Head of Policy, Insight and External Affairs

Head of Policy, Insight and External Affairs Location: Westpoint, Peterborough Hours: Full Time, 3 days office based, 2 days business and stakeholder travelCharis is a technology-enabled managed services organisation delivering regulated and non-regulated financial support to vulnerable households and communities on behalf of utilities, government, local authorities and charitable partners. With deep expertise in governance, regulatory reporting and vulnerability support, Charis plays a critical role in helping partners meet their obligations while improving outcomes for customers. The organisation is increasingly leveraging its data, technology and insight capabilities to inform policy, shape programme design and drive more effective, evidence-based interventions across the sectors in which it operates.We’re recruiting an ambitious and hands-on Head of Policy, Insight & External Affairs to build and deliver our in-house capability across policy, research, advocacy and impact. This is a pivotal role at the heart of our evolution into an insight-led, technology-enabled managed services organisation, operating at the intersection of energy, government policy, financial hardship and digital infrastructure.You will lead the development of high-quality research and insight, translate this into compelling external narratives, and engage with key stakeholders across government, regulators and industry. You’ll interpret policy into programme potential and proactively assess where policy changes will affect or influence our work within the sectors, identifying risks and opportunities.Combining strategic thinking with hands-on analysis, communication and stakeholder engagement, in this delivery-focused role, you will:Translate policy and market developments into strategic insights, collaborating with colleagues to inform and influence programme and service adaptation, ensuring continued relevance.

• Lead the production of high-quality research outputs, including reports, briefings, and thought leadership pieces.
• Design and deliver both primary and secondary research, including survey development, analysis, and stakeholder insight gathering.
• Analyse large and complex datasets (e.g. customer response data), generating actionable insights in collaboration with the in-house data team.
• Utilise tools such as Tableau (or equivalent) to support data analysis, visualisation, and storytelling for clients, including demonstrating aggregated impact and integrating multiple data sources.
• Lead the development and implementation of frameworks such as Theory of Change, Strategic Impact Frameworks, and Social Return on Investment (SROI).
• Build and maintain internal dashboards and reporting frameworks in partnership with the Data Analyst.
• Develop and deliver external affairs and advocacy strategies to support organisational objectives.
• Build and maintain relationships with Government departments, regulators (e.g. Ofgem), and industry stakeholders; prepare consultation responses and policy submissions.
• Produce high-quality written outputs, including reports, briefings, consultation responses, and external communications.
• Support the Client team by providing market insight to inform business development and client engagement.

We’re looking for someone who:

• is ambitious and intellectually curious, with a strong interest in policy, markets and social impact
• has experience in policy, research, consulting, public affairs or insight roles, ideally within the energy, utilities, public services or regulated sectors engaging with government, regulators or policy stakeholders
• might have a background in consulting, advisory or programme delivery environments, and will be able to operate across multiple disciplines: policy, research, analysis and communications
• has strong analytical capability, including working with data and research outputs
• brings experience of using Tableau (or similar tools) for analysis and/or visualisation
• understands impact measurement, including frameworks such as Theory of Change and SROI
• has excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to translate complex information into clear, compelling narratives
• is commercially minded and comfortable working in a hands-on, delivery-focused role

If you’re motivated by working at the intersection of technology, energy, government and social need, want to work on issues at the forefront of cost of living, energy and vulnerability and join an organisation combining commercial delivery with genuine social impact, then we’d love to hear from you.Job Types: Full-time, PermanentBenefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Life insurance
• Paid volunteer time

Application question(s):

• Will you, at any point, require us to assist you with visa sponsorship?
• Do you live within commuting distance of Peterborough?

Experience:

• Tableau (or similar): 1 year (required)
• complex dataset analysis: 1 year (required)
• Policy insight: 4 years (required)

Language:

• English fluently (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person