Policy Manager - Schools Team

SHGH Group; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy in London seeks a Policy Manager to join their team focused on education policy. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, a strong interest in schools policy, and the ability to manage multiple projects. The role offers a salary between £35,000 and £45,000, with a hybrid working model and additional perks such as a bonus program and private healthcare. Applications are encouraged from diverse backgrounds and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Benefits

Bonus programme

5% pension contribution

25 days annual leave

Private healthcare

Qualifications

• Ability to write clearly and persuasively.
• Interest in education policy and government workings.
• Organized and reliable in project management.
• Comfortable handling quantitative data.
• Collaborative and open to feedback.

Responsibilities

• Support project delivery under supervision of Directors.
• Conduct desk research and analyze data.
• Assist in advocacy activities and policy recommendations.
• Support client meetings and build relationships.
• Communicate progress and challenges effectively.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interest in schools policy

Organizational skills

Data handling

Collaboration

Job description

About Public First, an SHGH Company

Public First is a specialist consultancy that helps charities, philanthropists, public sector bodies and global brands to improve public policy. Based in London, we have worked in more than thirty international markets.

We are part think tank, part strategic consultancy, part research company, and part communications agency. In practice, we bring together the disciplines that make policy change happen: research and analysis, political insight, strategy and communications.

Our team includes former senior civil servants, political advisers, campaigners, researchers and journalists. Many of us have worked at the most senior levels of government, Parliament and political campaigns, and we continue to be active across the political spectrum.

Public First is part of SHGH, a Group of cross-border advisory firms, guiding clients through an unprecedented period of change in policy, politics, regulation, and sustainable growth.

Education at Public First

Education is one of Public First’s core areas of specialism. Many of our senior team have spent the past two decades working in and around education policy in government and opposition. Between us, we have advised Prime Ministers, Leaders of the Opposition, Education Secretaries and their Shadow teams, as well as numerous Ministers across the Department for Education.

We work across the full education lifecycle and with a wide range of clients, including schools and multi-academy trusts, universities, charities and foundations, local and national government, trade associations, and education-facing businesses.

Our education work is organised into three broad areas:

• Schools: Working with schools, multi-academy trusts, charities and foundations on issues across the schools policy landscape. Recent projects include the Commission into Countering Online Conspiracies in Schools, the Inquiry into White Working Class Educational Outcomes, the Parent Voice Project, research into attitudes to the attendance crisis, exclusions and our work on the National Tutoring Programme.

• Higher education: Working with universities and mission groups on post-18 education, research and innovation policy. Recent work includes public attitudes to tuition fees, public understanding of R&D, polling on international students, and evaluation of the Office for Students Uni-Connect programme.

• Skills: Working across the skills system with large corporates, regional bodies and national organisations.

We are now looking for someone with a strong interest in schools policy to join our growing team.

The Role

We are recruiting a Policy Manager to help deliver and shape our schools policy work. This role is suited to someone at an early stage in their career (typically with 1-3 years of relevant experience), who is intellectually curious, motivated by education policy, and keen to take on real responsibility.

Policy Managers at Public First play a central role in delivering high‑quality work for clients. You will work closely with Senior Policy Managers, Associate Directors and Directors on research, analysis and project delivery, with increasing exposure to clients, policymakers and senior stakeholders.

We recruit on potential as much as experience. We are interested in people who really care about education, who show strong judgement, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to learn – not just those who have followed a traditional policy pathway.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who:

• Is an excellent communicator. This is the single most important skill for the role. You should be able to write clearly and persuasively, translating complex policy issues into accessible, compelling language for different audiences. You should also be comfortable explaining your thinking verbally – whether to colleagues, clients, or external stakeholders – and confident using formats such as Word and PowerPoint to communicate ideas clearly and professionally.

• Has a genuine interest in schools, policy and politics. You don’t need to be a specialist yet, but you should be intellectually engaged with education policy, how government works, and how change happens in practice.

• Can manage complexity. Our projects often combine polling, qualitative and desk research, stakeholder engagement, report writing, advocacy, media and presentations. You should be organised, reliable and able to juggle multiple strands of work while maintaining high standards.

• Is comfortable working with data. While you won’t be expected to be a data specialist, you should be confident handling quantitative information and willing to build your skills in this area over time.

• Is collaborative and thoughtful. You should enjoy working as part of a team, be open to feedback and continuous improvement, and know when to ask for support. We value good judgement, professionalism and a constructive approach to problem‑solving.

Example responsibilities:

• Project delivery: Supporting the delivery of multiple projects under the direction and supervision of Associate Directors and Directors, ensuring work is delivered on time and to a high standard.

• Research and analysis: Conducting desk research, focus groups, polling, analysing quantitative and qualitative data, and contributing to written outputs.

• Advocacy and engagement: Supporting advocacy and engagement activity linked to our research, including helping to develop policy recommendations, briefings and messaging, and supporting engagement with policymakers, parliamentarians, sector leaders and other stakeholders.

• Client support: Working professionally, supporting meetings and briefings, and beginning to build trusted relationships.

• Team working: Collaborating effectively with colleagues across Public First, communicating clearly about progress and challenges, and contributing positively to team and organisational culture.

Location and Salary

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and particularly encourage applications from candidates with disabilities and candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We operate a hybrid working model, with a mix of home and office working. Our main office is based in Victoria. Many of us, including the founders, have young children and we work hard to be genuinely family‑friendly.

Salary will depend on experience. For this role we expect salary to range from £35,000-£45,000 for a Policy Manager, depending on candidate experience.

We also offer a bonus programme, 5% pension contribution, 25 days annual leave, and private healthcare.

How to apply

Please apply below by submitting your CV and answering the application questions. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we encourage early applications.

Interviews will either be online or in person at our office in Victoria, London.

Closing date: 16th January 2026.