviews likely w/c 15 July

Vice-Chancellor’s Office
Development, Alumni & Campaigns Office

Development Officer - Trusts & Foundations
Ref: SC4665

Salary on appointment will be £29,605 per annum, with an annual increment up to £36,024 per annum. 

This is an exciting time to join our Development, Alumni & Campaigns Office, and we wish to appoint an individual who shares our passion for the future of UEA. The Development Officer (Trusts & Foundations) will join a small, dedicated team responsible for securing income from charitable trusts, foundations and grant making bodies in the UK and internationally in support of agreed University priorities, including Health-UEA Climate-UEA and various campus projects. 

Reporting to the Senior Development Manager (Trusts & Foundations) you will apply for and manage grants whilst also managing the research of new funding opportunities for the team.

Educated to degree level, or with equivalent relevant qualification or experience, you will have excellent organisational and time management skills; strong interpersonal skills; excellent oral and written communication skills; and an aptitude for face-to-face fundraising. Full training will be provided in fundraising/managing of relationships with volunteers and supporters.

This full-time post is available on an indefinite basis. 

UEA offers a variety of flexible working options and although this role is advertised on a full-time basis, we encourage applications from individuals who would prefer a flexible working pattern including annualised hours, compressed working hours, part time, job share, term-time only and/or hybrid working. Details of preferred hours should be stated in the personal statement and will be discussed further at interview.

Benefits include:

• 39 days annual leave inclusive of Bank Holidays and University Customary days (pro rata for part-time).
• Family and Work-life balance policies including hybrid working and considerable maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption leave.
• Generous pension scheme with life cover for dependants, plus incapacity cover.
• Health and Wellbeing: discounted access to Sportspark facilities, relaxation rooms, 320 acres of rolling parkland, wellbeing walks, Wellbeing Ambassador network, medical centre, Occupational Health and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Campus Facilities: Sportspark, library, nursery, supermarket, post office, bars and catering outlets.
• Exclusive shopping discounts to help cut the cost of household bills, childcare salary sacrifice scheme, Cycle to Work scheme and public transport discounts.
• Personal Development: unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning courses, specialist advice and training from our Organisational Development and Professional Learning Team.

Closing date: 4 July 2024

The University holds an Athena Swan Silver Institutional Award in recognition of our advancement towards gender equality.

Marie Curie is the UK's leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our Research, Policy & Public Affairs teams are responsible for taking forward the charity's mission and objectives, to develop and influence policy across the UK to deliver the best end-of-life experience for all.

Your role in our mission…
A new partnership has been established between Marie Curie, Macmillan and Race Equality First to launch the End of Life Transformation Programme (Wales). This project aims to fully map the current evidence and experiences of people who have multiple emergency admissions in the last twelve months of life. The project will move on to developing a comprehensive picture of current interventions in place to reduce emergency attendances and then explore the evidence and practical application in Wales of systems in other parts of the UK and Europe.

Working with partners in the health and care system, Cardiff University's Marie Curie Research Centre, policymakers and other key influencers, you will work as part of a team to set out a clear plan for delivering change both nationally and within public services in Wales. On completing the discovery phase of the project, you will work with partners to establish focused test and trial areas to deliver changes to the experiences of people with a terminal illness.

This is an ideal career opportunity to be at the forefront of developing strong evidence around the challenges facing people in the last twelve months of life and their interactions with emergency departments.

Additional Criteria for Success:
- Use of a wide range of community engagement tools and techniques to effect positive change
- Experience of co-creating research.
- Excellent high level written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, analysis, facilitation and presentation skills
- A strong understanding and experience of applied mixed methods research, including quantitative and qualitative.
- Ability to analyse and review evidence sources to produce comprehensive literature reviews.
- An interest in end of life care research.

Salary: - £25,600 - £28,444 per annum pro rata dependent on skills, knowledge and experience

Contract: Two-year Fixed Term Contract, part-time (22.5 hours per week)

Based: Flexible, with offices in Cardiff or Pencoed

We're happy to accommodate any requests for reasonable adjustments. Please email any requests to [email protected]

There has never been a greater need for Independent Age’s work.  More than two million older people are in poverty, with millions more living with precarious finances. At Independent Age, we believe that no older person should face financial hardship. That’s why, by 2027, our goal is to have improved the lives of one million older people.  Our information and advice, grant-making, partnership activity, policy work, and campaigning increases the financial well-being of older people, enabling them to have greater choice and independence in wider areas of life. 

As Director of Policy and Influencing, you will be responsible for ensuring robust, evidence based policy positions and the development and delivery of campaigns(including media and public affairs) to drive positive change for older people in financial hardship. You will lead our engagement work to raise our profile, grow our influence and increase our impact.

Having operated at a senior level, ideally as part of a Senior Leadership Team, you will be an inspiring leader with a demonstrable passion for our cause.  With a proven track record of successfully leading policy and influencing work that has resulted in positive change to policy or legislation, ideally in relation to older people or tackling financial hardship, you will have an astute understanding of the political environment.

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. 

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 a minimum of  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 on our jobs website.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by visiting our jobs website (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: Monday 8 July 2024

Interview Dates: Wednesday 17 July and Thursday 18 July 2024

Ambitious about Autism is looking for an experienced and qualified Financial Controller to join the team. Candidates who trained at a top 15 private accountancy firm or equivalent public body, with charity sector experience, are especially encouraged to apply.

 The Financial Controller at Ambitious about Autism (AaA) and Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust (AaAST) plays a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and completeness of the organisations' financial data. They are responsible for adhering to the Charities SORP and the Academies Financial Handbook for AaAST.

The primary responsibilities of the Financial Controller include:

• Financial Data Management: Ensuring that all financial data is accurately recorded, maintained, and reported in accordance with relevant accounting standards and guidelines.
• Compliance: Ensuring compliance with statutory and legal obligations related to financial matters. This includes managing tax affairs, including VAT, and ensuring timely and accurate payments.
• Control Environment: Establishing and maintaining a robust control environment to safeguard assets, prevent fraud, and ensure accurate financial reporting. This involves implementing internal controls, conducting regular audits, and addressing any control weaknesses or risks.
• External Scrutiny: Preparing financial reports and statements for external scrutiny, such as audits, regulatory inspections, or funder assessments. The Financial Controller ensures that all financial records and processes can withstand external scrutiny and meet the required standards.
• Finance System Development: Taking responsibility for the development and effective operation of the finance system, IRIS Financials. This includes optimising system functionality, ensuring data accuracy, providing user support and training, and exploring opportunities for process improvements and automation.
• Team management: lead the financial accounting team and ensuring an excellent service is delivered.

In summary, the Financial Controller at AaA and AaAST are responsible for maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and completeness of financial data, ensuring compliance with relevant accounting standards and legal obligations, managing tax affairs, and developing and operating an effective finance system.

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible, hybrid working and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.

Ambitious about Autism is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and we warmly welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates. We welcome applications regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, disability, or age. All applications will be considered solely on merit.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.