FORUM Policy Manager - Maternity cover

Salary: starting from £50,189 + Benefits (possible to increase salary via incremental steps in the first 12 months)

Role duration: 12 months FTC

Summary purpose - what you will be achieving.

FORUM Manager plays a key role at the Academy, contributing to the delivery of our strategic priority of improving lives. Through FORUM we influence policy and practice to improve the lives of patients, the public and communities by influencing policy to improve health and strengthen research by bringing together our Fellows, researchers, partners and the public as well as other disciplines such as engineering, social and environmental science to ‘influence research and policy’.  

Reporting to the Head of Policy, the post holder will be primarily responsible for managing the Academy’s cross sector FORUM, to deliver of a compelling annual programme of events and an Annual Lecture, and grow the number and breadth of members in this network. The postholder will ensure that the activities of the FORUM feed into, and harness, the Academy’s other cross-sector activities, contributing to discussions about how to develop the Academy’s wider cross-sector portfolio and its engagement with industry. A key aspect of the post will be the development of strong and successful relationships with current and potential FORUM members, Fellows and key contacts across all sectors of the medical science policy landscape.  

The postholder will draw on internal and external contacts to develop and deliver an exciting and impactful FORUM programme of activities that will be themed around ‘innovating research and development’ in 2025-26. The programme will likely include our FORUM Annual Lecture on cell/gene therapy and meetings on engineering biology, the use of AI in research, and the use of new approach methodologies to model human biology.  

The post holder will line manage a Policy Officer who works almost entirely on the FORUM programme. They will also work closely with a Fundraising Officer and an Engagement Officer who facilitate certain aspects of FORUM activities as part of their roles.  

Closing date for completed applications is 6 December 2024.

Download job description.

About the role – what you will be doing. 

• With the Policy Officer planning, organising and facilitating a range of activities linked to the FORUM programme, including lectures, networking events, workshops and other stakeholder meetings. This will involve identifying and researching potential topics of interest, planning and delivering a range of virtual and/or hybrid events, and drafting and disseminating meeting reports. It will require maintaining an excellent understanding of current policy issues and close working with Fellows, the FORUM Advisory Group, FORUM members, people with lived experience, and other experts to identify key policy issues, engage potential stakeholders and partners, develop agendas and agree written outputs.  

• Internally, it will involve working with the wider policy team, the communications and engagement teams on individual meetings. Working with other Academy staff who are delivering cross sector activities to exploit synergies and develop the Academy’s overall offer. 

• Developing or informing consultation responses or statements on topics relevant to the academia-industry-NHS interface. 

• Collaborating with stakeholders from industry, academia, government and the charity, healthcare and regulatory sectors, particularly current and potential future FORUM members; seeking and securing financial and other resource for policy activities, as appropriate. 

• Working with colleagues in the fundraising team and senior staff across the Academy to grow the FORUM by attracting new members 

• Maintaining and developing an effective network of contacts across the sector, including Fellows and FORUM members, to inform the Academy’s wider work programme and increase the impact of our work.  

• Ensuring that the Academy’s President, Honorary Officers and Fellows meet regularly with key decision makers. Supporting these meetings through briefings and meeting notes. 

• Harnessing the expertise of the FORUM advisory group and leading its secretariat. Supporting the Academy’s wider governance including drafting papers for meetings of the Council and Honorary Officers of the Academy. 

• Representing the Academy at external meetings and being an ambassador for our wider work.  

• Line managing a Policy Officer who will be working almost entirely on FORUM and supporting their development. Occasionally supervising interns (PhD students on a 3 month policy internship). 

• Managing the FORUM budget.  

• Working with the policy team to maintain the relevant areas of the website; liaising with the communications team to ensure internal and external engagement with the Academy’s policy work including through the use of new media. 

• Contributing to projects associated with the Academy’s other policy activities and contributing to the evaluation of the policy team’s activities and the development of new ways of working. 

About you – what you bring to the role.

• Experienced in developing and delivering events designed to influence and inform decision makers and promote connections between attendees   

• Capable of managing competing priorities and able to demonstrate attention to detail 

• An effective communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills 

• Good at building and maintaining effective networks (within and outside the Academy) and be confident when dealing with senior stakeholders 

You will ideally have: 

• Knowledge of the UK health research landscape  

• Experience of line managing or supervising staff or interns  

• Experience of working in partnership with other organisations

• Salary progression framework

• Hybrid and agile working

• 29 days annual leave including Christmas closure dates, plus bank holidays.

• Pension (the Academy offers a flexible contribution structure with a minimum employer contribution of 8% up to a maximum of 13% of gross salary, with an employee contribution ranging from 3% to 8%)

• Life assurance

• Vitality Private Medical Insurance

• SimplyHealth Health Cash Plans

• Season ticket travel loan (interest free)

• Family friendly benefits - enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to qualifying period), coaching for parents returning to work)

• Subscription to Headspace and Class pass

• Staff training to support your development including EDI training (you can see more information on our EDI values, principles, and behaviours here)

Read the Academy’s Strategy 2022-2032

Discover more about working at the Academy