This role is home-based (but will require regular travel to Edinburgh and Glasgow)

Do you want to use your strategic thinking and tactical know-how to be a driving force to influence change that strengthens people’s rights and makes sure people have more choice and control over their lives?

Do you get a buzz from politics and thinking on your feet to shape policy and influence decision-makers? Do you like to get stuck into an issue digging into research and developing policy that demonstrates expertise and thought-leadership?

Do you want to work in an impact-driven organisation with big ambitions that will support your personal growth and professional development?

Then come and join us here at VoiceAbility, a voice and rights charity with big ambitions to make a big impact on people’s lives.

About the role

We're looking for a passionate and highly motivated person to take forward our policy and influencing in Scotland and lead on specific policy and influencing tactics or strategies.

Working within the policy, public affairs and communications team, you will be the go-to expert on agreed policy areas, devising policy positions and identifying strategies and tactics to achieve our policy and influencing objectives in Scotland.

The position is offered as either a Policy and Influencing Officer or a Senior Policy and Influencing Officer. The role is a full-time, 35 hours a week, permanent contract. The starting salary for the Policy and Influencing Officer role will be between £29,000 and £34,500 for the Senior Policy and Influencing Officer starting salary will be between £36,000 - £44,000 per annum depending on skills and experience. We are open to a conversation about flexible working and are also open to conversations about job sharing.

About us

VoiceAbility is an independent rights and voice charity and one of the UK’s largest providers of advocacy and involvement services. We directly support and empower tens of thousands of people every year when they face life-changing decisions or need support to have their voice heard when it matters most. We’ve been supporting people to have their say in decisions about their health, care, and wellbeing for over 40 years.

We achieve social impact through our delivery of a wide range of service contracts funded by local authorities, health trusts and other voluntary and private sector organisations. We also influence policy and practice to push for changes to give people more choice and control over their lives and better support when facing challenging times. We have ambitious plans to continue to grow our influence over policy and shape new and innovative services that will increase our impact.

How will you make a difference?

Using your knowledge of the political, economic and social landscape in Scotland you will lead the delivery of strategic campaigns and policy development to achieve defined policy and influencing objectives and develop tactical and agile plans to serve our campaign objectives.

Using your strong people skills, you will build and nurture relationships with internal and external stakeholders across a wide range of fields, including decision-makers and senior colleagues that mean VoiceAbility increases its influence and social impact.

About you

You will have a tenacious and agile approach with a high-level of comfort in pivoting and adapting strategies at pace to get best results.

You will have a demonstrable interest in influencing and shaping change in the political arena to deliver positive social impact that empowers people to have their voices heard and rights upheld.

Our values resonate with you and you want to work somewhere where the empowerment of people is central to our work. You value teamwork and collaboration and demonstrate transparency and accountability in your work.

Benefits:

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  28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• 
  5% employer pension and 3% employee contribution
• 
  Salary sacrifice pension scheme
• 
  Separate Life Assurance Cover
• 
  Staff discount scheme including retail discounts, entertainment, holidays etc
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  Discounted gym membership; Employee Assistance programme.
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  Supportive working environment fostering a good work/life balance.
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  Support with continuous professional development.

Professional Development

You will have plenty of opportunities to enhance your professional abilities through in-house opportunities for training and through personal development conversations with your line manager where you can explore career development together.

Equality and Diversity

VoiceAbility believes in fostering an inclusive workplace which welcomes, values and celebrates the diversity of its staff and partners, treats all on a basis of equality and encourages all to meet their maximum potential.

Important Dates:

Closing date for applications: midnight on 16 January 2023.

Interviews via MS Teams: Tuesday 24 or Wednesday 25 January 2023

How to apply

To apply for this role please sign up for a recruitment account by clicking the apply button on this page. Follow the instructions to create your account, upload your CV, and complete our short application form.

Don’t forget to read the person specification so you can tell us about yourself and how your skills, abilities and experiences match the criteria outlined in the person specification.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Want to know more about VoiceAbility and the role?

Please email and mark your email for the attention of Charlotte Gill. Due to the festive break and annual leave, we will not be able to reply to any enquiries until after 9 January. Please no agencies.

VoiceAbility are a Disability Confident employer. If you need to apply in a different way, please contact for further options