The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking a Policy Assistant to join our Policy Directorate, providing key support in the delivery of research, engagement, and administrative activities across the Policy Directorate, with a particular focus on the Public Policy team.

ROLE PURPOSE / OVERVIEW

The Academy’s Policy Directorate is comprised of the Public Policy Team and the Higher Education and Skills Team. The Directorate aims to raise the profile and demonstrate the value of the humanities and social sciences, giving voice to Fellows and wider research in our disciplines, by maximising opportunities to contribute to and inform the public policy process and higher education and research ecosystem. The Public Policy Team’s work programme consists of a mixture of proactive public policy projects and more responsive policy work and is currently focused on four policy themes: social and cultural infrastructure; digital societies; sustainability for people and planet; and governance, trust, and voice.

The Policy Assistant is a role designed to provide effective and efficient support across the Policy Directorate, including working closely with the Policy Director. The purpose of the role is to provide administrative and research support for the Policy Directorate, with a particular focus on the Public Policy team.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Public Policy team, in a varied role that cuts across the Public Policy team’s four themes and includes a range of responsibilities, including assisting with the production and management of policy team events, logistical and administrative support for policy activities, coordinating team diaries, assisting with policy projects and research activities, and helping to implement a new relationship management tool (based on Salesforce). The candidate will also work in coordination with the policy assistant in the Higher Education Policy team to support the Policy Director in managing her activities, meetings, calendar, and inbox, anticipating needs, and assisting in strategic forward-planning as needed.

The role will include opportunities to work across a range of British Academy policy projects and this makes it an ideal role for those looking to build up more experience in evidence-based policy work. You will be involved in a range of activities, including both large and small projects, engagement activities, policy seminars, debates, and other public events.

OFFICE LOCATION - 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, St James Park, London, SW1Y 5AH

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Support for the Policy Directorate

• Be responsible for the administration and management of the Policy Directorate activities and meetings including coordinating dates for internal and external meetings, managing room bookings and catering, maintaining the Directorate’s activities within the forward planning grid, and supporting logistics for travel if required.

• Support the smooth running of policy activities, including liaising with external attendees and supporting their travel logistics as needed, managing registrations and attendee lists, and supporting in any post-event follow up activities.

• Take on other duties as may be reasonably required by the Policy Directorate teams, including opportunities for contributing to policy reports and research activities such as assisting with desk research, literature reviews, compilation of data and evidence, and so on, particularly within the Public Policy team.

• Support improvements to Policy teams’ relationship management by assisting with the migration to and implementation of a new relationship management tool (based on Salesforce). Then, on an ongoing basis, proactively enhancing the existing data and supporting better use of the system to benefit the team.

Support for the Policy Director

• In coordination with the Policy Assistant working with the Higher Education Policy team, help manage the diary of the Director, including coordinating and organising meetings (including room booking and catering), arranging travel, acting as the point of contact and handling requests.

• Assist with the prioritisation of tasks, including anticipating the needs of the Director, e.g., reminding the Director of important tasks and deadlines and chasing others on behalf of the Director.

• Provide general administrative support as might be required, including assisting in the preparation of documents and papers, liaising, and assisting in communication with staff and external contacts at all levels, maintaining files and keeping accurate records and updating the relationships management system with any key information from engagements.

• Meet and greet visitors at all levels of seniority.

 Support for administrative processes in the Directorate and across the Academy

• Periodically, with the support of Team Heads, to review teams’ administrative and planning processes and take steps proactively to address any weaknesses or introduce better systems, including making better use of existing SharePoint, Office 365, and other digital tools.

• Where appropriate, to provide support for Academy activities including papers for committees, and producing draft minutes as requested from time to time.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Internal

• The role requires close collaboration with colleagues in the Public Policy team, as well as in higher education policy, press and public affairs, research funding and international.

• The role requires working with the Director of Policy, including assisting with diary management and administrative support.

