Policy Advisor

Alzheimer's Research UK; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Alzheimer's Research UK in Cambridge is seeking a Policy Advisor to join the Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Team on a permanent, full-time basis. The role focuses on ensuring dementia research benefits through influencing decision-makers, gathering evidence, and shaping policy across health technology appraisals and regulation.

You will work part- to full-time from our Cambridge office with about two days per week on site.

Qualifications

• Understanding of policy influencing approaches and processes.
• Analytical and evidence-based approach to problems.
• Ability to write professionally for diverse audiences.
• High accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data to identify key messages.
• Ability to manage a broad programme with multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain knowledge of policy landscape to position the charity as a thought leader.
• Identify and engage with relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate and manage policy team projects.
• Gather and synthesise evidence, including statistics and health policies.
• Produce outputs like briefing documents, literature reviews, reports, and presentations.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to shape project outputs.
• Use public involvement approaches to support insight development.
• Analyse data using quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Contribute to submissions to government bodies and UK/international organisations.
• Help develop influencing ideas to deliver policy objectives.
• Assist Public Affairs colleagues in relationships with political stakeholders.

Skills

Policy influence

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Project coordination

Data interpretation

Job description

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

This is a Permanent , , Full Time vacancy.

The Vacancy

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Policy Advisor to join our dynamic and well-respected Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Team.

We want to ensure people affected by dementia benefit from progress in research, by providing evidence and insights to influence decision-makers. This ranges from making the case to increase investment in dementia research, embedding the concept of brain health with key decision makers, supporting new ways to diagnose the diseases that cause dementia, through to preparing health systems to be ready for future dementia treatments.

We work closely with key stakeholders, including government and other decision makers, to shape policy on dementia prevention, research and access to future treatments.

At a historic time in the field, with the first drugs that tackle Alzheimer’s becoming available, this is a fantastic opportunity for the post-holder to develop specialist knowledge, working closely with the Policy Manager, and to contribute to significant projects that can change the future of dementia.

We are offering a permanent, full-time position with a focus on the dementia research environment and regulation, including health technology appraisals.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and maintain up to date and detailed knowledge of the policy landscape for a given policy area to position Alzheimer’s Research UK as a thought leader and enable us to effect positive change.
• Proactively identify and develop opportunities to engage with relevant stakeholders.
• Co-ordinate and manage assigned projects within the policy team.
• Gather and synthesise necessary evidence, including statistical information, health policies, and scientific outputs to develop insights, working with colleagues across the organisation as appropriate.
• Use insights to develop a range of outputs, such as scoping activities, briefing documents, literature reviews, reports, summaries and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders to help shape, deliver and influence the outputs of the projects, ensuring ongoing good communication with key stakeholders.
• Use public and patient involvement approaches to support insight development as appropriate.
• Analyse, interpret and present data using both quantitative and qualitative techniques as appropriate.
• Contribute to a range of submissions to government departments and their agencies, parliamentary committees, and other UK and international organisations as appropriate.
• Help develop and roll-out influencing and project ideas with key audiences that deliver against Alzheimer’s Research UK’s policy objectives.
• Support the work of Public Affairs colleagues to strengthen existing and emerging relationships with political and other parliamentary stakeholders. This will include helping to draft parliamentary questions, promoting tweets, sharing insight across and beyond the team.
• Undertake any other relevant duties and projects delegated by the Policy Manager in line with the responsibilities of the post.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Understanding of policy influencing approaches and processes.
• An analytical and evidence-based approach, with the ability to identify and solve a range of problems with minimal guidance.
• Ability to write professionally, with the skills to adapt communications for different audiences.
• Ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data to identify key messages.
• Ability to manage a broad programme of work with multiple projects and to balance competing priorities.
• Excellent and adaptable personal communication skills, with the ability to communicate and engage with people at all levels, in a range of face to face and online settings.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise a changing workload.
• Diplomacy and influencing skills.
• Experience of building constructive relationships with stakeholders across multiple organisations, especially within a health or research policy setting.
• A passionate, proactive and curious approach.
• Professional and hard-working team player.
• Demonstrates a strong ability to work effectively towards deadlines.
• Able to show initiative and adaptability in a complex and changing policy environment.

The closing date for applications is the 13th September 2026, with interviews being arrange 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 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 trialsthat 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.

Alzheimer's Research UK is a registered charity, numbers 1077089 and SC042474. 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6AD