Lead Policy Advisor

Overview:
Please make an application promptly if you are a good match for this role due to high levels of interest.
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is seeking an experienced Lead Policy Advisor to lead our influential work addressing critical policy challenges facing chemistry in higher education and research. This pivotal role will focus on developing evidence-based positions and campaigns addressing the financial sustainability crisis in Higher Education and its impacts on chemistry departments and raising policymakers’ understanding of the economic and societal role chemistry plays. Working at the intersection of science, education, and policy, you will shape the future landscape for chemical sciences in the UK and beyond.
As Lead Policy Advisor, you will maintain comprehensive knowledge of policy developments affecting chemistry, build strategic relationships with key stakeholders including government departments, parliament, funding bodies, and academic institutions, and provide expert guidance to both internal teams and governance members. You\’ll manage a small team of Policy Advisers, commission research projects, develop influential policy positions, coordinate RSC work on chemistry and higher education and represent the RSC at high-profile external events. This role requires exceptional analytical skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate complex scientific and policy issues into compelling narratives that drive positive change for the chemical sciences community.
At the RSC we embrace flexibility and offer hybrid working, which means our teams come together when they need to collaborate. The role will involve some UK travel as well as occasional weekend and evening work (for example to attend evening events).
It is a full-time role, but we will consider applications for part-time working (28 hours and above) where the expectations of the role can be met.
The contractual base for this role is Cambridge or London, with an expectation you will attend the office where there is a business need and to collaborate with colleagues, this would be around 1-2 days in a typical week. If you need flexible working arrangements, please outline this in your application.
What we are looking for:
Essential:
Degree in science or science-related area or good knowledge of science combined with a relevant policy background (for example economics).
Good knowledge and understanding of the policy landscape impacting higher education, including funding policy and devolution and how it impacts chemistry in universities.
Proven project management and leadership skills, including the ability to work collaboratively in a matrix environment, to develop and deliver complex projects and programmes to deadline in a fast-moving environment.
A strong understanding of the policy environment, ability to interact effectively and influence policy, people and senior decision-makers in own and external organisations and to build trusting, long-term relationships with colleagues, partners and allies.
Ability to seek, assess and use a range of types of evidence, to evaluate and form opinions based on this evidence, to distill it and communicate it effectively orally and in writing to a variety of audiences, using a range of communication channels.
Experience of developing research briefs to support policy influencing objectives and managing external and internal delivery of the research to those briefs.
Desirable:
PhD (or equivalent) in chemistry, another science or a science related area.
Experience working in a scientific organisation, university or in a government setting.
Experience of and ability to facilitate workshops.
A full job description is available here.
This role will be known as ‘Lead Policy Advisor, Higher Education and Research Landscape’ internally.
If you are interested in this role, please apply before the end of the closing date. When applying, you will need to provide an up-to-date CV and as a cover letter (in no more than 500 words) telling us about your relevant knowledge, skills and competencies and why you are applying for this role.
About the RSC
As a not-for-profit organisation employing over 600 staff in 6 countries, the Royal Society of Chemistry reinvests all our income to achieve our charitable objectives in support of the chemical sciences community and advancing chemistry. Our purpose is to help the chemical science community make the world a better place.
We are a thriving international community of around 60,000 members in over 100 countries, an internationally renowned publisher of high-quality chemical science knowledge and the professional body for chemists in the UK, with a reputation as an influential champion for the chemical sciences.
Visit our Work For Us website to learn more about us, our benefits, equal opportunities statement and inclusive culture pledge.
At the RSC, we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds to apply. We particularly encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates.
As a part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we endeavour, where possible, to offer an interview to candidates meeting the essential criteria of the role, who has a substantial physical/mental impairment which impacts their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
We are committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team at jobs@rsc.org or on +44 (0) 1223 432229 and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.
If you have any questions, please contact us at jobs@rsc.org
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