External

External stakeholders range from senior leaders to those working on the ground, with each relationship being important. They fall into three main groups:

• Policymakers (politicians, officials, regulators, local authorities)

• Practitioners from all sectors – business, civil society, and the public sector

• Academics, researchers, and experts, including British Academy Fellows, funded researchers, early career researchers, and the other national academies.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

An effective communicator who treats all colleagues fairly and equally, with openness, empathy and respect:

• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and the ability to form and build and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Inclusive and values-driven (see ‘British Academy Workplace Values’).

• Positive attitude to challenges and co-operation with colleagues.

• Excellent ability to communicate diplomatically and sensitively as situations require and to handle confidential information.

• A professional and confident approach when dealing with a variety of people.

• Willing to work flexibly within changing priorities.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Demonstrates and develops appropriate knowledge and skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills – including minute writing, communicating with important stakeholders, producing clear and concise summaries and briefings, writing in an analytically rigorous and engaging style for policy audiences.

• Exceptional organisational skills, including diary management, and an ability to manage a varied portfolio and organise impactful events.

• A good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and the capability to learn new IT skills and apply IT to solve problems and deliver work more effectively.

• Knowledge or experience of Salesforce is not required but would be an asset.

• Demonstrable interest in relevant areas of research and salient public policy issues, as well as policy research methods suitable for our programmes.

• Confidence to learn from mistakes, seek and accept feedback and continuously improve.

• A strong desire to develop new skills and knowledge and apply them to strengthen our work.

• Ability to work effectively with committees and working groups.

PROACTIVITY AND PLANNING

Manages time and resources effectively in order to achieve own and organisational objectives:

• Manages time and resources effectively in order to achieve own and organisational objectives

• Has the ability to prioritise and make informed judgements about allocation of time to different tasks, and work under pressure and to tight deadlines

• Comfortable with a mixture of independent, self-directed, and collaborative teamwork

PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING

Ensures good decisions are made through a rational and methodical approach:

• Can make clear and reasoned decisions under pressure and adapt to changing needs and priorities, to meet key deadlines.

• Can take on a varied set of responsibilities and flexible to support on all parts of project/programme delivery.

• Demonstrates creative, curious, analytical, and innovative thinking, particularly in relation to policy development.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Willing to travel occasionally within the UK on British Academy business

• Able to be flexible about working hours on occasions

BRITISH ACADEMY WORKPLACE VALUES

The Academy’s workplace values and supporting text are set out below. We share these core values with each other. They guide how we work together and with others. We demonstrate them through our behaviours.

COLLABORATION- We consistently work together to a common purpose, supporting each other, communicating openly and sharing knowledge. We are flexible and adaptable, receiving feedback constructively

CREATIVITY - We bring imagination and curiosity to our work, valuing learning, diverse thinking, and innovation. We are open-minded, receptive, and responsive, taking account of alternative perspectives

EMPATHY-We are understanding, sensitive, compassionate, and considerate, mindful of our own wellbeing alongside that of others

EXCELLENCE - We always do our best, without striving to be perfect, applying our expertise and experience to develop and grow

INTEGRITY - We are open and honest with each other, accepting personal responsibility and demonstrating loyalty. We are reliable and dependable, having belief that we will be transparent and clear

RESILIENCE - We are confident, bold, and tenacious, knowing when to listen as well as when to speak up. We respond positively to challenges and overcome problems

RESPECT - We are inclusive in our regard for each other, showing courtesy and appreciation. We treat people fairly and equally, welcoming everyone’s contribution and difference

APPLICATION PROCESS

We have a two-step approach to hiring, beginning with submitting an application through the Applied platform. This will be followed by a panel interview, which may incorporate a task component.

Please note that you may be asked to reference any literature that you may refer to, as applications that are highly plagiarised and not your own work. e.g. ChatGPT, will be declined.

Interviews for this role are currently scheduled for 8 / 9 January 2024 but this may be subject to change.