Policy Academy Manager

Salary: £35,608 - £37,694  per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 09 November 2025

The Role

Newcastle University’s Policy Academy catalyses the impact of our research, supporting academics, professional staff and postgraduates from different disciplines to engage with policymakers, through the delivery of a programme of cross-cutting activities designed to connect research, policy and practice. The programme includes a suite of Foundation Workshops, Fellows Programme, Masterclasses and ‘In-Conversation-With’ events.

We are looking for a motivated individual who has the ability to work within a complex environment, with multiple stakeholders and to operate with a high degree of autonomy and initiative.  You will be passionate about training and self-development, with a proven ability to quickly inspire confidence and build strong and open relationships.

Are you passionate about connecting ideas with action? Newcastle University is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to lead our Policy Academy within the Funding & Assurance Team.

As Policy Academy Manager, you’ll play a key role in a thriving policy community, helping turn cutting-edge research into solutions that benefit society – locally, nationally, and internationally.

Our Policy Academy brings academics, professional staff, and postgraduates together with policymakers through a dynamic programme of activities, including Foundation Workshops, Fellows Programme, Masterclasses, and In-Conversation events. You’ll be at the heart of designing and delivering initiatives that connect research, policy, and practice.

If you’re passionate about training, learning, and building relationships – and want to be part of a team driving positive change – we’d love to hear from you.

You don’t need to be a policy professional or have any specific policy-related qualifications/training experience to apply, although a passion and interest in the policy landscape is essential.  We are looking for candidates who have the right skills for the role, including excellent project management or design & delivery of training programmes.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to suzanne.robson@newcastle.ac.uk.

The post is full time, permanent.

Interviews will be on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th November

Key Accountabilities

• Manage and have full responsibility for the day-to-day organisation and delivery of the Policy Academy skills development programmes, including the promotion and selection process for the competitive Policy Academy Fellows programme
• Identify gaps in training provision, support the design and delivery of skills development programmes and, where appropriate, commission external providers.  Proactively monitor the programmes, identifying and managing all relevant risks and issues, initiating mitigating action to ensure that they are delivered on time and within budget
• Support the Director of the Academy/Deputy Director Funding & Assurance to improve the connectedness of policy support services across the institution.  Raise awareness of the activities and opportunities associated with the Policy Academy, including through one-to-one interactions and presentations with academic and professional services colleagues, technicians and postgraduates in the NU Policy community
• Build strong relationships with our internal client base ensuring that our programmes are co-designed, and our key values of inclusivity and diversity are embedded within the Academy.  Develop the sense of community to offer a high level of advice and support to colleagues
• Manage the Policy Academy’s Community mailbase and social media account to highlight key internal and external opportunities and ensure the continued visibility of the Academy and its activities
• Engage a network of external stakeholders locally and nationally, including policymaking organisations, think tanks, public sector organisations, and membership organisations such as the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), University Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) and similar policy units in other universities regionally and nationally
• Manage and deliver events in partnership with NU Policy colleagues/units including Corporate Communications, Insights North-East, the Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre (PEC), and the International Office, taking a leading role in developing a cohesive NU Policy service across the institution
• Review relevant policy reports, publications and social media, including regional and national funding opportunities relevant to the strategic objectives of the Academy & Funding & Assurance team, and provide updates for the Deputy Director
• Develop and implement policy-related initiatives and projects including acting as first point of contact on enquiries; leading on the administration and operational needs of programmes; and supporting institutional strategies and plan objectives
• Manage the Policy Academy’s operational budget, monitoring expenditure, checking spending is within defined limits, eligibility, timely administration of on-line expenses, and ensuring transactions are charged to appropriate accounts
•  Provide budget management and expenditure monitoring support to the Director of the Academy/Deputy Director Funding & Assurance in relation to government policy funding such as the QR Policy Support Funding (PSF). To track application awards across the institution, ensuring compliance, providing reports to senior management centrally and in the faculties, liaising with Finance Business Partners in relation to spend, collating information and the production of an annual report.

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

• Significant experience of programme/project management & delivery, or experience of design and delivery of training programmes, with demonstratable ability to deliver results on time and within budget
• Track record of supporting projects in complex organisations, with a proven ability to deliver on cost, quality and time requirements
• Experience in the development, and management of budgets, compliance, financial claims and budget reports
• Proven high level of decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Ability to operate in a complex environment with a high level of autonomy and initiative
• Success in developing effective working relationships with a diverse range of colleagues at all levels and across a range disciplines and partner organisations
• Strong digital literacy skills and ability to communicate and collaborate easily using digital tools

Attributes and Behaviour

• Deal regularly with confidential or politically sensitive information including staffing, budgets, university policy or partnership relationships. The post-holder must understand and assess the levels of confidentiality involved
• Acts in a collaborative, inclusive, collegiate, transparent and open manner, acting with integrity and able to build trust with colleagues and partners
• Works collaboratively with others, plays a positive role in teams and establishes and grows relationships across the community where different skills, expertise and opinions are valued
• An energetic and “can do” approach which will inspire and enthuse others to contribute and take part in initiatives
• The post-holder must exercise judgement daily, dealing with enquiries independently and make decisions when to refer to the Director of the Academy/Deputy Director Funding & Assurance or to others
• An articulate, confident and politically adept communicator, ready and able to deal with difficult situations and to challenge where necessary
• An exceptional team player confident in working in partnership with others within and outside the organisation
• An ability to act objectively in dealing with complex problems, issues and decision-making
• Creative thinking – ability to come up with new ideas, problem-solving, imagining beyond the status quo.

Qualifications

• Degree, equivalent professional qualification and/or experience in a related role

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 28604