£38,627 (full-time/permanent)
The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking a Senior Policy Adviser to join our public policy department, leading the development and delivery of British Academy policy projects and programmes with a particular focus on place-sensitive environmental policymaking and Sustainable Futures.
The role
The British Academy’s public policy team examine a range of policy challenges facing society that SHAPE disciplines (Social sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy/Environment) can help people to understand and reframe. We work closely with our Fellows, who are some of the world’s leading experts on a huge range of topics, alongside a diverse community of academics, experts, practitioners and importantly, policymakers. Our approach is forward-looking (though also often looking historically at issues to consider how to move forward) and always evidence-based. We apply rigorous academic principles while communicating ideas by the most effective means to support the development of better policies and better processes for policymaking.
This Senior Policy Adviser role would best suit someone with knowledge of environmental policy from academia, policy or practice, but who is also comfortable with working across several policy areas. Our Senior Policy Advisers have an appetite to learn and apply a wide range of insights from SHAPE disciplines to improve policy and policymaking. You will be responsible for one of our programmes and involved in our team effort to develop new programmes. You will need to call on our networks to bring together evidence and insight that sheds new light on policy challenges. You will rely on your communication skills – both written and verbal – to get the message to a range of audiences. A typical day could include attending a roundtable with Nobel laureates, finalising a briefing for the CEO on your programme, sending out invitations for an upcoming event, sorting out a problem with a research contract, and reading a new government report. You will often work independently but won’t be on your own – we are a collaborative, supportive and friendly team of 12, working on the basis of mutual trust and responsibility, all working on different but connected areas, striving together to achieve our goals.
This is a varied and exciting role – you will need to manage your time very well, be willing to learn and develop new skills, make the most of our extensive networks, and deliver high quality outputs.
About the Academy
The British Academy is the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences, established by Royal Charter in 1902. We mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. Today’s complex challenges can only be resolved by deepening our insight into people, culture, and societies. With a Fellowship of around 1,400 leading national and international academics, the Academy invests in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas; engages the public with fresh thinking and debates; and brings together scholars, government, business, and civil society to influence policy.
The Academy currently has five directorates: Communications & Marketing; Development; Policy; Research; and Resources, plus a small Governance & Fellowship Team. We have increased staffing in the last 12 months and expect to continue to grow this year.
Working at the Academy
Our senior management team have worked with staff to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and empathy, in which all contributions are recognised as we work towards our common goals. Our people strategy and working practices focus on building strengths and sharing insights, with learning & development, wellbeing, and equality, diversity & inclusion at the centre of how we operate as an organisation. Investing in our staff and encouraging a healthy work/life balance is central to our success, as we move forward and continue to grow. Find out more about the British Academy, including our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement.
Terms and conditions
The British Academy is based at 10-11, Carlton House Terrace, St James Park, London, SW1 – a Grade 1 listed building. We offer a competitive benefits package including a 35-hour working week, with hours and location worked flexibly under our hybrid-working policy; 34 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays; a subsidised restaurant and an excellent occupational pension.
How to apply
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, in line with our commitment to create a diverse and inclusive working environment, promote equal opportunity, and address under-representation. We will make reasonable adjustments to support disabled job applicants and offer an interview to those meeting the minimum selection criteria.
To apply, and to see the full job description and our workplace values, please follow the link to access the Applied recruitment platform.
Applications must be received no later than 12:00 noon on 16 September 2024.
Please contact the HR team at [email protected] if you have any questions.
