Policy Manager (maternity cover) – Job Description and Person Specification

Job Title / Policy Manager
Salary / £42,350 - £46,856 (pro rata)
Contract Type / Maternity cover – 12 months. Part time role 28 hours a week.
Reporting to / Director of Policy & Campaigns
Manages / 2 Policy Advisers and occasional consultants
Accountability / Internally to Policy and Campaigns Team and wider Bond team; and externally to Bond’s members and the people they serve

About Bond and the role

Bond is the UK membership body for organisations working in international development.

We are seeking a dynamic, creative and experienced policy professional to play a critical role in enhancing Bond and its members’ engagement with policies and practice that impact on poor people. In this role you will be positioned at the heart of the sector’s efforts to shape policy on international development, at UK level and beyond, at a time of significant change in the UK’s global role.

You will have an excellent understanding of international development policy, in particular around aid and economic development. You will bring your leadership and facilitation skills, and experience of convening agreement to help shape our advocacy and campaign strategies. You will be a strong communicator, able to present complex policy messages in simple ways for different audiences. Ideally, you will have management experience.

You will have solid experience of engaging with the UK Government and policy processes. In addition, you will likely have some experience of relevant EU/global policy making, as this role will include supporting Bond members in navigating the development policy issues arising from Brexit, and influencing at global level. Your sound political awareness, and understanding of the role of media and public campaigning in influencing policies will enable you to create real impact in this role.

Enjoying working with a range of different people, you will be part of an ambitious advocacy and campaigns team at Bond where your desire to innovate and develop new approaches will be welcomed.

If bringing organisations and people together to work collectively on a policy and advocacy agenda that seeks to combat global poverty and inequality excites you, please apply now.

Please note this is a maternity cover contract to December 2018.

Main purpose of the job

To deliver Bond’s strategic policy and advocacy objectives, working with members to effectively influence development policy and practice in the UK and internationally

Main responsibilities

  • Manage policy advisers working on issues including SDGs, aid and development finance, Brexit, economic development and other ‘beyond aid’ issues as they arise.
  • Strategically lead Bond’s policy work and engagement with members and partners to develop influential policy and related pro-active influencing strategies activities
  • Oversee and/or deliver a range of influencing activities including events, commissioning and undertaking publications, drafting position papers, briefings, and consultation responses, convening policy dialogue with policy-makers, etc.
  • Represent Bond and engage with a range of key external stakeholders, including officials in UK government departments (DFID, FCO, etc), European/global institutions, think tanks, academics, private sector and other key advocacy audiences.
  • Facilitate and advise Bond groups and members on their influencing strategies and activities.
  • Draft and communicate analysis and insight of key policy trends and issues for internal and external audiences.
  • Continually monitor the UK and global international development policy environment, identifying new opportunities for engagement and revising strategic approaches for maximum impact.
  • Contribute to delivery of Bond’s overall policy and campaigns strategy and organisational priorities.
  • Track, monitor and evaluate Bond’s influencing strategies and contribute to team planning, budgeting, fundraising and annual reporting.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

  • Sound experience and understanding of international development policy issues including aid, based on a track record of working in international development
  • Demonstrable experience of developing influential policy analysis and positions, with a view to influencing decision makers as part of broader advocacy strategies in the context of a charity/NGO influencing agenda
  • Experience of engaging with international development policy and decision-making processes in the UK; as well as some experience of engagement at European and/or international level
  • Experience and understanding of the UK international development NGO sector
  • Strategic understanding of the political trends, opportunities and challenges in international development and of the European and international political landscape
  • Strong relationship building skills including experience of high-level outreach, engagement and influencing decision-makers
  • Strong facilitation and negotiation skills, with proven ability to build trust with and broker agreement between diverse players
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills (in English) including writing, editing and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex policy propositions to a range of audiences (external and internal)
  • Creative and entrepreneurial, with proven ability to see and develop opportunities, and to act on own initiative to set and achieve goals
  • Analytical and well organised with proven ability to plan and manage a complex programme of work
  • Flexibility and ability to respond to a fast-paced external policy and political environment, including ability to undertake reactive policy work
  • Proven experience of managing and motivating staff to deliver high quality work
  • Experience of managing research projects / commissioning external consultants
  • A collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal and communications skills
  • Experience of working with media and communications colleagues to progress influencing objectives
  • Commitment to the values and objectives of Bond and its members
  • Degree level education or equivalent
  • Ability to travel and, when required, to work outside normal office hours
  • Must have the right to live and work in the UK

Desirable

  • Experience of membership-based organisations such as networks and coalitions, ideally within the charity/NGO sector
  • Experience of working with the media
  • Experience of engaging with political stakeholders
  • Experience of using innovative presentation and publication formats
  • A post-graduate degree in international development, international economics or related subject

Benefits

Bond offers a competitive salary and benefits package including:

  • Interest free season ticket loan
  • 27 days leave as standard for all employees. Additional staff privilege days, normally the period between Christmas and New Year
  • 7% pension contributions (staff pay 3.5%)
  • Flexible working hours

How to apply

Please email your CV, along with a short cover letter setting out your suitability for the role, to: for the attention of Mariana Rudge.

Deadline for applications:10am on Monday 18 September 2018

Interviews: 21/09, 28/09, 03/10 or 05/10

Due to the high level of responses, Bond can only respond to shortlisted candidates.

To be considered for this role, you must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Bond welcomes applications from all sections of the community and promotes diversity.

Reg. Charity No: 1068839