Reports To: Senior Communications & Marketing Manager
Department: External Relations
Salary: £31,000 to £36,000
Deadline: Wednesday 22nd July
Interviews:
Screening calls: 27-31 July
Interviews: W/c 17 August
Football Beyond Borders (FBB) is one of the UK's leading education and youth organisations.
We exist to support young people from socio-economic disadvantage to thrive in school by building long-term, trusting relationships with adults who believe in them.
We believe every young person should have a trusted adult relationship throughout secondary school.
Since launching in 2014, FBB has grown into a national organisation working with thousands of young people across schools in London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. We combine relationship-based practice, education, youth work and culture to help young people feel seen, supported and successful both in and beyond school.
But our ambition goes beyond programmes.
We are working to help build a country where every young person has access to a trusted adult relationship - and where schools, systems and organisations are designed around belonging, connection and long-term human development.
Central to this ambition is the Trusted Adult Guarantee (TAG) - a growing coalition of organisations, practitioners, policymakers and researchers committed to ensuring every young person has access to a trusted adult relationship. We authored this policy proposal as the central piece of work by the Lost Boys Taskforce: a coalition we founded in 2025.
As this movement grows, we are looking for an exceptional Policy, Communications & Public Affairs Manager to help position FBB as the leading voice on trusted adult relationships in the UK and help build the conditions for the Trusted Adult Guarantee to become a nationally recognised movement and policy agenda.
At FBB, we believe relationships change lives.
We know that trusted adult relationships can transform a young person's experience of school, their sense of belonging and ultimately their future. That's why we're working towards a future where every young person has access to a trusted adult relationship throughout secondary school.
But we're equally ambitious about the organisation we're building.
We are trying to create one of the best places in the country to do meaningful work with young people: a relational, developmental and deeply human organisation where high standards and deep care coexist.
Our culture is rooted in three core principles: Connection, Autonomy and Mastery (CAM).
We believe people do their best work when they:
Feel deeply connected to others and to purpose
Are trusted to lead and make decisions
Are supported to continuously develop their craft
We are intentional about culture.
Connection at FBB is designed, not hoped for. Development is scheduled, not squeezed. Wellbeing is held by the organisation, not left to the individual.
We care deeply about:
As a result, you'll be joining a team that is ambitious about impact whilst refusing to lose the humanity that makes the work matter.
This is a unique opportunity to sit at the intersection of policy, communications, public affairs and movement building.
You will help shape national conversations around young people, relationships, belonging and the role trusted adults play in improving outcomes.
You will work across government, education, sport, research and philanthropy sectors to build relationships, influence policy discussions and strengthen FBB's reputation as a thought leader.
You will also help ensure our ideas reach the right audiences through compelling content, events, reports, campaigns and strategic communications.
At its best, this role helps transform trusted adult relationships from a promising idea into a recognised national movement.
