JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE: Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer STATUS: Permanent contract HOURS: 37.5 hours per week 9:00am 5:30pm (JDRF operates a flexible working hours policy) SALARY: 29,800 per annum inclusive HOLIDAY: 25 days plus statutory holidays pro rata LOCATION: REPORTS TO: DIRECT REPORTS: KEY INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS: KEY EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS: Islington, London Head of External Affairs N/A Director of Mission, Director of Research Partnerships, Communications Management Team, National Events Team, JDRF International Government Relations team, Marketing Team, Media Team, Research Communications Team Politicians in Westminster and devolved nations, National Institute For Health and Care Excellence, Scotland Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, National Institute of Health Research, Medical Research Council, Department of Health, Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Diabetes All Party Parliamentary Group, other relevant All Party Parliamentary Groups, other diabetes / health / medical research charities or policy organisations, medical technology and pharmaceutical companies, individual parliamentarians, clinicians, and other relevant professionals
JDRF is the type 1 diabetes charity, improving lives until we find the cure. We fund research to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes. We also provide information for children and adults living with the condition at all stages, from diagnosis and beyond. We give a voice to people with type 1 diabetes and campaign for increased focus on, and funding for, research to find the cure. We want our employees to be committed and prepared to go the extra mile to assist us in finding the cure for type 1. Whatever your role is within JDRF you can be guaranteed that your work will always be rewarding. Get involved and use your skills to help JDRF find the cure for type 1. PURPOSE OF THE ROLE To support JDRF s mission to cure type 1 diabetes by raising the profile of the condition within national and devolved government and associated stakeholder groups. To empower the organisation to shape medical research policy and healthcare policy, in collaboration with JDRF supporters affected by type 1 diabetes.
KEY TASKS Support the Head of External Affairs in representing JDRF externally and building relationships with key stakeholders, as agreed in the year s policy and public affairs plan. Organise and run JDRF s flagship public affairs events in Parliament with the Head of External Affairs and wider JDRF communications team. Also organise and run national and regional campaigning events as required. Support the Head of External Affairs in representing JDRF at the All Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes and other relevant APPGs gathering intelligence, summarising and synthesising it, for colleagues and relevant stakeholders. Support colleagues working to improve NHS provision of type 1 diabetes technologies, getting these patient access issues higher up the national agenda. Support the expansion in Scotland of both JDRF s policy expertise and its public affairs platform, via regular contact with JDRF s Scotland-based staff and agency support. Map where the Scottish Government could and should invest in order to boost people affected by type 1 diabetes. Summarise public policy and shape information on how it affects people with type 1 diabetes and their families, to support JDRF s communications channels. Support the growth of JDRF s network of immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID)- focused organisations. Identify areas of synergy between our IMID strategy and the Government s life sciences strategy. Work with the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), including its Public Affairs Working Group to support the protection of the UK bioscience sector post-brexit. Act as the primary point of contact for volunteers doing constituency-level lobbying, both as part of JDRF campaigns and for individual supporter campaigns. Identify ways to place the voice of people living with type 1 diabetes at the heart of our policy and public affairs activities. Identify opportunities for JDRF to submit responses to formal policy consultations. Collate and submit evidence-based responses, and monitor and influence the outcome. Support JDRF s corporate fundraising team by interacting with public affairs professionals representing pharmaceutical firms, diabetes device manufacturers etc. Draft policy briefings for MPs, Peers and other audiences as required. Undertake any other duties, including administration tasks, which may arise from time to time and which are commensurate with the general level of the post.
PERSON SPECIFICATION Criteria Essential Desirable Experience: Experience of working successfully with politicians, their offices, Health or medical research experience Government departments, and other public affairs audiences to Experience of managing volunteers influence policy and to influence public/stakeholder discourse Experience of organising events Health or medical research experience, possibly gained in an academic environment Experience in analyzing Government policy in-depth, creating policy briefings Experience of working with network membership organisations Skills: Personality: Strong communications skills with the ability to adapt style for specific audiences and to explain complex policy and public affairs issues in clear and appealing ways Ability to work with individuals at all levels of seniority Able to prioritise and manage own workload Digitally literate: able to communicate public affairs and policy issues by contributing to an organisation s output on social media, blogs, website etc Can show initiative and the ability to work independently when necessary Can analyse and choose between different options Embraces change, new methods of working and the digital policy Ability to interpret statistical data
Education: sphere Can generate new ideas Can remain calm when facing challenges and tight deadlines Educated to degree level or equivalent Other: Flexibility and willingness to work some unsocial hours on occasion Occasional UK travel and potentially very occasional international travel Knowledge of the issues faced by people with type 1 diabetes and their families EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES JDRF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees for job applications on the basis of race, sexual orientation, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin, disability or any other status or condition protected by applicable law. This policy extends to but is not limited to recruitment, selection, remuneration, benefits, promotion, training, transfer and termination. JDRF is a registered charity No. 295716 (England and Wales) and SC040123 (Scotland) Raising funds for research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.www.jdrf.org.uk