Policy Adviser (Public Policy)

The British Academy - the UK's national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking a Policy Adviser to join our Public Policy team, providing key support in the development and delivery of Public Policy activities.
The role
The Policy Adviser works in the Academy's Public Policy Team, which sits alongside the Higher Education and Research Team in the Policy Directorate. The Public Policy Team is a growing team, with strong ambitions to improve the UK policy ecosystem in a way that is championing our SHAPE disciplines and their knowledge and expertise.
We are a collaborative team, working on the basis of mutual trust and responsibility, striving together to achieve our goals. We value leadership that creates leaders, where every individual is empowered to think and make decisions, and where great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. Within this intellectually stimulating and collaborative working environment, we work on a range of proactive Public Policy projects and more responsive policy work across four core themes: social and cultural infrastructure; digital societies; sustainability for people and planet; and governance, trust, and voice. Alongside these four themes there is an ongoing programme of small projects, engagement activities, policy seminars, debates, and other public events.
The core duties of the Policy Adviser will be to support the development and delivery of a range of policy projects within our workplan. A primary responsibility of the Policy Adviser will be to work on a range of activities within our social and cultural infrastructure work theme. Current activities in this theme include work on how social and cultural infrastructure can be measured and valued, the role of different sectors and institutions in contributing towards social and cultural infrastructure, and how resilient social and cultural infrastructure can contribute towards tackling specific policy challenges. Additionally, the Understanding Communities collaboration between the British Academy and the Nuffield Foundation focuses on informing policy and practice on how local communities function and can improve people's lives.
There will also be opportunity to work in some of the other three Public Policy themes. The postholder will also support the delivery of the Innovation Fellowships scheme, which offers funding and support for researchers in the humanities and social sciences to partner with organisations and business in the creative and cultural, public, private, and policy sectors to address challenges that require innovative approaches and solutions. The postholder will also contribute towards the development and delivery of the Policy Histories series.
Joining an enthusiastic, friendly Public Policy team (currently 11 people), the Policy Adviser will also be expected to work with the wider policy teams, and across the Academy more broadly. They will also have the opportunity to get involved in various Academy-wide initiatives, from affinity groups and EDI planning, to building redevelopment and the implementation of our new Strategic Plan.
About the Academy
The British Academy is the UK's national body for the humanities and social sciences, established by Royal Charter in 1902. We mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. Today's complex challenges can only be resolved by deepening our insight into people, culture, and societies. With a Fellowship of around 1,400 leading national and international academics, the Academy invests in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas; engages the public with fresh thinking and debates; and brings together scholars, government, business, and civil society to influence policy.
The Academy currently has five directorates: Communications & Marketing; Development; Policy; Research; and Resources, plus a small Governance & Fellowship Team. We have increased staffing in the last 12 months and expect to continue to grow this year.
Working at the Academy
Our senior management team have worked with staff to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and empathy, in which all contributions are recognised as we work towards our common goals. Our people strategy and working practices focus on building strengths and sharing insights, with learning & development, wellbeing, and equality, diversity & inclusion at the centre of how we operate as an organisation. Investing in our staff and encouraging a healthy work/life balance is central to our success, as we move forward and continue to grow. Find out more about the British Academy , including our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement.
Terms and conditions
The British Academy is based at 10-11, Carlton House Terrace, St James Park, London, SW1 - a Grade 1 listed building. We offer a competitive benefits package including a 35-hour working week, with hours and location worked flexibly under our hybrid-working policy; 34 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays; a subsidised restaurant and an excellent occupational pension.
How to apply
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, in line with our commitment to create a diverse and inclusive working environment, promote equal opportunity, and address under-representation. We will make reasonable adjustments to support disabled job applicants and offer an interview to those meeting the minimum selection criteria.
To apply, and to see the full job description and our workplace values, please follow the Apply link to access the Applied recruitment platform.
The closing date for applications is 12:00pm on Monday, 18 March 2024.