About the Public Affairs Assistant role
Are you interested in politics and how policy is made by Government, MPs, and the civil service? Do you want to be part of ensuring the needs of children and young people are listened to acted upon by national decision makers?
If you are looking to take your first step in a career in policy and public affairs, Barnardo's new Public Affairs Assistant position might be for you.
The Public Affairs Assistant will provide administrative and research support to Barnardo's Policy and Public Affairs team who, together, work to ensure the needs of children and young people taken fully into account by policy makers.
You can get a flavour of the work of Barnardo's Policy and Public Affairs team by visiting https://twitter.com/BarnardosNews
What will you be doing?
In this role you will have the opportunity to learn about and take responsibility for:
- Providing administrative support to the Policy and Public Affairs team to help it run efficiently. This will include arranging meetings, diary management, supporting project management, organising large mailings, and ensuring our record keeping and processes are well managed.
- Supporting the team with organising events such as report launches, meetings in Parliament, or at the annual Party Conferences.
- Monitoring what MPs and Ministers are saying and doing in Parliament on policy affecting children.
- Helping us research and write summaries and short reports on key policy issues affecting children for MPs or internal senior staff.
More information about the role can be found in the attached job description under ‘key responsibilities'.
Where will you work?
In line with Barnardo's hybrid working approach, this postholder will work from home, joining online meetings and events. IT equipment and a mobile phone will be provided for you to work from home effectively, together with an office at home allowance of £312 per year. You will also have the option to work from a regional Barnardo's office hub, if this is a preference for the successful candidate (subject to there being an office hub within easily travelable distance from where you live).
You will also need the willingness and flexibility to attend regular meetings, events and training at Barnardo's office in central London (travel expenses paid).
Applying
In your application, please outline how you meet the education, knowledge and experience needed (these are outlined in the attached job description, under ‘person specification'). You do not need to meet every single one of these criteria. Your experience, knowledge and skills may have been gained in previous employment, education, training, volunteering, or in another aspect of your life.
We would particularly welcome applications from people who are care leavers or care experienced.
We expect interviews to take place online on Monday 13 March. There will also be an option for shortlisted candidates to be interviewed in person, if this is preferred.
We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.
For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which should be in place by 1st April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a key pillar of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to grow and develop in their career at Barnardo's.