The Royal Society is seeking a highly organised and proactive team player to manage and oversee policy workflow and ensure that it is communicated effectively to a range of stakeholders. Key among these is the important and active committee – the Science Policy Committee (SPC) - which governs the Society’s policy work. The successful candidate will also be responsible for working closely with the Science Policy Senior Leadership Team on a variety of projects and tasks, such as running the directorate’s management and reporting systems; internal communications amongst teams within Science Policy and across the wider Society; tracking and reporting on the impact of our work; and ad hoc finance responsibilities. The role will also be responsible for project managing the implementation of Science Policy’s adoption of the Society’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, working alongside the Society’s dedicated CRM team.
The role is suitable for someone with both an ability to see the bigger picture and a meticulous eye for detail. It demands excellent planning and organisation skills in order to keep on top of a range of reporting tasks on very different timescales (from weeks to years), relying on contributions from a range of staff and Fellows. An ability to provide clear, accurate and well-pitched written and oral briefings is also essential. As the role involves compiling and interpreting content from across the whole Science Policy team, an interest in science policy and an ability to develop a basic knowledge of a range of topics areas and project plans will be helpful. The successful candidate will enjoy exceptional exposure to senior staff and Fellows and will have the opportunity to make a major contribution to the governance of the Science Policy team and the delivery of its influencing objectives.
The Royal 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. The Science Policy team’s role is to work with the Society’s Fellows, Foreign Members and other experts to develop and promote independent, expert and timely advice to UK, European and international decision-makers. Policy is a central and influential part of the Society’s activities, and the Society has built up an enviable reputation for the quality and breadth of its policy work.
The Science Policy team comprises around 50 staff working across a range of themes and policy areas, according to scientific and policy priorities. It works closely with several other Royal Society teams to deliver its objectives, as well as with other academies, learned societies, funding agencies, civil servants and Parliamentarians, NGOs and the private sector. It undertakes a wide range of analysis and influencing activities, including the delivery of major reports and shorter statements, the creation and deployment of influential networks, skilful use of the Society’s media channels, and well-founded programmes of events.
Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Reports to: Head of Policy, Data & Digital Technologies
Pay Band: E
Salary: £45,000 – £56,500 pa
Contract type: Fixed term (10 months) – full time
Location: Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG plus the option for some hybrid remote working
Closing date for applications: Midnight 18 August 2025
Interviews will be held: 2 September 2025
1. Providing timely and effective secretariat duties for the Science Policy Committee (SPC) with 4 (usually) meetings per year. This includes:
a. Liaising with the Chair and senior staff to plan the agenda for each meeting;
b. Working with colleagues to prepare meeting papers and content;
c. Preparing a written and oral briefing for the Chair before each meeting, if requested;
d. Taking and reviewing minutes;
e. Communicating committee discussions and outcomes to relevant staff to inform wider work;
f. Coordinating engagement with other Society activities and committees including the Public Engagement Committee, Science, Industry and Translation Committee, and regular meetings with the President and Officers;
g. Helping colleagues to engage effectively with SPC, ensuring the committees’ roles, requirements and reporting tools are widely understood;
h. Managing the annual renewal of committee membership.
2. Managing Science Policy input to Council meetings, ensuring that policy activities are visible and well understood by Council members.
3. Undertaking a range of reporting and governance duties for the Science Policy team. This includes:
a. Regularly reporting against the team’s Key Performance Indicators, seeking input from colleagues and suggesting improvements to the reporting process;
b. Regularly reviewing project milestones for the coming year, identifying and managing potential challenges and opportunities;
c. Regularly reporting to colleagues on the team’s influencing and communications plans for the coming year;
d. Ensuring that information about the Society’s policy activities and staff is accurate in the Year Book, Trustees Report, presentation slides, staff register and elsewhere.
4. Managing day-to-day financial activities such as dealing with expense claims, logging spend accurately, and keeping spend within budget and working closely with the management accountant.
5. Mapping resources utilisation and creating good metrics for value for money, both financial and non financial.
6. Acting as a project management lead. Ensuring teams are using internal management tools effectively, have appropriate PIDs in place, and, where appropriate, projects are being tested against plans and reviewing and refreshing documents and processes as needed to ensure teams are working effectively and efficiently.
7. Supporting the Science Policy Senior Leadership Team to implement the Society’s overall strategy and Science Policy strategy. To maintain a narrative in powerpoint of the policy team’s work. Where possible to ensure that each of the sub teams have a narrative which align with the Society’s overall strategy.
8. Remaining alert to system issues affecting the entire policy team and working with the Director of Science Policy to understand and solve the issue. Liaising with other teams across the Society to ensure smooth working is achieved.
