Policy Adviser

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has a great opportunity for a Policy Advisor to join us on a temporary basis to cover maternity leave. This is an exciting, fast-paced role, offering you the opportunity to work on topical policy issues and commission cutting-edge policy research, in order to further chemistry and the chemical sciences for the good of humanity.

As a Policy Advisor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, you will manage commissioned research, analyse a range of evidence, and develop and communicate policies, working in close partnership with colleagues across the organisation. You will be part of our team responsible for preparing convincing cases to influence decision makers in areas that affect the chemical sciences, responding in an agile way to relevant emerging issues.

This is an opportunity to work on some of the hottest topics such as Brexit, immigration, education, science and infrastructure funding, energy and climate change, and SME growth. 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.

The Royal Society of Chemistry is a not-for-profit organisation with a thriving international community of around 50,000 members in over 100 countries and employing around 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 have strong links with the people teaching and practising chemistry in schools, colleges, universities and industry, which are a rich source of evidence for our policy work. We are the biggest non-governmental investor in chemistry education in the UK and are a powerful advocate for the chemical sciences at government level, influencing science, education and innovation policy.

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 (e.g. immigration, research funding, ethics) and respond to new problems by working with others to solve them, we would love to hear from you.

This role will involve UK travel as well as some weekend and evening work. Your base can be either our Cambridge or London office. If you are based in our London office, you will be expected to travel regularly to our Cambridge office and vice versa. The role has scope for flexible working (particularly around start and finish times and occasional working from home) where this meets business needs and is available on a full-time (35 hour week) or part-time basis (28 hours or more). 

The Royal Society of Chemistry offers competitive benefits, excellent training, employee empowerment and the chance to make a positive difference to society.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply before the end of our closing date.

Interviews for shortlisted applicants will be held in Cambridge from 9 - 16 September 2019.

Download the full job description here.