Parliamentary and Policy Researcher to Bishops and St Edmundsbury

Job Description

The purpose of the role is to support the Bishops of Manchester, Peterborough, and St Edmundsbury & Ipswich in their duties as Members of the House of Lords. The work includes research and information gathering, drafting speeches and questions, managing meetings, appointments and other events on behalf of the Bishops and such other work as they and the Head of Parliamentary Affairs may require from time to time.

The Parliamentary and Policy Researcher’s priorities and tasks will be determined by the Bishops, with whom the postholder will be expected to have frequent direct contact along with their key advisers. In conjunction with their offices, the Head of Parliamentary Affairs will manage, guide and oversee the parliamentary work of the postholder. The postholder’s working time will be divided equally between the three Bishops.

Flexibility in the working pattern will be required, depending on the respective requirements of each, their commitments in the House of Lords, including duty weeks. The work of the Bishops in the House of Lords is guided by their policy and local interests, as well as their status as religious leaders with a national profile.

• The Bishop of Manchester is the Convener of the Lords Spiritual. In this role, he chairs meetings of the Lords Spiritual, liaises with bodies within the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and works closely with the Parliamentary Unit at Church House. His areas of interest include housing and homelessness, crime and policing, international trade, and regional issues impacting Manchester and the North-west.
• Bishop of Peterborough’s areas of interest include Children and Young People, Education, and Health and Social Care.
• Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich was the lead Bishop for Safeguarding in the National Church before translating to the diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, and remains deputy Safeguarding Lead. She also has an interest in media and justice issues.

As such, the post may be well suited to someone who has particular experience of or interest in these areas of policy.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held on 11th March 2026.

• Supporting the Bishops in their work in the House of Lords, and the Bishop of Manchester’s role as Convener of the Lords Spiritual.
• Advising on and researching materials for parliamentary speeches and interventions.
• Monitoring and keeping the Bishops of Manchester, Peterborough, and St Edmundsbury & Ipswich informed about relevant parliamentary developments and timetables.
• Liaising with MPs, Peers and their staff, Parliamentary officials and others in and outside the NCIs on behalf of the Bishops.
• Drafting articles for publication, press notices or social media about the Bishops’ work, in close collaboration with their Communications Officers.
• Providing research resources for the Bishops in their dioceses for non-parliamentary work. This may involve researching and drafting for talks, articles and lectures.
• Assisting with disseminating the Church’s responses to specific issues or bills, as agreed with the Head of Parliamentary Affairs and Deputy Head of Parliamentary Affairs. Supporting the Head and Deputy Head of Parliamentary Affairs in their wider responsibilities and standing in for them as and when required.
• Working with the Parliamentary Team to ensure that the Bishops are kept abreast of the wider activities of the Lords Spiritual and the Parliamentary Team.

• Degree level or 2 years of experience in a political or parliamentary environment.
• Willingness and ability to work some unsocial hours when required and possible travel to Diocesan offices/events on occasion.
• Excellent communication skills, verbally and in writing. Proven ability in drafting briefing papers or press releases, bulletins or other accessible modes of communication.
• Excellent organisational skills, including time management and diary management.
• Research skills, with the ability to gather information quickly and accurately and to produce content in forms suitable for both brief speeches and full-length addresses.
• Ability to discern the impact of policies,…