The Academy’s core mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society. We are working to secure a future in which:
• UK and global health is improved by the best research
• The UK leads the world in biomedical and health research, and is renowned for the quality of its research outputs, talent and collaborations.
• Independent, high quality medical science advice informs the decisions that affect society.
• More people have a say in the future of health and research.

The Academy’s over 1200 Fellows have been elected on the basis of outstanding contributions to a range of scientific fields, and are drawn from universities, hospitals, general practice, industry and the public service. Our Fellows are central to all we do. It is their talent and expertise that ensures we can bring authoritative opinion and practical guidance to complex issues in medical science and healthcare.

Established in 1998 as an expert body to deal with issues at the interface of medical science and healthcare, the Academy is part of the national academies group, alongside the Royal Society, British Academy, and the Royal Academy of Engineering. We are governed by a Council of 17 Fellows, including 6 Honorary Officers who provide strategic advice and oversight. Professor Sir Robert Lechler PMedSci is the current President.

The Academy is:
• An elected Fellowship of the UK’s best biomedical and health researchers
• An independent source of evidence-based and expert advice
• Connected to, and respected by, decision makers
• Focused on realising cross-disciplinary opportunities across academia, industry and healthcare.
• Committed to improving and celebrating diversity - in all its forms - in the biomedical and health research community
• Global in outlook, reach and influence
• Catalytic, inclusive and accessible in our approach
• Responsive to change and innovative in our solutions
• Adept at maximising our impact through partnership working

We seek to advance UK and global biomedical and health research through five strategic challenges (as set out in our 2017-22 strategy):
1. To harness our expertise and convening power to tackle the biggest scientific and health challenges and opportunities facing our society.
2. To lead innovation in the development of research talent through funding and careers support.
3. To achieve influence and impact beyond the UK to improve health and well-being.
4. To become the exemplar of a ‘modern scientific academy’ – diverse, trusted, dynamic, relevant and accessible.
5. To enhance the Academy’s delivery capability, making sure we have the Fellows, staff, partners, resources and influence to make an even greater contribution to the UK and beyond.

The Fellowship is served by a team of 43 staff.

Salary: £27,000 - £29,000 p.a.​

Role Duration: Fixed term, 2 years

As a key member of the Academy’s close-knit policy team, the international policy officer will primarily support the Academy’s international policy programme, in particular support the delivery of our GCRF policy workshops - a series of impactful workshops which we hold with international partners. Our planned GCRF programme includes meetings on universal health coverage, epidemic preparedness, multi-morbidity and maternal and newborn health. The international policy officer will also be involved in work on other international and policy projects as part of delivering our strategic challenge: ‘To achieve influence and impact beyond the UK to improve health and well-being.’

Key tasks and responsibilities
1. Supporting the International Policy Manager, or other staff, to deliver a series of policy workshops, aimed at working with international partners to consider how scientific evidence can help address key global health challenges and building capacity in ODA countries for the provision of scientific advice. Leading or supporting the organisation and delivery of GCRF policy workshops, the drafting of meeting outputs and their dissemination. This will involve developing agendas and identifying relevant stakeholders, organising event logistics, and preparing the necessary supporting materials. These activities will require: close working with Fellows including those that may Chair or participate in our international events, working groups and steering groups of Fellows and other experts and stakeholders across the life sciences sector both in the UK and internationally.
2. Ensuring that the organisation and delivery of the GCRF policy programme and engagement with our international partners informs the work of the rest of the policy team and the wider Academy, and provides an opportunity to promote the Academy’s policy positions and broader activities.
3. The international policy officer may be also be asked to deliver work to inform and influence the wider biomedical research landscape. This work will involve policy activities that may include quiet diplomacy; liaison with other organisations on relevant issues; briefing papers; consultation responses; position statements; major working group projects; and other stakeholder meetings.
4. Maintaining an excellent understanding of the policy landscape by monitoring developments and key policy issues. Identifying and researching potential new areas of policy work.
5. Drafting papers for meetings of the Council and Honorary Officers of the Academy.
6. Supporting the Academy’s President and other Honorary Officers; Fellows; and senior staff in their meetings with key decision makers through the production of briefings and meeting notes, in particular the Vice-President - International.
7. Collaborating with organisations from academia, industry, healthcare and the charity sector both in the UK and internationally.
8. Maintaining and developing an effective network of contacts across the sector (including our Fellows) to inform the Academy’s major policy activities, and to increase the impact of our work.
9. Representing the Academy at meetings with external stakeholders.
10. Contributing to the evaluation of the policy team’s activities and the development of new ways of working - particularly with respect to events.
11. Occasionally managing budget lines.
12. Maintaining relevant areas of the website; liaising with Communications staff to ensure internal and external engagement with the Academy’s policy work, including through the use of new media.
13. Occasionally assisting with projects associated with the Academy’s other policy activities.

Annual leave
29 days per annum, including Christmas closure dates, plus bank holidays

Pension
The Academy contributes 7.5% of gross salary to a Legal & General scheme, with an employee contribution of 3%.

Life assurance
3 x annual gross salary

Staff lunch
Free hot lunch available to staff on site Monday – Thursday

Season ticket travel loan interest free
Available to all staff after completion of probationary period

Family friendly benefits
A range of enhanced benefits

The deadline for all applications is midnight on 3 February 2019

Interviews will take place week commencing 11 February 2019​