***THIS JOB VACANCY HAS NOW CLOSED***
£21,589 – £22,725 pro rata for 20 hours per week
Based at our office in Wittering with agile home working
A UK driving licence is an essential requirement for this post
Would you like to join our friendly and supportive team, working to support RAF personnel and families? Our current Health and Additional Needs Policy Lead has successfully grown her own small business, and now needs to spend more time on it – so we need to find a successor! You will be joining an environment where there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to our overall mission, with training opportunities and networking. In addition, we are open to flexible working, and ensure your work/life balance is where it should be.
About us
The Royal Air Force Families Federation (RAF FF) exists to improve the quality of life for the RAF family around the world – at work or at home. We provide an independent voice for Serving personnel and their families. It is a confidential service that relies upon the integrity, and professionalism of its staff to deliver a Federation that is both credible and respected by all parties. We provide practical support and advice as well as lobbying for change with politicians, the Chain of Command and policy makers in the British Government across Scotland, Wales and NI. We are a supportive, friendly team and are passionate in our support for military personnel and family members whilst retaining a keen eye on work/life balance for all team members.
About the job
The RAF FF Policy Advisor is responsible for liaising with government departments, local authorities, RAF units, schools, personnel and families on health and additional needs policy, identifying and sharing best practice and reporting issues and concerns. You will engage with all policy developments affecting service families’ health and additional needs across England, Devolved Administrations and across the world to support our overseas families. Whilst a key part of your role will be engagement with various health and additional needs bodies (e.g. NHS, DHSC, local authorities and other MOD departments) you will advise on the development and promotion of support networks and tools by external groups e.g. The Armed Forces Public Patient Voice Group.
As subject lead in your policy area, you might provide input to research and surveys in collaboration with the Support and Outreach Manager. Along with developing written content and resources to inform and support families in the areas of policy, you will ensure the wider team members are kept informed of developments in your policy area.
About You
This is a role where issues you raise may be important in shaping government policy. Ideally, you will have a sound understanding of the RAF lifestyle and its impact on Serving members and their families. Previous experience that would be a good ‘fit’ for this role would be in a health and additional needs role, or someone who has Served in the RAF. Vitally, as an advocate for RAF children and families, you will be a confident and effective networker with excellent communication skills (written and verbal) to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders – sometimes senior ones. Some experience in understanding and analysing data would be helpful, and you should be able to present reports in a clear and succinct style, and confidently represent the RAF FF at meetings – with the occasional requirement to deliver presentations to a range of audiences. Integral to the role are excellent people skills demonstrating warmth, trust, empathy and a ‘can do’ attitude to the task in hand. Working flexibly, you will be required to occasionally travel to meetings throughout the UK to represent the Federation for which we will reimburse travel costs.
If you want to discuss the role with our current post holder (Claire), then please drop her an email at: claire.willsher@raf-ff.org.uk Alternatively you are also welcome to chat to the Families Federation Director to learn more about the working environment and role: maria.lyle@raf-ff.org.uk
Why join us?
We are immensely proud of the work we do and our colleagues definitely share this sense of pride. We offer a wide range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement – 36 days inclusive of bank holidays (pro rate for part time colleagues), as well as a range of other benefits including pension, EAP and four times salary life cover. Employees also have the opportunity to take part in a number of fundraising events as volunteers, for which there is additional leave provision of one day per year.
To apply
Please check that your CV is up to date and showcases your skills and experience relevant to this role (this will really help you stand out during the shortlisting process!) and send this along with a cover letter telling us about how this role fits with your experience to jobs@rafa.org.uk
Applicants who meet the criteria may be invited to join a short initial telephone discussion with one of the recruiting managers ahead of the closing date so please register your interest early.
Please note important dates below
Closing Date 10am Monday 21 March 2022
Interview Date week commencing 28 March 2022
The RAF Association is a Disability Confident Employer. Please let us know if you require any assistance with the application process.
