Job description

Role purpose

The Head of Policy and Campaigns is an important leadership role in our mission to create an equal future with disabled people. The role will work collaboratively to change laws, attitudes and practice. The role is responsible for growing our public engagement. By creating campaigns that build movements. And by inspiring the public to support us make change happen.

Main responsibilities

• Set the direction of policy, public affairs, and public campaigning activities to match Scope’s strategy and goals.
• Lead and develop the Policy and Campaigns team.
• Oversee the creation of strong, evidence-based ideas to change government policy, business practices, and public views to achieve an equal future.
• Create effective strategies, campaigns, and plans for engaging stakeholders, and check how well they work through evaluation and impact reporting.
• Work together with other teams and leaders at Scope and partners, and make sure disabled people are involved meaningfully in our work.
• Increase the profile, reputation, and influence of our work both inside and outside Scope, and act as our senior representative with Ministers, business leaders and wider civil society.
• Lead cross organisational initiatives to drive progress to implement Scope’s strategic direction.
• Build a team environment where people work collaboratively, where constructive challenge is appreciated and difference is valued.

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Proven success in shaping and developing national public policy or business practices. You have achieved change by working with others on a common goal.
• Experience in creating and using campaigning tools and tactics to influence the public, with a record of success. You have experience in how to mobilise movements of people and engage them in action.
• Understanding of the social model of disability. You know how important this is to achieve successful changes in policy, practice and attitudes.
• Experience in creating and maintaining a high-performing, team-focused culture. You’ve led teams and groups of people to deliver their best work.

Desirable

• Experience in bringing together staff from different areas to create and use strategies to influence people.
• Proven success in working across teams to help develop and achieve the main goals and priorities of an organisation.
• Understanding of the charity sector. You don’t have to have worked in a charity before, but you’ll be able to understand the context we operate in.

Skills and competencies

Essential

• Experience of leading teams through change (in culture, mindset as well as processes).
• Ability to support colleagues through effective coaching, celebrating success and encouraging a growth mindset.
• Political acumen and a track record of engaging effectively with politicians and government departments within a highly politicised context.
• Highly developed personal influencing skills and experience of developing effective relationships and strategic partnerships at the most senior level with decision makers, opinion formers, CEOs and others.
• A skilled people manager with a facilitative management style, effective delegation skills, and ability to build and maintain relationships and resolve conflict.
• Proven project management skills and ability to allocate people and teams to where they are needed most rather than stuck to their function.