Impetus

About Impetus Our vision is for a society where all young people, regardless of their background, can thrive in school, secure crucial qualifications, and take their first steps into the world of work on the journey to sustained employment in adulthood, for a fulfilling life. As a leading impact funder, since 2002, Impetus has been helping the best leaders build stronger organisations delivering the most promising interventions that support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed against the odds. We do this by using our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact, through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change. We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person's ability to succeed in life in Britain today: • Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school. • Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths. • The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment. These are challenges that are faced by all young people, but they disproportionately affect young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is . About the role Are you passionate about giving all young people the best chance in life? Are you a brilliant influencer and communicator who relishes harnessing great policy, research and communications to realise social change? Do you want to work in a pioneering charity with impact at its core? Then this could be the role for you. At Impetus we are looking for our next Director of Public Affairs, someone who can inspire our brilliant Public Affairs team and spearhead our communications, policy and research work. This is an exciting senior role, joining our Senior Management Team and working alongside our CEO, board, donors, supporters, portfolio partners and the wider sector to effect real change for young people. This is an exciting time to join Impetus. We are at an inflexion point, having welcomed a new CEO this year and implementing a new strategy focusing on strengthening and expanding our impact and influence. A big part of that is through our public affairs and communications work; whether influencing policy makers so that all young people regardless of background get the best possible chance to succeed, reducing the gaps in education and employment between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their better off peers, or working with government and other funders to prove and expand impactful programmes or communicating our findings, insights and message to a wider range of audiences. The Director of Public Affairs will work with the CEO and Senior Management Team to raise our profile and influence policy, unlock and steward resource and build new partnerships, in order to facilitate growth in impact. They will do this by getting the most out of our high performing Public Affairs team, which covers policy, research, advocacy and communications - as well as working across teams and with the Board to ensure Impetus is well positioned externally. We're proud of the work we've achieved to date, developing a strong track record of high-quality research and insightful reports, significantly raising our profile through media relations and stakeholder engagement, building strong sector partnerships and coalitions to drive meaningful change, establishing a wide range of relationships across government and the sector and building strong expertise in the team. We're delighted that you're considering joining us to take forward this work to the next level. Here are some examples of the types of work that the Public Affairs team delivers: • Our monthly policy newsletter, Impetus Insights • Our news and commentary and blogs • Our latest research reports on school engagement, attainment and youth employment • Our coalitions: The Youth Employment Group and Who is Losing Learning? For more information on what we're looking for from our Director of Public Affairs & what a typical week can look like - please view the Director of Public Affairs recruitment pack. Key responsibilities Fundraising and income generation Work with Impetus CEO and SMT to support the delivery of the Impetus strategy and business plan and deliver the public affairs milestones to time and within budget. Champion and contribute to embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across all areas of Impetus' work, ensuring that EDI principles related to Impetus' mission are reflected in advocacy, stakeholder engagement, communications and public positioning. Vision setting and strong line management of the Public Affairs team, developing their capabilities, representing the team at SMT and to the Board and ensuring it continues to make a valuable - and valued - contribution to the achievement of Impetus's objectives, through building and implementing high quality work plans for the team and ensuring the wider Impetus team is aligned on these. Increase awareness, understanding and trust in Impetus among key stakeholders, through regular, thoughtful engagement with the sector and securing high profile media coverage. Raise awareness of the education and employment gaps faced by young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and what we can do to break down the barriers they face - through research, policy positioning and effective communications. Build a positive reputation for Impetus in government and parliament and among funders, as a source of expertise on how to improve the education and employment outcomes of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and as a trusted interlocutor and partner, building on and leveraging the many relationships already established. Ensure that all advocacy is supported by high quality research and evidence, with our policy and research agenda well aligned to supporting the delivery of Impetus' strategy. Ensure a positive media profile, continuing to build on the base established to build awareness among the media of Impetus's expertise and content. Position Impetus as a 'sought-after' collaborative partner for other organisations with shared objectives; including regularly representing Impetus at relevant sector events. Support the delivery of our fundraising strategy and the successful delivery of our events programme, in particular, our flagship Transforming Lives Dinner. Where appropriate, collaborate with our portfolio partners to support their public affairs work and to leverage relevant partnerships, drawing on their insights to inform Impetus' work. Contribute to the successful performance of the Senior Management Team, and provide expert advice to them, as well as to Trustees, on all public affairs-related activities and in the implementation of the broader strategy, engaging with decisions and challenges across the organisation. Oversee the running of our Public Affairs Committee (PAC), leveraging their skills, expertise and influence for the good of Impetus. Personal specification Essential A commitment to Impetus' mission A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion Experience of leading public affairs / communications / policy at a senior level Strong track record of influencing (through policy, advocacy, communications, stakeholder relations) Strong management skills including strategy development, people management, budgeting and impact monitoring Experience of leading multiple and complex workstreams to achieve measurable results Experience of representing an organisation externally; in meetings, media interviews and on public platforms Exceptional verbal and written communications skills Presence, credibility, motivational skills, natural ability to command respect based on experience, and ability to look beyond own area of expertise Proven experience of building and maintaining influential external relationships and strategic partnerships Ability to motivate a team and work collaboratively, enlisting support from others Knowledge of the education and/ or young people sectors Desirable: Experience of fundraising, including trusts and foundations Knowledge of digital communications Experience of data management and good analytical skills Understanding of, and/or lived experience of, the barriers that young people face, that contribute to the education and employment gap Knowledge of venture philanthropy / impact management Knowledge of private equity and associated industries Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop. We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful. . click apply for full job details