Policy and Public Affairs Manager

National Council for Voluntary Organisation

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

For over 100 years, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has stood shoulder to shoulder with communities, championing and celebrating voluntary action. Our membership is made up of over 17,000 voluntary organisations across England, from small, grassroots community groups and social enterprises, to large, far-reaching charities. We believe that communities are strengthened by voluntary action. We therefore want charities to thrive and be empowered to deliver for people and communities.

​We focus on empowering charities and volunteers by ensuring they have the knowledge, tools, and resources they need. We advocate for and with our members, giving voice to those not often heard, and harnessing the collective power of partners to ensure the voluntary sector is valued. We bring charities together so they can learn, connect, and create a greater impact. ​As the voluntary sector and volunteering adapt to new challenges and a changing context, so must NCVO.

We are therefore prioritising work to evolve as an organisation to ensure we live our values of ambition, inclusion, openness, and collaboration in everything we do internally and externally. ​We have around 80 staff and an income of more than £7m per year. With our members at the heart of everything we do, our mission is to unite to champion the remarkable role of charities and volunteers because stronger charities make for stronger communities.

About the role

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager plays a critical role in ensuring NCVO’s influencing work successfully protects civil society organisations. You’ll harness the collective power of our members and use evidence to advocate for policy change, making a difference to civil society organisations by creating the best possible environment for them to deliver their mission.

This role blends strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. We’re looking for someone comfortable shaping impactful and creative public affairs activity and rolling up their sleeves to make them happen, while building trusted relationships with decision-makers to further NCVO’s objectives. Flexibility, agility and a bias towards action are essential.

Responsibilities

• Leading on projects and influencing policy change.
• Creative public affairs activity while building trusted relationships with decision makers.
• Developing a public affairs plan to achieve strategic aims.
• Line Management of a Policy and Public Affairs Officer.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Experience:

• Extensive experience in evidence-based policy development and a range of public affairs methods to successfully influence change
• Experience working collaboratively and effectively to influence political outcomes in complex or fast-moving contexts.

Knowledge:

• Proven knowledge of how government works, including policy-making processes and public affairs practice 
• Knowledge of the policy landscape relating to civil society, and how to analyse policy announcements affecting the sector

Skills:

• Ability to build strong relationships using persuasive communication, from meetings with MPs to clear and concise policy briefings
• Ability to critically analyse evidence, policy and the political landscape, recommending opportunities to influence

Compensation & Benefits

• 25 days’ Annual Leave and office closure between 25th December and 1st January inclusive. 
• ​2.5 extra ‘wellbeing’ days off during the year
• ​Enhanced pay for sick/maternity/adoption leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Season ticket loan
• Monthly homework allowance for permanent homeworkers
• Monthly office worker allowance 
• Generous employer pension contribution of 8.5% of salary,
• Pension scheme (linked to employee contribution)
• Training and development opportunities.
• Hospital Saturday Fund health cash plan
• ​24-hour free and confidential employee assistance programme

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• Background information
• Send a copy of your CV and our information form, quoting the reference PPA, to [email protected]. You can also send any queries about the process to this address.
• We’re not able to respond to or provide feedback on every application received. If you have not heard back within 72 hours of your application, unfortunately, you've been unsuccessful in progressing to the next stage.

Interviews

• Interview process: Two stages totalling around 1.5 hours
• Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a pre-interview task and will have one week to complete the exercise. Interview question themes will be shared in advance.

Policies

NCVO is fully committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in our sector. We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and identities.

We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups in the voluntary sector and those with diverse lived experiences. As part of our commitment to employing disabled people, all disabled candidates who meet the minimum requirement for all competencies on the person specification will be guaranteed an interview.

If you have access needs or require reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

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