Head of Policy and Engagement

Job Title: Head of Policy and Engagement

Location: London, (The Foundry, Vauxhall)

Type: Permanent, hybrid

Hours: 4 days/28 hours a week

Salary: £50k pa (FTE)

About Equally Ours

Equally Ours (previously the Equality and Diversity Forum) is a UK charity that brings together people and organisations working across equality, human rights and social justice to make a reality of these in everyone s lives.

Through our members and networks, Equally Ours joins up research, policy and communications to shift public opinion and policy in positive and powerful ways. This is an exciting and pivotal time for us. At the end of 2022, we launched a 10-year strategy, 'Together for social justice', which sets out our bold agenda to increase equality and strengthen rights at scale.

We are a voluntary membership organisation dedicated to supporting networks, communities and grassroots groups across the UK to influence public policy and decision-making processes.

This important new role aims to support London-based members and our wider networks in shaping meaningful, structural public policy changes that address climate action, social justice, and economic opportunity. This role will work at the intersection of national and London government agendas, ensuring that the diverse experiences of Londoners shape a more socially just London and the UK that protect and advances people's equality and human rights.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Head of Policy and Community Engagement to lead our policy advocacy and community engagement initiatives. This role is crucial in helping our members develop a collective voice, influence policy at both local and national levels, and drive long-lasting, systemic change. The successful candidate will work closely with London-based members and grassroots organisations, convening and facilitating opportunities to develop a unified and impactful voice and advocate for systemic change on key issues such as climate justice and resilience, employment inequality and economic inclusion, particularly in the context of public sector investment and the green economy. They will have a passion for human rights, equality and social justice, and strong policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement experience.

Key Responsibilities

Policy Advocacy & Engagement

• Support Member Voice: Facilitate opportunities for our members (and their networks) to develop a unified and impactful voice on key policy issues.

• Drive structural change: Advocate for systemic, rather than piecemeal, policy reform on issues relating to climate action, law and economic opportunity.

• Policy research & analysis: synthesize research data, commission research, and stay informed on the priorities of national government, Greater London Authority and local borough councils, as well as those of funders, to provide members with strategic analysis and support in developing and influencing policy.

• Focus on intersectionality: Promote the adoption of an intersectional, pan-equality, and human rights-based framework in policy areas such as the equality and human rights legal framework, climate justice and social investment.

Community & Network Development

• Develop and strengthen membership model: Lead efforts to develop and adapt our membership and engagement model, ensuring it remains responsive to the evolving needs of our London network and the wider movement.

• Equip grassroots groups: Work closely with grassroots organisations to build their capacity and influence on key issues, supporting them to engage directly with policymakers and participate meaningfully in policy debates.

• Promote collaboration and capacity building: Promote collaboration among members, encouraging the sharing of best practice, strengthening their collective voice, and enhancing their effectiveness in advocating for their communities.

Strategic Initiatives & emerging trends

• Horizon scanning and trend analysis: Monitor emerging trends in the climate, social justice, and community development sectors, ensuring strategies are adapted to address these developments.

• Network expansion: Identify opportunities to grow our network and extend our reach, ensuring more grassroots organisations are empowered to engage with policy agendas and drive systemic change.

What skills and experiences we re looking for:

• Strong policy expertise: demonstrable experience of analysing evidence from a range of sources (lived experience, think tank and academic reports,) and working collaboratively with communities to identify the root causes of inequality and create policy solutions. Ideally in one or more of the areas of climate justice, economic opportunity, and social inclusion.

• Community Engagement: Experience of working with grassroots organisations and local communities, with a focus on building capacity and amplifying their voices at local borough, London and UK government levels.

• Advocacy Skills:

• Strong understanding and demonstrable experience of public policy change processes at the intersection of UK and London government agendas

• Proven ability to develop, lead, implement and monitor influencing strategies that drive systemic change

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think creatively and strategically about developing engagement models and responding to emerging trends in social and environmental justice movements.

• Commitment: commitment to and a sound understanding of how to apply equality, intersectionality and human rights principles to public policy development, and the credibility to build trust with communities.

• Network Building: Demonstrable experience in growing and supporting membership networks or coalitions, ideally in the voluntary or charity sector.

• Emotional intelligence: High levels of emotional intelligence and resilience, including the understanding and ability to manage how lived experience of our privilege and inequality can impact in the workplace for yourself, colleagues and external stakeholders.

• Managing staff: Experience managing at least one staff member, providing both task centered and pastoral support. The ability to hold and manage difficult feelings and conversations with tact and sensitivity.

• Anti-racism: Commitment to embed anti-racism across all aspects of our work.

Desirable:

• Experience of commissioning different types of research

• Experience of working with impact monitoring and evaluation frameworks, for example theory of change methodology.