Senior Policy and Campaigns Advisor
Full time position (substantial part time will be considered)
Salary: £36,000
Location: Watford, with frequent attendance at meetings in central London. Flexibility to work from home for part of the week.
Closing date: 12 noon, Tuesday 5th September
Interviews: 11th and 12th September
How to apply: Send a CV, a 1-2 page covering letter outlining how you meet the person specification, and equal opportunities monitoring form to Sarah Vibert, Chief Executive, at
About the role
There are around 12 million people affected by a neurological condition in England; from epilepsy to encephalitis and migraine to motor neurone disease, these conditions are diverse, complex and largely unpreventable.
In this role, you will have a strong mandate for shaping and driving forward our policy and campaigns, identifying priority policy issues and develop initiatives and engagement that will compel decision makers to take action. This is an exciting and challenging opportunity for someone with the skills and motivation to improve the lives of millions of people across the country.
About you
To meet the challenge, you will need to be a highly motivated individual with an impressive track record of successful policy and campaigns work, preferably on health care issues. You will be comfortable dealing with stakeholders in Government and parliament and senior representatives from across the civil service and relevant agencies. You will possess the skills and experience to develop effective influencing strategies against a complex political background. The charisma and communication skills needed to make people sit up and listen will be essential for this role.
About us
We are the only collective voice for more than 80 national and regional brain and spine organisations working together to make life better for people with a neurological condition. You will be joining and helping to grow a small but dynamic, ambitious and successful organisation, which, in collaboration with our member organisations, has raised the profile of neurological conditions like never before.
At a time of change and enormous pressure for the health and social care sector, it is vital that we keep this momentum going to make sure neurology is a key policy priority and that this is translated into vital neurological service improvements. The role of the Alliance has never been more important and as Senior Policy and Campaigns Advisor, you will be central to devising and delivering of our exciting policy and campaigns strategy.
Over the next three years we aim to:
· Inform and lead the national policy agenda to take advantage of NHS England and government priorities
· Improve the collection and analysis of data to provide a robust evidence base for change
· Define the needs of people with neurological conditions in place and population based commissioning strategies
· Empower and support members to drive collective action and create better outcomes for patients
Senior Policy and Campaigns Advisor
Relationships
· Reports to: Chief Executive
· Main relationships: Alliance member organisations, Government, NHS organisations and arm’s length bodies, health professionals, professional bodies and other relevant external organisations.
Overall objectives
· Support strategy development, planning and reporting on our activities
· Manage campaigns that compel decision makers to take action
· Communicate our work and policy/campaigning priorities
1. Support strategy development, planning and reporting
· Work with the Chief Executive and member organisations to devise and implement a policy and campaigns strategy in support of the Alliance’s strategic goals
· Ensure that the work of the Alliance is appropriately informed and influenced by people with neurological conditions and that they are involved in the development of the Alliance’s activities
· Maintain up to date knowledge on health and related policy areas
· Identify key opportunities to influence public policy on behalf of those with neurological conditions
· Develop and maintain the Alliance’s relationships with decision makers across Government and the health sector
· Develop strategies for involving regional neurological groups and member organisations in policy and campaigns work in order to develop and promote the Alliance’s campaigning work and achieve maximum participation and support
· Contribute to reporting on progress and impact of our work to trustees, member organisations, funders and other stakeholders
2. Manage campaigns that compel decision makers to take action
· Manage national campaigning projects
· Manage key projects and external agency relationships
· Design and oversee research on relevant policy and campaigning issues, including conducting analysis of statistical data.
· Ensure that all Alliance’s policy and campaigns work is of a high quality and in line with the Alliance’s strategic priorities
· Ensure that the Chief Executive and other attendees are sufficiently briefed in advance of high level meetings with senior civil servants and parliamentarians, attending as appropriate and ensuring follow up actions are completed
· Represent the Alliance at external meetings and conferences and work with external staff and stakeholders in existing coalitions and alliances
· Co-chair and coordinate the Neurological Alliance Policy Group and its subgroups
· Assist with the organisation of meetings, symposia, seminars and conferences within the areas of responsibility, including identifying speakers and other contributors.
3. Communicating our work
· Communicate our work and relevant campaign developments to Alliance stakeholders through presentations, briefings, newsletters, our website and social media, working closely with the administration and communications assistant.
· Assist in the writing, production and circulation of publications in the key areas of responsibility.
· Represent the Alliance in key forums and projects
· Develop communications strategies for major research and policy projects, events and data, and work with the Administration and Communications Assistant to deliver them.
General responsibilities
· Contribute positively to team meetings, team working, collaboration and implementing organisational priorities
· Have empathy with the aims, goals and values of the Alliance, and a commitment to support delivery to meet these
· Take direction on projects and priorities, which may vary from time to time
· Be self-servicing and able to act on own initiative where necessary
· Develop an understanding of disability issues
· Be flexible within the broad remit of the post, and be prepared to work some evenings and occasional weekends
· Maintain the necessary information and databases to support the policy and public affairs activities of the Alliance.
· Represent the Alliance at external meetings where and required deputise for the Chief Executive at external engagements
· Abide by organisational policies and practices, including the equal opportunities policy
Person Specification
Experience and knowledge
Excellent knowledge and understanding of the policy-making process in Government and the NHS and how this disseminates to regional and local level / E
A track record of influencing opinion and securing change in attitudes or policy / E
Experience of working with diverse stakeholder audiences and developing strategies to communicate with these audiences / E
Experience of producing persuasive written and oral communications, including clear and concise policy briefings, reports and effective presentations / E
Experience of representing an organisation externally at meetings with senior stakeholders / E
Experience of carrying out research or commissioning research from external agencies / E
Good knowledge of the current health and relevant policy areas / D
Experience of working in a health policy and campaigns role / D
Understanding of the health commissioning environment, and the mechanisms and levers of influence
/ D
Experience and knowledge of data analysis / D
Experience of using new media and e-campaigning tools in campaigning work / D
Experience of managing projects with diverse stakeholders / D
Personal attributes and skills
Able to act strategically in identifying emerging policy opportunities and threats / E
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills presentation with the ability to reach and influence diverse audiences / E
Able to use initiative and judgment in problem solving / E
Able to work effectively in a challenging environment with changing priorities / E
Ability to engage people in effective policy and campaign work / E
Innovative and able to generate and express compelling ideas / E
Ability to plan and prioritise own workload to manage conflicting priorities and meet tight deadlines / E
Excellent attention to detail with the ability to maintain accuracy in work at all times / E
Ability to maintain political impartiality and be discreet / E
Comfortable working with and devising work systems, and a good working knowledge of relevant IT packages / E
An understanding of neurological conditions and the issues facing patients and their carers / D
Education
Graduate or equivalent / D
E = Essential
D = Desirable
August 2016