Salary Circa £44,000 per annum

Contract type Permanent

Location Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6AD (Agile; approximately 2 days a week from our office)

Published

a day ago

Closing

in 16 days

This is a Permanent, , Full Time vacancy that will close in 16 days at 23:59 BST.

The Vacancy

We are looking for a Policy Manager to join our dynamic and well-respected policy team. Our team’s mission is to ensure people affected by dementia benefit from the progress in research, by providing evidence and insights to influence decision-makers. This ranges from making the case to increase investment in dementia research, promoting the concept of good Brain Health to reduce the risk of developing dementia through to preparing health systems to be ready for future dementia treatments.

Policy and Public Affairs team encourages creativity and new ways of doing things The post holder will have opportunities to take initiative and work on projects that take the charity in new directions. The postholder will report to the Head of Policy (Access and Innovation), working across the wider Policy and Public Affairs team. The team takes a matrix approach to our work, using the skills and expertise across the team to maximise impact of a project. The role is based near Cambridge and will include work in London and elsewhere in the UK.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Portfolio

As an agile organisation the portfolio of the team is constantly evolving. Currently focus areas for the role will be :

• Increase government investment in dementia research, working with Alzheimer’s Research UK’s research team to articulate priorities for spending and ensure we have robust policy proposals which government can implement. There will be a particular focus on clinical trial infrastructure and recruiting a more diverse range of participants in research
• Clinical engagement, by managing and growing our clinical engagement activities and the planning of our annual clinical conference.
• Strengthening the team’s patient and public involvement and engagement work. This will involve champion PPI across the wider team, managing our current public and patient forums and leading a programme of work to ensure our engagement is innovative and sector leading.
• Leading work to ensure our Stats Hub is accurate, timely and best supports our policy and data analysis work.

Policy development

• To develop and manage programmes of work on key strategic policy areas that position ARUK as a key influencer both nationally and internationally. This may include the commissioning of external evidence generation.
• Provide expertise on the relevant evidence, insight and policy context to enable the development of new innovative policy ideas and solutions that deliver on our strategic priorities.
• Manage the development of substantial and credible policy outputs, including briefings, reports, submissions to government departments and their agencies, parliamentary committees, and other UK and international organisations as appropriate.
• Working with the communications team to ensure our policy work is disseminated to our key audiences via a range of appropriate channels in order to maximise our reach and impact.
• Develop and maintain mechanisms to keep abreast of the policy environment relevant to the portfolio of the post.
• Analyse, interpret and make judgements on complex project activities, delegating and managing the policy advisors to achieve set deliverables through their management of day-to-day activities. As Policy and Public Affairs works in a matrix structure this may include managing deliverables with policy advisors across the team.
• Support the join-up between projects and across the wider team to ensure shared knowledge and the opportunity to maximise influence and impact.

Stakeholder engagement and management

• To develop and manage stakeholder engagement of key policy contacts, developing relationships within the research and the wider clinical field across a range of organisations.
• Actively promote patient and public involvement in the development and delivery of projects.
• Work with Public Affairs colleagues to strengthen existing and emerging relationships with political and other parliamentary stakeholders to maximise the impact of our policy work.
• To attend external working groups and help develop partnerships beneficial to ARUK.
• Work with other charities to ensure ARUK is playing a leadership role in shaping government medical research policy.

Research and data analysis

• To oversee the analysis of necessary data and understanding, working with other ARUK colleagues, to produce accurate, timely and insightful policy materials, briefings and media stories.

Line Management Responsibilities

• To line manage and develop a Policy Advisor, providing coaching mentoring and performance management as appropriate.
• Work with Heads of Policy and other Managers to support our team mission, wider team development and our commitment to excellence.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Educated to Degree Level – or equivalent
• Experience and success in policy development and influencing change.
• Experience of building constructive relationships with stakeholders across multiple organisations, especially within a biomedical research or health setting.
• Experience of writing and reviewing complex policy reports.
• Understanding of range of channels for communicating policy work.
• Experience of line management
• Experience of delivering consultation responses and working with government teams to embed ideas.
• Confidence working with computers – good knowledge of Word, Excel and Outlook.
• A passionate, proactive and curious policy professional.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Excellent personal communication skills, with the ability to communicate with people at all levels both face to face and remotely.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workload.
• Ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage and develop people.
• Ability to manage a broad programme of work.
• Ability to write professionally, with an ability to adapt communication style for different audiences to maximise impact.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data to identify key messages.
• Professional and hard-working team player
• Outgoing, enthusiastic and able to remain calm under pressure
• Ability to show initiative and adaptability in a complex and changing policy environment
• Strategic outlook with a clear focus on impact.

The closing date for applications is the 19th October 2025, with interviews being arranged once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country. Recently, the company has won multiple workplace environment awards and has an outstanding record of employee satisfaction.

The Benefits

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The Values

• Innovation

We are creative and fearless in our work.

• Accountability

We take ownership of our work and lead from the front.

• Teamwork

We collaborate widely and build supportive environments.

The Charity

Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

The Benefits

It is important to offer a range of benefits which are designed to meet both the organisational and individual needs, are market competitive and designed to attract and retain employees.

For more details on working for Alzheimer's Research UK click here.

Holiday entitlement

Healthcare

Sick pay

Pension

Cycle to work scheme

Family friendly policies

Learning & development

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