Role title: Policy Lead
Contract type: Full-time (37.5 hours)
Location: Office based in Oldham, Greater Manchester with travel around the UK.
Salary: £40k – £47k depending on experience.
Shared Health Foundation is looking to recruit a new role of Policy Lead, this role will build
on the existing policy development work to address health inequalities. Do you have
experience of working in public policy, or charity sector policy development that leads to
change? We would love to hear from you!
Role summary:
Shared Health Foundation is a clinically led, evidence-based organisation committed to reducing the impact of poverty on health and addressing health inequalities experienced by disadvantaged communities. The Policy Lead will play a pivotal role in translating evidence, lived experience and frontline insight into policy recommendations that influence local, regional and national decision-making. The organisation has a strong track record of influencing the conversation around homelessness, temporary accommodation, maternal health and health inequalities through engagement with healthcare leaders, government departments and parliamentarians.
The Policy Lead will develop and deliver the Foundation’s policy and influencing agenda, ensuring that evidence generated through programmes and research informs practical system change. The postholder will build strategic relationships with policymakers, health system leaders, local authorities, professional bodies and partner organisations to improve outcomes for vulnerable families and communities.
Key Responsibilities:
Policy Development and Analysis
- Lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s policy strategy and annual policy priorities.
- Identify emerging policy issues relevant to health inequalities, homelessness, maternal and child health, and wider social determinants of health.
- Undertake policy analysis and horizon scanning to identify opportunities to influence decision-making.
- Produce policy briefings, consultation responses, reports, position statements and recommendations.
- Ensure organisational policy positions are informed by evidence, research and lived experience.
Strategic Influencing
- Develop and maintain relationships with national, regional and local policymakers.
- Influence policy development across government, NHS organisations, Integrated Care Boards, local authorities and professional bodies.
- Represent Shared Health Foundation at high-level meetings, working groups, consultations and conferences.
- Identify opportunities to shape public policy and legislative change that improves health outcomes for disadvantaged populations.
- Support senior leaders in engagement with parliamentarians, civil servants and healthcare decision-makers.
Research and Evidence
- Work closely with programme, evaluation and research teams to translate findings into actionable policy recommendations.
- Commission, synthesise and interpret evidence to strengthen policy positions.
- Ensure that policy recommendations are evidence-based, achievable and measurable.
- Monitor the impact of policy activity and evaluate outcomes against strategic objectives.
Stakeholder and Partnership Engagement
- Build strong partnerships with health, social care, academic, voluntary and community sector organisations.
- Engage experts by experience and communities affected by health inequalities to ensure policy recommendations reflect real-world challenges.
- Facilitate policy networks, roundtables and stakeholder engagement activities.
- Promote collaborative approaches to policy development and systems change.
Advocacy and Campaign Support
- Work alongside the Communications Lead to ensure policy messages are effectively communicated to target audiences.
- Provide policy expertise for campaigns, publications and public-facing activities.
- Develop advocacy materials including briefings, consultation responses and evidence submissions.
- Support organisational responses to emerging policy developments and consultations.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Track relevant policy developments and assess implications for the organisation’s work.
- Develop processes for measuring policy impact and influence.
- Prepare reports and updates for senior leadership, trustees and funders.
- Monitor progress against policy objectives and recommend adjustments where required.
Key Competencies:
- Strategic thinking
- Policy analysis
- Influencing and negotiation
- Stakeholder management
- Research and evidence synthesis
- Systems leadership
- Partnership development
- Political awareness
- Project management
- Exceptional written communication
- Commitment to reducing health inequalities
Success Measures
The Policy Lead will be successful when:
- Shared Health Foundation’s policy priorities are translated into clear strategic objectives and actions.
- The organisation continues as a trusted voice on health inequalities and homelessness.
- Evidence generated by programmes leads to measurable policy influence and system change.
- Strong relationships are established with key national and regional decision-makers.
- Policy recommendations contribute to improved services and outcomes for disadvantaged families and communities.
Person Specification:
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- Degree or equivalent professional experience in Public Policy, Public Health, Health Services Research, Social Policy, Political Science or a related field.
- Significant experience working in a policy, public affairs, health inequalities, advocacy or influencing role.
- Experience developing policy positions and translating evidence into practical recommendations.
- Experience producing high-quality policy briefings, reports, consultation responses and board-level papers.
- Demonstrable experience building relationships with senior stakeholders across health, local government, voluntary sector or national agencies.
- Experience leading projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
- Experience evaluating the impact of policy and influencing activity.
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in Public Health, Health Policy, Social Policy or related discipline.
- Experience working within the NHS, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), local authorities or the voluntary and community sector.
- Experience working with parliamentarians, government departments, Royal Colleges or national policy bodies.
- Experience of homelessness, maternal and child health, poverty, housing or health inequalities policy.
- Understanding of research methodologies and evidence evaluation.
Knowledge
Essential
- Strong understanding of health inequalities and the wider social determinants of health.
- Knowledge of policy development and decision-making processes within health and public services.
- Understanding of the challenges facing vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.
- Awareness of current policy issues affecting healthcare, housing, communities and social care.
- Understanding of evidence-based approaches to system improvement and service development.
Desirable
- Knowledge of NHS structures, commissioning arrangements and Integrated Care Systems.
- Understanding of public health policy and population health management.
- Knowledge of parliamentary processes and national influencing mechanisms.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Ability to synthesise complex evidence and data into clear policy recommendations.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong influencing and negotiation skills.
- Ability to build credibility and trust with senior stakeholders.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership-working skills.
- Strong project planning, organisation and prioritisation abilities.
- Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.
- Ability to identify emerging opportunities and risks within the policy landscape.
- Proficient in preparing presentations, reports and briefing materials for senior audiences.
Desirable
- Experience facilitating workshops, policy roundtables or stakeholder engagement events.
- Experience using data and evaluation frameworks to demonstrate impact.
- Experience securing policy change or influencing strategic decision-making.
Leadership and Collaboration
Essential
- Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience working alongside communications, operational and programme delivery colleagues to align policy objectives with organisational priorities.
- Ability to develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrable commitment to partnership working and co-production.
- Ability to support and influence colleagues without direct line management responsibility.
- Experience of working closely with frontline teams to ensure policy recommendations reflect operational realities.
Desirable
- Experience managing staff, consultants or volunteers.
- Experience leading cross-organisational projects or partnerships.
Working Relationships
Essential
The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:
- Work closely with the In Practice team to identify emerging issues from frontline service delivery and translate learning into policy recommendations.
- Collaborate with the Innovation Lead to evaluate pilot programmes, develop evidence-based solutions and support the scaling of successful innovations.
- Ensure policy development is informed by operational insights, research evidence and lived experience.
- Build productive partnerships across Shared Health Foundation’s programmes, projects and external networks.
- Support a culture of continuous learning, innovation and system change.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Passionate about reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for disadvantaged communities.
- Highly motivated, proactive and solutions-focused.
- Politically aware with sound judgement and integrity.
- Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
- Committed to Shared Health Foundation’s values of innovation, collaboration and co-production.
- Empathetic and committed to involving people with lived experience in shaping change.
Desirable
- Existing networks within healthcare, public health, housing or policy sectors.
- Experience working in a growing social enterprise, charity or not-for-profit organisation.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel across Greater Manchester and occasionally nationally.
- Flexibility to attend occasional evening meetings, events and stakeholder engagements.
Desirable
- Full UK driving licence and access to transport.
To apply, send your CV and a cover letter to contact@sharedhealth.org.uk, or apply on Indeed via the link below.
Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
Application deadline: Friday 9th October