9. Attending the weekly SLT meeting. Providing advice as necessary and picking up cross Directorate issues.
10. Being an active member of the Data and Digital Technologies team, supporting team activities and the Head of Policy where necessary.
Qualifications
Educated to a minimum of degree level (or equivalent) Essential
Experience/abilities
Effective interaction with people at all levels of seniority, and ability to manage professional networks Essential
Experience of managing committees or advisory groups Desirable
An enthusiastic team player, with experience of collaborative working Essential
Experience of preparing meeting agendas, papers and minutes Essential
Able to convey complex ideas succinctly, logically and fluently Essential
Able to prioritise and manage more than one set of tasks simultaneously Essential
Excellent management of time and workload to meet tight deadlines Essential
Computer literate (proficient in all MS packages including Word, PowerPoint and Excel) Essential
Experience in line management Desirable
Experience of working in a policy environment Desirable
Experience of managing online content Desirable
Experience of using stakeholder management software Desirable
Project management skills Essential
Circumstances
Able to be flexible about working hours on occasions Desirable
Band E competencies
1. Self Management (Advanced)
Key Indicators:
Managing stress/ effective & efficient/ self motivated/ enthusiastic/ confident/ self awareness
Demonstrations:
● Identifies difficult situations
● Recognises stress in self and others and takes steps to reduce it
● Controls pressurised situations
● Effectively enthuses those in the team
● Proactively sets goals and targets for own work, prioritising as appropriate
2. Working with others (Advanced)
Key Indicators:
Collaborative/ shares knowledge/ giving & receiving feedback/ engaging & networking/ negotiation/ influencing/ presentation skills/ public speaking/ situational & organisational awareness
Demonstrations:
● Seeks and responds to feedback
● Resolves conflicts within and between project teams
● Seeks out new networks that will create opportunity for the Society
● Able to present complex issues simply
● Uses discretion, tact and empathy when negotiating with and/or seeking to influence others
● Understands the need to manage expectations and to only promise what is deliverable
3. Resource management (Intermediate)
Key Indicators:
Budget management/ organisation/ prioritising/ results focus/ quality focus
Demonstrations:
● Makes the best of internal/external resources and coordinates well with external partners to best meet the needs of the Society
● Builds contingency into projects taking into account possible outside factors
● Sets and monitors performance against quality and results orientated targets.
● Focuses on both short and long-term goals
● Identifying and monitoring resources required to meet objectives
4. Critical thinking (Advanced)
Key Indicators:
Accuracy/ attention to detail/ analytical/ decision making/ judgement/ problem solving/ creativity/ innovative
Demonstrations:
● Uses questioning, analytical and probing skills to ‘dig deeper’
● Knows when enough information has been obtained and adapts presentation of information to the needs of the audience
● Evaluates the benefits, practicalities and resource implications of ideas and obtains feedback
● Makes sound decisions in a complex or ambiguous environment and is able to gain support and manage challenges confidently
● Systematically applies lessons learnt from experience
5. Adaptability (Advanced)
Key Indicators:
Adaptable/ flexible/ dealing with new situations
Demonstrations:
● Actively seeks the input and opinions of others, often outside his/her section & organisation and accommodates and incorporates this thinking into any output.
● Actively seeks new challenges and projects; leads discussions surrounding new ideas, approaches and projects
● Anticipates need for innovation and seeks new ideas, approaches and solutions
6. Managing people and relationships (Intermediate)
Key Indicators:
Delegation/ empowerment/ motivates others/ develops staff/ builds rapport/ customer focus & stakeholder engagement/ discreet/ empathetic/ diplomatic/ managing conflict
Demonstrations:
● Delegates effectively, setting clear expectations and authority
● Monitors results and feedbacks to team on a regular basis
● Recognises others’ contributions and acknowledges their limits
● Helps others to identify ways to improve their performance.
● Prioritises supervisory responsibilities and carries them out in a timely fashion
● Understands and can identify client/stakeholder/staff needs and looks for opportunities to improve their experiences.
7. Leadership (Emerging leader)
Key Indicators:
Vision & strategic direction/ inspires others/ manages change/ develops team/ entrepreneurships/ analytical & problem solving/ self belief
Demonstrations:
● Thinks long term
● Shows optimism about tough goals and communicates this to others
● Emotionally intelligent; understands the emotional responses of others to challenges and their impact on others
● Calm in a crisis, but knows own limitations and seeks necessary support
● Keen to see subordinates/team members take credit for successes
● Leads by example, setting high standards
● Fosters trust within all working relationships
● Adapts style appropriately when leading different people in different situations
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