Senior Manager, Policy and Engagement

Charity People; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

British Pharmacological Society is seeking a Senior Manager, Policy and Engagement to provide senior leadership for policy, engagement and communications across the organisation. The role partners with the Director of Scientific Programmes to shape priorities and influence external voices.

You will co-lead the communications function, develop policy priorities, build stakeholder relationships and lead teams to deliver impactful engagement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline, or equivalent senior professional experience.
• Significant experience of developing and delivering policy, stakeholder engagement, membership or community strategies.
• Experience of leading complex, cross-organisational work involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven experience of managing, motivating and developing staff.
• Experience of translating organisational strategy into clear plans, budgets, objectives and measures of success.
• Experience of building trusted relationships with members, volunteers, partners and senior stakeholders.
• Experience of supporting committees, boards, advisory groups or similar governance structures.
• Experience of developing evidence-based policy or advocacy outputs, such as consultation responses, position statements and briefings.
• Strong written communication skills, with experience of making complex information clear and accessible for different audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver integrated policy, membership and engagement plans aligned with the Society’s strategy.
• Turn strategic priorities into clear plans, budgets, team objectives and measures of success.
• Advise the Director, Senior Leadership Team, Trustees and committees on policy, membership and engagement.
• Lead the Society’s policy framework and produce evidence-based briefings, consultation responses and position statements.
• Build relationships with policymakers, learned societies, strategic partners and other influential stakeholders.
• Lead and support relevant committees and advisory groups, ensuring strong governance and effective delivery.
• Shape an inclusive engagement strategy that enables members and volunteers to connect, contribute and influence the Society’s work.
• Oversee engagement with industry, clinical and early-career communities, alongside the Ambassadors Scheme, grants and public engagement programmes.
• Lead membership development, using insight and feedback to improve recruitment, retention, progression and member value.
• Co‑lead the communications function with the Senior Digital Marketing and Communications Manager, ensuring clear, accessible and consistent messaging.
• Represent the Society externally and develop partnerships that strengthen its reach, influence and impact.
• Line‑manage and develop the Membership and Awards Manager and Community Engagement Officer, creating an inclusive, collaborative and high‑performing team.
• Manage team priorities, budgets, grants, suppliers and other resources, ensuring value for money and effective risk management.
• Contribute to cross‑organisational planning, improvement and leadership as a member of the senior management team.

Education

Degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline

Job description

Charity People is delighted to be partnering with British Pharmacological Society to recruit for a Senior Manager, Policy and Engagement.

A senior role within the organisation, the postholder will work closely with, and report to, the Director of Scientific Programmes, Policy and Partnerships, and will co‑lead the communications team and function at the organisation.

About British Pharmacological Society

The British Pharmacological Society is a global community of more than 5,000 scientists, clinicians, educators and policymakers, united by a mission to promote and advance pharmacology.

Through its research, publications, education, policy work and partnerships, the Society brings expert voices together, shapes debate and champions the vital contribution pharmacology makes to scientific progress, safer medicines and better health.

As it approaches its centenary, the Society is entering an ambitious new chapter focused on advancing its pharmacological priorities, growing and connecting its community, and strengthening its influence and impact.

Senior Manager, Policy and Engagement

Contract: permanent, full time position with part time working (four days per week) also considered

Salary: £54,589 to £59,651 per annum

Location: Hybrid role between home and BPS London office which is centrally based between Old Street and Angel stations, with a minimum of one day per week in office. The office is fully wheelchair accessible.

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 23rd November

Interviews: First round interviews will be held remotely on the 3rd and 4th December, with second round interviews held in person on the 14th and 15th December. Travel to in person interview will be reimbursed.

The postholder will provide senior leadership for the Society’s policy, engagement and communications portfolio, ensuring that members, volunteers, and other key stakeholders are effectively engaged in shaping and advancing the Society’s objectives.

You will develop and communicate policy and engagement priorities, lead teams, and Committee relationships, strengthen the member experience and ensure that the expertise of the pharmacology community informs the Society’s influence and external voice.

Core responsibilities within your role will be to:

• Develop and deliver integrated policy, membership and engagement plans aligned with the Society’s strategy.
• Turn strategic priorities into clear plans, budgets, team objectives and measures of success.
• Advise the Director, Senior Leadership Team, Trustees and committees on policy, membership and engagement.
• Lead the Society’s policy framework and produce evidence-based briefings, consultation responses and position statements.
• Build relationships with policymakers, learned societies, strategic partners and other influential stakeholders.
• Lead and support relevant committees and advisory groups, ensuring strong governance and effective delivery.
• Shape an inclusive engagement strategy that enables members and volunteers to connect, contribute and influence the Society’s work.
• Oversee engagement with industry, clinical and early-career communities, alongside the Ambassadors Scheme, grants and public engagement programmes.
• Lead membership development, using insight and feedback to improve recruitment, retention, progression and member value.
• Co‑lead the communications function with the Senior Digital Marketing and Communications Manager, ensuring clear, accessible and consistent messaging.
• Represent the Society externally and develop partnerships that strengthen its reach, influence and impact.
• Line‑manage and develop the Membership and Awards Manager and Community Engagement Officer, creating an inclusive, collaborative and high‑performing team.
• Manage team priorities, budgets, grants, suppliers and other resources, ensuring value for money and effective risk management.
• Contribute to cross‑organisational planning, improvement and leadership as a member of the senior management team.

Key experience and skills we’re looking for is as follows:

• Degree‑level qualification in a relevant discipline, or equivalent senior professional experience.
• Significant experience of developing and delivering policy, stakeholder engagement, membership or community strategies.
• Experience of leading complex, cross‑organisational work involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven experience of managing, motivating and developing staff.
• Experience of translating organisational strategy into clear plans, budgets, objectives and measures of success.
• Experience of building trusted relationships with members, volunteers, partners and senior stakeholders.
• Experience of supporting committees, boards, advisory groups or similar governance structures.
• Experience of developing evidence‑based policy or advocacy outputs, such as consultation responses, position statements and briefings.
• Experience of improving member or community engagement, participation, retention or growth.li>
• Strong written communication skills, with experience of making complex information clear and accessible for different audiences.

Experience of working in a membership body, charity, learned society or scientific organisation, alongside an understanding of the biosciences, pharmacology, health or life sciences environment is desirable but not essential.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so we can help make the application process work for you.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

We want to encourage applicants with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. In particular, those with lived experience of racial inequity, disability, or poverty.