Policy Officer (Research and Innovation)

GuildHE is a formal representative body, representing diversity in the higher education sector and the widest variety of institution types across the UK. We are undergoing an exciting period of transformation, evolving our policy approach and member‑focused services to significantly increase our impact within the sector and ensure we’re providing timely, proactive support to our members as they address emerging 21st‑century challenges.

Key Responsibilities

Policy Analysis & Communication

1. Horizon Scanning: Monitor government departments such as DSIT and DfE, funding and regulatory bodies including UKRI, Research England, OfS, Innovate UK, and other stakeholders for policy updates, funding calls, and consultation launches in relation to Research and Innovation policy.
2. Briefings: Produce concise policy briefings, data summaries, and position papers for GuildHE members and leadership on key Research and Innovation issues such as REF, knowledge exchange, KEF, commercialisation, research culture, and open research. Develop high‑quality external reports, consultations, blogs and other materials articulating member challenges and opportunities.
3. Consultation Drafts: Assist senior policy colleagues in gathering evidence, analysing member feedback, collaborating with sector stakeholders, and drafting compelling arguments that articulate the unique perspectives of GuildHE institutions.
4. Share Best Practice: Identify case studies across the GHE membership to share best practice internally and externally and drive national conversations about new ways of working and operating in the sector.
5. Policy Issues: Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of national and institutional research and innovation policies indicated by the Head of Research Policy or Policy Manager.

Member Support & Consortium Coordination

1. Member Engagement: Maintain regular, positive communication with research and innovation leads across member institutions, fostering a collaborative network. Support relevant GuildHE member networks including the Knowledge Exchange, Innovation and Place network, promoting communication, collaboration, and best practice exchange to inform evidence‑based policy development.
2. Member Development: Provide support for timely implementation of good practice guidelines and associated resources, within agreed budgets. This includes assisting with members’ business development initiatives such as Research Degree Awarding Powers.
3. Event Delivery: Develop and deliver content for events including the GuildHE Research Consortium meetings, the Research and Knowledge Exchange Symposium, PGR Doctoral Festival, the PGR Network for global majority students and sandpits/match events, workshops and roundtables.
4. Shared Services: Collaborate with other GHE teammates to maintain and deliver our shared services such as research outputs repository, shared postgraduate online training, research impact tracking and researcher development tools, and explore new services in response to members’ needs.
5. PGR Students: Develop and deliver initiatives for postgraduate students and early career researchers such as our PGR Support Programme and associated student networks, working closely with the Policy Manager to ensure postgraduate students are reflected in broader student support policies.

The postholder will also be expected to:

1. Actively support the delivery of the GuildHE strategy.
2. Contribute positively to a small, professional team focused on delivering excellence in their members’ interests.
3. Support GuildHE events and communication activities as appropriate, including campaigns, writing articles, blogs and press releases.
4. Build strong relationships with key stakeholders at HE institutions and sector agencies, including senior leaders, academics, and policy staff.
5. Gather feedback from HE institutions and use this to inform the continuous improvement of our services.
6. Demonstrate a proactive approach to embedding EDI principles within all policy development and advocacy efforts.
7. Represent GuildHE externally on a range of HE sector groups and projects and deputise for the Head of Research Policy or the Policy Manager as appropriate.
8. Undertake any other reasonable duties as may be required.

Person Specification

Core Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships.
• Clear, concise writing skills for drafting policy responses, reports, and emails to senior stakeholders with excellent attention to detail.
• Problem‑solving, influencing and advocacy skills.
• Ability to digest complex, lengthy policy documents and extract key themes relevant to GuildHE members.
• Confident digital skills and highly proficient user of computer packages including MS Office and G Suite.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively, adhere to deadlines, and maintain project momentum, including monitoring progress, identifying and mitigating potential risks and proactively addressing challenges.
• Experience in using data and evidence to enhance and impact assessment activities.
• Facilitation and convening skills would be advantageous.

Core Attributes

• Ability to build professional relationships quickly and sustainably with members and a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritise work and anticipate issues and problems with strong attention to detail.
• A collaborative, communicative and flexible team player who is also comfortable working independently.
• An individual who shares our values of equity and inclusion and can translate these values into day‑to‑day work and impactful outcomes.
• An understanding of or a keen interest in the UK higher education sector, research funding landscape or public policy.
• Willingness to travel across the UK for meetings with members, stakeholders and events and to work flexibly, when and where necessary.

Ideal Experience

• Knowledge and understanding of higher education policy, working in research and innovation and/or supporting a research environment.
• Experience of developing policy positions and responses.
• Experience in synthesising complex data and/or ideas.
• Experience in supporting training and development.

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