Policy Adviser

Policy Adviser - RCN02346
Policy | RCN UK HQ with hybrid working | £52,839
(including inner London weighting of £5094)
Contract type: Permanent
Policy Adviser
Posts will be based at RCN UK HQ (London), with opportunities for flexible hours, home and hybrid working.
One permanent 1.0 FTE post (35 hours)
Salary range £47745 to £53934 per annum
London Allowance: £5094 per annum
At the Royal College of Nursing we’re an optimistic organisation. And we’ve got good reason to be. We all share the same voice when it comes to changing the shape of the health policies of the future. And as the largest trade union of nursing staff and students in the UK – with over half a million members – all we can see are the infinite possibilities for a brighter future. Join us and you will too.
We're accredited with Investors in People Silver Standard. Our people are our greatest asset, and we want people who can contribute to our purpose in line with our values.
As Policy Adviser at the RCN, you’ll collaborate closely with colleagues and functions across the UK organisation, leading complex policy development and influencing to bring about change to public policy in England and across the UK, on issues impacting our members.
You’ll work closely with our research team to identity key issues, risks and opportunities for the nursing profession, using this insight to design policy projects and develop robust positioning to test with members, colleagues and stakeholders. You’ll create compelling evidence-based policy narrative and targeted recommendations, working with our public affairs team to identify opportunities for influence.
You’ll build strong relationships with peers at Royal Colleges, Trade Unions, Government departments and other organisations across the health and social care sector. You’ll use your relationships to identify opportunities for collaboration, bring insight into the organisation and influence others to support our position.
To join us you’ll need to demonstrate that you have experience of analysing external policy and political landscape in the UK to identify specific issues and levers for change. You will also have the ability to produce detailed and consistently high-quality policy and data analysis, and policy recommendations supported by a credible evidence-based case for change.
You will also be able to demonstrate that you can foster strong professional relationships internally and externally and encourage close collaboration across the organisation.
Ideally, you will have a background in a relevant policy area, providing analysis and developing policy positions and recommendations. The policy team at the RCN handles a wide range of issue portfolios, balancing reactive and proactive work, managing uncertainty and changing priorities in the external environment. Therefore, we are looking for candidates who have experience managing competing priorities, working to short deadlines and who thrive in a fast-paced environment.
We are particularly keen to receive applications from policy staff working in leading health charities and Royal Colleges.
To succeed at the Royal College of Nursing all you need to do is think bigger, better and brighter. And with an attitude like that, anything is possible.
What we offer you
We expect you to look after our members. And we expect you to be rewarded for it. We offer an impressive range of benefits, a broad range of learning development opportunities and an award-winning health and wellbeing programme. We offer annual leave up to 32 days plus bank holidays and three additional days for the Christmas break plus generous maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental leave packages.
*We offer a competitive pay structure with annual pay progression until you reach the top of the salary pay scale. We normally offer new employees the first point of the salary range, although you may be able to negotiate a higher starting salary depending on your skills, experience and current salary.
What we deliver for our members is wide and varied so when it comes to how we work one size doesn’t fit all. We also know that to empower our people to do their best work, they must be able to balance the demands of work and home. We are a diverse organisation and understand everyone has different needs and many of our employees enjoy flexible working enabling them to deliver results while having a good work-life balance. Departments and directorates have their own hybrid ways of working which put the needs of the service they deliver – whether that’s to members or to colleagues - at their heart, in alignment with our hybrid working core principles.
Our selection process
Please complete the application, demonstrating how you meet the criteria for this role.
We want your experience applying for a job with us to be the best it can be. We may hold our interviews and assessments in person or by video call. If you foresee any problems with this, please let us know.
As a proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities.
Contact details
For more information or for an informal discussion about the role please contact Charli Hadden, Policy Manager charli.hadden@rcn.org.uk
For more information about the recruitment and selection process please contact recruit@rcn.org.uk
Opening date: 18th January 2024
Closing date: 11th February 2024
If we receive many applications after a week of advertising, this vacancy may close earlier.
Assessment & interview date: 26th February 2024
Interview date: 26/02/2024
Contracted hours: 35

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme