Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Devolved Nations)

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

CPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows worldwide and plays a leading role in supporting paediatricians through high-quality education, training and professional development. Our digital learning services are an important part of how we provide accessible, flexible and engaging learning opportunities to our members and wider professional community.

Our values, Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire, are central to everything we do. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are under-represented at this level of the organisation.

About the role

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking a talented and motivated Policy and Public Affairs Officer to join our Devolved Nations team. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to policy development, advocacy and communications activity that helps improve child health outcomes across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Working as part of the Policy and Public Affairs (Devolved Nations) team, you will play an important role in supporting the College’s policy and public affairs priorities.

You will help build relationships with policymakers and stakeholders, support advocacy campaigns, develop policy positions and create engaging communications content that raises the profile of child health issues across the devolved nations. This varied and rewarding role offers the opportunity to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including paediatricians, senior College Officers, politicians, government officials, charities and healthcare organisations.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Supporting the development of policy positions specific to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, ensuring they reflect the needs of RCPCH members and have influence across the wider UK policy landscape
• Drafting consultation responses, policy briefings, reports and stakeholder communications on child health and paediatric issues
• Providing expertise and advice on the political, governmental and health service landscape within the devolved nations
• Supporting the delivery of public affairs and stakeholder engagement activity, helping to build productive relationships with governments, policymakers and health sector organisations
• Producing content for websites, social media, newsletters and other digital communications channels to support advocacy and engagement objectives
• Drafting media content, including quotes, press releases and briefing materials, in collaboration with colleagues across the College
• Supporting senior College Officers and staff during meetings and engagement with policymakers and external stakeholders
• Coordinating and supporting the work of Executive Committees across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Assisting with administrative and financial processes, including invoice processing and supplier registration
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the College to maximise the impact of policy, communications and public affairs activity.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Essential:

• Demonstrable experience in policy and public affairs
• Solid knowledge and understanding of policy and legislative processes in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
• Demonstrable experience of producing high-quality content for digital and social media (including websites, bulk email and Twitter)
• Demonstrable experience of producing high-quality policy and communications outputs such as consultation responses, reports, policy briefings and press copy
• Strong oral communication skills including the ability to present complex information fluently and persuasively to internal and external stakeholders
• Analytical and problem-solving skills demonstrating the ability to analyse and resolve complex issues in relation to policy and public affairs
• Self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, working collaboratively with internal and external colleagues
• Excellent organisational skills including the ability to support committees and other governance structures, supporting delivery of new processes and identifying opportunities for improvement
• Ability to manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Excellent time management and ability to plan, schedule and monitor competing priorities in a busy and varied role with minimum supervision.

Desirable:

• Experience working within healthcare, government, a membership organisation or the third sector
• Knowledge of public health, health inequalities or wider health service issues
• Experience working on issues relating to children and young people

Compensation & Benefits

• 27 days of annual leave. After 2 years of completed service, one additional day of leave, for a total of 29 days. Christmas and New Year, and these days are in addition to annual leave.
• Contributory Pension Scheme with an employer’s contribution of up to 10%
• Eye care vouchers
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Comprehensive Learning & Development provision
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and paternity leave
• Enhanced redundancy pay
• 21 hours volunteering leave per annum (pro rata for part-time staff)
• SMARTech up to £1000 once the probationary period has been successfully passed
• Cycle2Work up to £1000 once the probationary period has been successfully passed
• Occupational health, including counselling and neurodiversity assessments
• Paid IVF Leave
• 6-month probationary period.
• Pregnancy and Infant Loss leave and pay

Working locations

• Home-based
• While this role is home-based in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, travel across the devolved nations and occasional travel elsewhere in the UK will be required.

How to apply

• If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply online. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form, including your CV and supporting statement.
• The supporting statement should set out how your qualifications, experience and training meet each of the selection criteria. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process, and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as "Please attach CV" will not be considered acceptable.
• If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please email [email protected]

Interviews

• The interviews are w/c 19th October 2026.

Policies

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Employment is subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. This role may be subject to a DBS check due to potential future contact with children and young people.

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