Job details
Door 10 is recruiting an Interim Senior Public Affairs Officer exclusively on behalf of Youth Futures Foundation, the national What Works Centre for youth employment, with a particular focus on marginalised young people.
Youth Futures Foundation generates and brings together high-quality evidence to understand England’s youth unemployment and economic inactivity challenges, identify what works and help policymakers, employers and funders make better-informed decisions.
The organisation places particular importance on involving young people experiencing marginalisation in its work, ensuring their voices and experiences inform policy, practice and decision-making.
The organisation’s policy priorities include:
- Barriers and discrimination in employment
- Place-based change
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Early intervention and transition
- Apprenticeships and vocational training
- Employment support programmes
This role will suit an organised, politically aware public affairs professional who enjoys working collaboratively, producing high-quality briefings and ensuring external engagement activities run smoothly.
Joining the External Affairs Team within the Policy and External Affairs Directorate, you will support and strengthen Youth Futures Foundation’s engagement with Parliament, government and other influential stakeholders.
Reporting to the Public Affairs Manager, you will work closely with policy, communications and youth inclusion colleagues to coordinate public affairs activity, support senior-level engagement and help deliver important influencing opportunities.
Main responsibilities
Government and parliamentary engagement
- Support relationships with ministers, civil servants, MPs, Peers, Select Committees, APPGs and regional decision-makers.
- Maintain accurate government, parliamentary and regional stakeholder mapping.
- Research and prepare briefing materials for senior colleagues ahead of meetings and engagement opportunities.
- Support the promotion of Youth Futures Foundation’s evidence, expertise and research to policymakers.
- Represent the organisation at relevant external meetings and events.
Advocacy and external engagement
- Help coordinate party conference activity, policy roundtables, webinars and visits to programmes involving young people.
- Support the delivery of advocacy events and engagement opportunities for policymakers and policy experts.
- Work with communications colleagues to prepare materials supporting external advocacy activity.
Youth inclusion
- Work with the Youth Inclusion team to ensure young people’s experiences and perspectives are reflected in policy engagement.
- Help support opportunities for young people to contribute meaningfully to engagement with decision-makers.
Monitoring and intelligence
- Support the monitoring of parliamentary, government and wider policy developments.
- Help gather and communicate relevant political intelligence, legislative developments and emerging issues to colleagues and senior leaders.
Project coordination and operational support
- Coordinate activities across teams, helping to align priorities, timelines and resources.
- Support project planning, track actions and deadlines, and maintain accurate records.
- Help ensure efficient working practices and effective communication between colleagues and stakeholders.
- Provide wider operational and administrative support during busy periods of external engagement.
Personal specification
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
- Experience supporting projects, partnerships, stakeholder engagement or events.
- Excellent written communication skills, including producing accurate briefings and research materials.
- Strong organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines.
- Experience working collaboratively with internal colleagues and external stakeholders.
- The ability to interpret evidence and research and communicate findings clearly.
- Strong attention to detail, including accurate administration and record-keeping.
- Confidence building professional relationships and managing stakeholder expectations.
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office, Teams and Outlook.
- A proactive, flexible approach and the ability to take initiative.An understanding of the barriers marginalised young people face in securing employment.
Desirable experience includes:
- Knowledge of employment, skills, apprenticeships, education or youth policy.
- Experience engaging with national or regional government.
- Familiarity with research and evaluation methodologies.
- Experience involving young people in policy or influencing activities.
You will also bring a genuine commitment to Youth Futures Foundation’s mission, an inclusive and collaborative working style and an interest in using evidence to improve outcomes for young people.
Salary and benefits
Salary: £30,679 – £34,721
Contract: Fixed-term, 6 months FTC
Location: London
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours
Further details
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Youth Futures Foundation welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourages those with lived experience of the challenges facing young people in the labour market.
The organisation is an equal opportunities employer, Mindful Employer and Disability Confident employer. All employees are subject to a basic DBS check under the organisation’s safeguarding policy, with enhanced checks required for some positions.
About the organisation
Door 10 is a specialist recruitment consultancy dedicated to hiring excellence in advocacy, communications, government relations, and public affairs. We work with organisations across the UK, Brussels, and beyond to place high-impact professionals in roles that shape policy, influence change, and drive public understanding. Unlike many generalist agencies, our team is made up entirely of professionals with real-world experience at the highest levels — from government departments to corporate affairs teams and international NGOs. This means we understand the unique pressures, politics, and pace of the roles we recruit for.
