Senior Political Engagement Manager

Rest Less; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Rest Less is seeking a Senior Political Engagement Manager to lead strategic engagement with the UK Government and Parliament from Milton Keynes. You will build high-level relationships with Downing Street, FCDO Ministers and senior civil servants to influence policy affecting vulnerable children, and line-manage the Child Participation & Advocacy Advisor within the Policy & Advocacy Team.

The role requires extensive experience across UK political parties, deep understanding of Whitehall and

Qualifications

• Extensive senior-level experience across UK political parties with high-level relationships.
• In-depth understanding of Whitehall, Parliament and government structures.
• Excellent political-writing skills for letters and briefings to Ministers and senior officials.
• Creative, entrepreneurial approach to campaign and relationship-building opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the political engagement strategy with Downing Street, ministers and senior civil servants.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships across the political spectrum.
• Oversee political monitoring and horizon-scanning to anticipate developments.
• Lead high-quality letters and briefings translating policy positions into political asks.
• Line-manage the Child Participation & Advocacy Advisor and contribute to Policy & Advocacy leadership.

Skills

Senior political engagement

UK government relations

Whitehall knowledge

Stakeholder management

Job description

Senior Political Engagement Manager

We are looking for a Senior Political Engagement Manager to lead political engagement with the UK Government and Parliament, building ambitious, high-level relationships with Downing Street, FCDO Ministers and senior civil servants to secure influence and impact on the issues affecting the world’s most vulnerable children.

With 75 years of experience, the focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. The organisation helps children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by Christian faith.

Come join the 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Position: Senior Political Engagement Manager

Location: Milton Keynes/hybrid

Hours: Full time

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £50,000-£53,000 per annum

Closing Date: October 20, 2026

About the Role

Working closely with the Head of Policy & Advocacy and Policy Manager, you’ll take the agreed policy positions and turn them into political strategy, targeted influencing activity and the relationships that get the charity in the room with the people who matter. You’ll also line manage the Child Participation & Advocacy Advisor and play an active role in the leadership of the Policy & Advocacy Team.

Key Responsibilities:

Political Engagement Strategy

• Develop and lead the political engagement strategy, targeting Downing Street, FCDO Ministers, senior civil servants and cross-party Parliamentarians.

Senior Political Relationships & Influence

• Build and maintain constructive, senior-level relationships across the political spectrum, and bring creativity to campaign, coalition and relationship-building opportunities that extend the political reach.

Political Advice & Horizon Scanning

• Oversee political monitoring and analysis, providing senior political advice and horizon-scanning so the charity anticipates and responds to developments ahead of the field.

Briefings & Correspondence

• Personally lead high-quality, politically astute letters and briefings for Ministers and senior civil servants, translating agreed policy positions into targeted political asks.

Leadership & Management

• Line manage and develop the Child Participation & Advocacy Advisor, and play an active role in the leadership of the Policy & Advocacy Team.

Your love of politics, your instinct for where power really sits, and your skill in building high-level political relationships will transform children’s lives around the world

About You

We are looking for someone with:

• Extensive, senior-level experience of working across UK political parties, with existing high-level relationships and a track record of delivering ambitious political engagement.
• In-depth understanding of Whitehall, Parliamentary and political systems, including current Government and governing-party structures.
• Excellent, politically astute writing skills, with experience translating policy positions into targeted political asks, letters and briefings for Ministers or senior stakeholders.
• A creative, entrepreneurial approach to identifying campaign, coalition and relationship-building opportunities.
• Experience of managing, coaching or developing staff, or a clear readiness to do so.
• Sympathy with the charity’s Christian foundation and approach to social justice.

This role requires sympathy with and support for the organisations ethos and values. You do not need to be a practising Christian, but you will be comfortable working within a Christian organisation and supportive of its mission.

About the Organisation

Join an international children’s charity working with children, their communities, and with supporters and partners, in almost 100 countries. Through long-term development projects, emergency responses and advocacy the organisation has helped bring lasting change to millions of children, over more than 60 years. As a Christian charity, everything is motivated by faith as we strive to reflect God’s unconditional love.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of applicable background checks, including a criminal records check.

We value diversity and aspire to reflect this in the workforce. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented sections of the community. The organisation also operates flexible working policies and practices. As a Disability committed employer we encourage qualified individuals with a disability to apply and request a reasonable adjustment if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access as a result of your disability.

You may also have experience in areas such as Policy & Advocacy, Policy Manager, Political Engagement, Political Engagement Officer, Political Engagement Manager, Senior Political Engagement Officer, Senior Political Engagement Manager.