Policy Manager (FORUM)

Maternity cover | 12 months FTC (suitable for secondment)

What you will be achieving

FORUM Manager plays a key role at the Academy, contributing to the delivery of our strategic priority of improving lives. Through FORUM we influence policy and practice to improve the lives of patients, the public and communities by influencing policy to improve health and strengthen research by bringing together our Fellows, researchers, partners and the public as well as other disciplines such as engineering, social and environmental science to ‘influence research and policy’.

Reporting to the Head of Policy, the post holder will be primarily responsible for managing the Academy’s cross sector FORUM, to deliver of a compelling annual programme of events and an Annual Lecture, and grow the number and breadth of members in this network. The postholder will ensure that the activities of the FORUM feed into, and harness, the Academy’s other cross-sector activities, contributing to discussions about how to develop the Academy’s wider cross-sector portfolio and its engagement with industry. A key aspect of the post will be the development of strong and successful relationships with current and potential FORUM members, Fellows and key contacts across all sectors of the medical science policy landscape.

The postholder will draw on internal and external contacts to develop and deliver an exciting and impactful FORUM programme of activities that will be themed around ‘innovating research and development’ in 2025-26. The programme will likely include our FORUM Annual Lecture on cell/gene therapy and meetings on engineering biology, the use of AI in research, and the use of new approach methodologies to model human biology.

The post holder will line manage a Policy Officer who works almost entirely on the FORUM programme. They will also work closely with a Fundraising Officer and an Engagement Officer who facilitate certain aspects of FORUM activities as part of their roles.

What you will be doing

With the Policy Officer planning, organising and facilitating a range of activities linked to the FORUM programme, including lectures, networking events, workshops and other stakeholder meetings. This will involve identifying and researching potential topics of interest, planning and delivering a range of virtual and/or hybrid events, and drafting and disseminating meeting reports. It will require maintaining an excellent understanding of current policy issues and close working with Fellows, the FORUM Advisory Group, FORUM members, people with lived experience, and other experts to identify key policy issues, engage potential stakeholders and partners, develop agendas and agree written outputs.

Internally, it will involve working with the wider policy team, the communications and engagement teams on individual meetings. Working with other Academy staff who are delivering cross sector activities to exploit synergies and develop the Academy’s overall offer.

What you bring to the role

• Experienced in developing and delivering events designed to influence and inform decision makers and promote connections between attendees
• Capable of managing competing priorities and able to demonstrate attention to detail
• An effective communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good at building and maintaining effective networks (within and outside the Academy) and be confident when dealing with senior stakeholders

You will ideally have

• Knowledge of the UK health research landscape
• Experience of line managing or supervising staff or interns
• Experience of working in partnership with other organisations

Benefits

• Salary progression framework
• Hybrid and agile working
• 29 days annual leave including Christmas closure dates, plus bank holidays.
• Pension (the Academy offers a flexible contribution structure with a minimum employer contribution of 8% up to a maximum of 13% of gross salary, with an employee contribution ranging from 3% to 8%)
• Life assurance
• Vitality Private Medical Insurance
• SimplyHealth Health Cash Plans
• Season ticket travel loan (interest free)
• Family friendly benefits - enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to qualifying period), coaching for parents returning to work)
• Subscription to Headspace and Class pass
• Staff training to support your development including EDI training

For more information and to apply, please visit our careers portal.

Closing date: 15 December 2024.

We are committed to working towards full equality of opportunity in our own organisation, practices and activities, and in the wider academic workforce.

We want to ensure diversity of thought and experience in all we do and for our staff to be able to bring every part of themselves to work. We actively encourage and welcome applicants from all backgrounds to help us engage with the diverse community we serve.

We will happily make reasonable adjustments for applicants as needed. Please do specify these at the time of applying. We also welcome discussion of different working arrangements and locations with any successful applicant.