Head of Education and Skills Policy

We are looking for an outstanding Head of Education and Skills Policy to lead our work influencing how the UK delivers the skills it needs to thrive.

The role

The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with outstanding Fellows and partners in research and industry, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

Engineering is at the heart of our nation and our future: essential to addressing the climate crisis and harnessing new technologies such as AI and quantum so that they are safe and work for everyone. Yet our profession suffers from long-term skills shortages and under-representation. The Academy is at the heart of work to change this, and the successful candidate will lead our Engineers 2030 project to define the skillset of the future engineer, understand the system which currently delivers those skills, and diagnose and build confidence behind the interventions which could have the greatest impact.

We are a values-driven organisation, and our work has a strong emphasis on meeting the sustainability challenge, improving inclusion and workplace cultures across all of engineering, and increasing the diversity of the engineering workforce. This is a rare opportunity to make a meaningful impact across a whole profession for current and future generations.

You will have a strong track record of delivery at senior levels in a policy or similar role, with the confidence and experience to lead a talented and committed team. We work closely with a wider range of partners and an ability to engage, learn from and bring a range of stakeholders with you is essential.

In return, we offer an unrivalled package of benefits including a non-contributory pension scheme, BUPA cash plan, private medical insurance, subsidised restaurant, regular social activities, health and wellbeing programmes and the possibility of flexible working, as well as significant investment into your personal and professional development. Our offices are based in central London near St. James' Park, and we operate on a flexible hybrid basis.

Who are we?

Engineering matters. It shapes our everyday lives, from our ability to turn the lights on, have a hot shower and commute into work, to the mobile phones we rely on to keep connected. It also plays a vital role in addressing some of the biggest challenges facing society today, from climate change, to global health pandemics and cyber threats.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is a charity that harnesses the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

With a diverse workforce and an inclusive and supportive culture, we look to attract candidates from wide and different backgrounds who have a passion for the role engineering plays in society. Our aim is to make the Academy the best place to work for the staff we have and those we seek to attract.

Why work for the Royal Academy of Engineering?

We’re looking for people who are driven to make the world a better place. If you’re passionate about what you do and want to work collaboratively with talented colleagues to make change happen now and for future generations, we want you to get in touch.

This is the perfect time to join us. We have a dynamic, visionary CEO, a strong leadership team and an ambitious and exciting strategy. The value we bring as experts in our field and change agents is highly recognised and makes the Academy a motivating place to be. Our work today builds on a long, proud history with a focused and ambitious future which we’d love you to be part of.

The Academy is committed to making reasonable adjustments to remove barriers that hinder applicants from applying or staff from working effectively and comfortably.

We are looking for talented people who want to make a difference, to join our team – is this you?

Company Benefits

The Academy offers a fantastic package of additional benefits including:

• BUPA Cash Plan Private
• Medical Insurance
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Independent Financial Advice
• Non-contributory pension scheme with 10% employer contribution
• Life Assurance, 4x annual salary
• Health and wellbeing programmes
• Generous holiday allowance
• Wellbeing days and office wide Christmas leave
• Significant investment into your personal and professional development
• Regular social activities
• Subsidised restaurant

Location

Our light, spacious Head office is based in a fantastic location in central London with views over St James’s Park and close to the West End. We operate hybrid, flexible working practices with a baseline for office based working of a mandatory weekly team day plus further days each week as required for the role and the Academy.

How to apply/Interview process

To find out more and to apply, please visit our website. As part of your application, you will be asked to upload a CV and provide a supporting statement explaining your interest in this role and how you fit the experience, knowledge, and Skills profile.

Closing date: 11 February 2024.

Interviews will be held in-person at our offices w/c 26 February 2024.