Public Affairs & Campaigns Manager
We are looking for a Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager to join the Policy and Advocacy team. At a pivotal moment for Leukaemia UK, you will lead and manage our political influencing work, ensuring our profile and reputation remains high and we are able to influence political decisions. With our new strategy period beginning in 2027, over the next 5 years we plan to increase our investment into ground‑breaking research and campaigning to improve diagnosis, treatment and care. We are in a period of significant growth, investing to grow our income, profile, influence, engagement and impact. Having developed our policy, public affairs and campaigns function over the current strategy period, this role will help take this to the next level and play a key role in strengthening our ability to influence change across the UK.
Responsibilities
As the Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager, you will work closely with the Head of Policy and Advocacy and the Policy Officer to ensure a coordinated, insight‑led and strategically aligned approach to policy development, public affairs and campaigning activity across the organisation. You will strengthen and grow the charity’s profile, influence and impact among political stakeholders and senior civil servants across all four UK administrations. You will ensure that the patient voice is heard and acted upon by key decision‑makers, while also ensuring that the needs and priorities of individuals affected by leukaemia are understood, represented, valued and embedded within our influencing and campaigning strategies. You will lead the development of creative and innovative campaigning approaches, using a range of tactics to effectively engage supporters, partners and policy makers. You will create compelling opportunities for stakeholders to join our efforts to drive policy change, and ensure that our campaigns are visible, impactful and aligned to our policy priorities. You will work closely with the Communications team to amplify campaigns across digital channels, and support the identification and development of new opportunities for PR, media engagement and thought leadership. You will represent Leukaemia UK in multiple charity coalitions and forums to keep leukaemia on the political agenda.
Qualifications
Required
- Experience of working within public affairs and/or campaigning, with demonstrable impact in influencing policy or driving change (candidates should have strong experience in at least one of these areas, with an understanding of how they work together)
- Experience of influencing government, policy makers and/or decision makers, preferably within the health, research or charity sector
- Experience of developing and delivering public affairs and/or campaigning strategies, including planning, delivery and evaluation
- Experience of engaging and managing a range of stakeholders, including policy makers, partners, and supporters
- Experience of producing high‑quality written outputs such as briefings, consultation responses, or campaign materials to influence decision makers
- Experience of working collaboratively across teams, particularly with communications functions
- Experience of monitoring and evaluating activity to assess impact and inform future approaches
- Experience of delivering multiple projects and programmes in a fast‑paced environment
Desirable
- Experience of integrating campaigning with digital, PR or communications strategies
- Experience of identifying PR, media or thought leadership opportunities
- Experience of working in the cancer or wider health policy environment
- Experience of line management or supporting others’ development
Essential Knowledge and Personal Traits
- Strong understanding of the UK political and policy landscape, including how decisions are made and influenced
- Understanding of how public affairs and campaigning can work together to drive change, including supporter engagement and mobilisation
- Ability to think strategically and identify opportunities to influence policy and public debate
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to different audiences
- Strong relationship‑building skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders with differing perspectives
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail
- A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and an understanding of the importance of engaging with patients and under‑represented groups
- A proactive, collaborative and solutions‑focused approach, with the ability to work at pace
Desirable Traits
- Knowledge of the cancer, research or NHS policy landscape
- Experience of working with patients or in an advocacy capacity
Job Details
- Full time: 37.5 hours per week, worked Monday to Friday.
- Location: Our offices are based in Central London and we operate hybrid working; you are required to work from the office at least one day per fortnight and as appropriate for internal and external meetings.
- Annual Salary: £40,000 - £50,000.
Benefits
- 36 days holiday per year, including bank holidays - pro rata for part time employees.
- Pension default is 4% employee and 4% employer and we match up to 6%.
- Life Assurance x 4 cover.
- Critical Illness Cover.
- Cash back healthcare scheme & Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
- Hybrid Working.
- Company sick pay.
- Individual training budgets.
