Policy & Public Affairs Manager - Scotland

Are you a policy and public affairs expert looking to progress your career and make your mark with one of the UK's largest charities?

Do you want to be part of, and help lead, a dynamic and supportive team?

We're recruiting for a new Policy and Public Affairs Manager to join our team in Scotland. This opportunity offers autonomy and responsibility and the chance to play a pivotal part in advancing British Heart Foundation's (BHF) mission in Scotland.

About the role

As our Policy and Public Affairs lead in Scotland you'll be responsible for the strategic development, direction and delivery of BHF's influencing activities in Scotland, and the management of the policy and public affairs team in Scotland.

As part of the devolved nations policy and public affairs team, you'll be involved in devising and implementing Scotland specific policy actions ensuring that BHF Scotland influences developments in health policy, within the BHF policy framework.

Leading our influencing in the Scottish Parliament and with Scottish Government, you'll drive forward our agenda in line with BHF strategy and ensure BHF Scotland's voice is heard on key issues relating to heart and circulatory disease.

With the impending Scottish Parliament election and a new cohort of MSPs to influence, this role will be instrumental in ensuring that cardiovascular disease and its risk factors are high on the political agenda.

Working arrangements

This is a hybrid role, where your work will be split between your home and at least one day per week, on average, in our Edinburgh Office. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause.

The work will require some evening and weekend work, as well as travel that may require overnight stays. There will be opportunity to visit our BHF offices in Belfast, Cardiff and London on occasion.

About you

We're looking for a strategic thinker with a passion for influencing positive change in Scotland's health landscape. With an excellent understanding of the political environment in Scotland you'll have knowledge of the workings and processes of devolved government and understand how to use them to best effect.

With a track record that demonstrates your ability to build and nurture relationships with senior stakeholders, including Ministers, MSPs, and civil servants, and to exert influence at the highest levels, you'll be adept at developing evidence-based policy and leading advocacy campaigns.

You'll have excellent communication skills, able to distil complex issues into clear, compelling messages. You'll also be skilled at prioritising competing demands and resilient under pressure.

Collaboration at your core, you'll excel at working across teams and sectors to achieve shared goals, and will bring creativity, analytical rigour, and a commitment to BHF's mission, ready to drive change for people affected by heart and circulatory diseases in Scotland.

About us

We value and respect every individual's unique contribution, celebrate diversity, and make inclusion part of what we do every day.

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy, Igniting Change, along with our internal EDI group, Kaleidoscope, and a growing number of employee network groups (our Affinity Groups), help us create an environment where all our colleagues and volunteers can succeed.

Benefits

To find out more about the benefits available at BHF please download our benefits document at the bottom of our advert page.

Interview process

We are planning to conduct interviews, in person, in Edinburgh in early December 2025.

How to apply

To apply for this role please use the apply button below. Our process involves submitting your CV and a supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role's criteria.

As part of our commitment to be an inclusive employer and ensure fairness and consistency in selecting the best candidate for this role, the BHF will use anonymous CV software as part of the application journey.