Head of Policy and Influencing
Agile
 
Do you want a rewarding career where you can really make a difference? If so, you could be the person we are looking for.
 
We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”
 
We are recruiting for someone to join us as Head of Policy and Influencing.
 
As Head of Policy, you will support the work we do in leading the way to a better quality of life for people severely affected by mental illness. You will oversee the team responsible for developing policy and delivering influencing strategies to support the charity in making our Communities that Care framework a working reality – an aim that is at the heart of our new Corporate Strategy.
 
Working with Executive team and the Associate Director for Policy and Practice, you and your team’s work will position the charity as an expert and thought leader amongst key stakeholders including Government departments, NHS bodies, financial institutions and other influencing targets.
 
In everything we do, we seek to demonstrate our values: Passion, Commitment, Openness, Hope, Expertise and Understanding. If these values resonate with you, we would love to hear from you.
 
What will you be doing?
 
- Acting as the first point of contact and providing advice on internal communications to all colleagues
- Horizon scan the England mental health policy landscape to identify key windows of opportunity to create change on health and the wider social determinants of mental health and rights issues
- Work with the team to prioritise, develop and implement constructive and credible policy positions and influencing strategies
- Participate in high-level meetings on behalf of Rethink Mental Illness ensuring our values, insights and positions are reflected
- Develop influencing plans which deploy the right tactics and the right time to bring about greatest impact
- Be responsible for the project budgets and substantial contribution to bids for further funding through external sources
- Manage contractual and partnership agreements, taking responsibility for performance, financial management and compliance
- Lead the Policy Team through agreeing and overseeing work plans, quality assuring outputs, managing performance and providing development opportunities
- Provide expert support to the Chair, CEO and other Directors on briefings, speeches and presentations. Write communications to a diverse range of audiences in persuasive and accessible language
- Act on behalf of the Associate Director of Campaigns and Policy, as needed
 
Do you have what we are looking for?
 
- Experience and understanding of different influencing tactics, knowing which are the most effective to use at any one time
- Passionate about working with a diverse group of people with lived experience and bringing about much needed change
- Understanding of levers for change across the health system and experience of influencing such change
- Qualitative and/or quantitative data gathering and other forms of evidence to inform the design and development of policy solutions
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship skills with experience of representing organisation’s views in senior stakeholder meetings
- Strong communication skills and able to use a range of different tools and flex depending on which audience – from senior policy targets to communities and people with lived experience
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to oversee multiple influencing projects at any one time
- Strategic and analytical thinking with the ability to identify clear policy priorities and develop influencing plans that maintain a golden thread to our Corporate Strategy
- Ability to manage teams, budgets, workload and projects
- Experience of working in partnership with other organisations and networks
- Ability to assimilate new issues/areas quickly, make connections between different areas of policy and practice, and initiate and frame new agendas
 
What will you receive?
 
You will have plenty of opportunities to enhance your skills with the chance to make a real difference every day. In addition, you will have excellent development opportunities including funded training, career development and a range e-learning courses.
 
You will also receive: 
 
- Salary of £45,992.41 to £51,147.93 or £48,638.51 to £53,794.00 per annum (inc. London Weighting)
- Contributory pension scheme
- Life assurance and employee assistance programme
- 25 days’ annual leave rising to 30 days’ plus bank holidays
- Your "Rethink Day" - one day’s additional leave (pro rata) on your birthday
- Eyecare vouchers
- Flexible working 
 
We welcome applications from everyone, applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning+ (LGBTQ+), people with a disability, or those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are actively encouraged to apply. We are proud to have also been awarded Disability Confident employer status.
 
The closing date for this role is Monday 26th April 2021 at 11:59pm, with interviews scheduled for the 5th and 6th of May 2021.
 
Please be mindful that we may need to close adverts early if we receive a high volume of applications, we therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If a shortened closing date has a significant impact on your ability to apply, please let us know.
 
Other organisations may call this role Policy Lead, Policy Manager, Policy & Community Organiser, Policy & Community Lead, or Policy & Advocacy Manager.
 
This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.