Current Vacancies (Paid and Voluntary)

Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 (dependent on experience)  
Homebased, SE1 London  
Reports to: Director of Fundraising, Communications and Marketing
Closing date: 5 October 2020

An excellent opportunity for a bright, passionate Social Policy Manager to build a social policy presence for the St Vincent de Paul Society. You will work for an organisation which works across a variety of community-based projects as well as offering a national befriending network. You will be responsible for helping to shape the Society’s response to emerging policy trends which impact on the lives of the disadvantaged and marginalised, in particular in the policy areas relating to old age, socio-economic poverty, food poverty and criminal justice/ex-offenders.

You will ensure that the Society articulates itself via clear and consistent policy messages, enhancing our reputation with a range of stakeholders. The ideal candidate will want to champion the needs of the disadvantaged, be excited to showcase our work and be keen to develop the Society’s expertise in a range of policy areas reflecting our broad portfolio.

You will be an experienced policy influencer and creative thinker who can manage research projects and communicate research findings in compelling ways. You will develop and maintain a network of productive external relationships and partnerships including politicians, officials and other stakeholders.

This role sits within the Communications team and will play an important role in supporting our ambitious plans to create long term change to improve the lives of those we seek to help.

Purpose

To build a social policy presence for the SVP, ensuring that we can improve our services, influence public policy, raise our profile and improve the lives of those we seek to help

Key responsibilities

• Capture existing learning and knowledge from across the organisation on social policy related issues
• Undertake and commission research where appropriate to inform the Society’s stance on social policy issues
• Effective horizon scanning for emerging policy issues
• Compile and analyse data and information on a range of subjects with rigour and accuracy
• Present analysis in an accessible, relevant and engaging way
• Network and collaborate with others working in similar fields in other organisations.
• Raise the profile of our work with MPs and other opinion formers
• Provide thought leadership across all of our service areas, including through regular articles, blogs, peer reviewed journals, research projects, evidence reviews and pod casts
• Provide the opportunity for the views of beneficiaries to be at the centre of our work
• Provide supporting data to bring clarity, evidence and insight to our key messaging
• Participate in developing the narrative with the wider communications team
• Represent the Society at events as appropriate
• Prepare briefings and develop briefing materials
• Draft speeches and other content to support the CEO, Chair and other senior members and personnel within the organisation as required
• Support the work of the SVP Social Justice committee
• Work with the funding team to secure funding for research projects

Any other task which may reasonably undertaken within the scope of this position 

The above list is not exhaustive and duties relevant to the post or the individual’s experience may be required from time to time. Variation may also occur to the duties, responsibilities and place of work at the request of your line manager without changing the general character of the post. Any variation will always be discussed with the post holder and their line manager.  

Person specification 

Essential 

• Higher education to degree level or equivalent 
• Excellent written and verbal communications
• A strong grasp of the policy environment, developing issues and themes, particularly in relation to poverty and disadvantage
• Political awareness and understanding
• Broad understanding of economic issues
• Experience of data analysis, synthesis and presentation
• Strategic influencing skills
• Policy analysis skills
• Confident in Excel, advanced formulae and pivot table use
• Understanding of graphic presentation techniques
• Eye for detail, trends and anomalies
• Ability to rapidly synthesise research findings
• Data visualisation skills and proven ability to present data to support compelling arguments
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Excellent project management skills, working to tight deadlines across multiple projects.
• Flexible team worker
• High level of curiosity
• Ability to build effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including volunteers
• A passion to make a difference to the lives of those we serve
• Excellent networker

Desirable 

• Familiarity with Catholic Social Teaching and the relevance of the Common Good to social policy
• Experience of economic modelling
• Media experience
• Research expertise in a relevant policy field
• The ability to package complex issues for dissemination to a non-expert, time poor audience

Apply for this role via Guardian Jobs. 

We are currently looking for a volunteer to assist the Database Officer based at our offices near Waterloo, London.

Maintaining a database of over 10,000 people can be a challenge. The volunteer database assistant will help with the following:

• Maintaining records
• Entering new records
• Making amendments
• Making phone calls
• Filing documents

If you can spare 1 day or more per week, please email volunteering@svp.org.uk.  

Travel expenses up to a maximum of £10 per day will be paid.

This volunteer role will assist with the production of SVP publications, including:

• Annual Report
• Friends Newsletter
• Staff Newsletter
• Other leaflets, flyers and posters

It is necessary that applicants are able to use Quark and Photoshop.

2/3 days per week: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Remuneration: Travel expenses up to a maximum of £10 per day will be paid.

Please contact Ken Madine at kenm@svp.org.uk for an application or more information.

Shop volunteers of varying descriptions and skills are currently required at our Community Shops across the country.

All aspects of work involved with running a busy Community Charity Shop including:

• Sorting and pricing
• Stock preparation and replenishment
• Cash handling and serving customers
• Merchandising and display

Locations include: Leeds, Hallam, Manchester, Wirral, Tyne and London

This position is unpaid, but reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed. We also offer tea/coffee and staff discount on items sold in the shops. Hours are flexible, with varying shift options, working around when volunteers are available to help. Full training is provided. To apply, email volunteering@svp.org.uk for further information.

Collection and delivery volunteers are needed to assist the driver in collecting donations and delivering from shops. 

Locations include: Leeds, Hallam, Manchester, Wirral, Tyne and London

This position is unpaid, but reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed. We also offer tea/coffee and staff discount on items sold in the shops. Hours are flexible, with varying shift options, working around when volunteers are available to help. Full training is provided. To apply, email volunteering@svp.org.uk for further information.

Volunteer drivers are needed to cover and support the regular driver on the van, assist in offering weekend/evening collections and deliveries. Use of own car would be an advantage. 

Locations include: Leeds, Hallam, Manchester, Wirral, Tyne and London

This position is unpaid, but reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed. We also offer tea/coffee and staff discount on items sold in the shops. Hours are flexible, with varying shift options, working around when volunteers are available to help. Full training is provided. To apply, email volunteering@svp.org.uk for further information.

Electrical appliance engineers and PAT testers are needed to test and/or refurbish white goods and small electrical appliances prior to sale in the shop. 

Locations include: Leeds, Hallam, Manchester, Wirral, Tyne and London

This position is unpaid, but reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed. We also offer tea/coffee and staff discount on items sold in the shops. Hours are flexible, with varying shift options, working around when volunteers are available to help. Full training is provided. To apply, email volunteering@svp.org.uk for further information.