Policy and Public Affairs Manager

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40 days holiday

Life assurance benefits

Family friendly entitlements

Health and wellbeing benefits

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in Glasgow seeks a Policy and Public Affairs Manager to shape advocacy and influencing work across the UK. You will develop a deep understanding of the College and ensure policy activity is evidence-based and person-centred, speaking up for 15,000 Fellows and Members across healthcare disciplines.

You will build strong relationships with government, parliamentarians and partners, lead strategic plans and provide expert briefings to internal

Qualifications

• A degree-level education (or comparable experience) in a relevant subject.
• A minimum of three years of proven experience in a policy or public affairs role(s).
• A strong understanding of health and healthcare.
• Demonstrable understanding of policy making structures and processes in Scotland and the UK.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, including a track record in the facilitation of discussions and delivering presentations.
• Ability to gather, analyse and use data to develop briefings, reports, communication and campaigns for different audiences.
• Strong organisational skills, including ability to manage multiple projects on tight deadlines.
• Ability to initiate and complete tasks with minimum supervision, seeking input from others as required.
• Ability to recognise sensitive subject matter and use language that is appropriate and fosters a supportive environment for the College’s audience.
• Reliable and willing to support a range of projects and tasks as required.
• Discretion, sensitivity and professionalism.
• Experience supporting a membership or partnership organisation.
• Membership of a professional body.

Responsibilities

• Shape the direction of our advocacy, research and influencing work across the UK.
• Develop an excellent understanding of the College and play a key role in ensuring policy work is evidence-based and person-centred.
• Build strong relationships with government, parliamentarians and partners across the healthcare sector.
• Champion our Fellows and Members and ensure policy and public affairs work is evidence-based and person-centred.
• This is a strategic and externally-facing role; advise colleagues and office bearers, shape and deliver plans, and build relationships internally and externally.

Skills

Policy knowledge

Public affairs

Stakeholder engagement

Health policy

Education

Degree-level education in relevant subject

Job description

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

5 October 2026

Ongoing

Welcome to the College community

Since being granted our Royal Charter in 1599, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow has been improving health and healthcare for people around the world.
Today, we are a professional membership body providing education, assessment and development to more than 15,000 Fellows and Members at all stages of their careers. We are a UK organisation with a global membership.
Our estate in the heart of Glasgow city centre includes modern conferencing and events facilities, a rich and extensive heritage collection with museum status, a library and our multi-award winning events offering, 1599 at the Royal College.
Our purpose is built around delivering:

• Excellent education and outstanding member experience
• New standards through assessment and gold standard qualifications
• Transformative impact on the health and wellbeing of the wider world

Our vision: To build an influential global community that enables our Members to develop the skills, knowledge and influence to improve healthcare standards worldwide.
Our mission: We want to enable our Members to achieve their full potential as healthcare professionals and give them an influential voice in the world.
Our values: The College is not a building or a tradition, but a global community. In all that we do, we’re committed to putting our people first: Fellows and Members, those undertaking our education and assessment, colleagues and partners.

For us, how we work is as important as what we do, and we aim to live by our values. They embody the essence of the College motto, conjurat amice, meaning ‘together in friendship’. It’s an approach that is as relevant today as it was 425 years ago.

• Community Working together to support one another to succeed; listening to and engaging with partners and people, locally, nationally and globally, to achieve our core purpose.
• Integrity Valuing and learning from our heritage and commitment to excellence; never compromising on our core purpose, our standards and the quality of delivery.
• Innovation Proactively challenging current thinking with a forward-looking agile approach that meets the changing needs of our members and all those who interact with us.
• Inspiration Leading by example through open dialogue, teamwork and engagement to maximise our potential and affect change.
• Inclusivity Demonstrating care, kindness, civility, generosity and mutual respect through the way we welcome, work and interact with people.

The role

We’re seeking a dynamic Policy and Public Affairs Manager to shape the direction of our advocacy, research and influencing work across the UK.

You will develop an excellent understanding of the College and play a key role in ensuring we are effective in influencing public policy. You will play a key part in speaking up for our 15,000 Fellows and Members: physicians, surgeons, dentists and specialists in podiatric medicine and travel medicine.

In this role, you will build strong relationships with government, parliamentarians and partners across the healthcare sector. You’ll champion our Fellows and Members and ensure our policy and public affairs work is evidence-based and person-centred.

This is a strategic and externally-facing role, ideal for candidates with strong political insight and a passion for influencing policy. You’ll be expected to bring ideas, advise colleagues and office bearers, shape and deliver plans, and build relationships internally and externally.

• A degree-level education (or comparable experience) in a relevant subject.
• A minimum of three years of proven experience in a policy or public affairs role(s).
• A strong understanding of health and healthcare.
• Demonstrable understanding of policy making structures and processes in Scotland and the UK.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, including a track record in the facilitation of discussions and delivering presentations.
• Ability to gather, analyse and use data to develop briefings, reports, communication and campaigns for different audiences.
• Strong organisational skills, including ability to manage multiple projects on tight deadlines.
• Ability to initiate and complete tasks with minimum supervision, seeking input from others as required.
• Ability to recognise sensitive subject matter and use language that is appropriate and fosters a supportive environment for the College’s audience.
• Reliable and willing to support a range of projects and tasks as required.
• Discretion, sensitivity and professionalism.
• Experience supporting a membership or partnership organisation.
• Membership of a professional body.

What you'll get

• 40 days holiday
• Life assurance benefits
• Family friendly entitlements
• Health and wellbeing benefits
• Cycle to work scheme

Documentation

Download the job description and EDI monitoring form below.

Successful candidates will have the requisite ability and experience to meet the specific requirements of the post.

The closing date is Monday 5 October at 10am.