Vacancy: Policy and Public Affairs Manager

We're looking for a brilliant communicator and strategic thinker, with an excellent understanding of the parliamentary and policy process. Saving lives underpins everything we do. As Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) you'll be responsible for taking the voices of survivors of cardiac arrest and their families to policy makers, elected representatives, and other decision-makers in each nation of the UK.

You'll have an exceptional understanding of how to build support for legislative and public policy change in Westminster and beyond. You'll lead the development of persuasive, evidence-based, policy arguments that cement our four strategic goals. Working with the wider Communications and Engagement team you’ll ensure that resuscitation continues to be seen as a priority area for decision-makers in government, the NHS and the wider stakeholder community.

The successful candidate will be proactive and high performing, using your expertise to drive real change within our resuscitation community and playing a vital part to contribute to our mission. You will come with a track record of developing effective networks and relationships with civil servants, special advisors, politicians, professional bodies and think tanks.

You will join RCUK at a crucial time as we work to improve the provision of post cardiac arrest support across the UK and increase bystander CPR rates through targeted monitoring of CPR training in schools. 

You will have design and delivery responsibility for policy and public affairs across the UK. You will work to implement policy change by tailoring our policy recommendations to targeted influencing opportunities. 

Your day-to-day work will be varied. From leading the development of evidence-based policy recommendations that improve people’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest, wherever they are, to supporting our media and campaigning activity. 

The role involves cross-team working with a focus on providing support across a range of key campaigning areas. You will take the lead on report writing and blogs to effectively communicate our initiatives to key decision makers.

You’ll monitor parliamentary activity and identify opportunities to influence policy development, legislation and service provision in line with RCUK’s strategic goals. You’ll produce accessible and concise briefings to ensure RCUK’s research is presented clearly, in a way that makes it useful to policy and decision makers at a local and national level.

You’ll build new partnerships and strengthen existing relationships with likeminded organisations in line with our strategic plan, so we can broaden our reach. Supporting the Director of Communications and Engagement, you'll lead and facilitate high-level influence and interaction with the wider statutory sector across all four nations, as that’s where decisions on training and commissioning are made that will have a crucial impact on RCUK’s work.

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager has one direct report, which is the Policy and Public Affairs Officer for the Devolved Nations. 

For more information on the person specification, please download the job spec.
 

At Resuscitation Council UK, we offer competitive salaries, generous annual leave, and opportunities for professional development. All staff benefit from flexible working hours, and ensuring staff are able to balance their work and personal life is important to us. 

We pride ourselves on our inclusive, friendly staff team, who use their compassion and expertise to support each other. Teamwork and partnership working is at the centre of our mission to save lives. 

When you apply to a job with us, we aim to provide appropriate support every step of the way. Here are some of the ways we can support applicants and potential staff members: 

• Working location: We always seek to balance business needs with a flexible approach to working styles and preferences. We have adopted hybrid working arrangements, allowing staff to balance home and office working. The successful applicant will be required to come into the office for a minimum of 1 day per week. Reasonable adjustments will be made for the successful candidate where this is required.
• Access to work: If you would like to make an Access to Work application for a grant to pay for support tailored to your individual needs, such as a support worker, adaptations to the equipment you use, special equipment, taxi fares to and from work if public transport is not accessible to you, we will support you in this process. 
• Alternative application processes: We are asking for CVs and covering letters so you can tell us how your skills and experience can support and add value to Resuscitation Council UK. However, if an alternative method of applying – such as sending us a video or audio clip about yourself – works better for you, we welcome your application. We want our applicants to shine, so we’re flexible to your needs. 
• Equity for all applicants: when we receive applications, those who shortlist candidates for each role will not have access to your name, age or date of birth. In addition, we ask you to submit a diversity monitoring form. We won’t use the information in the diversity monitoring forms during the recruitment process itself, but the information we receive will help us to understand whether our job advertisements are successfully attracting a diverse range of applicants.

To apply for this exciting opportunity, please email us with: 

• A comprehensive CV, specifying significant achievements in your career to date.  
• A supporting statement, of no more than two sides, explaining how your skills and experience can support and add value to our organisation. 
• A completed diversity monitoring form.  

We welcome and will accept applications using an alternative process (such as video or audio applications). Please contact us by email to discuss this prior to submitting your application. 

• Download the job spec
• Download the candidate pack
• Download and complete the diversity monitoring form  

Please email your CV, covering letter and diversity monitoring form to recruitment@resus.org.uk with 'Policy and Public Affairs Manager' in the subject line.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if enough suitable applicants apply.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available.

How we will shortlist and interview

The closing date for applications is 12 midnight, Sunday 23 March 2025.

During the shortlisting process, those shortlisting applications will not have access to your name, age, date of birth or address.

Interviews for this role will take place in person on Monday 7 April 2025.