Senior Public Affairs Manager

The Royal Society; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Society is seeking a Senior Public Affairs Manager to join the Public Affairs team in London. Working with the Head of Public Affairs, you will shape policy communications, develop strategies, and engage decision-makers to raise the Society's profile and influence.

You will lead projects, manage the Public Affairs Manager and Coordinator, coordinate content for political channels, and prepare briefings and responses.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent.
• 3–5 years' experience in policy, parliament or public affairs.
• Good understanding of the workings of the UK Parliament and government, including legislative process, select committees and Whitehall policymaking.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills, including drafting briefings and consultation responses.
• A proven interest in science, innovation, technology and education policy issues and how they fit the political/economic landscape.
• Politically astute.
• Effective interaction with people at all levels of seniority and ability to liaise with colleagues and external contacts.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Public Affairs to implement the Society's public affairs strategy for maximum exposure and influence among policy makers and influencers.
• Identify opportunities and develop strategies to communicate priority messages to decision-makers.
• Lead and deliver projects and long-term influencing programmes, including events, networks and evidence base expansion.
• Coordinate responses and tailored briefings to emerging opportunities and consultations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key political contacts and represent the Society in meetings and correspondence.
• Advise senior staff on public affairs aspects of their work and oversee the Public Affairs team.
• Coordinate tailored content for political channels (blog, social media) to communicate activity.
• Produce an annual report evaluating the quality and impact of public affairs activity.

Skills

Degree in a relevant field

Policy, parliament or public affairs

UK Parliament/government understanding

Exceptional written and spoken English

Interest in science/innovation/educ

Politically astute

People management experience

Education

Degree standard or equivalent

Job description

The Royal Society's mission is to recognise, promote and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science and scientific research for the benefit of humanity. To deliver this, the Society must engage effectively with decision makers. The Senior Public Affairs Manager works with the Head of Public Affairs and teams across the Society to deliver a programme of public affairs work to increase our influence on policy making.

They will work with the Head of Public Affairs to develop and implement strategies to effectively communicate the Society's priorities to decision-makers and shape the Society's engagement with key political events and discussions. This includes devising and delivering proactive public affairs programmes and liaising with policy colleagues from the outset of policy projects to amplify the Society's priority messages effectively, and ensure that the team is prepared to respond quickly to emerging issues.

Reports to: Head of Public Affairs
Line manages: Public Affairs Manager, Public Affairs Coordinator

Pay band: E
Salary: £50,000- £56,000 pa
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Carlton House Terrace, London
Hours: 35 hours per week, able to be flexible and work outside standard office hours as required
Closing date for applications: 9 November 2026
Interviews will be held: WC 23 November 2026

Key responsibilities and tasks

Support the Head of Public Affairs to implement the Society's public affairs strategy to ensure maximum exposure and influence for the value of scientific research and scientific evidence, to a broad range of policy makers and influencers.
Work with the Head of Public Affairs and Society teams to identify opportunities and devise and implement public affairs strategies to communicate the Society's priority messages to decision-makers.
Lead and deliver projects and long-term influencing programmes to take forward the Society's priorities, including tailored events and activities, establishing and maintaining networks, expanding the evidence base to ensure that the Society's advice is underpinned by robust qualitative and quantitative analysis, and producing materials for publication.
Support the Head of Public Affairs to respond to emerging opportunities to communicate the Society's established positions and key messages, including coordinating, drafting and editing consultation responses and tailored briefings where appropriate.
Work with the Head of Public Affairs to identify key political contacts, develop and implement activity to build and maintain relationships, represent the Society in meetings and correspondence where appropriate, and maintain an accurate database of engagement.
Work with the Head of Public Affairs and Director of Policy to advise the President and Officers of the Society, internal teams, committees and other fellows of the Society on public affairs aspects of their work.
Oversee the work of the Public Affairs Manager and the Public Affairs Coordinator.
Work with the Public Affairs team and other Society teams to coordinate tailored content to communicate the Society's activity with political decision-makers through the Society's public channels - including the Society's blog and social media.
Produce an annual report evaluating the quality and impact of the Society's public affairs activity.
Build personal contacts with Parliamentarians, government and other policy makers and opinion formers.
Carry out duties as directed by the Policy Director, Officers, Executive Director and other senior staff.

Key knowledge and skills required

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent
• At least three to five years' experience of working in policy, parliament or public affairs
• A good understanding of the workings of the UK Parliament and government, including legislative process, select committees and Whitehall policymaking.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills, including experience of drafting briefings, select committee and consultation responses
• A proven interest in science, innovation, technology and education policy issues and how they fit into the political and economic landscape
• Politically astute
• AEffective interaction with people at all levels of seniority and ability to liaise with colleagues and external contacts at the highest level
• Experienced people manager

Desirable

• Knowledge of the scientific research system and structuresGood qualitative and quantitative analysis skills
• Experience working within a public affairs agency, charity, trade association, Parliament or the civil service
• Track record of designing and running effective public affairs campaigns which achieve tangible policy change
• Experience of convening sector policy forums

Competencies

Self-management

• Identifies difficult situations
• Recognises stress in others and takes steps to reduce it
• Controls pressurised situations
• Effectively enthuses those in the team
• Proactively sets goals and targets for own work

Working With Others

• Actively seeks ideas and criticisms from within the team
• Resolves conflicts within and between teams
• Embeds feedback processes within the team
• Seeks out new networks that will create opportunity for the Society
• Able to present complex issues simply
• Uses discretion, tact and empathy when negotiating with and/or seeking to influence others
• Understands the need to manage expectations and to only promise what is deliverable

Resource management

• Determines strategy and deployment of resources, balancing cost and benefit; risk and potential for maximum impact across significant business areas
• Manages complex cross-cutting projects to time, budget and specification
• Ensures others accept responsibility towards results or quality
• Sets the quality standards for own business areas in accordance with strategy and contributes to the formulation of quality standards across the Society
• Sets and monitors priorities
• Identifies and manages risk effectively

Critical thinking

• Uses questioning, analytical and probing skills to 'dig deeper'
• Knows when enough information has been obtained and adapts presentation of information to the needs of the audience
• Evaluates the benefits, practicalities and value for money of ideas and obtains feedback
• Makes sound decisions in a complex or ambiguous environment and is able to gain support and manage challenges confidently

Adaptability

• Actively seeks the input and opinions of others, often outside his/her section and accommodates and incorporates this thinking into any output.
• Actively seeks new challenges and projects; leads discussions surrounding new ideas, approaches and projects
• Anticipates need for innovation and seeks new ideas, approaches and solutions

Managing people and relationships

• Sets expectations of others and ensures they deliver
• Demonstrates a positive attitude towards work, celebrating success and instilling confidence, which encourages the same from others
• Encourages others to share ideas and participate in the discussion and decisions of the team
• Assesses needs of clients/stakeholders/staff and makes plans to meet these needs