Location
Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6AD (Agile; approximately 2 days a week from our office)
Full Time
Published
Not Published
Closing
in X days
This is a Permanent, , Full Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.
The Vacancy
The Senior Policy Manager plays a vital leadership role in the team management and delivery of ARUK’s influencing strategy. The role oversees a highly engaged and high-performing policy team that brings Alzheimer’s Research UK’s influencing priorities to life.
Alzheimer’s Research UK is a leading voice on dementia and research, and this postholder will develop a credible and comprehensive policy base for the charity and maintain strong external stakeholder relationships activity with civil servants, researchers, clinicians and decision makers. They will co-ordinate a team covering policy across our whole portfolio: prevention and brain health, early detection and diagnosis, dementia research, access to new treatments and clinical engagement.
The Senior Policy Manager brings expertise in developing policy positions, producing compelling and influential policy publications and enabling the team to develop new thinking and solutions on dementia and dementia research. They will champion policy best practice, evaluation and innovation while embedding the right ways of working and process to support a flourishing policy function
The Senior Policy Manager reports into the Head of Policy and Public Affairs and works closely with colleagues across our Communications, and Information and Involvement teams to ensure that Alzheimer’s Research UK continues to be positioned as the go-to organisation on dementia and dementia research. The postholder will be experienced at managing people to achieve impact and working across multiple projects.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Oversee of the Policy team, line managing three Managers and a team of around eight people.
Manage the day-to-day budgeting and reforecasting process with an expenditure budget of circa £200,000, ensuring that the team operates cost effectively in meeting its objectives.
Provide a high level of expertise on dementia and dementia research across the organisation and externally, through leadership of the policy team
Develop, manage and deliver a substantial programme of high-quality policy analysis and proposals for change
Put in place the right processes and ways of working to consistently enable the highest quality of policy outputs that have significant external and media impact
Leadership of working groups to deliver the strategic and influencing priorities for ARUK
Representation of ARUK on external working groups, at events, and in the media.
Provide strong support to the Policy team, through coaching, mentoring and developing individuals to create a thriving policy function.
Facilitate team building and collaborative working to deliver the strategic and operational plans.
Policy development
Ensure the team is kept abreast of the policy environment, building and maintaining a deep understanding of current issues and trends and producing insight and analysis for the organisation.
Work with policy managers to develop and implement a structured programme of policy work that identifies the key factors that need to change in order to meet our strategic goals, , bringing new innovative policy ideas and solutions to make this happen
Identify policy areas in which ARUK is seeking greatest action and develop strategies to influence and effect positive change, ensuring a coherent narrative and strategy sitting across our various programmes of policy work.
Commission strategic research projects or commission analysis to further the aims of the organisation.
Responsible for working closely with the Information and Involvement team to ensure the involvement of people affected by dementia in the development of ARUK’s policy priorities and positions.
Overseeing the timely delivery of effective and credible policy outputs of the highest quality – including reports, briefings and discussion papers
Stakeholder relations and influencing
Support the development of the department’s influencing strategy and deliver policy work that provides a strong evidence base and clear recommendations for Alzheimer’s Research UK
Work across the organisation to develop good forward planning and stakeholder management processes and mechanisms that help us to manage and derive insights from key organisational relationships and maximise the impact of our influencing work.
Represent ARUK to a range of decision-makers and stakeholders; this will involve participating in public events, making presentations and acting as a media spokesperson.
Build relationships with civil servants, academics, dementia organisations, think tanks and other key stakeholders, establishing opportunities for partnership working and commissioning new insights
Work with the Senior Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager to develop a synergistic Public Affairs and Campaigns strategy that embeds and exploits our policy work
Work across Policy and Public Affairs department to ensure there is good co-ordination and communication of policy throughout the charity in order to foster a shared understanding of ARUK’s policies and issues.
Work closely with colleagues across the charity to ensure that ARUK’s external messaging and activities reflect our policy priorities and positions.
Undertake any other relevant duties and projects delegated by the Head of Policy and Public Affairs in line with the responsibilities of the post.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Proven experience in a policy role within a national organisation (public, private or voluntary sector), including working with policymakers on complex health or science issues.
Experience of developing or commissioning quantitative and qualitative evidence and analysis to shape policy,
Proven experience of working in partnership with stakeholders and people with lived experience to inform impactful outputs.
Strong policy influencing skills, with a track record of driving change through high-quality policy outputs, stakeholder engagement and thought leadership.
Excellent leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to motivate and manage teams, prioritising and deadlines effectively, including utilising a range of different management styles as appropriate.
Outstanding communication and influencing skills, experienced at communicating complex information in an impactful way and confident in engaging senior stakeholders, partners and the media.
A collaborative, proactive approach—able to identify opportunities, drive impact and work effectively across teams.
Sound judgement, accountability and a commitment to continuous improvement.
High levels of integrity, motivation and professionalism.
Flexibility to travel in the UK and internationally, including occasional work outside normal hours.
The closing date for applications is the 31st May 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.
The Company
The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country. Recently, the company has won multiple workplace environment awards and has an outstanding record of employee satisfaction.
The Benefits
Benefit 1
Benefit 2
Benefit 3
Benefit 4
The Values
Innovation
We are creative and fearless in our work.
Accountability
We take ownership of our work and lead from the front.
Teamwork
We collaborate widely and build supportive environments.
The Charity
Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.
There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.
The Benefits
It is important to offer a range of benefits which are designed to meet both the organisational and individual needs, are market competitive and designed to attract and retain employees.
For more details on working for Alzheimer's Research UK click here.
Holiday entitlement
Healthcare
Sick pay
Pension
Cycle to work scheme
Family friendly policies
Learning & development
Documents
Alzheimer's Research UK is a registered charity, numbers 1077089 and SC042474. 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6AD
You have already applied for this vacancy, please go to your account to see your progress.
