Policy and Public Affairs Officer in Cambridge

We are looking for a Policy and Public Affairs Officer to lead and deliver the Foundation’s policy and influencing work to support evidence-based system change. As part of our influencing team, you will drive the delivery of an influencing strategy and create strategic partnerships that have the potential to deliver regional and national impact. You will work closely with senior colleagues, programme teams, and external partners to ensure that learning from the Foundation’s work informs national and regional policy debates.

The role combines policy development and public affairs engagement, with the role holder representing the Foundation in external policy forums, as well as building partnerships across the sector, and positioning the Foundation’s research, evidence, and learning to inform public policy. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with experience in policy development and stakeholder engagement for system change, who is motivated by our charitable mission.

Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Experience of influencing Government and public policy in a comparable role.
• Demonstrable significant experience in parliamentary affairs and an excellent knowledge of the UK political landscape including the working of Westminster, Whitehall, and regional Government.
• Demonstrable experience in developing and maintaining collaborations with a wide range of partners.
• Experience of developing policy positions and articulating these convincingly to decision makers and stakeholders.
• Experience of efficiently and accurately analysing complex information in a clear and concise manner for written materials and for different audiences.
• Experience of working productively across multidisciplinary teams.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of methods used in public policy development and influencing.
• Knowledge of the structures of Government in the mayoral strategic authorities.
• An understanding of how structural inequalities impact on policy and political outcomes.
• Knowledge of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion principles and how to apply them in real-world settings.

Personal skills/qualities

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively at all levels with partners and senior stakeholders including brokering new partnerships.
• Ability to drive the delivery of the influencing strategy and able to think laterally and creatively about opportunities.
• Outstanding written communication skills including the ability to write for different internal and external audiences.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, in order to be able to effectively communicate complex positions to policy makers and other stakeholders.
• Ability to develop policy positions and articulate these convincingly to decision makers and stakeholders.
• Ability to process large amounts of detailed information and present them in a succinct and persuasive manner.
• Ability to maintain political impartiality and be discreet.
• Self-motivated, with drive and commitment.
• Exceptional organisational skills, ability to keep to a clear timetable, work to tight deadlines and under pressure and an ability to work independently.
• Excellent facilitation and relationship management skills.
• Well-developed ICT skills, including word-processing, Excel and CRMs.
• A team player, able to work both on own initiative and in a collegiate manner.
• Commitment to the Foundation’s vision and mission.

The Foundation is committed to ensuring all staff are empowered to contribute fully to our work and the Foundation strives to ensure equity and fairness throughout the organisation. We support equality of opportunity and promote an inclusive culture. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, across all protected characteristics and socio-economic status and particularly encourage submissions from those with lived experience of speaking another language. We can only accept applications from those who have the right to work in the UK.