Vacancies at the Science Council
Hours: Part-time (28 hours per week across 4 days at 7-hours per day; or another pattern agreed by management)
Salary: £59,000 - £63,000 pro rata for 0.8 FTE (i.e. £47,200 - £50,400 for 28 hours per week)
Location: Hybrid working at Science Council offices in London and working from home
The Science Council is seeking a Head of Engagement and Policy to lead a high performing and resilient engagement team. This team delivers engagement in its widest sense, spanning communications, media and digital; policy, influence and public affairs; events; engagement with current and potential member organisations, a diverse community of volunteers, employers and other key stakeholders. The team promotes and develops the Science Council’s excellent work around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Current major projects include: launching and supporting our new employer network; replacing our website; promoting and increasing professional registration. You will ensure that the team reviews, reflects and improves its work at every opportunity.
The Science Council connects the science professions to foster knowledge exchange and offer interdisciplinary recognition for scientists around the world. Our ambition is to see a diverse and growing science profession that is trusted, respected and equipped to deliver local, regional, national and global strategic priorities.
This role is hands-on, requiring strategic, organisational and practitioner skills. You will work in partnership with key stakeholder groups, deliver activity and impact in line with the Science Council Strategy 2025-2028. You will shape, lead, manage and develop the Engagement team such that high quality, cost effective and resilient engagement increases the profile, impact and revenue of the Science Council.
You will need excellent experience in successfully shaping and developing impactful engagement portfolios (e.g. policy, communications, events) and success in setting and achieving prioritised objectives for policy and/or other engagement. Your engagement and strategic communications will have been in the UK at national level.
You must be able to think strategically, provide strategic advice and demonstrate initiative and creativity. You will have your own engagement specialism and insight into other engagement specialisms, sufficient to be able to lead, manage, challenge, inspire and develop the team successfully and work effectively with engagement specialists in other organisations.
To apply, please follow the link to the online platform to download and review the full job description and person specification. Please apply with your CV (2-3 pages) and a personal statement (2-3 pages) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification (particularly list 1).
Closing date: Wednesday 23rd April 2025
Interviews: Wednesday 7th May in central London
The Science Council is committed to equal opportunities and values diversity in its workforce. We support flexible working and are open to considering job share arrangements. We are committed to developing our people.
No agencies please.
We are looking for five new trustees to join our Board and work collaboratively to support the Science Council to: strengthen the collective impact of the science community for public benefit; work effectively with our community of 35 member organisations (collective membership of over 320,000 scientists, technicians and educators); inspire and empower the science workforce to strive towards professional excellence. Our ambition is to see a diverse and growing science profession that is trusted, respected and is equipped to deliver national ambitions.
We are committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, and as such we welcome applicants of all backgrounds to represent the diverse population of people that we serve.
This year, we are particularly keen to recruit people with experience in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Talent Management.
You will be joining us at an exciting time, as we enter our new strategic period. Over the next three years, we will continue to focus on what we do best: upholding high professional standards, facilitating knowledge exchange, and strengthening connections across the science community and beyond. We are also looking to be more ambitious and widen our engagement with employers of scientists, and through our continued relationship with the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, continue to increase awareness of careers in science through our technical pathways project.
This is your opportunity to join the Board of an ambitious and well-run organisation and play a leading role in the shaping the future of the Science Council.
Being a trustee is an excellent way of developing skills, growing your network and learning about governance. Whatever your background and experience, Board membership will enable you to influence the future direction of the Science Council and have an impact across the scientific community and beyond.
Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the Science Council delivers on its charitable purposes and that it has the required governance and strategic direction to achieve its objectives. Trustees will be expected to use their expertise and experience to offer advice to the executive and provide oversight that ensures that the charity is resourced and administered appropriately.
Whether you are looking to take on your first trustee role or are an experienced trustee, if you have the time to commit to the role, we want to hear from you.
Read the recruitment pack to find out more about the opportunity.
Closing date: midnight Thursday 8th May
Work experience
The Science Council welcomes inquiries regarding work placements from students and other people who want to add to their skills and experience. If you would like to gain work experience with us, please contact us explaining what you hope to do and attaching your CV.