Public Affairs Officer in Cambridge

Description

RAND Europe is an independent, not-for-profit research organisation whose mission is to help improve policy and decision-making through rigorous and independent research and analysis.

We benefit the public interest through the impact and wide dissemination of over 200 projects per year.

Our work at its most impactful changes policy, practice and process to the benefit of the public good.

That is also our organisational mission.

RAND Europe has approximately 200 staff across offices in Cambridge, Brussels, and the Hague.

Our staff represents 22 nationalities, speaks over 20 languages and covers 31 academic disciplines.

Our multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches to research generate unique perspectives and insights for our wide-ranging government, foundation and other NGO clients.

The Communications and Partnerships function is how that research reaches the people who can act on it.

We are a small, close-knit team covering public affairs, media, events, digital and brand, and we work directly with researchers across the full breadth of RAND Europe's portfolio, from defence and security to health, science and technology, home affairs and beyond.

Our audiences run from select committees and government departments in Westminster and Whitehall to the EU institutions in Brussels, alongside foundations, industry and international organisations.

We wish to recruit a Public Affairs Officer to strengthen our engagement with UK policymakers and parliamentarians, based in our Cambridge office.

This is an exciting opportunity working with one of the world's most respected public policy research organisations.

It is ideally suited to an individual who understands how policy is made in Westminster and Whitehall, who enjoys turning evidence into arguments that land with decision-makers, and who wishes to make a real impact on policy while working alongside a very talented team in a collegiate environment.

The role will work with researchers and the communications team to build RAND Europe's profile and relationships with UK policymakers, parliamentarians and government stakeholders, and helps ensure research findings reach and influence the people who make and shape policy.

The role is focused on the UK, with some engagement with EU institutions and other international policy audiences.

The role will suit someone with experience in public affairs, government relations or a parliamentary setting, who wants to apply that experience to independent, evidence-based research.

This role will be based in RAND Europe's Cambridge office, working alongside RAND Europe colleagues, though we have a hybrid working model with the option to work mostly from home.

The expectation is a minimum of one day per week in the office on average, with some flexibility.

There will also be some requirement to travel and spend brief periods away visiting clients on site, typically in London and Brussels though occasionally further afield.

Key responsibilities

• Builds and maintains relationships with parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, civil servants and special advisers across Westminster and Whitehall.
• Monitors the UK policy and legislative landscape, including select committee inquiries, parliamentary questions, debates, consultations and government announcements, and flags developments relevant to current and future research.
• Identifies public affairs opportunities arising from RAND Europe research and advises researchers on the most effective routes to reach policy audiences.
• Drafts briefings, consultation responses, select committee evidence and other materials for policymakers, translating research findings into clear and usable form.
• Prepares briefing packs and speaking notes for researchers and senior staff ahead of policy meetings, hearings and events.
• Supports engagement with select committees, All-Party Parliamentary Groups and relevant government departments.
• Organises and supports engagement events with government and parliamentary audiences, including RAND Europe's flagship events.
• Maintains the stakeholder database, records engagement history with key policy contacts, and tracks and reports on public affairs activity and impact.
• Works closely with the press function so that public affairs and media messaging are aligned.
• Supports engagement with EU institutions and other international policy audiences as required.
• Represents RAND Europe in a politically impartial way, consistent with the organisation's independence and objectivity.
• Complies with all company policies, RAND Europe Management Systems and IMS policies.
• Ad hoc duties as required.

Requirements

Essential

• Experience in public affairs, government relations or parliamentary engagement, gained in-house, in an agency, in Parliament or in government.
• Strong understanding of UK legislative and policy processes, including how Parliament, select committees and government departments work.
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to turn research findings into clear, policy-relevant messaging for non-specialist audiences.
• Experience drafting briefings, consultation responses or parliamentary evidence submissions, with strong copy-editing skills.
• Ability to build and sustain relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues at all levels, including researchers.
• Proficient MS Office skills.

Desirable

• Familiarity with EU institutions and policy processes.
• Experience of public affairs in a research, academic or other evidence-focused setting.
• Experience using stakeholder management or political monitoring tools.
• Knowledge of policy areas relevant to RAND Europe's research, such as defence and security, health and healthcare, science and technology, or home affairs.
• Personal qualities
• Politically astute, analytical thinker, able to read how an issue will land with different audiences and see it both strategically and at a practical level.
• The networking and communication skills to build trust with parliamentarians, officials and researchers, and to represent RAND Europe credibly in a room.
• Hands-on team player with a strong commitment to rigorous, independent research, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and work to tight deadlines.
• Enthusiastic about learning new skills and subject matter, across policy areas from defence and security to health and technology.
• Self-starter with high energy levels, comfortable working with ambiguity as well as process, and quick to spot an opening in the policy cycle.
• Open minded, with the humility to recognise success in others and to take direction from researchers who are the experts on the substance.
• Sound judgement about confidentiality, tone and impartiality when dealing with sensitive material and political audiences.

Qualifications

Degree-level education, or equivalent professional experience.

• Salary
• £33,000 per annum

Benefits

• Pension - 8% Employer contribution;
• 33 days holiday allowance, including the Bank Holidays;
• Annual salary review;
• BUPA medical insurance;
• Generous company sick pay;
• Enhanced family friendly policies;
• Group income protection scheme;
• Group life assurance;
• Compassionate leave;
• Flexible working arrangements;
• Learning and development opportunities;
• Employee wellbeing training and support;
• Fresh fruit every day;
• Free on-site parking;
• Cycle to work scheme;
• Access to company bikes;
• Service awards.
• Application

If you believe you are suited to the above role, please submit an application comprising of a CV and covering letter.

Applications will be reviewed as received with successful candidates being invited to interview on a rolling basis.

The closing date for applications is 30th Aug 2026, however early applications are encouraged.

If you have not been contacted within 30 days of application deadline, please assume your application has not been successful.