Policy and Advocacy Lead

**St Giles Trust seeks a Policy and Advocacy Lead to develop and execute its**

**Responsible to**:
Executive Director of Fundraising, Policy and Communications

**Responsible for**:
**Hours**:
Full Time, 35 hours per week (flexible hours)

**Grade**:
Band 6

**Location**:
Based at one of our St Giles Offices Location / Hybrid

**Holiday**:
30 days + bank and statutory holidays (pro-rated if part time)

**Salary**:
£45,000 (London weighting) and £42,000 per annum (Outside M25)

**Application Deadline**:
Thursday, 9th October 2025 at 9.00am
Interviews to be held on Friday 17th October 2025
Please note this role requires a Basic DBS CheckSt Giles Trust is a Charity helping people facing severe disadvantage to find jobs, homes, and the right support they need. We help them to become positive contributors to local communities and wider society. We passionately believe everybody is capable of changing their lives. Our mission is we empower people to overcome injustices for themselves, their families and their local communities - we achieve this through offering support from someone who has been there. Our peer-led services form the backbone of our work.

As **Policy and Advocacy Lead**, you will lead the development and execution of our policy agenda and advocacy strategy. You will play a central role in how St Giles shapes and participates in public debate, influences government policy, and ensures the voices of those with lived experience are at the heart of decision-making.

**(1) Key Deliverables**:
**Strategic Leadership**Develop and deliver a bold and evidence-based policy and advocacy plan aligned with St Giles’ three pillars of work; Poverty, Violence & Exploitation and Criminal Justice.-
Provide strategic advice and support to leadership and executive teams on political and policy developments.-
Ensure our influencing work is inclusive, grounded in lived experience and reflects the values and priorities of St Giles.**Policy Development & Research**Lead the development of policy positions, briefings, consultation responses, and reports.-
Oversee research projects and ensure robust evidence underpins all policy recommendations.-
Monitor political, economic, and social trends to identify opportunities for influence.**External Engagement & Advocacy**Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, government departments, think tanks, and stakeholders.-
Represent the charity at high-level meetings, inquiries, coalitions, and in the media.-
Drive public campaigns and mobilise supporters around key policy asks.**Team Management & Collaboration**Lead, manage, and inspire the Policy and Influencing team to deliver high-impact work.-
Collaborate across departments (e.g. Communications, Programmes, Fundraising) to integrate policy work into wider organisational objectives.-
Manage budgets and report on outcomes to funders and the Board as required.The postholder will be expected to deliver on the following:
**(2) Knowledge & Experience**:
Please refer to the criteria below in your personal statement

**Experience**

**Essential** (A)Deep understanding of UK policy-making and influencing processes, ideally in areas related to social justice.-
Proven experience of developing and delivering successful influencing strategies that led to policy change.-
Strong political acumen and ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.-
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and media engagement.-
Experience managing and motivating high-performing teams.-
A commitment to anti-racism, equity, and working in solidarity with marginalised communities.**Desirable**Knowledge of criminal justice and/or youth policy.-
Experience working in or alongside lived experience-led organisations.-
Understanding of devolved and local government policy landscapes.**Skills & Abilities** (A)Ability to work resiliently under pressure, meet competing deadlines, work on own initiative and part of a team.-
Ability to demonstrate knowledge and awareness of the issues faced by our client group, in particular barriers faced by people with lived in experience-
Drive, enthusiasm, and determination to lead the team and strategy to deliver targets.-
Self-motivated and highly proactive with the capacity to work independently and as part of a team-
The ability to think creatively to secure funding.-
Ability to work collaboratively with other managers and staff to set and deliver organisational goals.**Attitude** (A)Commitment to consultative & collaborative ways of working.-
Commitment to and understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries-
Respect for the values and ethos of St Giles Trust.-
Personal and professional integrity-
Positive attitude towards staff and our peers-
Emotionally Resilient**(3) About Us**:
In St Giles, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, season ticket loan and much