Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support research policy development, manage funding, and engage with stakeholders.
- Company: Join Research England, a key player in enhancing research culture and funding.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid working available with opportunities for travel and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on research funding and integrity while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Degree level qualification and experience in monitoring, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement.
The predicted salary is between 37841 - 37841 £ per year.
Research England (RE). Salary: £37,841 per annum. Band: UKRI Band D. Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months). Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available). Location: Westward House, Bristol - Hybrid working available. Closing Date: 4th May 2026.
About the role
The Research Policy Directorate brings together our expert policy functions that provide funding to Higher Education Providers (HEPs) for research and infrastructure, and that look to enhance research cultures, supported by data, evidence, and analysis. You will lead and/or support work on Research England's broad research funding and people, culture and environment portfolios.
Your responsibilities:
- Working with colleagues, and independently, to develop and/or implement RE policy with considerable levels of engagement with colleagues across UKRI and government, universities and other external organisations.
- Day-to-day management of the Expanding Excellence in England (E3) fund including:
- Financial monitoring of current and past E3 awards, including preparation of governance papers.
- Developing effective relationships with E3 units (includes some travel) & internal contacts.
- Responding to requests and queries.
- Internal and external communications activity.
- Supporting evaluation processes and developing evidence to feed into improvements for future rounds.
- Responsible Research Assessment (how research is assessed and the role it plays in the ecosystem).
- Research Integrity (how research is done, maintaining rigour and integrity).
- Open Research (how research is done, in an open, visible, and coordinated way, including how research outputs are made available).
- Talent and Skills (supporting researchers' career development across career stages, and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion).
- Public Engagement (how researchers can actively engage the public in their research).
About you/Personal Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
- A degree level qualification or relevant equivalent education or experience (S).
- Experience of monitoring and/or evaluation, or the equivalent applicable skills (S/I).
- Experience synthesising information from different sources to draw conclusions (S/I).
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate with a wide variety of collaborators including by email, preparation of committee papers and during meeting discussions (S/I).
- Experience of working effectively with internal and external stakeholders (S/I).
- Proven experience managing projects and working collaboratively to deliver outputs (S/I).
- Ability to manage own workload, resolve competing demands, and cope with changing priorities in a flexible and proactive way (S/I).
Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!
Policy Advisor employer: Research England
Contact Detail:
Research England Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Policy Advisor
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current employees at Research England. Building relationships can give us insider info and might even lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the latest trends in research funding and policy. We want to show that we’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about the impact of our work.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or mentors. This will help us articulate our thoughts clearly and confidently when discussing our experience and ideas.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we often have exclusive opportunities listed there that you won’t find anywhere else.
We think you need these skills to ace Policy Advisor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Policy Advisor. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission at Research England, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since outstanding written communication is key for this role, ensure your application is clear, concise, and free of jargon. Use examples that demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, as this will really resonate with us.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Don’t forget to emphasise any experience you have in monitoring, evaluation, or project management. We’re looking for candidates who can manage their workload and adapt to changing priorities, so share specific instances where you've done just that!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Research England
✨Know Your Policy Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the current policies and initiatives related to research funding and assessment. Familiarise yourself with Research England's objectives and how they align with broader UKRI goals. This will help you demonstrate your understanding and passion for the role.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since this role involves a lot of communication with various stakeholders, prepare examples that highlight your outstanding written and verbal communication skills. Think about times when you’ve successfully conveyed complex information or facilitated discussions among diverse groups.
✨Demonstrate Project Management Experience
Be ready to discuss your experience managing projects, especially in a collaborative environment. Prepare specific examples where you’ve led initiatives or worked with teams to deliver outputs, focusing on how you handled competing demands and changing priorities.
✨Engage with Current Trends
Stay updated on trends in research integrity, open research, and public engagement. Bring insights into how these areas impact policy development. Showing that you’re engaged with the latest discussions in the field will set you apart as a candidate who is proactive and informed.