Advocacy Support Officer – Alcohol Health Alliance and Institute of Alcohol Studies

Job description

Alcohol is responsible for 80 deaths a day in the UK. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused more high risk drinking, greater health inequalities, and increased the pressures on families affected by alcohol.

Alcohol deaths rose to record levels during 2020. Will you join our small but mighty team to help campaign to improve the lives of people affected by alcohol? In this role, you will split your time between the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA) and the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS), working 3 days a week for the AHA and 2 days a week for IAS.

The Alcohol Health Alliance UK is a partnership of over 55 organisations, working together to reduce alcohol harm. We are one of the largest public health alliances, with members including charities, medical royal colleges, alcohol health campaigners and patient representatives.

The Institute of Alcohol Studies is an independent charity and think tank dedicated to advancing the use of the best available evidence in public policy decisions about alcohol, reducing the gap between evidence and policy.

Post title: Advocacy Support Officer
Contract: 18 months fixed term (with possibility of extension), full time
Location: Alliance House, 12 Caxton Street, London, SW1H 0QS*
Reports to: AHA Policy and Advocacy Manager, working closely with AHA Communications Manager
Salary: £25,000 + generous defined contribution pension
Holiday Entitlement: 25 days

*remote working may still be in place when post holder joins. Some of the post holder’s responsibilities will be carried out at the Royal College of Physicians (11 St Andrews Place, London, NW1 4LE)

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Job purpose

This is an opportunity to work on a high-profile issue which cuts across a range of the biggest social and political issues of the day, including addiction, health inequalities, marketing, domestic abuse, homelessness, and the influence of business in setting government policy. It’s a great chance to get experience in charity campaigning and communications and to build relationships with leading health organisations.

Core duties

  • Identifying Parliamentary opportunities for influence
  • Building relationships with MPs and Peers
  • Preparing briefings, consultation responses and parliamentary questions
  • Maintaining the database of Parliamentary contacts
  • Writing and overseeing distribution of monthly e-newsletters
  • Identifying and contacting potential new members for the Alcohol Health Alliance
  • Acting as the point of contact for enquiries from members and the public
  • Organising meetings and events (virtually and in-person, including in Parliament), booking rooms, planning catering, identifying speakers, writing agendas and minute taking.
  • Managing finance processes including membership subscriptions and invoicing
  • Supporting the work of the AHA Communications Manager and Policy and Advocacy Manager, and the IAS team

Person specification

You will be proactive and self-motivated, able to balance priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Essential requirements for this role are:

  • Experience in political and/or media campaigning
  • Knowledge of the UK Parliament / Government
  • Experience in drafting engaging copy for newsletters, web or similar
  • Able to work on own initiative and meet deadlines across several projects simultaneously.
  • Experience of organising effective meetings and writing high quality minutes
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence, ability to work with a range of individuals.
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including ability to draft succinct briefings for Parliamentarians
  • A good degree, preferably in politics or a related field.
  • Passionate about achieving social change.

Desirable, but not essential, requirement for this role are:

  • Knowledge of public health or alcohol policy.

How to apply

Apply here by sending us your CV and a covering letter outlining why you want to work with us and and why you would excel in the role given the role description.

Deadline for applications is 15 June 2021.

Interviews will be held on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 July 2021.

No agencies & no calls, please.

 

Policy and Advocacy Manager – Alcohol Health Alliance and Institute of Alcohol Studies

Job description

80 people are dying every day from alcohol across the UK – and the UK Government is not doing enough to stop this. Join our small but mighty team to help drive change and improve the lives of people affected by alcohol.

We are looking for a Policy and Advocacy Manager to lead our campaigns across a range of topics and get the UK Government to take action on alcohol harm. Our work has never been more urgent: the Covid-19 pandemic has caused more high risk drinking, greater health inequalities, and increased the pressures on families affected by alcohol. Alcohol deaths rose to record levels during 2020.

The Alcohol Health Alliance UK is a partnership of over 55 organisations, working together to reduce alcohol harm. We are one of the largest public health alliances, with members including charities, medical royal colleges and treatment services. In this role, you will be based at the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) in Westminster and reporting to the IAS Head of Policy.

Post title: Policy and Advocacy Manager
Contract: 12 months fixed term, full time 
Location: Alliance House, 12 Caxton Street, London, SW1H 0QS*
Reports to: IAS Head of Policy
Salary: £35,000 per year + generous defined contribution pension
Holiday Entitlement: 25 days

*remote working may still be in place when post holder joins

Purpose of Role

You will be leading on campaigning and policy activities for the Alcohol Health Alliance. You will identify opportunities to influence policy development and legislation, get Parliamentarians and other stakeholders to take action in support of our campaign priorities, and engage our supporters and AHA members to generate even greater impact.

It is an exciting and varied role that cuts across public affairs, campaigns and policy work. You will be working on a range of alcohol harm related policy areas, including some of the biggest social and political issues of the day such as addiction, health inequalities, marketing, domestic abuse, homelessness, and the influence of business in setting government policy.

Core duties

  • Drive the AHA’s public affairs activities and raise the AHA’s profile in Parliament by:
    • Building and managing effective relationships with the Government, Parliamentarians, policymakers and other stakeholders
    • Maximising opportunities to influence parliamentary debates, legislation, consultations and select committees
    • Overseeing the organisation of Parliamentary events and the AHA’s presence at party conferences
  • Translate complex research and policy analysis into campaign messages and produce policy documents, briefing notes and research reports
  • Shape and deliver the AHA’s public campaigning strategy, including:
    • Growing and maintaining the AHA’s online supporter base through regular engaging communications
    • Developing and expanding the AHA’s digital campaigns programme using a range of techniques and tactics
  • Continuously evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of the AHA’s public affairs, policy and campaigns work
  • Work closely with the AHA Comms Manager, AHA Chair, chair of the AHA Comms and Advocacy Group and AHA members to develop campaigning priorities and approaches
  • Represent the AHA at external meetings as required
  • Be the first point of contact for AHA policy and campaigns enquiries

Person specification

You will be proactive and self-motivated, able to balance priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Essential requirements for this role are:

  • Experience of planning and delivering successful campaigns, public affairs and policy activities to achieve positive change
  • Experience of writing briefings and reports for a political audience
  • Experience of mobilising the public to bring about political change, including drafting engaging communications for supporters and developing a range of digital campaigning techniques
  • Experience of stakeholder management, coordinating member organisations in a coalition and working in partnership with other charities
  • Excellent knowledge of Westminster, Whitehall and parliamentary procedures
  • Outstanding communications skills, both written and oral, with the ability to translate complex research, statistics and data into engaging copy for a range of audiences
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to develop positive working relationships with senior colleagues and stakeholders

Desirable, but not essential, requirements for this role are:

  • An understanding of alcohol and/or public health policy
  • Experience in growing an online supporter base

How to apply

Apply here by sending us your CV and a covering letter outlining why you want to work with us and why you would excel in the role given the role description.

Deadline for applications is 21 June 2021.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 July 2021. Successful candidates will be invited to a second interview on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 July.

No agencies & no calls, please.