Senior Policy and Public Affairs (Northern Ireland) 21 hours

Hospice UK; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 38,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading health charity in Northern Ireland is seeking an individual to work on policy and public affairs, playing a crucial role in advocating for the hospice sector. This position involves responsibilities such as research and analysis of policy developments, engaging with stakeholders, and representing the charity at key events. The ideal candidate will have experience in policy and public affairs within Northern Ireland, strong communication skills, and the ability to build relationships. This part-time role offers a competitive salary and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

25 days pro-rata leave

Matched pension scheme

Family-friendly culture

Learning and development opportunities

Enhanced carers leave

Qualifications

• Essential experience in policy, public affairs, campaigns or a related field in Northern Ireland.
• Good understanding of policy development and/or parliamentary processes in Northern Ireland.
• Ability to quickly read, understand and respond to complex information.

Responsibilities

• Keep track of policy and political developments in Stormont and analyse their impact.
• Plan and deliver public affairs activity to achieve strategic aims.
• Develop effective working relationships with key partners and stakeholders.
• Act as a media spokesperson and represent at external events.
• Understand challenges faced by hospices in Northern Ireland.

Skills

Policy development

Public affairs

Excellent communication

Influencing skills

Relationship-building

Job description

Details

Salary: £22,800 per annum based on 3 days/21 hours per week (FTE: £38,000 per annum).

Contract: Fixed‑term contract for two years. Part‑time role working 3 days (21 hours) per week.

Location: The position will be based in Northern Ireland, with a desk at Northern Ireland Hospice, Belfast. This role is eligible for the Hospice UK Hybrid Working Arrangement from the start of employment. Hospice UK’s head office is based in London. This role will have full web‑based connectivity to the central office, with regular opportunities to engage with the line manager and colleagues via email, face‑to‑face meetings, video calls, and telephone.

Travel: While working flexibly, you will be expected to travel to Belfast at short notice if required. Occasional travel to London for department or organisational events, such as our in‑person quarterly events, may also be required.

Benefits

• 25 days pro‑rata in the first year, increasing to 27.5 days pro‑rata in the second year of service and 30 days pro‑rata in the third.
• Matched pension scheme up to 7% of salary.
• Family‑friendly culture.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Enhanced carers and compassionate leave.

Job Information

This exciting new role in our award‑winning External Affairs department will work on policy and public affairs in Northern Ireland. You will fight for the hospice sector and people who need their care and support, helping us to create a nation where no one misses out on the care they need at the end of their lives. This will be our first on‑the‑ground role in Northern Ireland, providing the post‑holder with the opportunity to build our influencing work from the ground up.

Responsibilities

• Policy research, development and analysis – keep track of policy and political developments in Stormont, analyse their impact on hospices and people who need palliative care and brief colleagues and hospices on this. Prepare succinct and influential reports, consultation responses and briefings on policy issues for a range of audiences.
• Public affairs and campaigning – plan and deliver public affairs activity to achieve Hospice UK’s strategic aims and react to opportunities to influence the political debate in Northern Ireland, engaging with civil servants, parliamentarians and other external stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key partners and stakeholders.
• Act as a media spokesperson and represent Hospice UK at external events, meetings and conferences.
• Build relationships with hospices in Northern Ireland to understand the challenges they face and the context they operate within.

Qualifications

Essential experience in policy, public affairs, campaigns or a related field in Northern Ireland and a good understanding of policy development and/or parliamentary processes in Northern Ireland.

Excellent communication, influencing and relationship‑building skills, with an ability to quickly read, understand and respond to complex information.

How to Apply

To apply for this role, send your CV (preferably Microsoft Word, less than 3 pages A4) and a completed supporting statement form – available on our website – by midnight on Sunday 30 November 2025. Also include a completed equalities monitoring form – available on our website.

We will shortlist candidates based on CV and supporting statements. Shortlisted candidates will be sent a briefing of what to expect.

Contact details should be provided in your email. If you require any accommodations to participate fully in the process, please let us know.

EEO Statement

To be considered for this role you must have the right to live and work in the UK. Hospice UK is an equal‑opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

We believe in fair recruitment and work to remove bias, so all applications will have identifying indicators removed before being submitted to the shortlisting panel.