Policy & Insight Manager - Heart of Bucks

Overview

An exciting opportunity is available to join Heart of Bucks as Policy & Insight Manager.

In this role you’ll lead the ‘Listen, Engage, Act’ project (funded by the National Lottery Community Fund). The project provides constructive insight and advice on topical issues and challenges facing the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise sector in Buckinghamshire.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Researching for (and advising) a range of stakeholders on local issues.
• Quickly and succinctly summarise complex social problems and issues, and to ensure funders are appropriately positioned on important, emergent, and evolving issues.
• Act as Advisor to the CEO, Trustee Board and other funders on local need in Bucks.
• Compile data and information to ensure that local policy and engagement is evidence-based.
• Partnership working across the VCSE and public sector in Buckinghamshire.

If you enjoy researching locally relevant issues, building partnerships, and writing and presenting, this role could be for you!

Salary: £30,341 to £35,800 per annum

Contract: Fixed Term to December 2028

Hours: Full Time 37.5hrs per week

Closing date: Monday 11^th May 2026

Interviews: for shortlisted candidates will take place W/C 18^th May 2026.

About us

We are Heart of Bucks, the Community Foundation for Buckinghamshire. Heart of Bucks is a registered charity working with some amazing donors to provide a broad range of funding to other charities and not for profit organisations across Bucks. Our programmes range from those helping to address health inequalities or community safety, through poverty and inclusion projects, sports and leisure, to education, arts and culture programmes, and everything in-between.

There is much more information about our work on the website here: www.heartofbucks.org

About the role

Further role responsibilities:

Data & Insight:

• Identify & analyse available data and use them to produce compelling and comprehensive reports on local issues affecting Buckinghamshire (for example, our ‘Bucks Uncovered’ report series).
• Support Heart of Bucks’ involvement with the Bucks Data Exchange and contribute effectively to the sustainability and effectiveness of this project.
• Capture, analyse and report on the KPIs associated with the lottery funding.

Partnerships:

• Develop effective working relationships with key staff at public, private and VCSE sector organisations, in particular influencing and advising key decision-makers.
• Develop strong relationships with the Buckinghamshire Funders group, and effectively translate 2-way information between this group and the VCSE sector.
• Attend local thematic forums, roundtable discussions, Community Boards, task and finish groups, and any other external meetings that will generate useful insights for the wider VCSE sector and to shape funding streams.
• Co-ordinate and grow the ‘Ambassador’ scheme, including generating blogs, videos, and other media in collaboration with these external subject-matter expert volunteers (with support).
• Work closely with national colleagues as part of the UKCF network, to share intelligence and best working practices regarding data, analysis, and insight.
• Organising/facilitating (with support) training, events, roundtables, symposiums, and other such meetings to further improve Buckinghamshire as a distinct ‘place’ – for example, our Vital Voices community forum events.

About you

Our ideal candidate would be described as:

• An excellent communicator (both written and verbal), able to work with people across a range of backgrounds.
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic and responds positively to opportunities.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities, work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge and experience of presenting using PowerPoint or similar presentation software.
• Calm, highly organised, and with a professional attitude to their work.

Please refer to the attached Job Description document for a full Person Specification.

It is desirable that you have a full driving license with access to a car, or are otherwise able to travel independently when required, to carry out this role fully.

Other information

Please e-mail your CV (maximum 2 sides A4) and a covering letter (maximum 1 side A4) to [email protected] outlining why you think you are suited to the position and explaining how you fulfil each element of the person specification with reference to your experience, skill, and knowledge gained in employment, voluntary work, studying, or a personal setting.