Public Affairs Officer

Political, parliamentary and stakeholder engagement

• Support the development and maintenance of relationships with:
  • Parliamentarians (MPs, Peers and staff)
  • Civil servants and government departments
  • Arm’s-length bodies and health system stakeholders
• Manage day-to-day contact with stakeholders where appropriate, ensuring accurate records and follow-up.
• Support delivery of parliamentary engagement activity, including:
  • Preparing briefings, select committee material and supporting evidence
  • Helping to organise stakeholder meetings, roundtables and events
• Identify, under guidance, opportunities to enhance the Academy’s visibility with key decision-makers.

Policy influencing and public affairs delivery

• Support the development and delivery of targeted influencing plans linked to priority policy programmes.
• Contribute to consultation responses, policy positioning, and influencing activities.
• Work with policy and analysis colleagues to translate complex scientific and policy evidence into clear, accessible public affairs messages and supporting materials.
• Contribute to discrete work packages (e.g. stakeholder mapping, briefing development, or engagement plans) to support influencing objectives.

Political monitoring and intelligence

• Monitor UK political and policy developments across Westminster, Whitehall and the wider health and research landscape.
• Provide timely summaries and briefings to colleagues on relevant developments, highlighting potential implications, risks and opportunities.
• Maintain systems for tracking stakeholder engagement, political intelligence and external activity.

Communications and briefing

• Draft high-quality public affairs materials, including:
  • Parliamentary briefings
  • Lines to take and background notes
  • Stakeholder correspondence
  • Summaries of political developments
• Support senior leadership and Fellows by preparing materials to enable effective engagement with policymakers and stakeholders.

Events and convening

• Support the planning and delivery of external engagement activities, including:
  • Parliamentary events
  • Roundtables and policy discussions
  • Cross-sector convenings (including FORUM where appropriate)
• Contribute to ensuring events are well-targeted and aligned with policy influencing objectives.

Cross-Academy working

• Work collaboratively across the Policy Directorate and with Communications, Engagement and Fellowship teams to support a joined-up approach to external engagement and stakeholder management.
• Contribute to a “One Academy” approach, supporting shared priorities and coordinated external activity.

Closing date for completed applications is Monday 22 June 2026 at 9:00am

Interviews will likely be held w/c 6 July 2026.

If you have any queries about this vacancy, please contact Emma Greenwood at Emma.Greenwood@acmedsci.ac.uk.

Requirements

• Experience in public affairs, policy or a related role, ideally within:
  • Health, life sciences, research or the charity sector
• Developing understanding of:
  • UK political and parliamentary processes
  • Health and research policy landscape
• Experience supporting stakeholder engagement and relationship management
• Ability to work with colleagues to translate complex evidence into clear, accessible policy messages
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including drafting briefings and summaries
• Good organisational, problem-solving and prioritisation skills
• Proactive and collaborative, with the ability to manage own workload and contribute to team delivery

Benefits

We provide our staff with a comprehensive benefits package outlined as follows:

Competitive rewards

• Generous pension scheme with flexible contributions – we contribute between 8% - 13% of your gross salary (with employee contributions of 3% - 8%).
• Life assurance at three times your salary.

Work-life Balance

• Hybrid and agile working. 50% office attendance.
• 26 days annual leave, plus Christmas closure days and bank holidays.
• Buying and selling leave.
• Family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to a qualifying period).

Wellbeing and Development

• Complimentary subscriptions to Headspace and Classpass to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Support through tailored learning and development.

Additional Benefits

• A range of enhanced benefits become available once you’ve completed your probation period.