Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We call these our '3Ps'. 

We achieve this in two ways. Firstly, we improve lives on the frontline through delivery of public services. Secondly, we use our knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help. With the heart of a charity and the mindset of a business, we are uniquely placed to deliver on this challenging agenda. 

We’re a large organisation, with over 120 services operating across 5 different hubs: justice, young people and families, education, employability and skills and apprenticeships.  

Reporting to the Director of Communications, you will play a key part in the shaping the direction of Catch22’s policy and influencing activity. 

You will be responsible for progressing policy on our four priority areas: online harms, risk and resilience, youth employment and justice (victims services and rehabilitation). You will build strong relationships with stakeholders in order to pursue Catch22’s policy ‘asks’. You’ll also work closely with other organisations and within coalitions to drive policy changes for the benefit of the services users we work with.  

Click here to see full job description.

Main duties and accountabilities

Stakeholder engagement 

• Develop and pursue influencing strategies with key stakeholders and decision makers in order to create an environment conducive to policy change 

• Build strong relationships with officials in key government departments in order to progress our policy priority areas 

• Lead on developing a programme of visits of officials to relevant Catch22 services in order to raise our profile amongst policy and decision makers 

• Develop of programme of Catch22 policy networking events with key stakeholders  

Consultation responses and parliamentary briefings 

• Lead on compiling information and writing responses to relevant government and departmental consultations 

• Work with other organisations to find areas of synergy and contribute to join responses 

• Identify upcoming parliamentary debates and brief MPs on Catch22’s stance and policy calls 

• Work with ‘friendly’ MPs to table parliamentary questions on areas relevant to our campaigning activity 

Events 

• Design a strategy for policy roundtables, involving policy makers and decision makers at local and national level, relevant to Catch22 policy and campaigns priority areas: online harms, risk and resilience, youth employment and justice (victims services and rehabilitation) 

• Act as a spokesperson for Catch22 at external (and internal) events, relating to our policy priority areas, sometimes standing in for senior members of staff  

• Provide briefings for senior members of staff, including the Chief Officers Group, who are speaking at external events 

Campaigning 

• Lead on campaigns that will help achieve policy goals – working with the wider communications team to build content that can be used on the website, social media and media 

• Forge strong working relationships with other organisations whose campaigning priorities align, and work with them to push for policy change 

• Author blogs and think pieces, for the Catch22 website and external publications, based on campaigning areas 

• Manage budgets for specific campaigns  

Training 

• Lead and expand Catch22’s ‘Frontline Voices’ group – comprising staff from across Catch22 interested in contributing to policy and campaigning work 

• Design online and in-person events for staff interested in finding out more about policy and campaigning 

Management 

• Line-management of one policy manager with expected growth of the team within the coming year 

• Management of interns as needed 

• Management of project teams across the organisation and externally  

Essential: Educated to degree level or with equivalent professional experience related to policy, public affairs and/or campaigning 

Desirable: Working towards, or already achieved, a professional qualification relating to  policy, public affairs or campaigning 

What does good look like for this role?

• Able to provide strategic oversight of all Catch22 policy and campaigning work 

• Able to build strong relationships with policy makers at regional and national level 

• Able to bring together information from various parts of Catch22 to form compelling briefings and policy consultation responses  

• Able to keep abreast of the policy landscape in relation to our key priority areas: online harms, risk and resilience, youth employment and justice (victims services and rehabilitation) 

• Able to form strong working relationships with Catch22 staff across the organisation 

• Able to provide advice and support to Catch22 services in relation policy and campaigning work  

• Able to deputise for the Director of Communications in their absence 

• Salary:  £45-49k per annum
• Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week (although we're open to discuss flexible working)
• Contract:  Permanent

See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.