Job Title: Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns
Hours: 35 hours
Salary: £51,010 per annum
Type of Employment: Permanent
Dept and Location: Marketing & Communications, Communications & Campaigns; Office – London (when restrictions allow)
Line Manager: Deputy Director of Communications & Campaigns
Direct Reports: Campaigns Manager; Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer
Teenage Cancer Trust provides life-changing, world-class care and support so young people don’t face cancer alone.
We also speak out on their behalf, so that their experiences are better understood and cancer services are developed with their needs in mind.
A fantastic opportunity has arisen at Teenage Cancer Trust to become our next Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns, leading a team to deliver effective influencing and campaigning activity across the UK.
WHAT YOU’LL DO, AND WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We want to deliver public affairs, policy influencing and campaigns activity that influences public opinion, Government and NHS policy in the best interests of young people with cancer. So, we are looking for an experienced influencing specialist to lead the development and implementation of an integrated approach.
You’ll need to be confident in establishing and maintaining a strategic overview of policy developments relating to teenagers and young adults with cancer across the UK, advising and making recommendations to our Chief Executive and senior staff. You’ll be experienced in directly managing high level relationships with political and NHS stakeholders, providing expert counsel on how to leverage Teenage Cancer Trust’s influencing opportunities to generate change that makes a meaningful difference to young people with cancer and their families.
You’ll be comfortable with leading and being part of collaborative activity, including cross sector coalitions, working with clinicians and other experts to develop and share a robust and compelling case for change. You’ll also help to embed Teenage Cancer Trust’s campaigning approach, ensuring integrated activity that engages new and existing supporters and encourages them to speak out on our behalf.
The successful candidate will also be an experienced manager, with the ability to lead and inspire a team, by supporting, coaching and motivating them to deliver impactful influencing activity that improves the lives of young people with cancer.
Start date from 1st September 2021
How to Apply
Please apply by clicking the ‘apply ’button below. Don't forget to complete a supporting statement to accompany your CV which sets out how you meet the requirements of the role.
Closing Date Monday 21st June
First interviews Week commencing 28th June
Second Stage Interviews Week commencing 08th July
Job Description
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB
Lead the development and implementation of a Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns strategy. Drive campaigns that influence public opinion and change policy – across governments and health provision - to improve the lives of young people with cancer.
Establish and maintain a strategic overview of policy relating to teenagers and young adults with cancer across the UK and lead our influential stakeholder management. Advise on policy developments UK-wide relevant to young people with cancer and their families.
Work with the Director of Services, Director of Marketing and Communications, Deputy Director of Communications and Campaigns and Campaigns Manager to develop the organisation’s overall approach to integrated public influencing campaigns. Lead on the policy and public affairs aspects of the campaigns delivery.
Be an effective leader and manager of the Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns team, providing regular support, supervision, professional development and appraisal and liaising with other teams at Teenage Cancer Trust. Be a credible and authoritative representative of the charity at meetings, events and in the media.
ROLE FOCUS
Strategy and Planning
- Develop overall strategy for effectively influencing policy change across the UK’s four nations.
- Establish and implement an active public affairs programme, working with the Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Exec, to engage with key national figures involved with cancer policy and regional representatives in key areas of service development.
- Work with the Campaigns Manager to establish a UK wide approach to public campaigns which influence opinion and mobilise support.
- Provide regular reports on the team’s activity and outcomes to Deputy Director of Communications and Campaigns, Director of Marketing and Communications, Director of Services, wider Senior Leadership Team, Chief Executive and Trustees as required.
- Work in collaboration with key health agencies in the development, analysis and provision of national cancer data for young people.
- Develop policy to inform service development using knowledge gained through Teenage Cancer Trust’s own service delivery
- Identify gaps in our knowledge or activity that affects young people with cancer, working with stakeholders to identify solutions and commissioning research from the Research and Evidence team as required.
- Develop mechanisms to capture and share best practice.
Policy and Public Affairs
- Provide advice and guidance to the organisation on policy and political issues to support development of organisational strategy and delivery of organisational priorities.
- Identify proactive policy recommendations by maintaining knowledge of relevant policy areas, monitor issues coming out of Teenage Cancer Trust’s services and the external policy and political agendas, and make recommendations for improvement.
- Responsible for shaping Teenage Cancer Trust’s policy positions and responding to Government initiatives and working with colleagues to amplify the voice of young people.
- Lead Teenage Cancer Trust’s contributions to government policy consultations, parliamentary inquiries and debates, working closely with services colleagues, and young people to ensure their voices are heard.
- Support the Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Executive to lead Teenage Cancer Trust’s role as co-secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Children, Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer.
- Use insight gained from consultation with young people and their families to inform the national policy agenda and sector debate.
- Maintain and enhance Teenage Cancer Trust’s position as an expert and key player in the sector.
- Develop and maintain relationships with key decision makers and national working groups – influencing and challenging decisions as required.
- Independently represent the organisation at high level meetings with government departments, politicians and other key stakeholders and other charities.
- Work with complex documents on policy and legislative change – analyse and summarise these documents, advise on implications and lead on agreed actions.
- Provide briefings on policy issues for a range of audiences including internally, for politicians and policy makers, and for others involved in policy activities.
Campaigns
- Work closely with Services colleagues and the Campaigns Manager to shape campaign development and ensure networks and relationships across the UK are maximised to influence change.
- Develop robust policy calls for all four nations, and public affairs plans to support the public facing mobilisation campaigns.
- Support the Campaigns Manager to build a UK wide campaigns network to influence change.
Collaboration and Partnership Working
- Work closely with other teams to develop and implement strategies to deliver Teenage Cancer Trust’s policy and campaign objectives, particularly the Clinical Lead, Regional Operations and Partnership Managers and the Youth Engagement Team.
