Policy Advisor – Impact Economy

Manchester, M2 OR London, SW1A

The role we are recruiting for sits within the Impact Economy Team in the Civil Society and Youth directorate. The team has a responsibility for mobilising innovative sources of philanthropic and private capital alongside government spending. This has primarily been in support of encouraging a financially sustainable Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector.

We are now responding to a Ministerial ask on how to expand this expertise to support wider HMG departments and missions, and think about how we can grow and partner with the UK’s impact economy further. This role will support the operational and change management to deliver what Ministers decide.

The team is driven by a commitment to improving outcomes for communities, increasing the impact of the sector through innovation and championing what works, improving civil society access to funding, and unlocking and growing non-government sources of finance.

We are firmly committed to our people, and this is reflected in our values. We work hard to build an environment that is diverse and inclusive, as well as warm, friendly and collaborative; where each member of staff can flourish, feel comfortable being themselves at work, develop their skills and move their career forward.

Job description

The government has asked us to consider how we expand DCMS’s expertise on the impact economy to support wider HMG departments and missions, and think about how we can grow the UK’s impact economy further and partner more effectively with it. The impact economy encompasses the many philanthropists, impact investors and purpose driven-businesses who want to deliver impact and social good alongside financial goals.

This role will support on all aspects of the operational delivery, project management, and change management in moving to a new operating model as a team, as well as supporting the development of a new impact economy strategy and the recently established Social Impact Advisory Group. Exact objectives depend upon the outcome of the Spending Review, as this is an emerging area of work for the team.

Specific responsibilities will include:
• Lead drafting of policy papers on the impact economy for key stakeholders, including Ministers, No 10 and Committee groups.
• Support the operational delivery lead in establishing a new impact economy joint team or unit.
• Help develop cross-government impact economy policies, work collaboratively with other key Government departments e.g. DBT, HMT, Cabinet Office.
• Lead on cross-cutting parliamentary business such as correspondence, FOIs etc.
• Develop communications products on Impact Economy – both within DCMS and working collaboratively with other Government Departments, as appropriate.

Person specification

Essential Requirements:
• In this role, helping translate a strategic vision into an operational reality and delivering policy ideas against a backdrop of competing priorities, using evidence and knowledge to support decisions and advice.
• Excellent written and presentation skills, with a proven track record of communicating complex information to senior stakeholders effectively and at pace.
• Delivering objectives with expertise and efficiency; in this role developing an approach to the impact economy that is seen as a service & support to other government departments.
• Forming effective partnerships and productive relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support

Desirable Skills:
• Experience of working in partnership with other government departments and/or external partners to deliver shared objectives
• Strong organisational and project management/delivery skills
• Experience of drafting briefings and/or advice for senior stakeholders
• Previous experience of some sort of machinery of government change, including awareness of the various aspects that have to be considered

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Geoff Hope/Aimee Hardy and will take place on:
• Friday 25th April at 10:00 AM.

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

Please register your interest by filling out this Registration form by 24th April, 2025, 10:00 AM and you will be sent an invitation.

Please note that the session will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process – please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk