Policy Lead

NHS Charities Together; Warwick; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A national healthcare charity in the UK is looking for a Policy and Influencing Lead. This role is pivotal in shaping policy and building strategic relationships with key decision-makers in the health sector. Responsibilities include developing evidence-based policy strategies, engaging with stakeholders, and ensuring the charity’s voice is influential in governmental decisions. The position offers a salary of £51,000 - £57,500 and hybrid working flexibility, along with a generous benefits package including pension contributions and annual leave.

Benefits

10% employer's pension contribution

28 days Annual Leave plus bank holidays

Employee assistance programme

Mindful Employer Perkbox

Qualifications

• Expertise in policy development relevant to the NHS charity sector.
• Ability to build long-term strategic relationships with policymakers.
• Strong communication skills to articulate policy positions.

Responsibilities

• Support policy and influencing strategy for NHS Charities Together.
• Develop evidence-based policy positions for the NHS charity sector.
• Build and maintain relationships with strategic partners.

Skills

Policy development

Strategic relationships

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Job description

Location: Hybrid

Department: External Affairs & Communications directorate

Salary: £51,000 - £57,500

Hours: This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), however, we welcome applicants with proposals for shared working arrangements or other flexibilities.

Contract Type: Permanent

Benefits

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

Overall Purpose

We are at a critical stage in the evolution of our strategy, and to help build the next era of healthcare, our influence with national decision makers will be crucial. The 10‑year plan for the NHS creates opportunities for the NHS charity sector that we must capitalise on.

Overall Objectives

• 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 our members.
• Build long‑term strategic relationships with policymakers – including Government, especially the Department of Health and Social Care, and other relevant NHS bodies and health organisations.
• Translate knowledge and strategic relationships into:
  • Opportunities for the sector – including through propositions and influencing potential funders / commissioners / decision‑makers.
  • Improvements in the policy, regulatory and strategic environment within which NHS charities operate, through evidence‑based policy calls and influencing.

Key Responsibilities

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

• Support the AD of Policy & Influencing on organisational policy and influencing strategy.
• Policy development / expertise
  • Hold organisational policy expertise on identified issues for the NHS 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 NHS Charities Together 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 the Financial Comparison survey.
• Influencing
  • 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 round‑table events for targeted stakeholders.
• Membership Policy engagement
  • Support communication and sector engagement related to policy and public affairs, including identifying relevant policy information needed from members; mobilisation of membership behind relevant calls, and supporting development of members’ skills and capacity relating to influencing and government relations.
• Other Duties
  • Act as a champion for NHS Charities Together and NHS charities.
  • Visibly live NHS Charities Together’s values, including our commitment to diversity and inclusion, particularly by ensuring that our policy and public affairs activity takes into account the diversity of the communities and members that we support.
  • Carry out the duties of the post in accordance with NHS Charities Together’s policies and procedures on Health and Safety and take responsibility for ensuring personal health and safety.
  • Work flexibly, prioritise workload and work effectively as part of a team.
  • Adhere to relevant legislation, best practice, policies and processes including, but not limited to charity law, the fundraising regulator, GDPR and professional codes and standards.
  • Represent NHS Charities Together as needed.

REF-225 785