Policy and Public Affairs Officer

  • NFP People
  • Feb 25, 2026
Full time Government

Job Description

Policy and Public Affairs Officer

Are you ready to influence national policy and improve foster care for children and young people across Scotland?

Position: Policy and Public Affairs Officer
Salary: £27,953 to £33,130 per annum
Location: Hybrid, with travel to Glasgow office at least one day per week
Hours: 35 hours per week, full time
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Sunday 15th March
Interview Date: 24th March TBC

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to shape policy and influence decision makers at a pivotal time for children s social care in Scotland.

Working within a UK wide Policy and Campaigns team, you will lead work in Scotland to influence legislation, policy and practice. You will ensure policy positions and campaigns are evidence based, drawing on research, stakeholder engagement and lived experience.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Developing evidence based policy positions and solutions to influence national and local decision making
  • Drafting high quality briefings, consultation responses and reports
  • Leading research projects and analysing data to inform policy and campaigning prioritie
  • Building and maintaining relationships with MSPs, government officials, regulators and sector partners
  • Planning and delivering events such as roundtables, focus groups and parliamentary engagement activity
  • Producing written content for websites, social media and member communications
  • Supporting participation activity, including engagement with young people to inform influencing work

You will also play a central role in major research initiatives, including large scale surveys, ensuring outputs are robust, credible and impactful.

About You

You will bring strong experience in policy development, research and influencing, ideally within children s social care or a related field.

You will have:

  • Experience of developing policy and drafting reports and consultation responses
  • Experience of campaigning, lobbying or working with parliamentary processes
  • Strong research and analytical skills, including working with quantitative and qualitative data
  • An understanding of Scottish Government and parliamentary structures
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to translate complex issues clearly
  • Experience of building effective stakeholder relationships at senior levels
  • A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Knowledge of foster care or children s social care issues would be highly beneficial.

About the Organisation

This leading UK charity and membership body works to empower, enrich and support relationships at the heart of fostering. Through research, campaigning and collaboration, it seeks to improve foster care policy and practice so that children and young people can thrive.

The organisation offers flexible and hybrid working, generous annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies and a strong commitment to inclusive recruitment and support for care experienced applicants.

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Policy Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Campaigns Officer, Research Officer, Parliamentary Officer, Policy and Research Officer, External Affairs Officer, Advocacy Officer, Children s Policy Adviser.

If you are driven by evidence, confident in influencing decision makers and passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people, we would welcome your application.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client Not For Profit People.