Head of Policy and Influencing

Closing date: Sunday 13 September 2026

Location: Flexible location: Home based, Andover or Hybrid.

Salary: £52,000 - £54,000 pro-rata - Full time - 35 hours per week

Join us in Beating Macular Disease

Are you an experienced policy professional who would love to use your skills to help us Beat Macular Disease? If you're a self-starter, with strong policy development, campaigning or advocacy experience and the ability to develop and deliver influencing strategies that achieve impact, then we would love to hear from you. 

About the Macular Society

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. We're the only UK charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease through:

• World class research to find new treatments and a cure
• Practical support for people affected by sight loss
• Trusted advice and support services that empower those living with macular disease

About the role

As part of our passionate and dedicated services team, you will provide strategic leadership of the Macular Society’s policy and influencing work, ensuring that the needs and experiences of people living with macular disease shape our policy positions and campaigning activity. You will be leading the development and delivery of a policy and influencing strategy to ensure our voice is heard at the highest levels across government and healthcare. 

As our Head of Policy and Influencing, you will:

• Develop and deliver a policy and influencing strategy aligned with organisational priorities and user needs
• Act as the organisation’s senior lead on policy and public affairs, advising the Director of Services, CEO and wider leadership team
• Contribute to organisational strategy, culture, planning and performance as part of the leadership team
• Lead the development of robust, evidence-based policy positions, drawing on research, service insight and lived experience
• Monitor, analyse and interpret policy, legislative and healthcare developments relevant to macular disease, communicating developments to key colleagues
• Brief the CEO, Trustees and other senior leaders on policy issues, enabling them to act as effective advocates for Macular Society positions

About you

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Strong experience in policy development, public affairs, campaigning or advocacy with evidence of driving change in a healthcare context
• In-depth understanding of health, social care or disability policy
• Experience of working in partnerships, coalitions or cross-sector collaborations and using these to drive change
• Proven ability to develop and deliver influencing strategies that achieve impact
• Excellent leadership skills, including evidence of fostering a challenging and supportive team culture and flexing style to meet the needs of individuals
• Excellent team working and collaborative working skills and the ability to develop effective partnerships

Why join us?

In return, we provide a great working culture – we do something worthwhile and are proud to work together to Beat Macular Disease – as recognised by our inclusion in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023 list. 

Benefits include:

• Flexible working options
• 27 days annual leave, plus public holidays
• Option to buy or sell annual leave
• Supportive family-friendly policies
• 6% pension contribution

 To read about our benefits in more detail, see link below.

Inclusion and diversity

We are an equal opportunities employer and a Disability Confident Employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons, particularly people with lived experience of sight loss.

• Guaranteed interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum (essential) criteria and disclose their disability in their application
• Opportunities to request reasonable adjustments for interviews and the role

We aim to be an inclusive employer reflecting the communities we serve.

How to apply

For a full job description and person specification, please see below.

To apply: Please email your CV with a covering letter to recruitment@macularsociety.org 

Questions? Please address any questions by email to jessica.kirby@macularsociety.org

Closing date: 13 September 2026

Interviews: 29 and 30 September 2026