Job Title: Senior Policy Officer
Organisation: Natspec
Salary: competitive, from £45,000
Hours: Full time, with flexible and part time requests considered
30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Location: Home based, with frequent travel across the country, in particular within Wales
Closing date: 6pm 4 August 2025
About the organisation
Natspec represents, supports and trains further education (FE) colleges and organisations that offer specialist education and training for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. We are the voice of specialist FE. We work with government in England and Wales to influence policy, we help FE organisations raise the quality of provision through events, resources and guidance, and we manage a diverse programme of training, projects, partnerships and inter-college activities, such as Natspec Games and Student Parliament.
We are seeking an experienced, dynamic policy officer, with a strong track record in lobbying, providing policy advice, analysing government policy and preparing consultation responses to join our policy team.
About the role
This post will be part of Natspec’s policy team, lobbying and advocating on behalf of Natspec, its 139 member colleges and other specialist FE providers across England and Wales.
Working closely with the Senior Policy Manager and Policy Officer, the post holder will provide policy advice and support to colleges and partner organisation, respond to government policy and relevant consultations, and liaise with key stakeholders.
You will have particular responsibility for relationship management and policy development in Wales, working with Welsh Government, Welsh local authorities, Further Education Institutions, third sector and other organisations.
This is a pivotal post, helping a wide range of organisations understand the role of specialist colleges and maintaining Natspec’s position as the authoritative voice of specialist further education.
The duties of the role include: (please see full job description for details)
- Representing Natspec and the specialist FE sector at meetings with stakeholders, deputising for the Senior Policy Manager when necessary, advocating for specialist FE organisations. This will include meetings with the Welsh Government and Welsh local authorities.
- Developing effective partnership working with stakeholders, particularly in Wales
- Preparing responses to government consultations, calls for evidence and other reports, particularly those relating to Wales
- Undertaking research and analysing relevant data to inform policy work.
- Maintaining regular contact with member colleges through visits and meetings to support understanding of members’ issues and concerns, in particular in relation ALN reforms in Wales, and responding to member enquiries.
- Helping to shape the organisation’s communications strategy in relation to policy, providing guidance and support to the Natspec communications, marketing and publicity officer on main campaign and/or policy lines.
- Writing blogs, briefings, and reports on policy issues and prepare organisational responses for publication on the Natspec website or by external media.
We are looking for a self-motivated, experienced, innovative, dynamic and enthusiastic individual with a strong commitment to improving the policy context for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities.
You must have recent and proven experience in developing and articulating policy, ideally related to further education and skills provision for high needs students. Ideally, you will have worked in Wales and/or have knowledge of with the Welsh educational landscape and the detail of the Additional Learning Needs reforms and implementation of the Act as it relates to Further Education
We want someone who can work as part of a team, inspire and motivate others, with strong written and verbal communication skills. You should be comfortable speaking at large events, using social media and writing high quality reports.
You will need to be able to work flexibly and independently, managing a varied workload and meeting deadlines. The post is based at home but you need to be able to travel across both England and Wales frequently.
Download the full job description and person specification.
How to apply
Apply for this position by sending a CV and covering letter, setting out how you meet the person specification, examples of your experience, and your suitability for the role, to emma.goddard@natspec.org.uk by 6pm on 4 August 2025.
We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply for this role. If you think our organisation and values would work for you, please apply and talk about this in your cover letter.
An assessment day and interview will take place on 4 September for successful applicants, in our Nottingham office. Further details will be confirmed in interview offer emails.
If you would like an informal chat about this job, please email ruth.perry@natspec.org.uk.