Raising the profile of trusted adult relationships nationally
Positioning FBB as a leading voice on trusted adult practice and policy
Supporting the development of the Lost Boys Taskforce and Trusted Adult Guarantee
Building relationships with policymakers, civil servants, funders and sector leaders
Translating evidence, insight and practice into compelling policy and communications outputs
Ensuring FBB contributes meaningfully to national conversations affecting young people
What You'll Do
You will:
Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, civil servants and influential stakeholders
Monitor developments across education, sport, youth, health and social policy
Identify opportunities for FBB to influence policy discussions
Coordinate FBB's responses to relevant consultations, reviews and policy developments
Represent FBB at policy roundtables, conferences and sector events
Support engagement with Parliament, political parties and government departments where appropriate
Help shape and grow the Trusted Adult Guarantee policy agenda
Examples may include:
Meeting with officials from the Department for Education, DCMS and other government departments
Engaging with the Children's Commissioner and national sector bodies
Contributing to responses to major policy developments and reviews
Supporting activity at Party Conferences and Parliamentary events
You will:
Develop FBB as the leading voice on trusted adult relationships in the UK
Develop relationships with aligned organisations and coalition partners
Support the growth of the Trusted Adult Guarantee network
Convene events, roundtables, webinars and sector discussions
Identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration across the sector
Build relationships with researchers, academics and thought leaders
Examples may include:
Working with organisations such as Movember, England Football Charity, MCR Pathways and other organisations aligned to the Trusted Adult Guarantee
Organising events and national webinars
Supporting coalition-building activity across the youth, education and wellbeing sectors
You will:
Lead the creation of high-quality policy and thought leadership content
Translate complex ideas, evidence and policy into accessible communications
Write blogs, articles, briefings and opinion pieces
Support speech writing and external communications for senior leaders
Manage newsletters and thought leadership communications
Maintain key campaign and movement-building websites and platforms
Examples may include:
Producing LinkedIn articles and website content
Managing the Lost Boys Taskforce newsletter
Maintaining the Lost Boys Taskforce website
Producing briefing papers and policy explainers
You will:
Work closely with FBB's Impact Team and Executive Team to develop reports and publications
Translate evidence and learning into compelling external outputs
Support the production of annual impact reporting
Develop reports that strengthen FBB's credibility and influence
Examples may include:
Writing major thought leadership reports
Supporting the development of the annual Impact Report
Producing research summaries and policy briefings
Turning practitioner and young people's experiences into evidence-based recommendations
We are looking for someone who:
Is passionate about improving outcomes for young people
Believes in the transformative power of trusted adult relationships
Is politically aware and curious about how change happens
Is an exceptional writer and communicator
Can build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
Is comfortable representing an organisation externally
Can move between strategic thinking and practical delivery
Thrives in fast-moving and ambiguous environments
Is excited by building movements and influencing systems
Experience We Think Will Help
You might have experience in:
You do not need experience in all of these areas.
We are more interested in your ability to build relationships, communicate ideas, influence others and help drive meaningful change.
Success in This Role
In three years' time, success might look like:
Trusted adult relationships are embedded within national policy
The Trusted Adult Guarantee has grown into a national movement
FBB is recognised as a leading voice on trusted adult practice and policy
Relationships with policymakers, funders and sector leaders have significantly strengthened
FBB's publications, events and thought leadership shape conversations across the education and youth sectors
More young people benefit from trusted adult relationships because of the influence and reach of the movement
This role offers a rare opportunity to help shape a national conversation.
You won't simply be responding to policy debates - you'll help create them.
You'll play a key role in helping trusted adult relationships become recognised as one of the most important ingredients in helping young people thrive.
We believe in trusting great people to do great work.
You'll have significant freedom to shape priorities, build relationships, identify opportunities and influence how FBB shows up nationally.
This is a role for someone who wants to help build something, not simply maintain it.
We invest heavily in staff development and wellbeing, including:
We believe meaningful work should be sustainable.
Benefits include:
40+ days annual leave (including organisation-wide shutdown periods)
Wellbeing budget
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Nike staff kit
Access to football tickets through partners
Reflective Practice and clinical supervision
Team socials, celebrations and residentials
Travel expenses covered for work-related travel
You'll work alongside a passionate, ambitious and supportive team who care deeply about young people and each other.
We're serious about impact, but we also know that the best work happens when people feel connected, trusted and supported.
Before You Apply
You do not need to meet every requirement to apply.
If this role excites you and you believe you could contribute meaningfully to FBB's mission, we would love to hear from you.
Some of the best people grow into roles over time. If you are reflective, relational, ambitious and committed to learning, we encourage you to apply even if you are unsure whether you tick every box.
We particularly welcome applications from people whose identities, experiences or backgrounds are underrepresented within leadership across the charity, education and youth sectors.
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do.
We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for all young people and expect all staff to share this commitment.
All appointments are subject to:
Enhanced DBS checks
Two professional references
Safeguarding training and compliance processes
Ongoing safeguarding CPD and learning
By joining FBB, you are committing to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding and care for young people.
How to Apply
Please submit:
We look forward to hearing from you.
