Policy and Public Affairs Manager

As Policy and Public Affairs Manager, you will help ensure London Youth is a credible, influential voice on issues affecting young people and the organisations that support them. Sitting within the Fundraising and Communications Directorate, you will work closely with the CEO, senior leadership, and youth participation, communications, fundraising, and delivery colleagues to deliver demonstrable external influence and impact.

You will craft clear, evidence-based policy positions that shape debate and influence decision-making at London and national level, ensuring that policymakers understand and respond to the realities facing young people in London. Through effective internal engagement, you will also ensure colleagues and our members are well-informed and equipped to respond to key policy developments.

You will successfully represent the voice of London Youth's members and the young people they support, helping to secure greater recognition, investment, and support for youth services. By building strong relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians, and sector partners working to address the issues affecting young people in the capital, you will help position London Youth as a trusted and respected contributor to relevant policy discussions.

At a time of significant change across the youth sector, you will play a central role in campaigning for systematic change and in building the profile of London Youth and the wider voluntary sector as the Government's 10-year National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, is implemented. You will help ensure commitments translate into meaningful outcomes for young people, particularly in relation to youth services, enrichment opportunities and support for young people not in education, employment, or training, and strengthen long-term investment in youth provision.

What you will be doing:

• You will lead the development and delivery of London Youth's policy and public affairs work, building a clear and consistent understanding of the London and national context for young people and youth organisations.
• Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, including communications, fundraising, delivery, and MEL, you will help develop a clear and compelling case for support and influence.
• You will work in close partnership with the CEO and the CEO's office, acting as a trusted policy adviser, supporting the CEO's external policy engagements, positioning, and relationships with senior policymakers and influencers.
• You will monitor emerging political and policy developments and relevant funding announcements, providing insight and analysis to identify opportunities for engagement.
• You will draft swift organisational responses to key policy announcements, in collaboration with the CEO and communications team, and ensure relevant intelligence and opportunities inform the work of the fundraising team.
• You will develop, maintain, and communicate evidence-based policy positions, insights, and priorities, convening our members regularly to inform clear policy asks and advocacy.
• You will shape briefings and consultation responses that reflect the needs of London Youth's members and the young people they support.
• You will oversee and track our policy influencing activity, identifying emerging policy developments, coordinating internal input, engaging stakeholders, and representing London Youth in external policy and public affairs forums, and reporting on the impact of our policy work.
• You will strengthen policy work through insight and engagement, analysing relevant data and research from our membership and working with the Learning and Impact Lead to ensure insights from London Youth's network inform policy development.
• You will also identify opportunities for members and young people from our Youth Board to engage in policy work, including through consultations, networks, and events.
• You will build and maintain strong relationships with key London and national stakeholders, identifying opportunities for partnership working with other organisations and ensuring London Youth has a visible, credible voice in debates affecting young people.
• You will contribute to London Youth's communications, campaigns and profile, working with colleagues to shape policy activity across digital channels, produce engaging written content including articles and speeches, craft organisational messaging, support youth-led engagement, and contribute to London Youth's thematic networks, influencing events and media opportunities.

What you bring to the role:

• Knowledge and Experience:

• Strong understanding of how policy is developed in the London and national context, and experience of engaging with political agendas on behalf of a charitable or membership organisation.
• Experience in developing robust policy positions, responses, and solutions, and influencing politicians and decision-makers.
• Up-to-date, proven experience in public affairs, parliamentary engagement or a related policy-influencing roles, with a clear track record of driving meaningful change.
• Good understanding of UK parliamentary and government processes, and of current policy areas impacting young people in London and across the UK.
• Experience of producing a range of briefings and written materials, including research findings, public statements, consultation responses, and briefings for senior colleagues.
• Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with opinion-formers and other key stakeholders.

• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, especially when it comes to policy partners.
• Demonstrate confidence to engage and build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including those at senior level.
• A confident verbal communicator and presenter able to represent London Youth within policy forums, consortia, and networking events.
• Demonstrate ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team, with proven ability to innovate and deliver change.
• Demonstrate ability to analyse, summarise, and present evidence to different audiences.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ensuring young people have prominent platforms to voice their views directly on the issues that affect them.
• Demonstrate a commitment to strengthening London's Youth sector.
• Be willing to work some evenings and the occasional weekend.
• Understanding and supporting the vision, mission, and aims of London Youth.
• Demonstrate living our values of being: Ambitious, Collaborative, Inclusive, Accountable.

Benefits:

• Generous holiday allowance - 39 days paid holiday each year, including bank holidays and closure days. Pro-rata if you work part time.
• Employer 4% pension contribution.
• Additional leave granted to support voluntary activity.
• Free Health Care Cash Plan.
• Free access for you and your family to the Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free access to the 'Headspace' app for you and your family.
• Flexible working opportunities considered.
• You'll be working with a fantastic team of passionate colleagues across London Youth.
• You will be making a difference to the lives of young people.