Main Purpose of the Job

The post holder will report to the Head of Communications and will be responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of policy advocacy work. The Policy and Public Affairs Manager has a key role in ensuring the institute’s work, impact, and strategic priorities are effectively represented to policymakers, funders, government departments, and external partners.

The role combines policy insight with stakeholder engagement to shape the research and innovation landscape, champion the institute’s scientific and societal contributions, and support long term funding and regulatory sustainability.

Key Relationships

This role is at the interface between research and policy stakeholders. External relationships will include policy makers (including politicians and civil servants), collaborators and funders.
Internally, the post-holder will work closely with a broad range of scientists, with the senior management team, and with communication and knowledge exchange professionals.
Partnership work across the Norwich Research Park with NRP members, where appropriate, will also be central to this role.



 

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Policy Analysis & Development
• Monitor UK policy developments across Westminster, devolved administrations, UKRI, and international research bodies
• Analyse government strategies, public funding frameworks, and regulatory changes impacting the institute’s disciplines
• Produce evidence‑based reports, policy briefs, horizon scanners, and consultation responses reflecting the institute’s research expertise and societal impact
•Work with researchers to translate complex scientific findings into accessible policy recommendations

Public Affairs
•Build and maintain relationships with government officials, parliamentarians, funders, NGOs, learned societies, industry partners, and policy networks
•Lead advocacy strategies to shape policy agendas relevant to the institute (e.g. research funding priorities, public health policy, ethical frameworks, regulatory reforms, science and innovation policy)
•Represent the institute at external meetings, parliamentary events, roundtables, advisory groups, and consortiums
•Manage briefings and engagement materials for senior scientists and the leadership team

Strategic Communication and Impact
• Work with communication team to promote the societal and economic impact of the institute’s research to policymakers and public audiences
• Produce policy‑focused content such as impact case studies, position statements, and contributions to government consultations
• Support long‑term research impact goals by helping researchers identify policy windows and engagement opportunities
• Provide rapid reactive commentary on policy announcements relevant to the institute’s field

Internal Collaboration
• Collaborate with research leads, knowledge exchange and communication teams, and senior management to align policy messaging with institutional strategy
• Provide training and guidance to researchers on policy engagement, evidence communication, and best practice in government-facing work
• Support the development of bids, proposals, and strategic research initiatives by providing policy context and stakeholder intelligence

As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role.

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Undergraduate Degree

Essential

A degree in a relevant science area

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Proven experience in policy, public affairs, or government relations, ideally within the research, higher education, or not for profit sectors

Essential

Broad scientific awareness across subjects and disciplines relevant to the work of the Quadram Institute

Essential

An understanding of the research environment

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Experience of writing policy reports or briefings

Essential

Excellent planning and organisational skills with demonstrated ability to effectively manage competing priorities/deadlines

Essential

Experience of successfully engaging with the UK government and its agencies

Essential

Experience of working on the science/policy interface

Desirable

Experience of working with communication teams to achieve strategic policy outcomes

Desirable

Experience of working with researchers to draw up policy positions

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and influence at all levels

Essential

Excellent planning and organisational skills with demonstrated ability to effectively manage competing priorities/deadlines

Essential

Experience of engaging with complex scientific content and communicating it effectively for non-scientific audiences

Essential

Experience of effectively managing multiple stakeholder interfaces, successfully building relationships

Essential

Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well as part of a team

Essential

Ability to interpret complex academic or technical information and communicate it clearly to non-specialist audiences

Essential

Analytical, strategic thinker with excellent organisational skills

Essential

Experience of working collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels including with senior leadership team

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

This is an outward-facing post and may involve travel within the UK to engage with stakeholders

Essential

Quadram Institute Bioscience

The Quadram Institute is at the forefront of a new interface between food science, gut biology and health, developing solutions to worldwide challenges in food-related disease and human health.

We are engaged in fundamental and translational food and health research, alongside clinical studies, endoscopy and industry, working together to become a leading international hub for food and health research, combining scientific excellence and clinical expertise, delivering impacts on patient care and accelerating innovation.

The Quadram Institute is a diverse and multicultural scientific community. We thrive on our international and European links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

For more information about working at Quadram Institute Bioscience, please click here.

Department

Communications

Group Details

The post holder will report to the Head of Communications and will be responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of policy advocacy work. The Policy and Public Affairs Manager has a key role in ensuring the institute’s work, impact, and strategic priorities are effectively represented to policymakers, funders, government departments, and external partners.

The role combines policy insight with stakeholder engagement to shape the research and innovation landscape, champion the institute’s scientific and societal contributions, and support long‑term funding and regulatory sustainability.
 

Living in Norfolk

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Policy and Public Affairs Manager

Applications are invited for a Policy and Public Affairs Manager to join the Communications team at the Quadram Institute, based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager will have a critical role in ensuring the impact of the Institute’s work on food, nutrition and human health, is effectively represented to policymakers, funders, government departments, and our external partners.

The role:

The post holder will report to the Head of Communications and will be responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of policy advocacy work.

The role combines policy insight with stakeholder engagement to shape the research and innovation landscape, champion the institute’s societal impact and scientific contributions, and influence long‑term regulatory and funding sustainability.

The ideal candidate:

The successful candidate will have proven experience in policy, public affairs, or government relations, ideally within the research, higher education, or not for profit sectors and broad scientific awareness across subjects and disciplines relevant to the work of the Quadram Institute. Experience of writing policy reports or briefings and experience of successfully engaging with the UK government and its agencies are essential.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £45,450 to £56,750 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for an indefinite period.

Interviews will be held on Friday 5 June 2026.

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The institute values of People-Centred Impact, Inclusive Excellence, Trusted Integrity, Collaborative Spirit and Agile Innovation are at the heart of all we do, and we expect all employees to share and display these values. To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

About the Quadram Institute:

The Quadram Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Our vision is Healthy living by design: promoting lifelong health by decoding the interactions between food science, nutrition, microbes, microbiomes and human physiology, and transforming this knowledge into innovative solutions for society.

A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, The Quadram Institute brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute. (https://quadram.ac.uk/).

The closing date for applications will be Friday 22 May 2026.

The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.