Job Description: Policy Analyst
You will work towards a vision of a stronger, more inclusive democracy through opening up decision making with
citizens.
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
As a Policy Analyst, you will contribute to a range of projects for Involve and your role will be a key delivery and
dissemination role. You will be responsible for delivering high quality policy analysis, research, events and projects
for the organisation, and play a key role in ensuring our work achieves maximum impact.
You will build and maintain Involve’s networks, strengthening our relationships with government and external
partners and taking significant responsibility for our communications and public relations work. You will also
support other Involve staff to raise funds for the organisation and its projects.
In addition to the tasks listed below, and in common with all other staff members, you will be responsible for
ensuring that all project management systems and the websites are kept up to date for all projects you deliver.
This includes maintaining organisational databases. You will also contribute to board meetings and strategic
planning exercises as required.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
You will be responsible for the following in the organisation:
Task
Delivery
Delivering high quality policy analysis, research and project work
Networking and relationship building
Events coordination and delivery
Monitoring and responding to the external policy environment
Communications
Public relations and communications activities
Giving briefings, presentations and supporting those of others
Writing regular blogs, website copy and project materials
Delivery of other publications and social media
KEY SUPPORTING TASKS
In addition to your main responsibilities, you will also be support other members of staff in the following tasks and
responsibilities.
Task
Fundraising and development
Supporting fundraising, both grants and tenders
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTACTS
Involve requires significant external networking to take place for a variety of reasons:
● To promote the organisation, its work and mission;
● To gather intelligence about how relevant sectors and the external environment are developing, as well as
to identify potential project leads – whether grant or consultancy;
● To build relationships with potential funders and clients;
● To build relationships with potential project partners; and
● To develop and promote the case for opening up decision making.
To this end you will contribute to Involve’s development and maintenance of relationships with:
●
●
●
●
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Policymakers, parliamentarians and decision-makers
Early and mid-career civil servants in central and local government;
Relevant civil society organisations and think tanks;
Relevant academics; and
Practitioners.
DIMENSIONS
● Shared accountability with other members of staff or partner organisations for the development and delivery
of projects
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
● To contribute to board meetings and strategic planning as required
● To adhere to Involve’s Equal Opportunities policy in all activities, and to actively promote equality of
opportunity wherever possible.
● To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues, in accordance with the Health
and Safety at Work Act (1974) and relevant EC directives.
● To work in accordance with the Data Protection Act and to ensure that all new systems are reported to your
Data Protection Controller.
● To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected.
SALARY, BENEFITS AND CONDITIONS
The salary range for this position is on a scale from £22,500 to £27,500 per annum.
The postholder will be entitled to 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays. All staff are also gifted the period between
Christmas and New Year as additional annual leave.
PERSON SPECIFICATION: Policy Analyst
Attributes
Essential
Desirable
Method of
Assessment
Qualifications
● Social science degree or equivalent
awarded at 2:1 or higher
● Knowledge of policy processes and
governance
● Knowledge of democracy,
participation and citizen
engagement
● Experience of undertaking policy
analysis and policy-oriented
research
● Experience of building networks and
working in partnership
● Experience of communications in a
policy context
● Expertise in policy research
● Strong networking and interpersonal
skills
● Excellent analytic judgement
● Masters degree in a relevant
discipline
● Knowledge of processes of
representative democracy
● Knowledge of open government
Application
Knowledge
Experience
Technical /
Work-based
Skills
General Skills
/ Attributes
● Effective written and verbal
communication
● Ability to work in partnership with
external organisations
Interview
Application
Test
Presentation
● Experience of project management
● Experience of organising events and
workshops
● Experience of achieving policy
impact
Interview
Application
Test
Presentation
● Expertise in public relations
● Ability to use initiative to solve
problems independently
● Experience of blogging and using
social media in a professional
capacity
● Ability to manage and upload
content to websites and blogs
(eg.Wordpress)
Interview
Application
Test
Presentation
Interview
Application
Test
Presentation
● Ability to work independently and
● Able to use online collaborative
as part of a team
tools (e.g. Google Docs)
● Ability to manage and prioritise own ● Understanding and knowledge of
workload
funding issues
● Very good computer literacy –
including word processing, database
programmes and the ability to
source information from the
internet
● Ability to analyse and synthesise
information
● Excellent organisational skills,
including the ability to work with
minimal supervision
● Commitment to Involve’s values,
including equal opportunities and
ability to apply awareness of these
to all areas of work
● Able and willing to travel nationally,
and occasionally internationally,
including overnight stays