Head of Policy Programmes

The role

Brilliant things happen when brilliant people connect. Engineers and policymakers have so much to learn from each other in tackling complex social, environmental and technical challenges. Our Policy Fellowships programmes, and our work on Systems Thinking in Government, is all about building connections, collaborations and networks between experienced engineers and those at the heart of policymaking.

This role will shape, deliver and continuously improve our programme of activities connecting engineers with policymakers across national, devolved and local government. It will involve delivering across three related programmes:

• Our Policy Fellowships, a programme that connects policymakers with engineers and which is creating a unique network of policymakers, engineers and other experts who are working together to develop fresh insights and approaches to economic, social and technical problems.
• The new Senior Policy Fellowship, designed for the most senior civil servants, ensuring that systems thinking and engineering insight are at the heart of government.
• Our systems thinking in government team, which works with government teams to help them shape and implement systems approaches to complex challenges.

As Head of Policy Programmes, you will lead the Policy Fellowships and Systems Thinking in Government teams to ensure that these programmes are delivered effectively, with excellent user experience. You’ll continually monitor and improve these programmes, ensuring that we have a diverse range of policy participants, and finding new modes of delivery to scale impact. They will support their teams to ensure that they are continually developing and thriving in their roles.

You will be closely involved in the Senior Policy Fellowship, and will design and deliver the programme by building relationships and creating a bespoke offer that has prestige and value across the most senior levels in policy making.

We are looking for someone creative, who is brilliant at building relationships and is fascinated by the world of policy and the challenges that policymakers tackle. Help us to make these exciting programmes the best that they can be!

Our 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.

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, and 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 us?

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.

We are looking for talented people who want to make a difference, to join our team – is this you? For more information and to apply, please visit our vacancies page. 

Closing date: 19 May 2025.

Interview date: 11 June 2025.

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

The Academy is proud to be an ‘A’ rated visa sponsorship licence holder and will consider visa sponsorship for a migrant skilled worker visa (1 to 5 years) or a new entrant visa (1 to 2 years) where a role is eligible (as defined by the Home Office), in that a suitable Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code is identified, and minimum salary expectations are met. 

A certificate of sponsorship and a skilled worker visa application will only be made when an applicant is successful in being ‘conditionally’ offered the role. Offers of employment under the Academy Visa Sponsorship Scheme will not be confirmed until the visa application has been formally approved by the Home Office.