Policy Manager Work and Welfare

Job description

Role purpose:

To be a Disability Gamechanger

• Lead Scope’s influencing on work and welfare policy, to deliver social change for and with disabled people and their families.
• Provide thought leadership and strategic advice in this area of expertise.
• Be the external face of our influencing programme for work and welfare.

Main responsibilities

• Identify key influencing opportunities for work and welfare, embracing creative approaches to policy development and keeping abreast of sector best practice.
• Build strong, evidence-led arguments, tested with audiences, particularly disabled people and their families
• Lead influencing around work and welfare, working closely with others in the Policy and Campaign team to reach political and public audiences and achieve change
• Build partnerships with other organisations and stakeholders – particularly Government officials and other disability charities – and secure consensus and support for Scope’s policy recommendations and work
• Make sure that Scope’s influencing priorities are communicated effectively to internal audiences, supporters, opinion leaders and the general public.
• Manage and develop two lead policy advisors and work with other Policy Managers, Campaigns and Mobilisation Manager and Political Strategy Manager to drive a culture of high performance around policy development and influencing
• Make sure there is meaningful engagement and participation of disabled people in development, delivery and evaluation of all policy and influencing strategies within the team.
• Be a Scope ambassador and spokesperson with external stakeholders, representing the organisation at external events and in the media to promote our campaigns and influencing priorities.

Internal contacts

• ELT, Leadership group and trustees
• Managers and Heads across Scope, and especially others in SISC
• Marketing, Delivery, Retail.

External contacts

• Senior civil servants and politicians
• Charity leaders, Business leaders
• The media
• Funders.

Person Specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Experience of successfully influencing policy change
• Experience of leading and managing teams and working groups, and ensuring team members are supported to achieve their goals
• A good understanding of relevant policy areas
• Excellent political judgement and an understanding of how Whitehall and Westminster works
• An understanding of the range of tactics and tools available to influence policy and practice effectively and creatively.
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to be flexible, respond positively to change, and work effectively under pressure and deal with conflicting priorities.
• Provides evidence of effective IT skills particularly Microsoft Office.

Desirable

• Demonstrable understanding of the social model of disability

Skills

Essential

• Experience of developing robust, evidence-based policy that leads to positive change.
• Ability to craft strong and compelling case for change, and to convey complex ideas in engaging waysCreative in developing policy solutions and new ways to influence change
• 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.
• Line management experience and familiarity with resource management.

Desirable

• Experience of involving customers, service users and/or beneficiaries in the development, delivery and evaluation of projects
• Understanding of the ability for disabled people to deliver positive change and an understanding of disability policy.
• Experience of project management, including having oversight of multiple projects.