Policy Manager

CANAL & RIVER TRUST; United States; Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Holiday entitlement increase

Employee benefits

Job summary

Canal & River Trust is seeking a Policy Manager to lead the policy framework and ensure governance across the organisation. You will manage policy development, maintain the policy library, and provide advisory support to business units, ensuring policies are compliant and up-to-date.

The role involves drafting governance frameworks, conducting legal research, and collaborating across teams to deliver clear, effective policies and training materials.

Qualifications

• 5+ years developing and writing policies in a complex organisation
• Experience managing policy review and approval processes
• Strong understanding of the legal, regulatory and governance environment affecting charities
• Excellent written communication with ability to write clear, concise policy documents
• Excellent IT skills and ability to maintain a SharePoint library
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and ability to advise senior leaders
• Ability to work autonomously and meet tight deadlines
• Can-do attitude and team contribution
• Attention to detail and accuracy of work
• Desirable: Legal qualification or experience
• Desirable: Experience using assurance or compliance findings to improve policy frameworks

Responsibilities

• Lead embedding and continual development of the Trust’s policy framework across the organisation
• Maintain electronic library of policies, templates, approval routes, and processes; report to Heads, Executive, and Audit and Risk Committee
• Engage with business units and subject matter experts to ensure policies are up-to-date, compliant and consistent
• Author and maintain a governance framework for each area of the Trust’s activity, researching and summarising legal framework and policies
• Research, draft, review and maintain policies to ensure clarity, effectiveness and alignment with objectives
• Develop collaborative relationships, facilitate and lead workshops, engage teams across the Trust
• Monitor policy effectiveness and assurance
• Maintain a Training Needs Analysis and deliver communications to support the policy framework

Skills

Policy development

Policy writing

Policy review

Stakeholder engagement

Legal and governance knowledge

IT literacy

SharePoint

Autonomous working

Attention to detail

Tools

Microsoft Word

SharePoint

Job description

Policy Manager

Job Description

About the Trust

We’re one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water.We’re looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: Policy Manager

Join our Assurance division as a Policy Manager reporting in to the Head of Policy, Risk & Compliance, who reports in to the Chief Assurance Officer.

The Policy Manager is responsible for managing and continually improving the Trust’s policy framework, which provides the structure within which the Trust’s policies are developed, grouped, maintained, and published. The Policy Manager represents the ‘hub’ of the Trust’s hub-and-spoke model of policy development, providing advice and support to business units and subject matter experts, undertaking hands‑on research and drafting where appropriate, and ensuring that policy documents are high‑quality, up‑to‑date, consistent, and accessible.

Working Hours & Travel

This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the embedding and continual development of the Trust’s policy framework across the organisation, fostering a culture that values effective policy management and compliance
• Maintain the Trust’s electronic library of policies, its policy-related templates, approval routes, and processes; and report to Heads, Executive, and Audit and Risk Committee on the effectiveness of the Trust’s policy management arrangements as required
• Engage effectively with business units and subject matter experts across the Trust to ensure that their policies are up-to-date, comprehensive, compliant and consistent
• Author and maintain a ‘governance framework’ for each area of the Trust’s activity, researching and summarising the relevant legal framework and the policies and governance arrangements that the Trust has in place
• Research, draft, review and maintain policies to ensure that they are clear, effective, compliant and aligned with the Trust’s objectives
• Develop collaborative relationships, facilitate and lead workshops, and engage teams across the Trust
• Monitor policy effectiveness and assurance
• Maintain a Training Needs Analysis, provide training to relevant colleagues and deliver an effective communications plan to support the policy framework

About You

Essential

• Significant experience (5 years +) of developing and writing policies, including researching, drafting, reviewing and implementing organisational policies within a complex organisation
• Substantial experience of managing policy review and approval processes
• Excellent understanding of the legal, regulatory and governance environment affecting charities
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex information (including legal requirements), identify implications, assess risks and develop practical policy solutions
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to write clear, concise, accurate and comprehensive policy documents which are audience-focused
• Excellent IT skills (particularly Microsoft Word) and the ability to accurately maintain and effectively utilise a SharePoint library
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to provide pragmatic advice (including to senior leaders) and resolve complex issues in an operational environment, providing constructive challenge as appropriate
• Ability to collaborate effectively with others, securing the buy-in and ongoing engagement of teams across the Trust
• Ability to work autonomously, manage a wide and varied workload and meet tight and competing deadlines.
• Displays a can-do mentality and ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a team
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy of work

Desirable:

• Legal qualification or experience
• Experience of using assurance or compliance findings to improve policy frameworks

What We Offer

In addition to your annual base salary of£45,000.We also offer a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here:EVP - 1.

#INDMP

Our values

We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.

All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.

We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.

At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us

Job Details

Pay Type: Salary

Hiring Min Rate: 45,000 GBP

Hiring Max Rate: 45,000 GBP