Public Policy Manager

This role will help drive ARIA’s growing capability in public policy, government engagement, and ethics and social responsibility (ESR). You will be joining ARIA at a time of significant growth, with a new CEO, two cohorts of Programme Directors, investment in AI in Science, and a bolstering of the crucial role of translation.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with Programme Directors on their interactions with government and wider public policy stakeholders, devising and driving engagement plans and activities.
• Create and maintain foundational materials for delivering high‑quality policy support, including engagement trackers, horizon scanning summaries, meeting templates and guidance.
• First point of contact for replying to and triaging inbound requests related to policy or government engagement.
• Stay up‑to‑date in the R&D policy ecosystem to identify opportunities for ARIA.
• Drive ARIA‑level engagement and events with government, such as ministerial visits, roundtables and workshops.
• Leverage external specialist expertise to deliver policy and public engagement partnerships and high‑impact projects.
• Work closely with teams across the organisation, including Communications and Engagement and the forthcoming Translation team, to ensure alignment and effective information sharing.
• Partner with Programme Directors to identify and manage ESR considerations in their programmes, developing tools and approaches such as governance frameworks and foresight research.
• Coordinate with external ESR Advisors to deliver advice and training for Programme Directors, their teams and Creators.
• Serve as liaison for managing requests for help and advice, and information flows between Programme Directors, the core ARIA team and ESR Advisors.
• Ensure the smooth running of the Board’s ESR committee, coordinating inputs from programme and functional teams.
• Stay up‑to‑date in the wider ESR context and discourse to inform responsible research and funding approaches.

Qualifications:

• Research‑based mindset, capable of assessing and carrying out research or analysis to inform decision‑making.
• Effective communicator with strong writing ability for briefing, summary reports and notes to senior members.
• Critical thinker, able to comprehend complex or technical subject matter and convey key points to non‑technical audiences.
• Proactive, able to set priorities, problem‑solve and drive projects end‑to‑end in a fast‑moving environment.
• Nuanced understanding of navigating government and the wider ecosystem, including regulatory environments.
• Solid experience of diverse stakeholder management, especially in reaching consensus or optimizing outcomes.
• Demonstrable interest in politics and how it affects government priorities, policies and implications.
• Sound understanding of engaging with civil/public servants and regulators.
• Experience exercising discretion and judgement in nuanced situations.
• Experience setting up, managing or completing projects or reports with minimal supervision.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience and interest in the R&D, science or innovation ecosystem.
• Experience and interest in ESR, in science, research or emerging technologies.
• Experience of how policy and regulation play a role in translation of emerging technologies and new scientific capabilities.

Benefits:

• 27 days annual leave provision, with option to buy/sell additional days.
• Hybrid working arrangements; 60% in office / 40% at home.
• Discretionary performance‑related pay.
• Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities.
• Enhanced family leave arrangements.
• A free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme.
• Life Assurance.
• 2 days of paid volunteer days.
• 5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• An excellent office location in Kings X, London.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please notify us and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Disclosing any requests is intended to provide ARIA with the best opportunity to support candidates and will have no negative impact on your recruitment process. ARIA adopts a highly considered approach to ethical and social responsibility.