Policy Officer in Derby

Do you have experience working in a complex policy environment, with sound understanding of the wider political environment? Are you able to involve patients, service users or those living with long-term health conditions in your work to help identify the action needed to affect change?

We are recruiting for a Policy Officer to join on a full-time basis, working 35 hours per week. This is a fixed-term, maternity cover contract for 12 months with a projected start date of May/June 2026. This is a home-based role, with occasional travel required to attend team meetings.

This role is key to supporting Alzheimer's Society's ambitions to drive major system and policy change in diagnosis, care and treatment across England, Northern Ireland and Wales at an exciting time in dementia policy. Evidence-based, collaborative, engaging and innovative policymaking will be central to everything the Policy Officer does.

As Policy Officer you will play an important role in determining what the Society thinks about the big issues affecting people affected by dementia. Through robust scoping and policy development, you will help to identify the action needed to affect change and help ensure our influencing activity is evidence-driven, timely and relevant across the three nations in which we work nationally and locally.

You will be an expert policy advisor to colleagues across the Society and support Policy Managers to deliver against agreed integrated plans, including helping to monitor progress and performance and working with others to gather evidence, insight and data to underpin our policy work. Key to the success of this role is engaging others in the policy development process, sharing analysis, opinion and insight to inspire high-quality, dynamic policymaking.

About you: Joining us, you will have experience working in a complex policy environment, with sound understanding of the wider political environment, preferably in relation to health and care. You will have experience involving patients, service users and/or those living with long-term health conditions in your work.

Crucially, you will be a team player, naturally collaborative, with good attention to detail and be curious and challenging of the status quo. You will be a good communicator with the ability to use written/verbal communication skills to build positive relationships with stakeholders and produce high-quality and accessible policy content. This includes translating highly complex data and developments into insightful commentary and recommendations.

What you'll focus on:

• Scoping, developing and working with others to mobilise our organisational policy positions, in line with agreed organisational priorities.
• Helping to monitor and report progress on our policy activity in line with the Evidence, Policy and Influencing integrated plan, noting how policy work is informing our approach to national and local influencing.
• Ensuring the experience and insight of people with and affected by dementia is at the heart of all our policy work.
• Embedding all work in a systems leadership approach, working across organisational and geographical boundaries to achieve objectives.
• Driving engagement, awareness and involvement in our policy work through effective communication across the Society and beyond to ensure maximum impact.
• Building impactful, sustainable relationships with external stakeholders such as partners in NHS systems, Government, think tanks and other charities, to further our strategic objectives.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging: We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as part of a minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.

Our hiring process: We want you to bring your whole self to the process. Applications are anonymised until interview stage, and we're happy to support any adjustments. Share your feedback via our candidate survey when applying to help us improve. We may close early if we receive high interest (with 48 hours notice). Some roles may require a DBS check as part of our safer recruitment commitment.

Giving back to you: At Alzheimer's Society, we value our people and take a total reward approach to pay and benefits. You'll enjoy a generous double-matched pension scheme, 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and wellbeing days), and access to a free HealthShield Cash Plan, 24/7 EAP, Thrive mental wellbeing support, and virtual GP services. Our Society Plus platform offers exclusive discounts, wellbeing resources, and recognition schemes, while our flexible working, family-friendly policies, and life assurance provide peace of mind and work/life balance. We also offer a free Will-writing service and long service awards to recognise your ongoing commitment.