We are looking for a 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.

This is a blended role, where your work will be dual located between your home and our London office.

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.