Head of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement

At CAP, we celebrate diversity and strive to build an inclusive workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We warmly welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Global Majority/UK Minority Ethnic candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented within our wider workforce. We are committed to creating an environment where every individual can thrive and feel they belong.

Everything we do is rooted in our values. First and foremost, we are Christ-centred. The work that we do is guided by faith and the belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and God’s love. 

We are bold in fearlessly putting that faith into action to help others and challenge injustice, while also seeking to be compassionate in the way that we want to understand others and offer them meaningful care. We are collaborative in our approach, making time to learn from others and work together to take on UK poverty. And finally, we prioritise being joyful in the face of challenges, because our faith gives us confidence that change is truly possible

Working pattern:
Hybrid or fully remote but with regular travel to both London and Bradford 

Please see the attached Job Profile for a full list of responsibilities

Job Description

Context

Reporting to the Chief Mission Officer, the Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team is responsible for building external relationships in order to raise CAP’s profile and influence change. Through this work we benefit our clients, CAP and wider society. The Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team works to influence policy, the sector and wider society to effect change that supports our vision to see transformed lives, thriving churches and an end to UK poverty.

Reporting to: Chief Mission Officer

Direct Reports: Policy & Public Affairs Manager and External Relations Manager

Purpose

The Head of Policy & Stakeholder Engagement will lead the charity’s strategy to influence policy, shape public debate, liaise with creditors, secure funding from those within the sector and in all areas ensure that the voices of people affected by poverty and problem debt are heard at the highest levels. This role involves monitoring and analysing government, regulatory and sector developments, developing evidence-based positions, and providing strategic advice to the leadership team. The postholder will build strong relationships with policymakers, regulators, sector partners, and other stakeholders, representing the charity in consultations, campaigns, and public forums. They will oversee advocacy, public affairs and sector initiatives, driving campaigns that promote fair, effective, and accessible debt advice, while proactively managing reputational risks associated with political or policy developments.

The role will develop and deliver the strategy, leading on Social Policy, Public Affairs and Sector-wide stakeholder engagement work for the charity. As well as providing line management for the Policy and Public Affairs Manager and External Affairs Manager.

Passion

The Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team are passionately driven and committed to seeing society, government and industries recognise the plight of our clients and be moved to act. They are ambassadors for the organisation, sent out to deliver change whilst staying strongly connected to the wider charity.

Personality

We are above all positive and fun loving, yet professional in our approach, pride ourselves on being great communicators and keen on team working, as well as being proactive and open to change.

Responsibilities

External

• Oversee CAP’s development of policy recommendations and positions, and CAP’s strategic involvement with external campaigns.

• Working with the wider leadership team to help CAP react and respond to changes in the sector, and represent CAP in external discussions

• Provide direction to all research, policy and sector briefings and reports produced by the team.

• Secure funding from across statutory and industry sources according to the agreed plan

• Build relationships with Ministers, parliamentarians and sector (including the advice sector, credit industry, regulators and trade bodies) decision-makers for the purpose of garnering support for campaigns and engaging meaningfully in the political process for the benefit of CAP and its clients.

• Own CAP’s central parliamentary engagement strategy and involvement with All Party Parliamentary Groups.

• Working across the charity, industry and government to see strategic influence objectives such as policy changes implemented.

• Hold knowledge in UK and Devolved government policies and other issues affecting CAP clients.

• Use that knowledge to steer CAP’s external voice on policy and issues facing clients, working with the Executive Team to prepare policy positions for use within the industry, campaigns and through wider media.

• Stay up to date with current and emerging concerns, and the political environment, seeking to understand how these can affect CAP, its clients and how CAP should respond.

• Ensure CAP’s leadership are aware of key opportunities or risks facing CAP and our clients because of emerging issues, policy change or the political environment, and facilitate work to address these.

• Coordinating our response to consultation papers and practices within the sector as they arise, sharing CAP’s opinion on significant policy changes and being proactive in shaping CAP’s policy positions and recommendations

• Help manage CAP’s reputational risk, assessing and mitigating reputational risks, and advise on plans to actively manage these risks in the Policy team and wider charity’s work and communications.

• Deputising for the Executive Team in high level meetings with the Government and / or industry

• Organising external events to promote reports and campaigns, and promote the work of CAP.

• Writing articles for leading industry magazines and speaking at conferences on key industry topics bringing fresh and thought provoking ideas to the table.

Internal

• Policy and Stakeholder Engagement’ strategy: Setting strategic direction for the Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team, in-line with the charity’s vision and aims.

• Connect CAP and our partner churches with others in the anti-poverty and financial capability space, seeking to promote the role the Church plays in the UK, and support CAP's partner churches to better meet the needs of their community.

• Supporting PR with TV & Radio interviews on key topics in the media, adding comments to Twitter and providing information for press releases.

• Line manage the Policy and Public Affairs Manager and External Relations Manager, overseeing the workload of the Policy team.

• Any other duties as required by the Line Manager.

Leadership team accountabilities

• Strategy. Understands the organisation and industry context, knows how to set strategic plans and execute them well.

• Operational oversight. Delivers on the department’s business-as-usual objectives and key results (OKRs) and strategic priorities, knows how to lead the department through change and is constantly looking to improve processes.

