Policy Manager

The Opportunity

Ellwood Atfield are partnered with leading think tank New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) to appoint a Policy Manager.

This exciting post offers the successful candidate the opportunity to develop policy and communicate it to the think tank’s key stakeholders. This includes their policy and advocacy as part of Everyone’s Environment, a partnership of over 60 charities and funders. It’s a permanent position offering a salary of £36,000-£44,000 and would suit an incumbent Policy Manager, an ambitious Policy Officer or a Senior Policy Officer ready to step up, or someone with equivalent skills.

About the organisation

NPC is the leading independent think tank and consultancy for the UK social sector, working with an array of charities, funders, and policymakers to help them be more impactful and improve the lives of people that charities work with and for. They provide thought leadership, pioneer solutions, and bring people together to tackle the social problems faced in 21st Century Britain. Their policy priorities currently include the environment, regional inequality, and crime. Working across the policy and Everyone’s Environment teams, the Policy Manager plays a central role in researching and developing innovative policy solutions, as well as advocating to those in the political and policy making worlds.

As an equal opportunity employer NPC particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority candidates and individuals who self-identify as being from an economically and/or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.  They are open to applications from people looking to work part-time hours.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing and recommending new evidence-based policy solutions and ideas
• Supervising, undertaking, and analysing quantitative and qualitative research, including collecting data, in partnership with subject experts
• Designing polls, conducting interviews, running focus groups, and creating and combining data sets
• Monitoring and analysing government and other external trends and developments to inform the planning and development of policy work
• Networking, developing and maintaining relationships with policy and political contacts including MPs, researchers, and civil servants
• Communicating NPC's policy positions to policymakers, stakeholders, and funders, both in meetings and in writing
• Writing policy reports, presentations, articles, and online content to effectively communicate policy analysis and solutions, commenting on external policy developments
• Designing, managing, and running policy events, including presentations and chairing where appropriate
• Speaking on behalf of NPC as directed on specific policy areas
• Project managing and delivering policy projects to time, budget and quality standards, managing resources and risks
• Deputising for the Head of Policy & External Affairs as appropriate
• Drafting fundraising proposals, following scoping and co-design with the Head of Policy & External Affairs, also supporting them on related pitches
• Providing policy advice and support to NPC's consulting and innovation projects as required
• Working with the communications team to identify opportunities to increase the influence and profile of NPC's policy work
• Line managing and matrix managing staff as required

Attitudes, Values, and Skills Required

• An ability to produce innovative policy solutions and convert these into practical recommendations for policymakers
• An ability to persuade policymakers and politicians to support policy ideas, in addition to experience in maintaining and building relevant relationships
• Previous experience managing projects to time, budget, and quality standards, with risks managed
• Previous experience undertaking or commissioning high-quality research
• Strong verbal and written communication skills 
• A working knowledge of environmental policy is desirable

To apply, please submit your CV through this advert. If you require any further information on this role, please email Josh Hill on josh.h@ellwoodatfield.com, quoting the reference JH-2403-9408.

Ellwood Atfield is the leading headhunter for corporate affairs, communications, policy, and advocacy. An employee-owned boutique search firm, we help you hire the most senior leaders and everyone who reports to them. We promise to connect talented people, smoothly and efficiently.

Our purpose is to create important and enduring relationships. We are an equal opportunities employer and promote diversity across our profession to ensure every individual has the opportunity to perform at their best. If you have not done so already, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.