Policy Officer

Alzheimer's Society; Ambleside; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity focused on dementia is seeking a Policy Officer to support major policy changes across the UK. This full-time role requires excellent analytical and communication skills to engage stakeholders and influence policy development. The successful candidate will monitor policy effectiveness and ensure the voices of affected individuals are central to decision-making. This role not only offers a competitive salary but also significant benefits including a double-matched pension scheme and flexible working arrangements. Applications close on 16th January 2026.

Benefits

Double-matched pension scheme

27 days annual leave

Health Shield Cash Plan

Flexible working

Free Will-writing service

Qualifications

• Experience working in a complex policy environment.
• Ability to translate complex data into accessible policy content.
• Experience involving patients and service users in policy work.

Responsibilities

• Determine the Society's stance on issues affecting those with dementia.
• Engage with stakeholders to shape policy outcomes.
• Monitor progress and report on policy activity.

Skills

Policy development

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Job description

We are recruiting for a Policy Officer to join on a full-time, permanent contract, working 35 hours per week.

About the role

This role is key to supporting Alzheimer’s Society's ambitions to drive major system and policy change in diagnosis, care and treatment across England, Northern Ireland and Wales at an exciting time in dementia policy. Evidence‑based, collaborative, engaging and innovative policymaking will be central to everything the Policy Officer does.

Key responsibilities

As Policy Officer you will play an important role in determining what the Society thinks about the big issues affecting people affected by dementia. Through robust scoping and policy development, you will help to identify the action needed to affect change and help ensure our influencing activity is evidence‑driven, timely and relevant across the three nations in which we work – nationally and locally.

You will be an expert policy advisor to colleagues across the Society and support Policy Managers to deliver against agreed integrated plans, including helping to monitor progress and performance and working with others to gather evidence, insight and data to underpin our policy work. Key to the success of this role is engaging others in the policy development process, sharing analysis, opinion and insight to inspire high‑quality, dynamic policymaking.

• Scoping, developing and working with others to mobilise our organisational policy positions, in line with agreed organisational priorities.
• Helping to monitor and report progress on our policy activity in line with the Evidence, Policy and Influencing integrated plan, noting how policy work is informing our approach to national and local influencing.
• Ensuring the experience and insight of people with and affected by dementia is at the heart of all our policy work.
• Embedding all work in a systems leadership approach, working across organisational and geographical boundaries to achieve objectives.
• Driving engagement, awareness and involvement in our policy work through effective communication across the Society and beyond to ensure maximum impact.
• Building impactful, sustainable relationships with external stakeholders such as partners in NHS systems, Government, think tanks and other charities, to further our strategic objectives.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a complex policy environment with a sound understanding of the wider political environment, preferably in relation to health and care.
• Experience involving patients, service users and/or those living with long‑term health conditions in your work.
• A team player, naturally collaborative, with good attention to detail and a curiosity to challenge the status quo.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to translate highly complex data into clear, accessible policy content.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to produce high‑quality recommendations.

Benefits

• Double‑matched pension scheme.
• 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and wellbeing days).
• Free Health Shield Cash Plan, 24/7 EAP, Thrive mental wellbeing support and virtual GP services.
• Society Plus platform with exclusive discounts, wellbeing resources and recognition schemes.
• Flexible working, family‑friendly policies and life assurance.
• Free Will‑writing service and long‑service awards.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We strongly encourage individuals with a disability, impairment or health condition, or those who identify as part of a minority ethnic background, to apply. These groups are currently under‑represented at Alzheimer’s Society.

Hiring process

Applications are anonymised until the interview stage and we support adjustments where needed. Interviews will be conducted via MS Teams on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th January 2026.

Closing

Applications will close if we reach the required number of suitable candidates or on 16th January 2026.