Senior Policy Manager

The organisation
Ellwood Atfield is partnered with the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), to appoint a Senior Policy Manager to their high-performance team.

The NCUB represents the collective voice of the UK’s universities and leading businesses. It’s purpose is to unite policy makers, universities and business; promote the skills and talent developed by universities and optimise opportunities for the UK’s research and development projects.

The opportunity
NCUB is seeking a Senior Policy Manager to lead their policy work. The postholder will be at the forefront of shaping policy related to business-university collaboration, contributing significantly to one of the most important policy agendas of our time.

The postholder will join the organisation as the Government lays out its plans for the UK to become a Science Superpower – an ambition that will only be achieved through greater collaboration between businesses and universities to unlock innovation, drive research and develop the skills needed to drive opportunity and rebalance the economy.  The role calls for an experienced and ambitious policy expert, with an established reputation for gathering and interpreting evidence to develop impactful policy recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert policy insight and advice, cutting across NCUB’s interests in research, innovation and skills policy. This includes contributing to ongoing work with businesses and universities to identify barriers to collaboration and explore “what works” to encourage greater collaboration.
• Provide strategic leadership to NCUB’s policy work, this includes working collaboratively with the team as well as NCUB’s wider stakeholders to identify, set and deliver against policy priorities and develop policy recommendations;
• Work with the team to build evidence to underpin policy, including identifying gaps in the evidence base and working with the Lead Analyst to design research in these areas
• Grow NCUB’s profile and reputation in policy, building NCUB’s network of influential stakeholders and experts, and engaging closely with NCUB’s membership network of senior business and university leaders
• Lead the development of high quality, evidence-based outputs, tailored to an audience of senior leaders and stakeholders
• Lead and manage a policy team to deliver NCUB’s policy work, developing high performing teams and managing resources effectively. 
• Identify and take ownership for identifying opportunities to disseminate and promote outputs through different communications channels and media, including giving presentations, producing press releases and blogs, and using social media. 
• Develop effective working relations with external stakeholders, including representing NCUB in policy and engagement meetings, providing feedback to colleagues to enhance organisational intelligence and enhancing NCUB’s impact and influence. 
• Take a proactive and developmental approach to line managing direct reports, including identifying and pushing development opportunities.  Make a positive and proactive contribution to the culture and ethos in the organisation by leading by example. 
• To undertake any other duties commensurate with the role. 

 
Key Skills and Experience required

• Demonstrable background in policy analysis within the public, private or non-profit sector.
• Strong understanding of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Ability to gather and disseminate complex data and present findings in an accessible manner to a non-technical audience.
• Experience in working in labour markets, science, research and innovation policy.

To apply
Please contact Josh Gray at joshua@ellwoodatfield.com . Please send your CV by 12:00 Friday 10th May.

Ellwood Atfield is the leading headhunter for corporate affairs, communications, policy, and advocacy. An employee-owned boutique search firm, we help you hire the most senior leaders and everyone who reports to them. We promise to connect talented people, smoothly and efficiently. 

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