Policy and Public Affairs Lead

Salary: £45,943 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Location: London, with hybrid working available

Lead policy. Shape public affairs. Drive meaningful change.

We are looking for an experienced and politically astute Policy and Public Affairs Lead to join an influential environmental organisation and play a key role in shaping its policy and political engagement.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who understands the UK political and policy landscape and can turn research, evidence and political insight into effective advocacy and policy change.

You will identify opportunities to influence policy, develop political strategies, build strong relationships with government, Parliament, political parties and wider environmental stakeholders, and help ensure the organisation's voice is heard where it matters most.

About the role

Reporting to the Director of Communications, you will lead the development and delivery of the organisation's policy and public affairs work.

You will work closely with senior leadership to develop an effective advocacy plan, provide high-level advice on political, policy and regulatory developments, and ensure the organisation can respond effectively to a changing political environment.

A key part of the role will be managing political engagement and parliamentary activity, including overseeing the secretariat function for three All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs), coordinating attendance at party conferences and managing other policy-related events.

You will also:

• Develop and deliver policy and advocacy activity aligned with organisational priorities.
• Provide advice and briefings to senior leaders on political, policy and regulatory developments.
• Manage relationships with Parliamentarians, government, political stakeholders and external partners.
• Coordinate APPG activity, including briefings, logistics, stakeholder management, reports and compliance with parliamentary requirements.
• Lead the organisation's presence at party conferences and other policy events.
• Produce high-quality policy briefings, reports and other materials for internal and external audiences.
• Undertake policy research and analysis to support organisational positions and goals.
• Provide timely support in response to developments in the political environment, including campaigns and calls to action.
• Contribute to media engagement through policy research and briefing development.
• Represent the organisation externally at meetings, events, coalitions and stakeholder groups.
• Oversee policy-related projects, ensuring they are delivered to a high standard, on time and within budget.
• Monitor and report against relevant KPIs and provide evidence to support organisational decision-making.

The role involves managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment, working collaboratively across teams and balancing the needs of stakeholders with competing interests.

About you

We are looking for someone with strong experience in policy and public affairs who can combine political awareness with excellent research, communication and relationship-building skills.

You will ideally have:

• Knowledge of UK policy and the British political system, particularly in relation to environmental issues.
• Experience of policy research and analysis.
• Experience of successfully advocating for policy change.
• Experience working with Parliamentarians or Parliament.
• Strong political awareness and an understanding of the policy and campaigning process.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to different audiences.
• Experience presenting to senior stakeholders.
• The ability to build effective relationships, partnerships and networks across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• The ability to work independently, while knowing when to seek advice.
• A flexible, collaborative and adaptable approach.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft 365, OneDrive and SharePoint, together with experience of CRM, web-based systems and databases.
• The ability to oversee the planning and delivery of high-quality events.

What you'll bring

Above all, you'll bring political astuteness, sound judgement and a genuine commitment to environmental issues.

You'll be comfortable operating in a complex stakeholder environment, able to build trusted relationships and confident providing clear, evidence-based advice to senior colleagues.

The role also requires a willingness to undertake regular national travel, including occasional overnight stays and weekend work. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK with immediate effect.

Why join?

This is an opportunity to take a lead role in an organisation working to influence policy and create positive environmental change.

You will have the opportunity to work directly with senior leadership and a broad network of political, governmental and environmental stakeholders, helping to shape advocacy strategies and turn policy opportunities into meaningful action.