- Identify opportunities to work in partnership with other organisations and individuals in developing policy responses and progressing influencing objectives.
- Work with the fundraising team to ensure campaigns are integrated with fundraising objectives to raise income and maximise data capture, as well as identify opportunities to source external funding for Teenage Cancer Trust’s policy work.
- Establish good relationships, build networks of influence and implement a contact programme with key opinion formers, patient groups, think tanks and decision makers to further the organisation’s influencing aims
- Work with services colleagues and frontline staff in the NHS to gather insight to spot trends, gaps and opportunities to help shape and deliver policy, public affairs and campaigns, ensuring they are based on insight.
- Work with colleagues in the Youth Engagement Team to create meaningful platforms and opportunities to engage with young people and their families to inform the development and delivery of policy, public affairs and campaigns activity.
- Commission research, from and with the Research and Evidence team, to support our policy and campaigns agenda.
- Support and develop Teenage Cancer Trust’s international activity as required.
Communications and Expertise
- Act as primary point of contact on policy issues that have UK wide relevance.
- Spokesperson for the organisation on policy, political and campaigning issues.
- Manage the production of high-quality policy outputs including briefings, consultation responses, reports and other policy documents in consultation with other departments where appropriate.
- Ensure the team provides rapid responses and analysis to respond to external developments and demands, such as Government announcements, media enquiries and requests for briefings from MPs; this will include briefing senior staff including the Chief Executive.
- Be a reliable source of expertise on policy and political developments relating to young people and cancer.
- Approve the policy content of Teenage Cancer Trust’s communications including press releases, campaign materials and fundraising mailings.
- Represent Teenage Cancer Trust and widely communicate the charity’s positions and vision to key policy stakeholders.
Management and Leadership
- To lead, manage, motivate and develop the Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns team and be a role model for excellence in management, coaching, giving and receiving feedback.
- Lead, manage, motivate and develop the Campaigns Manager in line with Teenage Cancer Trust policies and procedures.
- Ensure performance targets and standards (KPIs) for the Campaigns Manager are established, communicated, met and where possible exceeded.
Budget and Finance
- Determine, maintain and manage budgets, operational plans, risks and input into budget process.
- Develop business cases for new investment in services.
- Manage external contracts and ensure best value.
Risk and Safeguarding
- Ensure appropriate management of young people’s contact with the charity in accordance with Teenage Cancer Trust policies on safeguarding, governance and professional boundaries.
- Work in accordance with Teenage Cancer Trusts risk and safeguarding policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Highlight and report all key areas of other risk, to the appropriate lead, e.g. the Safeguarding Lead, or the Teenage Cancer Trust Risk Committee, as required as indicated within the risk management policy, mitigating risk where appropriate.
OTHER DUTIES
- Undertake any other duties that are commensurate with the post as requested by your manager.
- Carry out the duties of post in accordance with Teenage Cancer Trust policies and procedures.
DISCLOSURE AND BARING CHECKS
This role will have access to the CARE database which holds details of those we support. It will have direct unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults and is therefore subject to a Basic DBS check.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Internal - Senior Management Team, Marketing and Communications teams, Services Deputy Director, ROPs and Clinical Lead, Deputy Director of Public Fundraising, young people affected by cancer and front-line staff
External - NHS providers and commissioners, health policy, research, other national professional groups and other cancer and health charities.
Person Specification
Essential
Experience
- Significant experience in policy and public affairs.
- Experience of stakeholder engagement particularly with government departments, politicians and policy makers.
- Substantial senior-level influencing and public campaigning experience including driving integrated mobilisation campaigns.
- Extensive experience of working with UK political systems, including government departments across the four nations, and working to influence through these mechanisms is essential.
- Experience of acting as a spokesperson on policy issues in national groups and with the media.
- Significant successful leadership and management experience and ability to develop a team
- Managing a budget successfully.
- Presenting and communicating key messages, positions and views to a range of audiences.
Knowledge and know how
- In depth knowledge of health policy relating to cancer.
- An understanding of how to influence key stakeholders within Health and Social Care regionally and nationally.
- Working within a diverse team supporting and sharing approaches to achieving goals and objectives.
Skills
- Ability to work independently - undertaking policy work on specific issues in a wider context.
- Advanced communication skills, including public speaking and speaking to the press.
- Ability to influence key stakeholders in their decision making.
- Ability to analyse information and evidence, assess policy options, develop new ideas, linking to communications activities and organisational objectives.
- Demonstrable negotiation and advocacy skills.
- Proven research and analysis skills.
- Aptitude for working independently to deliver consistent, high quality work to tight deadlines.
- Able to work in a changing and innovative working environment.
- Able to work collaboratively with others.
- Keen interest and commitment to promoting the broader work of Teenage Cancer Trust, e.g. fundraising.
Personal Qualities
- A passion and commitment to support teenagers and young people affected by cancer and their families/support networks.
- A passion for working with young people.
- A collaborative style.
- Strong team ethic.
Other
Ability to undertake further study or learning and development to keep your skills up to date.
Values
Commitment to the values and beliefs of Teenage Cancer Trust.
How to Apply
Please apply by clicking the ‘apply ’button below. Don't forget to complete a supporting statement to accompany your CV which sets out how you meet the requirements of the role.
Closing Date Monday 21st June
First interviews Week commencing 28th June
Second Stage Interviews Week commencing 08th July
We are committed to working towards ensuring Teenage Cancer Trust is a diverse and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of race, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.
At Teenage Cancer Trust we're committed to delivering a service to teenagers and young adults with cancer that is embedded in safeguarding and safe working practice guidance. In line with our safeguarding approach this role is subject to a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service).
For information on how we collect, store and process personal data please refer to our privacy policy: https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/about-us/privacy-policy