Policy Manager

Reporting To: Chief Executive

Role Purpose:

Responsible Finance is the membership association for the UK’s Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs are community lenders, committed to delivering positive social impact, and offer fair and affordable finance to businesses,social enterprise sand topeopleunable to access it elsewhere.

This is a pivotal moment to be joining the CDFI sector.Responsible Finance and CDFIs are poised for exciting growth following two record-breakingfunding announcements in late 2024which has seen the sector backed by Government and leading financial institutions including the British Business Bank and JPMorgan Chase. This follows Lloyds Banking Group becoming the first mainstream lender to invest in the CDFI sector earlier in the year.

The Government has also announced it is backing Responsible Finance to develop a roadmap for growth, and a new APPG for CDFIs has been set up with the official launch set for May 2026.

We are seeking an exceptional candidate to ensure that CDFIs from all sectors receive the policy and regulatory support they need to thrive.

You will manage key aspects of Responsible Finance’s policy work including consultation responses, briefings, MP outreach and building a supportive network of MPs, and writing articles to highlight key issues with the Government and our stakeholders. You will also lead on the production of RF’s annual impact report.

No prior knowledge about CDFIs is required so long as you have a keen interest to learn about the sector and are passionate about increasing access to fair finance for businesses, underserved communities and people. Do not be discouraged from applying if you do not meet all the criteria listed in this job description. If you know how to deliver results at the policy level and are a committed team player, with a can-do attitude, we want to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities:

We are looking for a candidate experienced in Policy to take forward our work with the Government and other stakeholders on supporting the growth and resilience of the UK’s Community Development Finance Institutions.

• Policy:Supporting Responsible Finance’s work with the Government including on key initiatives such as the CDFI roadmap, the new APPG for CDFIs, and managing relationships with key departments such as Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury, and the Financial Conduct Authority, as well as relationships at a policy level with partner organisations.
• Representation:Attending events and round tables representing Responsible Finance.
• Consultation responses:Identifying and responding to Government and other stakeholder consultations to advocate for the CDFI sector, working closely with members to inform your responses.
• MP Engagement:lead Responsible Finance’s programme of MP outreach to continue to build a base of supportive MPs and peers within parliament.
• Partnership working:Contributing to relevant campaigns and policy forums to strengthen Responsible Finance’s influence on policies that impact the sector.
• Communications:Write clear and engaging policy briefs, reports, and articles to communicate Responsible Finance’s priorities to the Government and other stakeholders. This includes writing a monthly stakeholder newsletter article.
• Impact report:Lead on Responsible Finance’s annual member Impact Report, published annually in May.
• APPG:Spearhead Responsible Finance’s role as secretariat for the new APPG for CDFIs.
• Horizon scanning:Monitor the latest research, track political debates and identify new policy developments in the areas of community finance, inclusive growth and financial inclusion.

This is a varied and dynamic role, and candidates will need to work closely with the wider team to align our policy work with our programme work. This description is not exhaustive; it outlines the key tasks and responsibilities of the post which are subject to change. Any changes will be made in consultation with the post holder.

Skills and Experience:

This role requires the following skills and…