National Policy and Campaigns Officer - Home / Field-Based

Job Title:National Policy and Campaigns Officer

Location: Home based with occasional travel (to be negotiated)

Salary: £38,394 per annum (pro rata) - increasing to £43,857 (pro rata) after 5 years

Reporting to: Policy Manager

Job Type: Part-time (2 full days and 1 half day per week), permanent

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) was founded in 1936 and is the professional Association for registered dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. With over 10,000 members and counting it is the nation's largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals, and is a proud member of the Trades Union Congress.

Successful candidates will be a member of the Trade Union and Public Affairs Directorate of the BDA and will be required to provide policy advice and guidance to allocated country boards and other committees as required.

About the role:

Successful candidates will work in the Policy and Campaigns team of the Trade Union and Public Affairs Directorate, where they will take a key role in researching, developing and implementing crucial projects to support the actualisation of the BDA's long-term vision.

They will also take on guidance responsibilities, acting as a liaison and advisor to allocated country board(s) of the BDA and the Trade Union National Executive Committee. Finally, successful candidates will be expected to take a leading role in the planning and co-ordination of priority BDA campaigns, engaging with specialist groups and overseeing related matters.

Key responsibilities:

Policy Development

• Work with relevant committees and BDA staff in the development of key policy documents and position statements with particular responsibility for allocated country board(s).
• Keep up to date with legislation, key publications and issues impacting on the practice and science of dietetics including social policy, trade union and employment rights.
• Under the direction of the Policy Manager, co-ordinate the development of responses to relevant consultation documents in conjunction with BDA membership, and write reports and briefings for internal and external purposes.
• Undertake research and policy analysis on matters affecting the dietetic profession leading on specific work arising from this.
• Be a key point of contact for queries about policy in relation to allocated area, providing information and responding to queries in an appropriate manner.

Campaign Co-ordination

• Co-ordinate allocated BDA campaigns in conjunction with working groups.
• Act as an advisor to the allocated campaigns in regards to the current landscape, particularly when relevant issues are trending or become topical.
• Ensure timely delivery and evaluation of allocated tasks.
• Provide advice on current and future campaign strategy.

Country Board and committee Support

• Draft relevant Country Board and committee papers and undertake equality impact assessments.
• Provide policy advice and guidance to allocated Country Board and the Trade Union National Executive Committee as required.

Other key duties:

• Represent the BDA with internal and external stakeholders including BDA Specialist Groups, AHP policy officer and working groups/networks and other alliances.
• Be a valuable member of the Trade Union and Policy and Public Affairs business areas, contributing to the evolution of the policy function and contributing to their wider work and objectives.
• To be a key point of contact for allocated external relationships with responsibility for monitoring against agreed BDA priorities.

Candidates must have:

• A bachelor's degree or higher.
• Experience in campaign/project management, policy development, public policy making, drafting consultation responses and project management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Experience using standard office software.
• The ability to work flexibly and as part of a team to meet possibly conflicting deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to understand and translate complex information for different audiences.
• Experience working in a membership organisation/political environment.
• Residence in the country where the position is located.

Our Ideal Candidate would also have:

• Experience in nutrition, dietetics or other health-related fields.
• An understanding of health/nutrition Policy and trade unions.
• An understanding of climate change.
• Experience working with Committees and Boards.

CHANGES:

This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the practice of the British Dietetic Association to update job descriptions from time to time to ensure they relate to the job as is then being performed, or to incorporate any proposed changes. This will be conducted in consultation with you.

This job description is supported by annual objectives and performance standards to provide an indication of the level of performance expected from the role.

Please click on the APPLY button to send your CV and Cover Letter for this role.