Senior Risk and Regulation Advisor

The Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK, dedicated to recognising, promoting and supporting excellence in science and encouraging the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. It is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering and medicine.

International activities are embedded across the work of the Society. They feature within many of the Society’s core programmes and targeted activities are led principally by the International Affairs, Grants, Science Policy and Scientific Programmes teams.

The Society is committed to international work that benefits science and science that informs diplomacy, while always putting scientific excellence and integrity first and retaining the Society’s independence. We also recognise that it is vital to balance legitimate concerns around national security while still enabling international collaborations to take place.  This role sits at the centre of balancing these twin imperatives of global collaboration and national security.

With significant knowledge and a real enthusiasm for science and international affairs, the post holder will join a small International Affairs team of nine, but will work across the Society, including building close relationships with colleagues in Grants, Fellowship and Governance, Science Policy, Scientific Meetings and beyond.  

This post will lead the Society’s work in assessing and managing the risks and regulatory implications around our international work, including our partnerships with key countries, our governance processes, and our international grant work.  A key part of this will be focusing on national security risks and the implications of the relevant legislation and programmes, for example the UK’s National Security and Investment Act, Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, and Trusted Research campaign.

The role holder will also work flexibly on a number of projects, often in cross-sectional teams involving external partners, whilst also contributing to the work of the section as a whole. The postholder will be expected to hold relevant experience of working on international risk and/or regulatory compliance issues, ideally in a higher education or research environment.

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Reports to: Head of International Affairs (Americas, International Organisations and Africa)

Line manages: N/A

Pay band: E

Salary: £51,250

Contract type: Full-Time Permanent  

Hours: 35

Location: Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG plus the option for some hybrid remote working

Closing date for applications: Midnight Monday 23 June 2025

Interviews will be held: WC 14 July 2025