Job description

Job title Policy Manager

Department Policy & Advocacy

Reporting to Head of Policy & Advocacy

Purpose of job

1. Drive policy development across the BHF, drawing on the expertise of internal and external
colleagues to develop robust positions on behalf of the organisation.
2. Lead the external environment scanning service, which informs the BHF’s strategic decision
making, directs our response to government consultations and influences our public affairs and
campaigning initiatives.
3. Provide timely reports to the Senior Management Team identifying and analysing policy issues
for the BHF and recommending appropriate actions that will maintain the BHF’s position as the
leading heart charity in the UK.
4. Manage the Policy Team currently comprising line management of one full time policy officer
and one full time policy researcher.

Key responsibilities

Environment Scanning
• Scan the external environment and produce reports presented on broad trends and issues
affecting the Foundation.
• Work with individual departments and managers to facilitate information sharing to help with
forecasting trends and decision making.
• Establish a good working relationship with civil servants and umbrella organisations to help
facilitate an early warning system of opportunities and threats for the BHF.
• Identify policy opportunities/threats and develop effective strategies to exploit them or reduce
their negative effect.

Policy Development
• Drive the development of BHF policy across a broad range of issues, ensuring that it is based on
research, clear analysis and cogent arguments.
• Develop policy papers and negotiate workable suggestions for ways forward by drawing on the
knowledge of internal and external experts through the establishment and co-ordination of cross
divisional working groups.
• Identify opportunities to incorporate policy messages into BHF campaigns, media advocacy and
other relevant activities across the charity.
• Maintain a strategic oversight of all BHF policy work and positions.
• Build relationships with policy counterparts in relevant organisations and manage relationships
with a range of external partners in the UK and internationally.
• Act as a BHF spokesperson on relevant issues.
• Prepare briefs/tenders and manage research which will identify policy issues and/or advance
 policy objectives.
• Provide policy advice to inform which consultations BHF responds to and ensure that the Policy
Team responds to relevant consultations in a timely manner, including liaison with relevant
colleagues.

Management
• Prepare and complete appropriate recruitment documentation; select staff in accordance with the
requirements of the job description and person specification and in line with BHF Recruitment
procedures.
• Ensure that staff are trained and developed to meet the continuing requirements of the position,
and, wherever possible, in line with their aspirations.
• Develop annual plan and budget for the Policy team, manage and monitor budget delivery,
making best use of resources to achieve required outcome to deadline and within budget.
• Develop the Team as the central source of policy related knowledge on the sectors in which BHF
operates (e.g. charity, health) as well as on the economic, legal and political environment.
• Monitor departmental activity to ensure that safe working practices and conditions are maintained
• Ensure that staff work in accordance with any systems and procedures, to ensure own safety and
that of others, communicating with Facilities Management for advice and guidance on all Health
and Safety matters and to report all accidents and unsafe/ unhealthy working conditions in a
timely manner.

General
• Ensure that all electronic and paper files are kept up-to-date.
• Attend professional development opportunities.
• Ensure that systems and procedures are updated to achieve maximum potential.
• Represent the Department at BHF Committee meetings, when required.
• Provide cover and assist others as required.
• Establish good working relationships across the organisation.
• Establish good working relationships with the Senior Management Team.
• Any other relevant tasks as agreed with the Head of Policy & Advocacy.

Person specification
Experience

• Health/social policy professional background.

• Proven experience successfully researching and developing policy.
• Proven experience managing internal/external research policies and relationships.
• Demonstrable experience leading and contributing to multi-disciplinary cross-hierarchical terms.

Knowledge, training & qualifications

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent.

• IT literate with knowledge of Microsoft Office and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of the UK voluntary sector and the key issues it faces.
Skills & personal attributes

• Push for the best at all times.

• Be enthusiastic about achieving the right results in the right way.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Effective interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Ability to present information to a wide range of individuals and audiences.
• Ability to plan own workload and work from own initiative.
• Effectively manage time and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Capacity to build internal and external relationships at senior levels.
• Willingness to work as part of a team and be flexible in approach to work.
• Value and recognise the contribution of other individuals and teams.
• Ability to lead and contribute to multi-disciplinary, cross-hierarchical teams.
• Proven analytical and complex problem solving skills.
• Sound financial management skills.

General

• To care about the BHF, share in its values and objectives and constantly innovate in order to
deliver the best solutions for the organisation and its customers.