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 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 21 Fellows, including 6 Honorary Officers who provide strategic advice and oversight. Professor Sir Robert Lechler FMedSci 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 permanent staff.

Medical Science Policy at the Academy

The Academy’s policy work addresses issues of biomedical science, healthcare and workforce including sustaining the pipeline of researchers equipped to deliver innovation and excellence. Areas of policy work originate from within the Academy Council and wider Fellowship, as well as in response to issues raised by Government, Parliament and other relevant bodies, including stakeholders such as industry, medical research charities, medical royal colleges and regulators.

The Academy’s policy work cuts across both our medical science policy team and biomedical grants, mentoring and careers policy team.
• The medical science policy team’s remit includes ensuring that the UK has a strong research base in academia, industry and the NHS and that the outcomes of research can be translated into health and wealth benefits. It is also responsible for our international policy activities. The team currently has a staff of 15 (including 2 interns) and a budget of ca £1m.
• The biomedical grants, mentoring and careers policy team’s work focuses on the training and career pathways for researchers across the spectrum of the medical sciences. Its policy work not only influences UK capacity and resource, but also informs our schemes and activities to support young researchers.

Policy is developed in consultation with Academy Fellows, in addition to external experts and stakeholders as appropriate. Projects often involve collaboration with other UK and international bodies (e.g. charities, research funders, industry), and can take many forms: major reports, shorter position papers, consultation responses, seminars and workshops, correspondence, representation on Government and external panels, evidence to Parliamentary committees, private meetings and roundtables with key decision makers. Wide consultation, comprehensive analysis of the evidence and robust peer review ensure the independence and authority of the Academy’s policy work.

The FORUM

The FORUM was established by the Academy in 2003 to recognise the role of industry in medical research and to catalyse connections across industry, academia and the NHS. It is unique in providing a neutral and independent platform for representatives across academia, industry, government and the charity, healthcare and regulatory sectors to meet and take forward national discussions on scientific opportunities, technology trends and associated strategic choices for healthcare and other life sciences sectors. It primarily does this through workshops (that may be held in partnership with other organisations) and an Annual Lecture. The programme of workshops is devised with input from our FORUM members, who make an annual donation towards the programme. The meetings themselves are extremely valuable to participants but the publication of reports of the actions and conclusions that emerge from the meetings influence a wider audience.

Recent FORUM workshop topics have included: ‘real world’ data in research, early detection and diagnosis in cancer, bridging the clinical-preclinical boundary, personalised psychiatry, and accelerating access to medical innovation.

Salary: £35,696-£44,973

Role Duration: Full time, Permanent

The FORUM Manager plays a key role at the Academy, contributing to the delivery of our strategic objective to ‘influence research and policy’. Reporting into the Head of Policy, the post holder will be primarily responsible for managing the FORUM, but also as part of our wider portfolio of policy work. Key aspect of the post will be the development of strong and successful relationships with current and potential FORUM members, Fellows and key contacts across all sectors of the medical science policy landscape. The postholder will draw on internal and external contacts to develop and deliver an exciting and impactful FORUM programme of activities. S/he will be supported by a Policy Officer working at least 50% of the time on the FORUM.

Key tasks and responsibilities

1. Managing the FORUM. Working with the Head of Policy, grow the number and breadth of members in this network, through delivery of a compelling annual programme of events and an annual lecture.

2. With the policy officer: plan, organise and facilitate a range of activities linked to the FORUM programme, including lectures, seminars, workshops and other stakeholder meetings. This will involve identifying and researching potential topics of interest, planning and delivering a range of events, and drafting and disseminating meeting reports. It will require maintaining an excellent understanding of current policy issues and close working with Fellows, FORUM members and other experts to identify key policy issues, engage potential stakeholders and partners, develop agendas and agree written outputs.

3. Developing or informing consultation responses or statements on topics relevant to the academia-industry-NHS interface.

4. Collaborating with stakeholders from industry, academia, government and the charity, healthcare and regulatory sectors, particularly current and potential future FORUM members.

5. Working with colleagues in the fundraising team and senior staff across the Academy to grow the FORUM by attracting new members.

6. Drawing on contacts including Fellows and FORUM members to inform the Academy’s wider work programme and increase the impact of our work.

7. Ensuring that the Academy’s President, Honorary Officers and Fellows meet regularly with key decision makers. Supporting these meetings through the briefings and meeting notes.

8. Drafting papers for meetings of the Council and Honorary Officers of the Academy.

9. Representing the Academy at external meetings.

10. Contributing to the evaluation of the policy team’s activities and the development of new ways of working.

11. Line managing a policy officer who will be working at least 50% of the time on projects being led by the Manager and the rest of the time on other policy projects. Occasionally supervising interns (PhD students on a 3 month paid policy internship).

12. Managing the FORUM budget.

13. Working with the team to maintain the relevant areas of the website; liaising with the Director of Communications to ensure internal and external engagement with the Academy’s policy work including through the use of new media.

14. Contributing to 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 5pm on 05 November 2018

Interviews will be on 15 November 2018

Please contact Dr Naho Yamazaki, Head of Policy, for an informal discussion about the role (020 3141 3216; [email protected])