Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Policy & Public Affairs Manager

at Trussell

🏢 About Trussell

Trussell operates the UK's largest network of food banks, working toward a future where emergency food isn't needed. The organization uniquely combines direct community support with systemic advocacy, making it ideal for professionals who want to address both immediate needs and root causes of poverty. Working here means contributing to a nationally recognized movement with tangible community impact.

About This Role

This part-time remote role focuses on developing and implementing public affairs strategies to advance Trussell's Supportive Communities programme, specifically around community design priorities. You'll influence local/regional decision-makers and national policymakers to create systemic changes that prevent food bank dependency, directly contributing to Trussell's vision of a UK without food banks.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve developing public affairs materials for local authority engagement, collaborating with Supportive Communities programme teams to align policy work with community initiatives, and preparing briefings for meetings with regional decision-makers. You'll likely spend time analyzing policy developments, coordinating with external stakeholders, and planning influencing activities that advance community design priorities across different UK regions.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Trussell Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years experience in UK public affairs/policy development, specifically with local authorities, mayors, and parliamentarians
  • Demonstrates expertise in community development, social policy, or poverty prevention strategies within the UK context
  • Possesses proven ability to develop and execute influencing strategies that bridge local community work with national policy change
  • Shows experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders including community organizations, government officials, and internal programme teams

📝 Tips for Applying to Trussell

1

Highlight specific experience with UK local authority structures and decision-making processes, particularly regarding community development or social services

2

Demonstrate understanding of the intersection between community-level work and national policy change in your application materials

3

Reference Trussell's specific programmes like Supportive Communities and show how your experience aligns with their community design priorities

4

Emphasize remote collaboration skills and experience working with distributed teams across different UK regions

5

Include concrete examples of policy influence that led to measurable community outcomes, not just policy development

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience influencing UK local/regional decision-makers on community or social policy issues', "How you've successfully developed public affairs strategies that connected grassroots community work with policy change", "Your understanding of Trussell's dual approach: supporting immediate needs while working toward systemic solutions", 'Examples of collaborative work with diverse stakeholders to achieve policy objectives']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Trussell's Supportive Communities programme reports and case studies to understand their community design approach
  • → Recent UK policy developments related to poverty prevention, community empowerment, and local government structures
  • → Trussell's public affairs activities and policy positions from their website and annual reports
  • → Current political landscape regarding food poverty and community development across different UK regions

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a successful public affairs campaign you led that influenced local authority decision-making on community issues
2 How would you develop a public affairs strategy for Trussell's community design priorities across different UK regions?
3 What experience do you have working with parliamentarians on social policy, and what approaches have been most effective?
4 How would you measure the success of public affairs activities for the Supportive Communities programme?
5 Describe your experience collaborating with community organizations to inform policy development and advocacy
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on national policy without demonstrating understanding of local/regional decision-making structures
  • Presenting generic public affairs experience without specific UK context or community-focused examples
  • Failing to connect policy work to tangible community outcomes and Trussell's mission of preventing food bank use

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

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Good luck with your application to Trussell!

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