Policy Manager

We are looking for a Policy Manager to lead on a wide range of policy-related work. The Policy Manager will play an active part in the team, providing policy advice both internally and externally as required.

Main duties of the job

This role will involve managing policy projects and working with a range of stakeholders, including professionals and governmental. This post reports to the Head of Policy (job share role) on the Regulatory Policy side of the team.

A key part of this role may also include leading on aspects of the HFEA's high-profile work including looking at future legislative changes. The Policy Manager will be expected to provide detailed and accurate policy advice, working at pace and collaborating with senior leadership to deliver high-quality work to meet tight deadlines.

About us

The HFEA is the UK's independent regulator overseeing safe and appropriate practice in infertility treatment and embryo research. We license and monitor clinics carrying out IVF, donor insemination, and human embryo research.

This post is offered as either office based (in which case you will need to attend the office at least one day per week) or home based (in which case office attendance will be specified by your line manager based on business need). Our office is in Stratford, east London, in attractive new premises on the edge of the Olympic Park, alongside several other health Arms Length Bodies. In addition to flexibility and hybrid working, we offer generous annual leave and pension arrangements.

The HFEA is a member of the Community Race and Work Charter and the Disability Confident Charter. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and supportive working environment that is free from any form of discrimination. We recognise that there are real benefits of having a diverse community of staff and aim for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society. Additionally, we adopt a culture that hopes to attract and retain talented individuals that want to work with us.

In November 2024, the HFEA was awarded People Insight's Outstanding Workplace Award 2024.

Job responsibilities

To play an active part in the HFEA's Policy Team, based in the Regulatory Policy side of the team, by leading on policy-related work and providing policy advice both internally and externally as required. This role will involve managing complex policy reviews. A key part of this role may also include leading on aspects of the HFEA's high-profile work including looking at future legislative changes. The Policy Manager will be expected to provide detailed and accurate policy advice, working at pace and collaborating with senior leadership to deliver high-quality work to meet tight deadlines.

Key responsibilities

1. Initiate and project manage policy projects and reviews, taking them from scoping and planning to making policy recommendations to the Authority. This role may involve leading on aspects of the HFEA's ongoing work looking at future legislative changes. For example, it may involve supporting public affairs activities or public policy-related work as required.
2. Provide policy support and detailed briefing on policy matters to the Chair, Authority members, and senior management.
3. Represent the Authority at conferences, seminars, and external working groups, presenting as required.
4. Provide secretariat support to Committees, working groups, or stakeholder groups as required.
5. Provide guidance and information, both internally and externally, on matters of Authority policy, seeking legal advice as necessary.
6. Support HFEA's communications function including drafting briefings, articles, and speech writing, as required.
7. Reply to often complex enquiries from patients, professionals, and the public and draft answers to Parliamentary Questions or Freedom of Information Requests (FOIs) concerning Authority policy.

Person Specification

• Strong time management skills and an ability to use initiative to prioritise workload.
• Excellent organisational skills and record keeping, using appropriate software and systems skilfully.
• An ability to remain calm under pressure and to be resilient.
• An ability to work at pace, producing detailed and accurate work to a high level whilst meeting tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• Education to at least degree level or equivalent.
• A degree or equivalent experience in a legal, ethical, social scientific or biological science or clinical subject.

Experience

• Experience or involvement in policy, patient care and safety or inspection work, preferably in a regulatory context.
• Experience of working with legislation.
• Experience of producing evidence-based guidance.
• Experience of building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, including professional and governmental.
• Experience of carrying out literature searches and reviewing legal, ethical, or scientific papers.
• Experience of implementing or evaluating policy or legislation.
• Experience of working closely with senior staff and boards.
• Experience of working with committees.
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary groups.
• Knowledge or academic experience in ethics, law, the social sciences, or biomedical science.
• Proven project management and analytical skills.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to understand complicated legal, ethical, and scientific issues in health care and articulate that in detailed written briefings.