Policy & Public Affairs Officer (6005)

Permanent

35 hours per week (flexible options available)

£28,188 per annum

Location: The Children’s Society, White Cross Studios, Old Street, London (hybrid working; at least half the week in the office expected)

The Children’s Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.

This role sits within our Youth Impact Domain, which brings together teams directly supporting young people in practice and our national programmes. Your role will be to contribute to innovative, evidence‑based policy and public affairs work, helping us influence systems and decisions that affect children’s wellbeing.

We are currently looking for an ambitious, proactive and values‑driven policy and public affairs professional to join our dynamic, ambitious team.

A key part of this role will be your ability to identify policy opportunities, analyse political developments, and contribute to impactful influencing campaigns that help drive change for children and young people.

The required skills and competencies for this role are 

• Experience of producing research and analysis for the purpose of influencing policy and/or practice
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to synthesise complex issues clearly for varied audiences
• Proven experience of prioritising busy and changeable workloads and conflicting priorities

It would also be an advantage if you have any of the following skills and competencies

• Knowledge of social policy issues affecting children and young people across the UK with an awareness of the current context, drivers and challenges impacting young people’s wellbeing
• Strong networking and relationship‑building skills across internal teams and external partners
• Interest in engaging with lived experience to inform work

The Children’s Society runs over 100 local services that help thousands of young people who desperately need our support, and we campaign to get laws and policies changed to make children’s lives happier and safer.

Every day we’re changing the lives of children in this country for the better – and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more.

The Children’s Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, which includes the disclosure of criminal records, vetting checks, and the provision of appropriate references. The number and type of references required may vary depending on the nature and responsibilities of the role, ensuring that each appointment is carefully assessed. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 22nd February 2026.

Interviews will be held on the 9th and 10th March 2026.

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