Policy Adviser - Consumer Affairs

Job description

Role purpose:

To be a Disability Gamechanger

• Shape and lead Scope’s policy work on consumer affairs, including utilities, transport, supermarkets and digital accessibility.
• Working closely with Influencing Manager(s) on policy that delivers long-term social change. 
• Act as an internal and external ambassador for Scope’s policy and influencing work. 
• Contribute to the high performance and on-going development of Scope’s Strategy, Impact and Social Change Department. 

Main responsibilities and accountabilities: 

• Take a key role in Scope’s policy development, supporting the Policy Lead and deliver within Scope’s overall influencing strategy, including identifying problems, devising credible, evidence-based solutions and developing policy recommendations and outputs to achieve change
• Working with the Political Strategy team where appropriate, prepare Scope’s responses to government consultations, inquiries, and policy documents and those of relevant external agencies (e.g. think tanks, charities, regulators)
• Work with the research team to ensure policy development is informed by robust and credible research, including engagement with disabled people and their families
• Develop and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders within government (including civil servants and MPs) and other bodies to help shape the development of policy, legislation, and practices to improve disabled people’s equality
• Provide policy expertise, intelligence, and insight to ensure strategic join-up between the activities of your team and other parts of the organisation, e.g. Fundraising, Customer Strategy and Experience
• Develop relationships with stakeholders in disability charities, Disabled People’s Organisations, think tanks, professional bodies, and others to ensure a joined-up and strategic approach to influencing on issues of common concern 
• Assist with the development of tools, systems, and processes to support the Influence and Social Change team to be a high performing team
• Support Scope’s work engaging directly with disabled people as part of policy and campaigns development, and participation activity, including our Scope for Change campaigners programme
• Contribute to the development and delivery of other projects across the directorate and the wider organisation, as required

Internal contacts

Policy and Campaigns 

Strategy, Evidence and Insight  

Communications

Marketing, Fundraising and Delivery 

External contacts

Disabled people and their families 

Other disability organisations, including Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs)

Civil servants and political stakeholders, e.g. MPs

Businesses/private sector 

Person specification 

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Good understanding of consumer affairs in relation to disabled people and its role in social change
• Strong understanding of local and national government, relevant industry bodies, regulators and other policy development structures and processes in England and Wales, and how to influence these
• Experience of working with private sector partners to achieve change
• A track record in effective policy analysis, policy development and delivering meaningful policy change
• Political judgement and substantial experience of developing and implementing policy influencing strategies 
• Ability to understand and summarise complex information and work flexibly across a range of policy areas 
• Experience writing engaging content such as blogs and articles to translate policy research and recommendations into day-to-day language
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to quickly establish trust and credibility among colleagues  
• Experience of building and maintaining relationships with a range of external stakeholders, including civil servants, and colleagues from other organisations
• Good interpersonal skills, including diplomacy, negotiation and the ability to motivate others
• Proven project management skills, including working with multiple stakeholders across departments to successfully deliver on pieces of work 
• Ability to work well with a range of stakeholders, including disabled people, and provide support for their involvement in campaigning and social-change work
• Ability to be proactive, respond positively to change, and work effectively under pressure and deal with conflicting priorities

Desirable

• Experience of consulting with disabled people and their families, or other marginalised groups
• An understanding of the policy relating to disabled people in England and Wales
• Experience of successful partnership working with other organisations and individuals
• Demonstrable understanding of the social model of disability and clarity about the input that research, policy and campaigns can make to achieving social change.

Skills and competencies

Essential

• Clarity about the contribution of policy influencing to achieving social change. 
• Demonstrate diplomacy, sensitivity and empathy with issues related to disability. 
• Ability to be proactive, respond positively to change, and work effectively under pressure and deal with conflicting priorities. 
• Evidence of excellent IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office 

Desirable

• Demonstrable understanding of the social model of disability.