• Developing and leading people. Able to lead managers and develop them to deliver on accountabilities. Highly skilled at appraisals and setting targets.

• Promoting healthy culture. Ensuring department work and behaviour exemplifies CAP’s values.

• Collaboration (across departments). Strong in organisational awareness and passionate about cross-collaborative working.

Measurable outputs

• Development and delivery of the 3-5 year strategic plan for Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Affairs team in conjunction with the relevant stakeholders.

• Success of campaigns

• Secure agreed funding from statutory and / or industry sources

• Build and strengthen political connections within all parties by developing an annual parliamentary engagement strategy.

• Build relationship across the relevant advice sectors, credit industry, regulators, trade bodies and Government departments

• Team to provide information for frontline staff to forward onto local MP’s at least quarterly.

• Lead on influence strategy to gain statutory funding from Money and Pension Service, ensuring all key stakeholders are kept informed.

• Attend relevant roundtable meetings and conferences on relevant issues at least monthly.

• Continue CAP’s campaign design and development to ensure year on year progress.

• Coordinate with colleagues in all nations of the UK to deliver policy engagement and influence within devolved parliaments, and engage with nation-based campaigns and consultations.

• Conceive and develop a minimum of three events for appropriate audiences.

• To meet the recipient organisations deadlines for any external consultations that CAP responds to. In this role a minimum of five consultation responses will be required in a year.

• Ensure Debt Operations understand any risks in upcoming and developing policies or practices within the sector that may affect their work.

• Maintain a log of key issues and policy developments and be prepared to brief the relevant internal teams so they are well informed within an agreed timeframe.

• Gather and prepare data and content for charity reports and briefings on key social policy changes for industry & government, a minimum of at least 3 times a year.

• Collaborate with relevant connected teams (including Fundraising and Supporter Development, PR and Network) for at least 2 initiatives that include CAP supporters and Frontline colleagues per year.

• Contribute annually to CAP’s Client Report.

Skills required

• Personable and friendly

• Approachable

• Adaptable

• A great level of organisational awareness.

• Excellent at building strong working relationships across teams

• Able to hold a good balance between detail and the ‘big picture’.

• Excellent organisational and administrative skills

• Ability to prioritise time, tasks and attention effectively

• Contributor to team goals

• Strong initiative taker

• Able to remain calm and professional when communicating in challenging situations

• Ability to understand situations and complex discussions quickly

• Good command of English grammar and spelling with some creative writing ability

• A proven leader who can inspire, influence and deliver results

• Capable of maintaining own emotional well-being

• Strong Team player

• Ability to research

• Excellent data analysis skills

Experience

Essential

• Proven track record in external stakeholder management, policy, public affairs, or advocacy, preferably in a charitable, consumer protection, or financial services context.

• Leadership experience, including managing teams and cross-functional projects.

• Experience of developing and leading strategy

• Significant knowledge of at least two of the the following sectors; government, debt advice, credit, utilities and/or financial capability

• Evidence of leading successful advocacy campaigns or influencing policy outcomes.

• Experience in fundraising from the corporate or statutory sector

• Experience in translating complex policy or regulatory issues into clear, actionable advice for senior leadership.

• Experience in managing reputational risks related to policy or political developments.

• Experience of networking and influencing

• Experience of report-writing and/or drafting professional documents

• Experience of collaborating within and across teams

Desirable

• Experience working with regulatory bodies, industry experts, parliamentary processes or government consultations

• Understanding of policy areas related to UK poverty

• Experience of responding to consultation papers

• Knowledge and understanding of campaigning or movement building

• Understanding of digital and social media advocacy for public campaigns.

Culture

Working at CAP is more than a job; it’s a commitment to a community and movement. We believe that a healthy culture is the fuel for our mission. This means we prioritise spiritual rhythms in our week—including dedicated time for morning prayer, worship, and team huddles. We are a 'joy-filled' office, which means we celebrate every win, from a client becoming debt-free to a colleague’s personal milestone. We expect our team to be 'all in'—not just in their tasks, but in contributing to a supportive, laughter-filled, and prayerful environment.

CAP is a mission-driven, fast-paced, and deeply relational environment. You will find a culture that prioritises:

• Spiritual Rhythms: We start our days with prayer and worship, staying connected to our 'Why.'

• Celebration: We are 'Debt-Free' obsessed. We ring bells, share stories, and celebrate transformation.

• Collaborative Bravery: We tackle big problems (like UK poverty) by working across teams and daring to try new things.

• Inclusive Belonging: We want you to bring your whole self to work, knowing you are valued for who God made you to be.

Other Responsibilities

• Being willing to pray with each other and fully engaged with our Christ-centred culture.

• Encouraging friends, family and other contacts to support the charity through the Life Changer programme and other fundraising initiatives.

• Attending annual CAP staff conferences and team revive days.

• Completing all compulsory CAP training within given timescales.

• This role falls within the scope of the FCA’s conduct rules, and you will be provided with training as to how these apply to the role. It is your responsibility to ensure that you follow these conduct rules.

The above job profile is a guide to the work you may be required to undertake but does not form part of your contract of employment and may change from time to time to reflect changing circumstances.

Educational requirements

• Degree level in relevant area or equivalent experience