Head of Policy and Influencing, Macular Society

Full-time, permanent

Based in Andover, Hampshire or hybrid/remote

£52,000 - £54,000

Based in Andover, Hampshire or hybrid/remote

Are you an experienced policy professional who would love to use your skills to help us Beat Macular Disease?

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day.

The Macular Society is the only charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world-class research, and the best advice and support.

To support people affected by macular disease now, the Macular Society provides a range of support, information and services. Our research programme is focused on finding new treatments and a cure to beat macular disease forever.

This role provides strategic leadership of the Macular Society’s policy and influencing work, ensuring that the needs and experiences of people living with macular disease shape our policy positions and campaigning activity.

You will be leading the development and delivery of a policy and influencing strategy to ensure our voice is heard at the highest levels across government and healthcare.

This is a truly exciting opportunity to shape the direction of a new function for the organisation. If you're a self-starter, with strong policy development, campaigning or advocacy experience and the ability to develop and deliver influencing strategies that achieve impact, then we would love to hear from you. We're looking for someone who can take the lead in developing our work to make vision matter, and who can create and lead a great team to deliver change.

In return, we provide a great working culture and offer flexible working options, 27 days’ annual leave, the ability to buy or sell annual leave, supportive family policies, and 6% pension contribution.

Macular Society is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability in the covering letter/application email
• Where the minimum (essential) criteria have been met, we will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and welcome applications from all parts of the community, in particular people with lived experience of sight loss.

The role can be done from the office in Andover or hybrid/remotely, by negotiation with the successful candidate. Regular travel to in-person meetings with policymakers and key stakeholders will be required for the role.

Closing date: 13th September

Interviews: 29th and 30th September

Other organisations may call this role Head of Policy, Head of Public Affairs, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Head of External Affairs, Head of Government Affairs, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Policy Director, or Director of Policy and Influencing.