Policy Development Officer

  • Part time
  • £30,000 pro-rata
  • On site: Edinburgh
  • Closing 3rd March 2025


  • Advertised from 5th February 2025
  • 17.5 hours per week. Length of contract: to 31 March 2026, with the possibility of extension (funding dependent).

Role

About Feniks:

  • Feniks was established in 2007 as a small charity to improve outcomes for Edinburgh’s Central and Eastern European (CEE) communities. For 17 years, the organization has provided a range of free, confidential and holistic support services to promote the wellbeing and rights of the city’s largest ethnic minority group including 1-1 counselling, psychotherapy and personal development services, group support and outreach activities.
  • Most recently, Feniks has been leading in the provision of culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care and support to Edinburgh’s Ukrainian community, and supporting the community’s integration, development, health and employability prospects.
  • Since its inception, Feniks has grown and developed into a successful organization working in partnership with statutory services and other voluntary sector partners to deliver the best outcomes for CEE community members in Edinburgh and it continues to grow and evolve in response to the needs of the populations it serves.
  • This is a great opportunity to become involved in an organisation providing essential services that respond to the needs of marginalized communities in Edinburgh, while developing skills and confidence in governance and management skills.

Overall purpose of the post:

Employed through the Scottish Government Equality and Human Rights Fund, Feniks Policy Development Officer will be responsible for:

  • Advocating for the rights of the Polish, Ukrainian and other CEE communities with stakeholders and the Scottish Government
  • Engaging directly with stakeholders to raise awareness of the rights, needs and experiences of the Polish, Ukrainian and other CEE communities in Scotland
  • Enable the participation and representation of CEE communities in civic life
  • Working closely with the Community Research and Engagement Officer (CREO) to gather information, data and case studies of the experiences and issues affecting the Polish/Ukrainian/CEE community in Scotland
  • Raise awareness of the pertinent issues affecting CEE communities with stakeholders including the NHS, local authorities and the Scottish Government
  • Participate in relevant political activities such as the Cross-Party Group on Poland, and other relevant mental health, equalities and human rights networks and forums
  • Use existing and new research to advocate for the needs of the CEE communities at the highest level
  • Enable the participation of CEE community members in political life and acting as an advocate and representative as and when required.
  • Advocate for appropriate health and human rights data collection by statutory bodies with regards to CEE communities, and, where possible, promote such data to inform policy and practice.

Application notes

The application deadline is 3 March 2025 at noon.

Interviews will be on 13th March.

TASK:

In addition to completing the application form choose a relevant Edinburgh Council policy and identify points that should be changed in order to be more inclusive for the Polish community. Write a short statement recommending the changes.

Basic criminal check will be required.

The application pack is attached.

Application form should be completed and returned to: recruitment@feniks.org.uk


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