Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Devolved Nations)

RCPCH; Northern Ireland; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) seeks a Policy and Public Affairs Officer for the Devolved Nations. This role supports policy development, advocacy and communications to improve child health in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It involves working with paediatricians, government officials and healthcare organisations to advance priorities. Based home-based across devolved nations, the role includes drafting responses, briefings, media content and stakeholder

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in policy, public affairs or communications.
• Strong knowledge of policy processes in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
• Experience producing policy outputs, including consultations, briefs and reports.
• Experience creating engaging content for digital channels.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building.

Responsibilities

• Support development of policy positions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Draft consultation responses, policy briefings and stakeholder communications.
• Provide expertise on political and health service landscapes within devolved nations.
• Support public affairs and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Produce content for websites, social media and newsletters to support advocacy.
• Draft media content and briefing materials with colleagues.
• Support meetings with policymakers and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate work of Executive Committees across devolved nations.
• Assist with administrative and financial processes, including invoices.

Skills

Policy & public affairs

Communications

Stakeholder management

Content creation

Job description

Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Devolved Nations)

£34,839 per annum plus excellent benefits

Home-based

35 hours per week, full-time

Permanent

Closing date: 11 October 2026

Interviews: w/c 19 October 2026

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking a talented and motivated Policy and Public Affairs Officer to join our Devolved Nations team. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to policy development, advocacy and communications activity that helps improve child health outcomes across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Working as part of the Policy and Public Affairs (Devolved Nations) team, you will play an important role in supporting the College’s policy and public affairs priorities. You will help build relationships with policymakers and stakeholders, support advocacy campaigns, develop policy positions and create engaging communications content that raises the profile of child health issues across the devolved nations.

This varied and rewarding role offers the opportunity to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including paediatricians, senior College Officers, politicians, government officials, charities and healthcare organisations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the development of policy positions specific to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, ensuring they reflect the needs of RCPCH members and have influence across the wider UK policy landscape
• Drafting consultation responses, policy briefings, reports and stakeholder communications on child health and paediatric issues
• Providing expertise and advice on the political, governmental and health service landscape within the devolved nations
• Supporting the delivery of public affairs and stakeholder engagement activity, helping to build productive relationships with governments, policymakers and health sector organisations
• Producing content for websites, social media, newsletters and other digital communications channels to support advocacy and engagement objectives
• Drafting media content, including quotes, press releases and briefing materials, in collaboration with colleagues across the College
• Supporting senior College Officers and staff during meetings and engagement with policymakers and external stakeholders
• Coordinating and supporting the work of Executive Committees across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Assisting with administrative and financial processes, including invoice processing and supplier registration
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the College to maximise the impact of policy, communications and public affairs activity

Essential skills and experience include:

• Demonstrable experience in policy, public affairs, communications or a related field
• Strong knowledge and understanding of policy and legislative processes in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
• Experience producing high-quality policy and communications outputs, including consultation responses, policy briefings, reports and media content
• Experience creating engaging content for digital channels, including websites, social media and email communications
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work to tight deadlines
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team environment

Desirable:

• Experience working within healthcare, government, a membership organisation or the third sector
• Knowledge of public health, health inequalities or wider health service issues
• Experience working on issues relating to children and young people

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows worldwide and employs around 200 staff across the UK. Our devolved nations teams play a vital role in ensuring that the needs of children and young people are represented at every level of government and policy-making.

Our values – Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire – are central to everything we do. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are under-represented at this level of the organisation.

We operate a flexible and modern hybrid working policy. While this role is home-based in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, travel across the devolved nations and occasional travel elsewhere in the UK will be required.