Policy Adviser

Overview

The Royal Society of Chemistry has an opportunity for an experienced Policy Advisor to join us on a 6-month fixed term contract basis, full time or part time, whilst a senior team member is on secondment.

In this exciting, fast-paced role, you will work on topical policy issues and commission cutting-edge policy research, manage commissioned research, analyse a range of efforts, develop and communicate policies, to further chemistry and the chemical sciences for the good of humanity.

Reporting to our Manager, Policy and Evidence, you will work in close partnership with colleagues across the organisation, as part of our team responsible for preparing convincing cases to influence decision makers in areas that affect the chemical sciences, as well as responding in an agile way to relevant emerging issues. You will work on some of the hottest topics such as EU Exit, immigration, education, science and infrastructure funding, energy and climate change, and SME growth.

The Royal Society of Chemistry is a not-for-profit organisation with a thriving international community of over 50,000 members in 125 countries and employing over 550 staff. We are an internationally renowned publisher of high quality chemical science knowledge and the professional body for chemists in the UK, with a reputation as an influential champion for the chemical sciences. We reinvest all of our income to achieve our charitable objectives in support of the chemical sciences community and advancing chemistry.

The Royal Society of Chemistry has strong links with the people teaching and practising chemistry in schools, colleges, universities and industry. We are the biggest non-governmental investor in chemistry education in the UK, we accredit over 95 per cent of chemistry degrees in the UK and Ireland, we support over 300 small and medium sized companies in the chemical sciences and we are a powerful advocate for the chemical sciences at the government level influencing science, education and innovation policy.

Our science policy activities cover issues that affect chemistry research and innovation and also areas such as regulation and environment where it is crucial that policy is informed by scientific evidence.

Based in our Cambridge office, you will frequently spend time in our London office, with UK travel and some weekend and evening work required. This role is available on a full-time or part-time basis (21 - 35 hours per week depending on your availability), with scope for flexible start/finish times and occasional home working, in line with business needs. We also offer competitive benefits, excellent training, employee empowerment and the chance to make a positive difference to society.

We are looking for someone who understands how the UK Government, European Union and other key decision-makers develop policies affecting science and the practice of chemistry. If you are collaborative, have excellent oral and written communication skills, thrive in a fast-paced environment, quickly grasp both the big picture and the detail of a range of science policy issues affecting chemistry (eg. immigration, research funding, ethics) and respond to new problems by collaborating with others to solve them, we would love to hear from you.

View and download the full job description here.