The Nuffield Foundation is seeking an experienced public affairs and policy specialist with an enthusiasm for strategic engagement to ensure our work is influential and impactful.   

The Nuffield Foundation’s purpose is to advance social well-being and across all our activities we aim to open up opportunities and to improve lives for individuals, families and communities within a just and inclusive society. Our work addresses the inequalities, disadvantage, discrimination and vulnerabilities people face in education, justice and welfare, and considers the social and ethical implications of science and digital technologies. 

Working with the Head of Public Affairs, the Public Affairs and Policy Manager will work across the Nuffield Foundation family to deliver evidence-based influence among a broad range of stakeholders including Government, parliamentarians, other policymakers at national and regional level and the third sector.   

This will include identifying, building, maintaining and utilising the networks needed to ensure our work is seen and understood by the key audiences we are seeking to inform and influence.   

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to further develop their public affairs and policy skills at a time of great shift in the social policy landscape.  

About you

You are looking for an opportunity to shape and influence the work and direction of a highly reputable organisation, ensuring our research has a real-world impact that improves people’s lives.  

You will be a measured and persuasive communicator,  able to work across a wide and varied policy portfolio and engage with a  range of  policy makers and other stakeholders. You will have an evident interest in social policy, the working of UK Government and the knowledge and ability to work responsively to maximize opportunities in order to achieve the greatest impact.    

You should have a creative, collaborative, open and inclusive approach to working, with the ability to work well in a team and also independently.    

For further information about the role, please download the full job description (PDF). 

About us 

The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable trust with a mission to advance educational opportunity and social well-being.   

We fund research that informs social policy, primarily in Education, Welfare and Justice. We also provide opportunities for young people to develop skills and confidence in science and research.   

We are the founder and co-funder of Nuffield Council on Bioethics, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and the Ada Lovelace Institute.   

Further information and how to apply 

The closing date for applications is 09:30am (BST) on Wednesday 25th September 2024, with a 1st stage of interviews scheduled to take place on Thursday 3rd October 2024.

You will be required to complete some questions as part of this application process, and you are also required to upload an up-to-date copy of your CV. The Applied platform lets you save an application and resume it ahead of submitting before the application deadline. 

Should you need to make an application in a different format or require any adjustments as part of the application process, please get in touch with us: recruitment@nuffieldfoundation.org 

We are committed to inclusive working practices and during the application process we commit to:  

• As a Disability Confident employer, we will offer a first stage interview for disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role.  

• making any reasonable adjustments – for example providing documents in different formats, arranging for a sign language interpreter for interviews etc  

• paying for travel costs (and any childcare or care costs) for interviews where in-person attendance is required  

Our benefits package includes:  

• Consideration of requests for part time and/or flexible working (eg compressed hours arrangements, job sharing etc)  

• 28 days holiday per annum and all public holidays (with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days).  

• A salary exchange pension scheme that offers employer contributions of up to 11%.  

• Life assurance scheme.  

• Family leave policies that provide an enhanced level of pay.  

• Cycle to work scheme and loans towards season tickets.  

• Frequent opportunities for learning and development (including options for coaching and mentoring, and reading weeks) 

• Support with your physical, mental and financial wellbeing including an employee assistance provider, a private GP service, personal health reviews with Bupa, a will and funeral planning service and a staff network of trained Mental Health First Aiders. 

• Staff peer groups and social networks.