Head of Public Affairs

British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the UK’s leading heart and cardiovascular health charity in the UK and its biggest independent funder of cardiovascular research.
With cardiovascular disease now the leading cause of preventable premature death in the UK, and the biggest driver of the growing health gap between rich and poor, influencing the Government and Civil Service to prioritise it is crucial to the recovery of the UK’s economic and population health.
We are looking for an energetic and driven new Head of Public Affairs to work in the CEO office on three key areas of Government influencing: better prevention, better treatment and care, and boosting scientific understanding of diseases of the heart. 
As an experienced influencer and campaigner, you will co-lead, with BHF’s Head of Policy, a policy and Public Affairs team of 12 people to devise impactful influencing campaigns and strategies aimed at Westminster and relevant Whitehall departments. You will also help build partnerships with industry, think tanks, others in the voluntary sector and arms-length bodies, to advocate for a newly coherent and determined approach to heart disease. 
Working arrangements

This is a blended role, where your work will be dual located between your home and our London office. 
 
At the BHF we believe in the power of being together, so our colleagues on blended contracts can expect to spend some time in their office, at least one day each week, on average. The use of our office spaces is driven in part by your role and the activities you need to do. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause. 
 
Need more help balancing your work and home life? Talk to us about what flexibility is available at the application or interview stage.  

About you
You’ll have a deep commitment to improving the lives and chances of the 7.6 million people in the UK living with a heart condition. You will also be highly motivated to close the growing gap in health outcomes between rich and poor, and different ethnicities, that heart diseases are driving. 
With a good understanding of how to mobilise the public behind this cause, through creative and impactful campaigns and a highly professional and targeted approach to influencing senior decision-makers, you’ll bring thorough knowledge of the political system, and deep insight into how problems rise the political agenda and become policy.
A qualification in a field such as politics or public/social policy would be desirable but not essential where there is significant experience. You’ll have excellent knowledge of Westminster and the political system in England, as well as good working knowledge of devolved nations equivalents.
Enthusiastic and with an in-depth understanding of current affairs, you’ll have a good understanding of the UK medical research sector. You will also have significant experience of working in a political environment or in Public Affairs.