The Policy and Campaigns Manager helps people with sight loss to live the life they choose by leading the development of policy and campaigns in Scotland to support Guide Dogs strategic aims, working in collaboration with the central policy, public affairs and campaigns team and the country leadership team. This role will develop and foster strategic partnerships to further the aims of Guide Dogs in the country including relations with devolved government, local societies, local authorities and other relevant organisations. This role will lead Guide Dogs' campaigns at a regional level and increase the involvement of blind and partially sighted people in campaigning. From time to time the post-holder will be required to work on projects impacting a different country; for example Northern Ireland.

This role is 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week, with 26 days paid holiday (excluding bank holidays) a year.

This role can be based from Forfar, Edinburgh or Hamilton with travel required across Scotland. We recognise that the world looks a little bit different since the pandemic. Therefore, we’re committed to enabling our staff to work where best suits the needs of the individual, their team and the organisation. For this role, there will be opportunities to work from home as well as the office. We want our staff to flourish and work in environments which maximises their potential and best serves our stakeholders.

We offer a generous pension scheme, life assurance and enhanced pay for parenting and sickness leave. In addition, we provide an Employee Assistance Programme, flexible benefits package and discounts and cashback scheme to care for our people.

More details about this role, the Organisation and the recruitment process can be found in the attached candidate pack and job description.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.

Diversity

Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. We encourage applications from people with disabilities as they are currently under-represented in the organisation and guarantee an invitation to interview for all applicants with disabilities who demonstrate, within their application form, sufficient evidence to meet the essential criteria for the job.

Safeguarding

Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.

Candidate profile

Candidate requirements

To be able to fulfil this role, the skills and experience we are looking for in a potential candidate include;

Essential

• Experience of working in a policy role with responsibility for liaison, internal and external networking, project leadership and reporting.

• Experience of networking with and influencing opinion formers including politicians, civil servants and professional groups.

• Experience of campaigning to secure change in policy and practice and working with groups of campaigners.

• Knowledge of local government and devolved administration.

• Knowledge of political framework and environment in UK, campaigning techniques and advocacy-based campaigning.

• Knowledge of Equality Legislation.

Desirable

• Relevant professional or research-based qualification and / or experience.

• Experience of working in the third sector.

• Volunteer management.

• Knowledge of visual impairment issues.

• Knowledge of empowerment and person-centred approach.

For the complete list of essential and desirable criteria necessary to be successful in this role please see the Person Specification within the Job Description below. The candidate pack contains more information about this role & the recruitment process at Guide Dogs.

If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. We cannot provide sponsorship for this role.

Applications need to be made using the online application form, accessed using the ‘apply’ button on ourwebsite listing

If you have any accessibility issues, please contact our Recruitment Team on 01189838837 or peopleservicecentre@guidedogs.org.uk.

As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description.

The system has a one-hour time limit. We would advise you to prepare your answers separately and then copy and paste into the online form once finalised.

If any mandatory fields are missed, a pop-up box will appear at the top of the page advising which sections require completion.

Please note that you’ll have to upload a CV as this is a mandatory requirement as part of our Safer Recruitment Policy.

Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If there is not enough space in your application form to provide this information, please ensure you upload additional documentation containing the additional detail.

Please contact our Recruitment Team on 01189838837 or peopleservicecentre@guidedogs.org.uk if you require any support with your application.

Application Closing Date 27/09/2021