Policy Manager (Maternity Cover) (Hiring Immediately)

Reports to: Head of Policy
Directorate: Practice and Quality
Salary range: £40,164 - £50,337 per annum, depending on experience
Location: London – EC4Y 8EE (Hybrid)
Contract: Full-Time, Fixed-term Contract (31.5 hours over 5 days), from February 2027

Job Purpose

The Policy Manager is a varied and outward-facing role at the heart of BSR’s policy work. Working within the Policy Team in the Practice and Quality Directorate, you will help turn evidence and member insight into changes in policy and practice, strengthening the specialty’s voice and supporting better care across all four nations of the UK.

Rheumatology is changing. Workforce pressures, new models of care, digital innovation and wider NHS reform are creating both challenges and opportunities. You will help BSR respond to this fast-moving environment while delivering major programmes focused on the future of rheumatology, workforce and models of care, and supporting our wider influencing work across the UK.

You will develop clear, credible policy positions; lead and contribute to policy, research and engagement projects; coordinate consultation responses; and translate complex evidence into persuasive outputs for different audiences. You will also manage the Clinical Affairs Committee and work with members, colleagues and external stakeholders to ensure BSR’s policy activity is informed by professional expertise and practice.

This maternity cover role will provide continuity for BSR’s core policy activity at an important point in the organisation’s development. With support from the Head of Policy, you will take ownership of agreed workstreams and help shape an ambitious programme of engagement, analysis and influencing.

Main responsibilities

• Work with the Head of Policy to deliver BSR’s policy priorities and contribute to its influencing approach across the UK.
• Lead and contribute to policy and research projects, including planning work, analysing qualitative and quantitative evidence, managing delivery and supporting dissemination.
• Produce clear, accurate and persuasive briefings, reports, consultation responses, position statements and other materials for member and stakeholder audiences.
• Monitor relevant policy and political developments, identify implications for rheumatology services, workforce and patient care, and advise on opportunities and risks.
• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, NHS leaders, professional bodies, patient organisations and other partners, and represent BSR in relevant external forums.
• Plan and facilitate effective engagement with members and stakeholders through meetings, workshops, focus groups and roundtables.
• Manage the Clinical Affairs Committee, working with the Chair and members to plan meetings, coordinate its work programme and progress agreed actions and outputs.
• Coordinate BSR’s input into clinical and health policy consultations, including NICE consultations, technology appraisals, guidance, quality standards and workforce initiatives.
• Work collaboratively across BSR, including with audit, education, guidelines, communications and membership colleagues, to maximise the reach and usefulness of our work.
• Contribute to team and organisational planning, reporting and emerging priorities, while championing BSR’s values and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Please note: Interviews are scheduled to take place Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th November 2026

Person Specification

1. Relevant experience in a policy, public affairs, research or influencing role, ideally in health, care or another complex policy environment.
2. A strong track record of analysing complex qualitative and quantitative information and turning it into clear, accurate and persuasive outputs.
3. Excellent written, presentation and interpersonal skills, with the judgement to tailor messages for different audiences.
4. Experience of planning and delivering policy, research or engagement projects, managing competing priorities and maintaining quality.
5. Experience of building productive relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and facilitating effective engagement.
6. A good understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing UK health and care services, or the ability to develop this quickly.
7. The ability to provide effective support to a committee or advisory group, including planning work, progressing actions and maintaining strategic focus.
8. Curiosity, sound judgement and the confidence to take ownership of work in new or emerging policy areas where evidence may be incomplete.

Inclusion and Diversity
BSR is committed to encouraging inclusion, equity, and diversity in our workforce. We are actively trying to increase the diversity of our staff team. We try to reduce as many barriers as we can for those with a disability. We know that everyone is an individual, so please always tell us what we can do to support you.

We welcome approaches from individuals from underrepresented groups, including those from minoritised communities, and those with a disability, to better reflect the community we serve and help broaden our perspectives.

Benefits of working at BSR

We offer a wide range of benefits, most of which start from day one of joining us. Our benefits fall into four main areas: Wellbeing, Time- based, Learning and development, and Financial. Just some of them include:

Wellbeing:

• Free period products in our office
• Free flu vaccinations
• Mental Health First Aiders
• BUPA healthcare scheme- we offer a cash plan, which you can add children or partners to
• Employee Assistance Programme. This is a free, confidential counselling service to all staff, as well as a general advice service provided by BUPA
• Zurich Plus offers access to a 24/7 virtual GP, as well as a mental health support service, Physiotherapy support, Dietitian consultations and an online portal with lots of helpful resources
• Our enhanced sick pay offer is:
  • Up to two years’ service: 4 weeks full pay and 4 weeks half pay
  • After two years’ service: 12 weeks full pay and 12 weeks half pay
• We work in a social environment with a range of activities, both virtual and in person, run by our Social Squad. This includes an organisation- wide volunteering day.

Time-based:

• We offer 30 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays
• All staff can request sabbaticals at any point, which are considered on a case-by-case basis
• We also offer an extra day for moving house
• Bank holiday swops- you can swop a bank holiday day for another day’s leave (entitlement remains 1:1 days)
• We’re a 4 day week employer, which at BSR means working your fulltime hours (31.5 each week) over 5 days

Learning and development

We will help you develop your career by supporting your personal development and encouraging internal progression. This includes recognising individuals’ achievements through our internal staff awards. We offer a huge range of learning opportunities, both in-house and externally. This includes a thorough induction programme when you join us, as well as development opportunities aimed at line managers, and wellbeing-based learning sessions. And if professional membership is a required part of your role, we’ll cover the cost of that.

Financial:

• Income protection scheme
• You’ll be enrolled on our pensions scheme with Aegon (via Second Sight). Our current pension match is 5% employer contribution if you contribute 4% (9% contribution in total).
• Our life assurance policy pays three times your basic salary
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Ride-to-work scheme
• Interest-free loan scheme
• We also provide generous enhancements within our parental and family leave policies.
  • Our maternity/shared parental/adoption offer is 6 weeks at full pay, 33 weeks at half pay, followed by 13 weeks at the statutory rate.
  • Our paternity leave offer is 6 weeks at full pay.