The Charity Retail Association is the UK campaigning and trade association for charities which have retail chains, representing 80 per cent of the sector – from large national charities like Oxfam and the British Heart Foundation, through to hospices and charities which might have one or two shops. We lobby and campaign as the voice of the sector, provide business insight to charities through our in-house research, and organise high profile networking and learning events to support our members.
This is an exciting time for the Association’s public policy work. This year, we were shortlisted for the national CIPR Excellence awards for Best Public Affairs campaign. We are conducting innovative new research to measure and communicate the social and economic value that charity shops bring to UK communities and defend their reputation on the high street. The Senior Public Policy Officer will have a lead role in planning and delivering these projects within our political communications strategy and will use this work to build relationships with, and influence, national politicians.
You will have an understanding of how to plan and manage strategic policy and research projects with a strong focus on how to communicate these within a national political context. In addition, you will have experience of influencing Government policy and building strategic relationships with national decision-makers and policy influencers. You’ll need to understand the vital importance of member participation in and support for our work, and you will also have the personal credibility to communicate directly with senior stakeholders.
The role
- To influence and shape Government policy on matters affecting charity retail;
- To develop and deliver strategic policy and research projects – including the Association’s work on measuring social value - and use this to influence relevant decision-makers;
- To build a positive reputation for the charity retail sector and the Association with national politicians, decision-makers and other policy influencers;
- To support the Association to be the ‘voice of the sector’ with national and local Government and the wider policy community.
Person Specification
Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of the UK political system and of parliamentary and Government processes;
- Understanding of basic research methods and design;
- (Desirable) Understanding of the UK devolved administrations and the EU.
Experience
- Experience of developing and managing policy and research projects which influence political stakeholders;
- Experience of developing positive relationships with political decision-makers and influencers;
- Experience of analysing complex policy and summarising and presenting key implications to senior stakeholders.
Skills
- Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills;
- Ability to manage people effectively;
- Strong analytical skills;
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills;
- Ability to work flexibly in a small team Project management;
- Good political judgement.