Policy Manager

Job description

Role purpose

You will lead Scope’s policy work on tackling the extra costs of disability and reducing the Disability Employment Gap. Working closely with colleagues across the Policy and Campaigns team and the wider organisation, you will play a key role in delivering bold policy solutions that help create an equal future for disabled people, in line with Scope’s long-term strategy.

You will provide strategic policy leadership, offering expert advice and insight. As the manager for our policy work, you will represent Scope externally and build influential relationships to drive lasting change.

Main responsibilities – what you are accountable for delivering   

At Scope, we work together, in our teams and across all teams. Together, we commit to being collaborative, trusting and respectful. To being open about our work and to being flexible and open to change.  And to building our confidence by improving what we do by developing and learning, continuously.

• Lead on policy development across a key areas of Scope’s work, building strong, evidence-led arguments tested with disabled people and their families.
• Identify opportunities to influence decision-makers and develop strategic plans to achieve meaningful and lasting change.
• Lead policy influencing activity, working closely with colleagues across the Policy and Campaigns team to engage political and public audiences.
• Ensure our policy work is informed by evidence from Scope’s services and aligns with our partnerships activity.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Scope and external stakeholders – including Government officials, regulators, and other charities – to build support for Scope’s policy priorities.
• Communicate our influencing priorities effectively to internal audiences, supporters, opinion leaders, and the wider public.
• Manage and support the Policy Team, which consists of a Lead Policy Advisor (Extra Costs), Lead Policy Advisor (work), Two Policy Advisors and one Data and Insights Advisor, contributing to a high-performing, inclusive team culture.
• Ensure disabled people are meaningfully involved in shaping policy work at every stage of development.
• When requires, act as a spokesperson for Scope, representing the organisation in the media and at external events to promote our influencing priorities.

Key relationships, internal and external stakeholders

• Policy and Campaigns  
• Research and Insights 
• Communications 
• Marketing 
• Fundraising and Partnerships 
• Executive Leadership Team, Leadership Group and trustees
• Disabled people and their families  
• Other disability organisations, including Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) 
• Civil servants and political stakeholders, particularly DWP 
• Businesses and employers

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Experience of successfully developing strong, credible evidence-based policy recommendations.
• Experience of securing policy change and an understanding of the range of tactics and tools available to influence policy effectively.
• Experience of managing teams and working groups, and ensuring team members are supported to achieve their goals
• Excellent political judgement and an understanding of how Whitehall and Westminster works
• Line management experience and familiarity with resource management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to be flexible, respond positively to change, work effectively under pressure, and deal with conflicting priorities.

Desirable

• Understanding of the social model of disability.
• Experience of carrying out research with disabled people and their families, or other groups within society.  
• Experience of successful partnership working with other organisations and individuals.  

Skills and competencies

Essential

• Ability to craft strong and compelling case for change, and to convey complex ideas in engaging ways
• Knowledge of working with government, businesses and individuals to deliver change and the ability to work within networks.
• Ability to plan work and meet deadlines when working under pressure on a number of projects.
• Ability to develop relationships with colleagues, at all levels and with external stakeholders.
• Proactive approach to working and ability to direct own work.

Desirable

• Seizes opportunities to co-produce our work with disabled people
• Tests new things out and learns from the results we’re getting
• Is committed to improving, all the time