Senior Policy Adviser

The Royal Society are seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated person to join us on a fixed term basis to deliver a policy project exploring the future of scientific publishing. The review will consider the current state of the global scientific publishing landscape and explore the likely evolutions and major disruptions possible over the coming decade. It will then use that insight to explore the implications of these changes on the Society’s current portfolio of scientific journals. We anticipate the work completing in early summer 2025.

This position is suitable for an efficient and dynamic person who forms excellent working relationships with a range of stakeholders and is confident in delivering a number of concurrently running work streams. It would suit someone with an interest in and good working knowledge of the scientific policy landscape and some familiarity with futures approaches.

The role sits with the People and Planet policy team who deal with policy issues relating to sustainability. The team of around 15 sits within a Section of approximately 50 in Science Policy. This important role involves working closely with the Head of Policy to deliver a review of the scientific publishing landscape and develop some plausible future scenarios describing the potential development of scientific publishing. The successful candidate will also work closely with the Director of Policy, Director of Publishing, Chair of the Publishing Board and the Research and Innovation team within the Science Policy Section. It will involve working closely with world-class experts from the Society’s Fellowship and beyond, convening an advisory group, running workshops, delivering events, and synthesising evidence and presenting it in an accessible and persuasive manner. The post holder will have experience at the science/policy interface and an active interest in how scientific insight is generated and shared.

As a Senior Policy Adviser at the Royal Society you will be responsible for leading projects and programmes of work. You will be adept at networking, motivating colleagues, building interdisciplinary relationships and advising committees, senior staff and Fellows. You will have experience of assessing and reporting on technical information in a clear and concise manner, writing influential documents for diverse audiences. A creative thinker and effective problem solver, you will have experience in one or more relevant areas of science policy or a proven ability to transfer between policy domains. Your work in this role will be varied and highly visible. This role also requires occasional domestic UK travel and early morning/late evening commitments. It has the possibility of line management. Whilst the Society’s policy work is led by the science policy team, we also work closely with colleagues in communications, public affairs, public engagement, international affairs and our industry and publishing teams to deliver outcomes.

We typically undertake the following activities on topics that reflect the Society’s priorities:

• Projects: Analysing the scientific evidence relating to major policy issues in collaboration with other experts
• Reports & publications: Producing reports, statements, consultation responses and other publications on a regular basis
• Events: Bringing together policymakers and scientists to discuss current topics in science policy

This position is suitable for an efficient and dynamic person who forms excellent working relationships with a range of stakeholders and is confident in delivering a number of concurrently running work streams. It would suit someone with an interest in and good working knowledge of the scientific policy landscape and some familiarity with futures approaches.

About the Royal Society

The Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK. The Society’s mission is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. Science is vital to many areas of policy making and the Society seeks to ensure the government and the public have access to impartial and independent expert advice to inform debate and guide good decision making. The Royal Society provides independent, timely and authoritative scientific advice to UK and international decision makers. We champion the contribution that science can make to economic prosperity, quality of life and environmental sustainability, and are a hub for debate about science, society and public policy.

The Science Policy section comprises around 50 staff working across a range of themes and policy areas, according to scientific and policy priorities. It works in partnership with businesses, national academies, learned societies, charities and government, and deploys a wide range of channels and approaches – from the delivery of major reports to rapid shorter statements, the creation of influential networks, skilful use of the Society’s digital and media channels, and well-founded programmes of events. The Society continues to develop and look for innovative approaches that will increase its influence in national and international policy debates.

  Job details

• Reports to: Head of Policy – People and Planet
• Location: Carlton House Terrace, London; plus hybrid remote working
• Pay Band: E
• Salary: £55,400 per annum. We may pay more depending on experience
• Hours: Full time, 35 hours/week
• Contract: 12 month fixed term

Closing date for applications: 9am, 10th July 2024.

Interviews will take place on W/C 22nd July 2024. Interviews will be face to face at our office: The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG

• Delivering a project exploring the future of scientific publishing over the coming decade
• Developing plausible, useful scenarios on the future scientific publishing landscape, extracting the implications for the Society’s suite of journals and publishing programme
• Coordinating, drafting and editing a policy report on the subject and other outputs
• Setting objectives and identifying ways of delivering them, through agreement with the relevant senior staff, steering groups and committees
• Providing the secretariat to an advisory committee
• Ensuring agreed activities are delivered on time, on budget and within the desired scope
• Closely monitoring relevant scientific and policy developments in the UK and overseas
• Undertaking semi-structured expert elicitation interviews
• Coordinating suitable insight-sourcing events in collaboration with support and specialist teams including dinners and conferences
• Representing the Society and its policy positions in meetings with scientists, policymakers and others
• Providing frequent advice and reporting to senior colleagues and committees
• Any other reasonable activity as required

The competency levels for a pay Band E role are described below.