Systems Change Lead

We are looking for a System Change Lead to join the Royal Society of Chemistry and make a meaningful impact advancing systemic change across multiple fronts. This position is a fixed term contract for 3 years.

As System Change Lead, you will apply systems thinking to complex challenges, with an initial focus on the Sustainable PLFs 2040 initiative, shaping its systemic framing and collaborative processes. You will also contribute to other emerging systems projects, helping to bring systemic approaches into their early stages. You will share insights and support efforts to embed systems practice across the organisation, fostering a culture of learning and adaptation.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape systemic solutions for sustainability challenges by leading multi-stakeholder initiatives. Be a part of our systems change capability, which brings together expertise from science, policy, industry, and society to address complex challenges, and play a key role in designing and facilitating collaborative processes that enable transformative change.

At the RSC we embrace flexibility and offer hybrid working, which means our teams come together when they need to collaborate. This role is based remotely with the expectation you will attend the office as-and-when required. If you need flexible working arrangements, please outline this in your application.

• Develop and refine systemic approaches for initiatives, including defining boundaries, mapping patterns and leverage points, and translating complexity into actionable pathways.
• Design and facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues that build trust and shared understanding, integrating technical insights into collaborative processes.
• Co-create and steward interventions and experiments that test leverage points, supporting adaptive learning and sense-making across initiatives.
• Work with the MEL practitioner to shape learning questions, feedback loops, and evaluative frameworks that track systemic change, and lead reflective cycles to integrate insights into strategy.
• Work closely with Communications colleagues to translate systemic insights into compelling narratives, stories, and public frames that engage diverse stakeholders and build momentum for change.
• Work with colleagues across other strategic functions e.g. policy and others within the RSC to align goals and share insights.
• Contribute to embedding systems practice and systemic thinking within the RSC.

• Proven experience in systems thinking and practice, ideally within large-scale sustainability transitions or market transformation projects.
• Ability to design and apply systemic tools such as systems maps, change theories, and intervention pathways.
• Strong skills in stakeholder engagement and facilitation, particularly in multi-stakeholder and cross-functional settings.
• Capacity to translate complexity into actionable insights and strategic pathways.
• Experience supporting adaptive learning cycles, monitoring and evaluation (MEL), or similar processes.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

• Familiarity with technical domains such as chemistry, materials, or industrial systems.
• Understanding of the UK or EU sustainability policy landscapes.

• Comfortable with ambiguity and emergence.
• Curious, reflective, and learning-oriented.
• Skilled at navigating tensions, power dynamics, and differing perspectives.
• Collaborative, non-hierarchical, and ecosystem-minded.
• Able to hold space neutrally without dominating content.

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 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. Please note applications will close at 23:59 on 22/02/2026.

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.