Job Description
Job Title: Policy and Advocacy Manager
Position Type: Maternity Cover
Reports to: Founder/Chief Executive
Based at: School Food Matters, Blackfriars Settlement 9 Rushworth Street SE1 0RB
Salary: £40,500
Working Hours: 9am-5pm (flexible)
Pension: School Food Matters pays pension contributions at 7% of pensionable earnings
Holiday: 31 days including bank holidays
School Food Matters is closed between Christmas and New Year
Job Purpose
To lead and shape School Food Matters policy and advocacy strategy, ensuring our voice influences national and local decision-making on school food and food education
To design and deliver campaigns that support and advance SFM s mission
To line manage the Policy and Communications Assistant and Press and Communications Officer
Key Tasks
Lead and provide strategic input to campaigns, convene groups and partnerships
Represent SFM at external meetings and coalitions such as the School Food Review
Monitor, analyse and interpret relevant research, policy developments and news, identifying implications or opportunities for SFM
Oversee the strategic direction of SFM s external affairs and communications, ensuring all policy, campaigns, and public messaging align with the charity s mission and priorities
Provide policy research and analysis to support the activities of the School Food Review
Oversee meetings and governance for the School Food Alliance
Provide policy and communications expertise for the Food Education Network workstreams
Represent SFM at relevant policy consultations, meetings and conferences to influence and inform policy discussions, and deliver presentations as required
Lead drafting of responses to government consultations
Working closely with the Press and Communications Officer, provide insights to inform timely media responses to policy developments
Ensure colleagues are regularly briefed on policy activities, priorities and messages, and run internal workshops to keep them up to date with the school food sector
Provide strategic input to meeting content for the School Food Review, and support the Policy and Communications Assistant to organise meetings for workstreams
Oversee the development web content, articles, blogs and newsletter content by the Press and Communications Officer and the Policy and Communications Assistant
Keep up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures
Maintain the ethos of the charity and positively promote our work at all times
The Policy and Advocacy Manager will also undertake any other tasks relevant to the affairs of SFM that may arise from time to time. Therefore, being flexible and approaching the job with an open and positive mindset is essential!
Person Specification
Essential
Experience of research and analysis, ideally in a policy environment
General knowledge of issues around school food, children s health and food education
Comprehensive understanding of the UK s political system
Experience of coordinating policy/research-based projects
Experience designing, coordinating and delivering campaigns
Experience of working in coalitions
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to maintain relationships with a range of individuals and organisations
Confident and competent IT skills across Office suite of programmes
Exceptional oral and written communication skills in fluent spoken and written English, with strong attention to detail and the ability to translate complex data and policies into accessible language and engaging stories and communication materials
Strong understanding media landscape and social media platforms to oversee the communications activity of the organisation
Ability to work independently, with high levels of self-motivation
Good project management, time management and organisational skills and the ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
Energy, enthusiasm, creativity and tenacity
Desirable
Strong knowledge of the public health, food and education policy landscape
Experience managing others
Experience managing projects
Experience managing meetings
Experience of working with Drupal CMS
Experience of working within a network or coalition of campaigning organisations
Established contacts with media outlets/journalists/bloggers
Digital campaigning and social networking skills
Experience writing news articles and blog posts with clear structure, purpose and an engaging narrative
Experience managing or supervising team members to deliver communications projects effectively
