Senior Policy Officer at The Academy of Medical Sciences

Deadline: 10 March 2019
Open to:  applicants from universities, hospitals, general practice, industry and the public service
Benefits: salary GBP 30,000 – GBP 33,000 p.a.​

Description

The Academy’s core mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society. The Academy is working to secure a future in which:
•    UK and global health is improved by the best research
•  The UK leads the world in biomedical and health research, and is renowned for the quality of its research outputs, talent and collaborations.
•    Independent, high quality medical science advice informs the decisions that affect society.
•    More people have a say in the future of health and research.

Established in 1998 as an expert body to deal with issues at the interface of medical science and healthcare, the Academy is part of the national academies group, alongside the Royal Society, British Academy, and the Royal Academy of Engineering. It is  governed by a Council of 17 Fellows, including six Honorary Officers who provide strategic advice and oversight. Professor Sir Robert Lechler FMedSci is the current President.

The Academy is:
•    An elected Fellowship of the UK’s best biomedical and health researchers
•    An independent source of evidence-based and expert advice
•    Connected to, and respected by, decision makers
•    Focused on realising cross-disciplinary opportunities across academia, industry and healthcare.
•    Committed to improving and celebrating diversity – in all its forms – in the biomedical and health research community
•    Global in outlook, reach and influence
•    Catalytic, inclusive and accessible in our approach
•    Responsive to change and innovative in our solutions
•    Adept at maximising our impact through partnership working

The Acadey seeks to advance UK and global biomedical and health research through five strategic challenges (as set out in our 2017-22 strategy):
1.    To harness our expertise and convening power to tackle the biggest scientific and health challenges and opportunities facing our society.
2.    To lead innovation in the development of research talent through funding and careers support.
3.    To achieve influence and impact beyond the UK to improve health and well-being.
4.    To become the exemplar of a ‘modern scientific academy’ – diverse, trusted, dynamic, relevant and accessible.
5.    To enhance the Academy’s delivery capability, making sure we have the Fellows, staff, partners, resources and influence to make an even greater contribution to the UK and beyond.

Eligibility

Key tasks and responsibilities:

  1. Supporting the Academy’s entire international policy portfolio, and leading on specific projects to inform and influence policy and stakeholders internationally. Key to this role is engagement with our Fellowship and collaboration with a network of organisations nationally and internationally – primarily in the biomedical sphere – from academia, healthcare, industry and the charity sector.
    2. The primary responsibilities of the post-holder will be to lead and support policy activities that include:
    •    Supporting the delivery of the next international working group project, whilst also supporting the follow up activities to the first international working group report ‘Multimorbidity: a priority for global health’.
    •    Organising bilaterals workshops with international partners, other stakeholder meetings/roundtables, and the annual International Health Lecture.
    •    Acting as the secretariat for the cross Academies Human Rights Committee, and as a member of the secretariat for UK Future Earth.
    •    Developing briefing papers, position statements and consultation responses (including joint publications with other organisations).
    •    Supporting the Academy’s Vice President International in their activities.
    3. The postholder will help to ensure that the positions that we take with international partners are informed by, and inform, our other policy activities.
    4. Outside of the international portfolio the postholder may contribute to a range of other policy activities including: scoping, major working groups, policy events, position papers, consultation responses, correspondence and briefings.
    5. Maintaining an excellent understanding of the international policy landscape by monitoring developments and key policy issues, and escalating to other key staff where relevant. Identifying and researching potential new areas of policy work.
    6. Developing and maintaining a network of contacts (including Fellows) to inform the Academy’s wider work programme and increase the impact of our work.
    7. Drafting papers for meetings of the Council and Honorary Officers of the Academy.
    8. Supporting the Academy’s President, Honorary Officers, Fellows and senior staff by identifying key contacts for meetings the production of briefings and meeting notes.
    9. Representing the Academy at external meetings.
    10. Occasionally managing budget lines.
    11. Occasionally supervising interns.
    12. Contributing to the evaluation of the policy team’s activities and the development of new ways of working.
    13. Maintaining relevant areas of the website; liaising with Communications staff to ensure internal and external engagement with the Academy’s policy work including through the use of digital media.  

Read the complete document for this job position and requirements. 

Benefits

Salary: GBP 30,000 – GBP 33,000 p.a.​

Role Duration: Permanent

Annual leave
29 days per annum, including Christmas closure dates, plus bank holidays 

Pension
The Academy contributes 7.5% of gross salary to a Legal & General scheme, with an employee contribution of 3%.

Life assurance
3 x annual gross salary 

Staff lunch                 
Free hot lunch available to staff on site Monday – Thursday

Season ticket travel loan interest free
Available to all staff after completion of probationary period

Family friendly benefits
A range of enhanced benefits

How to apply?

In order to apply and to read more information please follow this link.