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., 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, 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, Desk-based research, assessment and reporting of evidence and technical information in a logical, clear and concise manner

Essential
Stakeholder engagement including workshop creation and delivery
Essential
Self-organisation and management of several tasks simultaneously and semi-independently
Essential
Creative thinking and problem solving
Essential
Delivering complex projects on time, on budget and within the desired scope
Essential
Writing, editing and disseminating reports
Essential
Effective interaction with people at all levels of seniority
Essential
Line management experience
Desirable
Working with governance or advisory committees
Desirable
Events experience
Desirable
Publishing experience
Desirable
Circumstances
Able to be flexible about working hours on occasions
Essential
Able to undertake national and/or international travel on occasions
Essential, Determines strategy and deployment of resources, balancing cost and benefit; risk and potential for maximum impact across significant business areas


• Manages complex cross-cutting projects to time, budget and specification



• Ensures others accept responsibility towards results or quality



• Sets the quality standards for own business areas in accordance with strategy and contributes to the formulation of quality standards across the Society



• Sets and monitors priorities



• Identifies and manages risk effectively


Critical thinking

• 
  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 value for money of ideas and obtains feedback



• Makes sound decisions in a complex or ambiguous environment and is able to gain support and manage challenges confidently


Adaptability

• 
  Actively seeks the input and opinions of others, often outside his/her section 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


Managing people and relationships

• 
  Sets expectations of others and ensures they deliver
  
  
• Demonstrates a positive attitude towards work, celebrating success and instilling confidence, which encourages the same from others



• Encourages others to share ideas and participate in the discussion and decisions of the team
  
  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., A good understanding of science policy

Essential
Expertise and experience in a relevant futures technique such as scenario development or structured interviews
Essential
Skilled oral and written communication for technical and non-technical audiences, The competency levels for a pay Band E role are described below.
Self-management

• 
  Identifies difficult situations
  
  
• Recognises stress in others and takes steps to reduce it



• Controls pressurised situations



• Effectively enthuses those in the team



• Proactively sets goals and targets for own work



• Works within the Royal Society Values at all times


Working with others

• 
  Actively seeks ideas and criticisms from within the team
  
  
• Resolves conflicts within and between teams



• Embeds feedback processes within the team



• 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
  
  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.