Influencing Manager (28 hours per week)

Alliance for Youth Justice; United States; Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Alliance for Youth Justice is seeking an Influencing Manager to lead its policy, campaigning and strategic communications work in pursuit of systemic change in youth justice across England and Wales. The role involves turning complex policy into clear communications, engaging with politicians, civil servants and AYJ members, and ensuring the voices of children are heard.

This is a permanent, 28-hour-per-week role, home-based in the UK with regular attendance in central London.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of influencing systemic change within voluntary-sector organisations or coalitions.

Responsibilities

• Campaigning, policy and public affairs: lead influencing strategy with the CEO, identify opportunities for systemic change, develop evidence-based policy positions and materials, build relationships with AYJ members and stakeholders, ensure voices of children and young people are involved meaningfully.
• Strategic communications: extend reach of influencing work, write high-impact content for digital channels, act as first contact for media enquiries, support messages that promote systemic change.

Job description

About the Alliance for Youth Justice

The Alliance for Youth Justice is an alliance of more than 70 non-profit organisations advocating with and for children to drive positive change in youth justice across England and Wales.

It brings together members’ frontline expertise, children’s lived experience and research evidence to champion a child-centred, rights-based and trauma-informed system that prioritises support over criminalisation.

The role

Following the launch of AYJ's new strategic approach, the Influencing Manager will lead the development and delivery of its influencing, policy, public affairs and campaigning work. The aim is to shift policy, legislation, practice and public narratives.

Campaigning, policy and public affairs

• Lead AYJ's influencing strategy alongside the CEO.
• Identify opportunities for systemic change.
• Develop evidence-driven policy positions, briefings and other influencing materials.
• Build strong relationships with AYJ members, politicians, civil servants and wider stakeholders.
• Help ensure the voices and experiences of children and young people are involved safely and meaningfully.

Strategic communications

• Extend the reach and impact of AYJ's influencing work.
• Write high-impact content for digital channels.
• Act as the first point of contact for media enquiries.
• Support communications that challenge harmful narratives and promote systemic change.

About you

You will have a proven track record of influencing systemic change through policy, public affairs, communications or campaigning within a voluntary-sector organisation or coalition.

You should be confident turning complex policy and research into clear, compelling written communications for different audiences. The role also requires a thorough understanding of the political environment and Parliament, strong relationship-building skills, excellent project management, and a genuine interest in youth justice and the issues facing children in England and Wales.

A personal commitment to anti-racism, social justice and children’s rights is central to the role.

Hours, location and salary

This is a permanent role working 28 hours per week. It is home-based in the UK, with regular attendance at meetings in central London. AYJ offers flexible, trust-based home working within core hours; the exact core hours and London attendance frequency are not stated.

The advertised actual salary is £34,000 per year for 28 hours, based on a full-time equivalent salary of £42,500.