Privacy Policy
Alzheimer's Research UKPrivacy Statement
The following explains how we Alzheimer's Research UK (Controllers) intend to use the information you provide in your application, along with your rights, our reasons for requesting it and who will have access to it.
As defined by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Alzheimer's Research UK is the Data Controller and ultimately responsible for ensuring the data you provide is kept secure, processed correctly and that you understand your legal rights in relation to the data you provide.
The recruitment software we use via this website is supplied by IRIS Software Group Limited and they are defined as a Data Processor under the GDPR. They will only process your data in accordance with our instructions.
IRIS can be contacted at: 4th Floor Heathrow Approach, 470 London Road, Slough, England, SL3 8QY
For Data Protection enquiries, please contact the Help Desk at support@networxrecruitment.com
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
All Application Data is stored in the UK and not transferred to any territories outside the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) and the UK.
We keep your Application Data in accordance with our internal retention policies and procedures. Typically, if you are unsuccessful in your job application with us (or if you reject the position), we will keep it for twelve months so that we may contact you again if another suitable position arises.
WHERE DOES ARUK STORE YOUR APPLICATION DATA?
HOW LONG WILL ARUK RETAIN YOUR APPLICATION DATA?
ARUK shares Application Data with authorised third party service providers in order to conduct and manage recruitment. For example, we may share your Application Data with these service providers in order to conduct screening and verification of your application and the information you have provided to us. This includes verifying academic and professional qualifications.
ARUK will only disclose your Application Data to third parties outside ARUK and its suppliers:
when required to do so by law in response to a legitimate request for assistance by the police or other law enforcement agency or to seek legal advice from ARUK’s external lawyers or in connection with litigation with a third party
ARUK restricts access to Application Data to people within ARUK who have a “need to know” business reason for accessing that information. For example, certain individuals within ARUK will have access to your Application Data in order to process your job application and manage the recruitment cycle.
Outside ARUK
Within ARUK
ARUK will only process your Application Data where we have a legal basis for doing so. We will be processing it to help us to decide whether to enter into a contract of employment with you. At other times, we will be processing your Application Data because you have consented to us doing so. In which case you can withdraw such consent at any point.
We may also process your Application Data to comply with our legal obligations or because it is in our legitimate business interests to do so (for example, where it is necessary to understand our applicants in sufficient detail so we can deliver an effective recruitment service).
TO WHOM IS YOUR APPLICATION DATA DISCLOSED?
Information about criminal convictions (if collected) or medical information will only be collected through official authorised sources and in accordance with applicable law.
We may verify the Application Data you provide during the recruitment process and/or collect personal data about you from sources to assist with our “Pre-Employment Checks”. If this occurs:
You will be told in advance which aspects of your Application Data will be verified including an explanation of how the Pre-Employment Checks will be carried out and
Improving our Application Process, for example to ensure that our careers website is user-friendly and contains appropriate and helpful information
The purposes for which we use your Application Data are:
Supporting and Processing your Job Application, for example, so we can assess your ability to meet the job specification, in order to shortlist applicants and to verify references and professional qualifications provided by those applicants
Personal data about criminal convictions or medical information will only be sought where required and permitted by applicable law e.g. to enable us to make reasonable adjustments for you to attend an interview or where the role will include working with children/ elderly people.
We will indicate where the information we have requested is mandatory or optional.
WHAT WILL ARUK DO WITH YOUR APPLICATION DATA?
information related to your use of our careers website, for example your IP address. This information may be collected using cookie technology. For more information about how ARUK uses cookies please see our Privacy Notice www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/privacy-notice/
information collected by ARUK as a result of the recruitment process, such as your performance at interview and information by your referees and right to work in the UK
information you provide in order to apply for a job vacancy with ARUK to tell us who you are and to build a picture of your capabilities and suitability for certain positions, such as your name, contact information, current company, information contained in your CV (e.g. professional qualifications, previous employment history, place of residence, current base salary and personal interests and experiences), information contained in your social media accounts or personal websites or accounts (e.g. LinkedIn or Twitter), information about the type of work and projects you have been involved with and any other information you may wish to provide to us
ARUK will only collect personal data in the recruitment process that is necessary to assess you for the position for which you applied. This may include the following categories:
information you provide in order to keep in touch with us about future job opportunities at ARUK, such as your name, email, LinkedIn profile, location, field of expertise and the kind of role you are interested in
This Notice explains how Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) handles personal data about our job applicants and the rights that applicants have under data protection law. In this Notice, we refer to this type of information as “Application Data”.
This Notice applies to applications submitted via our careers page on our website www.alzheimersresearchuk.org and third parties, such as recruitment agencies and job boards. It also applies to applications submitted via other means, such as by post and email.
“ARUK” means ARUK and its operating companies and business functions as existing from time to time.
WHY WE ASK FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION
EXERCISING YOUR RIGHTS
You may have the right to request access to, or rectification or erasure of the Application Data that ARUK holds about you. You may also have the right to restrict or object to certain types of processing of your Application Data.
If you notice an error in your application that you would like to correct, please contact us using the contact information in paragraph 8 below.
Any request to exercise one of these rights will be assessed by ARUK on a case by case basis. There may be circumstances where we are not legally required to comply with your request because of the laws in your jurisdiction or because of exemptions provided for in data protection legislation.
CONTACT US
Please contact us at hr@alzheimersresearchuk.org if you would like to find out more about any matters relating to this Notice.
If you have concerns about the way in which ARUK has handled your Application Data you should contact hr@alzheimersresearchuk.org. If you are still dissatisfied, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO); however, all complaints should be raised with ARUK in the first instance.
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