Senior Policy Advisor, Climate and Sustainability

Senior Policy Advisor, Climate and Sustainability (Clean Power Advisory)

Salary £49,000 per annum

Location London

 

We have an exciting opportunity for an exceptional Senior Policy Advisor to lead high-impact policy advice on the delivery of energy system transformation.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is building on the National Engineering Policy Centre’s (NEPC) work on rapid electricity system decarbonisation to deliver ongoing advice to policymakers on the successful and secure delivery of electricity decarbonisation over coming years. This is an opportunity to work directly with leaders in the profession and key decision-makers within government and the sector to develop a suite of activities and policy advice that ensures the energy transition is informed by the best engineering input available.

An opportunity to build personal profile and to promote the engineering voice within policy delivery, this role will be instrumental in providing analysis on the progress of energy system transformation, the challenges to be addressed and opportunities to be realised. This work will make a key contribution to the successful delivery of secure, resilient and decarbonised electricity. The NEPC is a partnership across the UK’s 42 professional engineering organisations, led by the Academy, and this work taps into the unique range of expertise and experience across the partnership.

The skills we look for are:

Do you have experience working in a fast-paced programme or project team?
Do you have experience of mobilising technical expertise and insight in decision-maker influencing?
Do you have excellent writing skills with experience writing for a wide range of audiences?
Do you enjoy working with multiple stakeholders while keeping a keen eye on evidence quality and processes?
Would you bring specialist experience, either from the energy sector or in translating technical expertise and insight into policy influence?

Key responsibilities

Leadership and strategy

1. Build a programme of action to deploy engineering expertise to enable the rapid decarbonisation of the electricity system. Draw on insights from across and beyond the National Engineering Policy Centre, sister Academies and our extensive wider network. This includes identifying opportunities for international, national and local impact and influence for example in collaboration with our existing and emerging international partnerships in the area.

2. Provide visible leadership within the Engineering Policy team; help shape rapidly evolving ways of working to practically deliver on collaborative, agile, outputs that meet stakeholder and customer needs.

Programme management and oversight

3. Scope, shape and deliver a programme of work consistent with the Academy’s Theory of Impact. Develop a rapid response methodology including a regular drumbeat of outputs and announcements, as part of a spectrum of proactive and reactive policy approaches such as workshops, meetings, policy fellowships, consultation responses, reports, briefings and roundtables. Build partnerships which increase credibility and ensure a visible pipeline of rapid outputs, reports and events.

4. Work in partnership with Fellows, NEPC partners, Sister Academies and other professions, to build a body of technical expertise on whole system electricity decarbonisation and associated policy challenges such as largescale infrastructure procurement and delivery, skills and supply chain policies, digitalisation and infrastructure resilience. Ensure this technical understanding is tailored and communicated clearly to engage and influence different audiences.

External engagement

5. Work with colleagues to develop and deliver clear communications and public affairs strategies to ensure our work reaches and influences stakeholders, with a clear plan to deliver tangible, enduring and deep impact. Adopting a campaign/public affairs mindset, ensure a regular series of outputs and engagements to build the visibility and influence of the programme. This can include initiating and leading regional events, leading workshops, writing blogs, using social media, networking with partners and stakeholders including government, parliamentarians, industry and learned societies, and supporting other team members to do so.

 

6. Develop personal profile within and beyond the Academy and build and maintain an effective network of contacts, including with Academy Fellows and external stakeholders, to enable the effective development and delivery of policy advice and to increase our profile and impact in the area of energy and climate policy.

Line management

7. Line manages one Policy Officer in the team who will work in support of the same policy area. Work with the Head of Climate and Sustainability Policy in coaching and developing team members to enable them to deliver high quality outputs and develop their networks while providing an exciting, supportive and inclusive working environment that enables them to thrive. Encourage a culture of evaluation, reflection and continuous improvement.

Other

8. Display personal commitment to diversity and inclusion in your conduct and your team’s work, and to proactively build consideration of diversity into our work.

9. Support senior colleagues and team members in achieving other team and departmental objectives, deputising for the Head of Climate and Sustainability Policy as required. Support progress on the strategic direction for projects by acting as the Secretariat for expert working groups overseeing policy projects undertaken by the team.

Key results

• Significant impact on the delivery of clean power • Delivery of credible, high-quality, evidence-based advice in electricity system decarbonisation and adjacent areas of policy, and associated influencing activities that have a demonstrable impact and enhance the profile and reputations of the Academy and NEPC. • Strong working relationships with all key stakeholders including staff, Fellows, UK National Academies, government, industry and beneficiaries. • Increased visibility and impact of the Academy and NEPC’s work on decarbonisation, and climate and sustainability more broadly.

Essential 

Experience & qualifications

• A graduate in science, engineering, or other relevant subject or equivalent experience and training • Experience in a professional policy or equivalent role • Experience of evidence-based policymaking and communicating with impact • Experience of undertaking data analysis, synthesis and/or other research methods in policy • People management experience. • Budgetary management experience • Experience or background in science communication • Experience of working in a technical environment or with technical material

Knowledge

• Excellent knowledge and existing networks in the energy sector. • Strong understanding of parliamentary processes, policy development and the structures of government • Broad knowledge of the engineering and technology policy communities in the UK and internationally

Our location

Our light, spacious head office is based in a fantastic location in central London with views over St James’s Park and close to the West End. We operate hybrid, flexible working practices with a baseline for office based working of a mandatory weekly team day plus further days each week as required for the role and the Academy.

Generous holiday allowance plus additional quarterly wellbeing days and Christmas office closure

Non-contributory pension scheme with 10% employer contribution

Significant investment into your personal and professional development

Annual pay review

Health and wellbeing programmes

Regular social activities