Policy Research Manager

University of Leeds; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based university is seeking a Policy Research Manager to lead the development of the Area of Research Interest (ARI) in West Yorkshire. The role involves collaborating with regional partners to shape effective public policy and innovations for community well-being. Ideal candidates will have strong research expertise and communications skills. This hybrid role offers competitive benefits, including 42 days of holiday.

Benefits

42 days of holiday

Generous pension scheme

Discounted gym membership

Access to professional development courses

On-site childcare and shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in developing public policy and research programmes.
• Familiarity with regional collaborations and networks.
• Strong interpersonal skills for partnership engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of Area of Research Interest (ARI) for effective public policy.
• Support collaborations with regional networks to innovate and improve community well-being.

Skills

Communications

Research expertise

Partnership building

Job description

Overview

This role will be based on the university campus with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Are you an ambitious person who wants to help translate world-leading research into policy impact? Do you have a passion for working in partnerships and for designing evidence-informed solutions to address pressing real-world challenges? Do you want to help further strengthen the connections and relationships between academic research and policymaking in West Yorkshire?

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (The Combined Authority) Higher Education (HE) Compact with the region\u2019s universities was endorsed by the West Yorkshire Mayor and Vice Chancellors in April 2025. The Compact will be launched formally in October 2025. Recognising the crucial role universities play in driving growth through a range of assets, activities and expertise, the Compact represents a commitment between the Combined Authority and the region\u2019s HEIs to work together to deliver the ambitions of the West Yorkshire Local Growth Plan (LGP) by stimulating inclusive economic growth, driving innovation, and enhancing social and environmental well-being. Yorkshire Universities (YU) will be a signatory to the Compact, and it will play a key convening and representative role to support the collective engagement of the region\u2019s HE sector to deliver the objectives of this new and exciting step-change in collaboration with WYCA.

One of the objectives of the Compact, aligned to the LGP, and informed by national drivers and frameworks, such as the Industrial Strategy, is to develop evidence-informed policies and interventions that address the region\u2019s biggest and most complex challenges and reflect the needs and priorities of communities, businesses and places in West Yorkshire. The region\u2019s universities will deliver a major contribution to the Combined Authority\u2019s process of identifying research and data priorities to inform policies and strategies. Collaborations, including with regional networks such as the Yorkshire & Humber Policy & Research Engagement Network (Y-PERN), the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP) and the West Yorkshire Science Advisory Group (WYSAG), and others, will support the development of new ideas, innovations and shared civic missions designed to improve productivity, health and wellbeing, sustainability, and inclusion within and across the region., policy knowledge needs and is enabling wider and deeper engagement between the HE sector and policy partners.

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

Against the background of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill progressing through Parliament, which will strengthen the devolution of powers to places, YU is seeking a dynamic Policy Research Manager to lead the development of West Yorkshire-specific Area of Research Interest (ARI) and associated research programme to help shape and inform effective public policy and its implementation in West Yorkshire. ARIs were first introduced by the UK Government after the Nurse review of the UK Research Councils in 2015. They are strategic statements of policy priorities that guide and align academic research with pressing real-world challenges. Since 2022, the University of Leeds (UoL), in partnership with Leeds City Council (LCC), has been trialling this approach to help activate the research power in the city to address pressing policy questions. The approach is helping researchers to direct their research expertise towards addressing critical

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of West Yorkshire-specific Area of Research Interest (ARI) and associated research programme to help shape and inform effective public policy and its implementation in West Yorkshire.
• Support collaborations with regional networks (Y-PERN, YPIP, WYSAG) and others to develop new ideas, innovations and shared civic missions designed to improve productivity, health and wellbeing, sustainability, and inclusion within and across the region.

Benefits

• 26 days holiday plus 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) - That\u2019s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance.
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.
• And much more!