JOB DESCRIPTION
February 2015
Job title:Head of Policy & CampaignsDepartment: Policy & External Affairs
Team: Policy & CampaignsJob holder: Vacant
Reporting to: Director of Policy & External Affairs
Aim
- To lead the development and delivery of Crisis’ political influencing strategy
- To have responsibility for Crisis’ policy, campaigns and public affairs work.
- To lead and manage the Policy & Campaigns team to ensure that Crisis’ influencing work is focussed on impact for homeless people and delivered with planning and expertise.
- To fulfil existing political and campaigning objectives to a high standard.
Dimension
- The post holder manages the Policy & Campaigns team in London and Scotland
- Responsibility for managing the Policy & Campaigns budget
Circumstances
- 35 hours per week
Salary
£50,000 per annum
Organisational chart
Principle Accountabilities
- To lead the delivery of Crisis’ political influencing strategy
- To ensure insightful and evidence driven policy work that is both proactive and reactive, but always focussed on the development of solutions to problems faced by homeless people
- To oversee impact focussed campaigning work underpinned by sound methodology and thorough planning
- To oversee public affairs and parliamentary strategy in Westminster and Holyrood that achieved political objectives and increases Crisis’ profile
- To ensure homeless people are fully able to inform and deliver Crisis’ influencing work, as appropriate
- To effectively lead and manageCrisis’ Policy and Campaigns Team
- To identify the key policy areas for Crisis to influence and to lead the development of Crisis’ policy positions through developing in-depth knowledge, horizon scanning, tracking and influencing key debates and strategic and innovative new thinking
- To work collaboratively with the Head of Communications and Head of Research and Evaluation to ensure departmental objectives are achieved and projects jointly planned and delivered
- To develop and maintain a network of strategic relationships and partnerships in support of our influencing objectives with key individuals including politicians and other stakeholders and organisations
- To develop and maintain excellent in depth and broad based knowledge of policy issues affecting single homeless people, ensuring the team provides regular, up to date and concise analysis of policy developments for the organisation, including colleagues in the Department, SMT and Trustees
- To represent Crisis at a range of levels including on public platforms, co-ordinating and participating in briefings with Ministers, civil servants, MPs other organisations and relevant policy makers
- To manage the Policy & Campaigns budget and ensure it is used to maximum effect in support of Crisis’ influencing objectives
General
- To develop and maintain an understanding of the charity’s work and the needs and circumstances of homeless people
- To comply with Crisis policies and procedures, including Health and Safety policies, for which all employees owe a duty of care both to themselves and others, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act
- To carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in the light of the main purpose of the job.
Person Specification
Essential
- Proven track record of achieving positive political change
- Extensive experience of working in a high pressured policy environment
- Track record of successfully working with and influencing policy makers, including MPs, civil servants and Ministers
- Excellent theoretical and working knowledge of political campaigning methodologies
- Proven ability to develop and deliver policy positions and publications that achieve change
- Experience of managing a team to deliver results
- Excellent communication (both written and oral), influencing and analytical skills
- Strong political understanding and knowledge, including parliamentary process
- Strong team player with track-record of working cross-organisationally
- Ability to represent Crisis in meetings and on public platforms
- Ability to analyse, use and deploy facts and statistics
- Commitment to Crisis’s purpose and values including equality and social inclusion
We encourage applications from all sections of the community particularly those with personal or previous experience of homelessness.