An advocacy manager is a professional who leads, supervises, and monitors the performance of an advocate team, and contributes towards the development of team members and future service delivery. They are responsible for shaping an organizations response to emerging policy trends and play a key role in horizon scanning and maximizing the organizations opportunities for external engagement, thereby furthering their cause. Advocacy managers are policy professionals with solid analysis, development, and project management experience, and are the go-to person for specialist support on consumer policy issues based on evidence and expertise.

Advocacy managers work to co-ordinate an independent advocacy service that meets national advocacy standards and good practice, and deliver advocacy in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Mental Health Act 2007, and Care Act 2014 guidelines. They also provide guidance and support to line management on the human resource implications of management decisions to ensure compliance with all regulations.

Advocacy work requires immense efforts and the participation of a lot of people, so advocacy officers should possess different interdisciplinary skills and competencies. They should have professional and social ties with diverse specialists in the sphere they are working in and probably neighboring domains as well. Advocacy means teamwork, and advocating for change is normally the result of the work of a group of people. Advocacy work is not limited to drafting policy papers and presentations during events, but also includes peaceful manifestation, publicity, and printing materials for different audiences.

In summary, an advocacy manager is a professional who leads and supervises an advocate team, shapes an organizations response to emerging policy trends, and delivers advocacy in line with guidelines and standards. They should possess interdisciplinary skills and competencies, have professional and social ties with diverse specialists, and work effectively with a team.