Policy Lead, hireful

Location
:
Hybrid

Department
:
External Affairs & Communications directorate

Salary
: £51,000 - £57,500

Hours
:
Full-time (35 hours per week). Flexible arrangements welcomed.

Contract Type
:
Permanent

Closing Date
: 12th January 2026, 10.00am

Benefits: 10% employer pension contribution (NEST), HSF Health cash Plan covering employee partners and dependants under 18, 28 days Annual Leave plus bank holidays (increases with length of service), 2 hours weekly wellbeing time out, Employee assistance program (GP advice lines, virtual doctors, prescription services, emotional wellbeing support, legal help line, counselling), funded eye site test (Specsavers), Pay it forward days – 2 days volunteering, Mindful Employer, Perkbox and Reward Gateway – discount platforms.

Our client is at a critical stage in the evolution of their strategy, and to help build the next era of healthcare, their influence with national decision makers will be crucial. The 10-year plan creates opportunities for the charity sector that they must capitalise on.

This role will report to the Associate Director of Policy and Influencing to help shape policy and influencing activity, including assessing opportunities and risks, and make recommendations for action. It will involve building and utilising strategic relationships, and in‑depth policy knowledge, to develop and take forward evidence‑based, responsive propositions which translate into funded opportunities for the sector, and to influence improvements in the policy and regulatory environment in which charities operate, to enhance impact.

You will have experience of policy development, be a strategic thinker and excellent at building relationships in a complex stakeholder environment.

• Work with the AD of Policy and Influencing to scope policy and influencing strategy, assessing opportunities and risks and make recommendations for action.
• Hold relevant policy, strategy and wider contextual expertise and knowledge for the organisation – and the sector – including in‑depth understanding of current frameworks and horizon‑scanning future developments, identifying issues of interest to the organisation and their members.
• Build‑term strategic relationships with policymakers – including Government, especially the Department of Health and Social Care, and other relevant bodies and health organisations.
• Translate knowledge and strategic relationships into:
  Opportunities for the sector – including through propositions and influencing potential funders / commissioners / decision‑makers.
• Improve the policy, regulatory and strategic environment within which charities operate, through evidence‑based policy calls and influencing.

The main duties and responsibilities of the role holder are as outlined below:

• Support the AD of Policy &encing on organisational policy and influencing strategy.
• Hold organisational policy expertise on identified issues for the charity sector; developing evidence‑based policy positions and relevant strategy for influence.
• Work with the Insights and Impact Specialist to ensure sector learnings and impact data inform organisational policy and are shared with policymakers.
• Produce policy briefings and reports for targeted stakeholders.
• Respond to relevant policy consultations.
• Provide reports and information for colleagues within the organisation to ensure understanding of policy and public affairs and to support organisational strategy.
• Lead on the policy content and analysis for policy and influencing tools such as Financial Comparison survey.
• Build relationships with relevant strategic partners (and potential partners) in Government, health care, academia, VCSE and other sectors to support organisational strategy.
• Identify and connect into relevant networks, including representing the organisation and the sector.
• Arrange briefings and roundtable events for targeted stakeholders.
• Support communication and sector engagement related to policy and public affairs, including identifying relevant policy information needed from members; mobilising membership behind relevant calls, and supporting development of members’ skills and capacity…