The role will support Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) to seize opportunities for improving the political environment for dementia research, capitalising on opportunities to increase our impact in parliament and with government to strive for a cure.
The role will work closely with policy colleagues to help develop opportunities for influencing key stakeholders within and outside government and its agencies to help Alzheimer’s Research UK improve the dementia research environment. This is a very creative directorate, and the post holder will have opportunities to work on projects that take the charity in exciting new directions. The role is likely to include frequent work in Westminster and Whitehall and elsewhere in the UK.
Main duties and responsibilities of the role:
Public Affairs:
- Work with the policy and public affairs team, as well as the wider organisation, to help further develop and implement the public affairs strategy.
- Identify, develop and deliver proactive and reactive parliamentary activity to grow ARUK’s network of engaged, informed and supportive political stakeholders.
- Work across the policy and public affairs team to assist in developing tailored briefings and materials to further ARUK’s policy and public affairs ambitions.
- Keep abreast of the dementia research and political environments from national and international perspectives and use intelligence and insight to help inform the team’s work and direction.
- Provide analysis and insight on relevant legislation and policy guidance to help further and inform ARUK’s policy and public affairs work.
- Prepare parliamentary briefs, develop submissions for parliamentary questions and other opportunities presented through the parliamentary system.
- Lead on gathering information to measure our public affairs impact and report regularly, including across the organisation and up to Directors.
Campaigns and awareness raising:
- Work with the policy, public affairs, research and communications team to help deliver public campaigns and campaign messaging focused on ARUK policy objectives and help shape these messages for a political audience.
- Work with the communications and digital teams to help develop digital public affairs opportunities.
Event and meeting management:
- Planning and coordinating parliamentary events and conferences focused around ARUK key policy and public affairs objectives.
- Represent ARUK at parliamentary and other events and conferences, potentially including national party conferences.
- Co-ordinate and attend meetings with parliamentarians and stakeholders alongside senior staff and to provide briefings for staff.
- Liaise with colleagues, scientists, supporters and stakeholders at all levels.
What we are looking for:
- Knowledge and interest in politics and public affairs
- Knowledge of the UK political system
- Experience of building positive relationships with influencers or supporters
- Confident working with computers – good knowledge of Word, Excel and Outlook
- Excellent personal communication skills, with the ability to communicate with people at all levels face to face and on the phone
- Ability to write professionally, with an ability to adapt communications for different audiences
- Ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
- Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workload
- Professional and hard-working team player
- Enthusiastic and able to remain calm under pressure
- A willingness to show initiative
- Willingness to work outside of regular office hours and overtime during busy spells
Additional Information:
Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.
Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals. This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.
Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.
Salary: Circa £30,000 per annum, plus benefits
Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.
The closing date for applications is the 1st December 2024, with interviews likely to be held week commencing the 9th December 2024. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.
As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us at recruitment@alzheimersresearchuk.org.
How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.
About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.
There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.
In 2022, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement and were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:
• 48th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.
• 19th in the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.
• 3rd in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.
In addition, we were also shortlisted for a special award recognising the work undertaken on reducing our environmental impact.
In 2021, we were awarded the HR Management award by The Charity Times for our Wellbeing initiatives throughout the pandemic.
In 2020, we demonstrated our commitment to changing the way we think and act about mental health in the workplace and signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge.
ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference.
To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK