Senior Policy Engagement Manager in Swindon

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available. Regular travel to London office required.

This is an exciting opportunity to bring together and shape a rapidly developing area of work in one of UKRI’s most important investments in research infrastructure, ADR UK. We are currently moving into our new funding period following a successful investment bid of £168 million, with a key focus ensuring our work informs policy for public good. ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) is a partnership transforming the way researchers access the UK’s wealth of public sector data. By linking together data held by different parts of government, and by facilitating safe and secure access for accredited researchers, ADR UK is creating a sustainable body of knowledge about how our society and economy function. The resulting datasets are tailored to give decision makers the answers they need to solve important policy questions.

The partnership is coordinated by a UK-wide Strategic Hub, where this role will be located, which also communicates the benefits of administrative data research to the public, the wider research community, and policymakers and influencers. You will join an established and growing team that works together to plan, coordinate and deliver communications and engagement activity, both for ADR England portfolio and the wider ADR UK partnership.

This is an opportunity for an experienced communications, engagement, policy or impact lead, with a strong understanding of the policy landscape, to shape a new role. This role will bring together and build on work that has taken place across the ADR UK team to communicate with and engage policymakers – those in Westminster and beyond – and policy influencers with the work of ADR UK and our research outputs. This role is critical for developing the strategic direction of this workstream to ensure we deliver on our mission to ‘enable government policy to be informed by the best evidence available’.

You’ll be organised, flexible and collaborative, as comfortable leading a project alone as working as part of the team on a wider programme of work. You will be happy to get stuck in to identify and run specific projects to further our policy impact, as well as keeping oversight of and reporting on the policy impact of our wider network (i.e. research fellows or partners). Identifying, measuring and reporting our impact is anticipated to take place through a range of methods to be developed by the successful candidate. You will also bring the experience and knowledge to advise senior colleagues and manage relationships within the wider ADR UK programme in relation to our policy engagement work.

The successful candidate will work alongside Senior Communication and Engagement Managers, as well as our Senior Public Engagement Manager, often collaborating to ensure policy engagement is embedded across all our work. ADR UK is a well-paced, supportive environment with ambitious future plans, offering an exciting opportunity for someone looking to take on a role they can own and shape.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic planning: Develop a policy engagement strategy, building on work achieved so far, that ensures ADR UK has the greatest impact on real‑world policy decisions and includes monitoring techniques for regular reporting processes.
• Implementation lead: Once planned, manage and report on the policy engagement strategy over time, developing and delivering new workstreams or activities as needed to achieve our objectives.
• Policy monitoring and horizon scanning: Develop and manage a systematic approach to horizon‑scanning in the short and long term to identify policy impact opportunities for our work.
• Partnership management: Lead on development and management of a policy partnership programme of work, including leading on a partnership contact database to record contacts and activity.
• Project management and evaluation: Where needed, produce comprehensive project plans, and manage resulting projects throughout, reporting at evaluation phase to demonstrate tangible results.
• Inclusive communications and collaboration: Produce inclusive and accessible communications as needed, promoting good equalities practice and valuing diversity.
• Crisis communications and team support: Support with crisis communications management when necessary, following procedures as required.
• Leadership: Assist the Head of Communications and Engagement as needed, including deputising where appropriate.
• Professional development and team contribution: Contribute to the development of the Communications and Engagement team by sharing knowledge and expertise.

Benefits:

• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

About Us:

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world‑leading position in research and innovation.

How to apply:

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role.