Policy and Advocacy Manager

Job Description

Job Title:
Position Type:
Reports to:
Based at:
Salary:
Working Hours:
Pension:
Holiday:

 Policy and Advocacy Manager
Maternity Cover
Founder/Chief Executive
School Food Matters, Blackfriars Settlement 9 Rushworth Street SE1 0RB
£40,500
9am-5pm (flexible)
School Food Matters pays pension contributions at 7% of pensionable earnings
31 days including bank holidays
School Food Matters is closed between Christmas and New Year

Job Purpose
•

To lead and shape School Food Matters’ policy and advocacy strategy, ensuring our voice influences national
and local decision-making on school food and food education
To design and deliver campaigns that support and advance SFM’s mission
To line manage the Policy and Communications Assistant and Press and Communications Officer

•
•

Key Tasks
•
Lead and provide strategic input to campaigns, convene groups and partnerships
•  Represent SFM at external meetings and coalitions such as the School Food Review
•  Monitor, analyse and interpret relevant research, policy developments and news, identifying implications or

opportunities for SFM

•  Oversee the strategic direction of SFM’s external affairs and communications, ensuring all policy, campaigns,

and public messaging align with the charity’s mission and priorities

•  Provide policy research and analysis to support the activities of the School Food Review
•  Oversee meetings and governance for the School Food Alliance
•  Provide policy and communications expertise for the Food Education Network workstreams
•  Represent SFM at relevant policy consultations, meetings and conferences to influence and inform policy

discussions, and deliver presentations as required
Lead drafting of responses to government consultations

•
•  Working closely with the Press and Communications Officer, provide insights to inform timely media responses

to policy developments

•  Ensure colleagues are regularly briefed on policy activities, priorities and messages, and run internal workshops

to keep them up to date with the school food sector

•  Provide strategic input to meeting content for the School Food Review, and support the Policy and

Communications Assistant to organise meetings for workstreams

•  Oversee the development web content, articles, blogs and newsletter content by the Press and

Communications Officer and the Policy and Communications Assistant
•  Keep up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures
•  Maintain the ethos of the charity and positively promote our work at all times
•

The Policy and Advocacy Manager will also undertake any other tasks relevant to the affairs of SFM that may
arise from time to time.  Therefore, being flexible and approaching the job with an open and positive mindset is
essential!

Person Specification

Essential
•  Experience of research and analysis, ideally in a policy environment
•  General knowledge of issues around school food, children’s health and food education
•  Comprehensive understanding of the UK’s political system
•  Experience of coordinating policy/research-based projects
•  Experience designing, coordinating and delivering campaigns
•  Experience of working in coalitions
•
•  Confident and competent IT skills across Office suite of programmes
•  Exceptional oral and written communication skills in fluent spoken and written English, with strong attention to
detail and the ability to translate complex data and policies into accessible language and engaging stories and
communication materials
Strong understanding media landscape and social media platforms to oversee the communications activity of
the organisation

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to maintain relationships with a range of individuals and organisations

•

•  Ability to work independently, with high levels of self-motivation
•  Good project management, time management and organisational skills and the ability to work under pressure

and to meet deadlines

•  Energy, enthusiasm, creativity and tenacity

Strong knowledge of the public health, food and education policy landscape

Desirable
•
•  Experience managing others
•  Experience managing projects
•  Experience managing meetings
•  Experience of working with Drupal CMS
•  Experience of working within a network or coalition of campaigning organisations
•  Established contacts with media outlets/journalists/bloggers
•  Digital campaigning and social networking skills
•  Experience writing news articles and blog posts with clear structure, purpose and an engaging narrative
•  Experience managing or supervising team members to deliver communications projects effectively

Applying for this job
Once you have thoroughly read this job description and had a careful look at our website, please complete the
application form here. The electronic form can be saved but you may also find it helpful to use the word document
here as a template.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on Sunday 22 February 2026. Interviews will be held at our offices at
Blackfriars Settlement, 9 Rushworth Street, London SE1 0RB on Wednesday 4 March 2026.

Please note:
School Food Matters is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and
expects all employees to share this commitment. If you are offered employment, you will be subject to a Disclosure
and Barring Service record check.

School Food Matters is a London Living Wage employer and is committed to creating an inclusive work
environment, where our team members are supported in expressing themselves and delivering their best work. So,
however you identify and whatever background you bring with you, please apply if the role is one that would make
you excited about coming into work every day.

School Food Matters is only able to employ people who are entitled to work in the UK and cannot assist with work
permit or immigration issues. We are unable to help find accommodation in London.

January 2026