Senior Policy Officer

NHS; Swansea, Wrexham, Cardiff; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS in Wales is seeking a public health policy expert to lead projects that influence policy change and improve public health outcomes. This 15-month fixed-term role requires significant experience in policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and project management. The successful candidate will collaborate extensively with internal and external partners, ensuring evidence-based policy proposals are communicated effectively.

Qualifications

• Significant experience of policy analysis and understanding political contexts.
• Experience leading projects or programmes.
• Ability to assimilate new policy issues quickly.

Responsibilities

• Manage public health policy projects and team members.
• Develop and lead programmes to enable policy advocacy.
• Communicate complex information in accessible formats.

Skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Policy advocacy

Communication

Job description

THIS POST IS FIXED TERM for 15 months (Fixed term or secondment until September 2026 with a possibility of extension

You will be leading public health policy projects involving policy proposals, advocacy, analysis and research. You will support the delivery of our Long Term Strategy at Public Health Wales by influencing policy makers and key stakeholders to enable policy change that improves public health in Wales.

The role will include:

Managing policy projects and line-managing team members.

Acting as a 'thought leader' through analysis and policy proposal development by recognising opportunities for public health improvement.

Collaborating internally and externally to draw onexpertise from across the organisation and test policy thinking, shape policy debate and enable policy change.

Communicating effectively through evidence-based policy briefings, reports, articles/blogs, consultation responses, and presentations.

Sharing insights about external policy developments and their implications for public health.

Acting as an advocate for public health.

If you are enthusiastic and motivated, then this is an exciting opportunity for you to join our highly talented, collaborative, dynamic and friendly team.

Main duties of the job

The post will be providing specialist expertise on agreed policy areas.

Policy and Research

Influence policy thinking and enable policy change by building relationships with stakeholders and decision-makers.

Ensure policy work is evidence-based using literature searches, evidence reviews, commissioned research, and engagement with colleagues and stakeholders.

Gather, analyse, and share information about external policy developments and their implications for public health.

Translate research findings and policy proposals into engaging and understandable formats for a range of audiences.

Provide specialist policy input to strategic, multi-agency groups.

Provide advice on policy research methods, use, and analysis of data (quantitative and qualitative).

Undertake data collection and analysis using a range of methods and, with others, publish findings in academic and non-academic papers.

Management

o Develop and lead programmes and projects to enable policy advocacy and implementation.

o Manage the delivery of an agreed work plan within agreed timescales and budgets.

o Ensure that all projects and research comply with governance policies and procedures.

o Contribute to the work of the wider directorate/organisation.

o Line manage team members.

THIS POST IS FIXED TERM FOR 15 MONTHS.

About us

Public Health Wales is the National Public Health Institute in Wales. Our vision is 'Working to achieve a healthier future for Wales'. We play a pivotal role in driving improvements in population health and well-being, reducing health inequalities, improving healthcare outcomes, protecting the public and supporting the development of health in all policies across Wales.

Never more has public health been so important as we come through the Coronavirus pandemic, face the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and tackle and prevent the harmful effects of climate change. We are an organisation that places ourselves at the heart of supporting people, communities, partners, and the Welsh Government in addressing these major challenges and providing solutions for action.

Our organisation is guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and from those wishing to work part time or on a job share basis.

To find out more about working for us and the benefits we offer please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/careers/

For guidance on the application process, please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/working-for-us/applicant-information-and-guidance/

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Person Specification

Experience

• Significant demonstrable experience of policy analysis, understanding political and policy contexts, and finding solutions e.g. through developing robust policy proposals
• Experience of developing and managing stakeholder relationships
• Experience of engagement with government and/or stakeholder organisations to influence policy makers
• Experience leading projects or programmes

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes

• Policy advocacy and influencing skills through building influential relationships, with the ability to present complex issues in a persuasive, accessible style to a range of audiences and in different settings
• Ability to assimilate new policy issues/areas quickly, make connections between different policy areas, and initiate and frame new policy agendas
• Ability to communicate complex information in writing and orally, in formal and informal settings and to different audiences
• Demonstrated ability to self-motivate and motivate others

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£46,840 to £53,602 a yearper annum pro rata