Senior Policy Manager - Higher Education

About Public First, an SHGH Company

Public First is a specialist consultancy that helps charities, philanthropists, public sector bodies and global brands to improve public policy. Based in London, we have worked in more than thirty international markets.

We are part think tank, part strategic consultancy, part research company, and part communications agency. In practice, we bring together the disciplines that make policy change happen: research and analysis, political insight, strategy and communications.

Our team includes former senior civil servants, political advisers, campaigners, researchers and journalists. Many of us have worked at the most senior levels of government, Parliament and political campaigns, and we continue to be active across the political spectrum.

Public First is part of SHGH, a Group of cross-border advisory firms, guiding clients through an unprecedented period of change in policy, politics, regulation, and sustainable growth.

Education at Public First

Education is one of Public First’s core areas of specialism. Many of our senior team have spent the past two decades working in and around education policy in government and opposition. Between us, we have advised Prime Ministers, Leaders of the Opposition, Education Secretaries and their Shadow teams, as well as numerous Ministers across the Department for Education.

We work across the full education lifecycle and with a wide range of clients, including schools and multi-academy trusts, universities, charities and foundations, local and national government, trade associations, and education-facing businesses.

Our education work is organised into three broad areas:

• Schools: Working with schools, multi-academy trusts, charities and foundations on issues across the schools policy landscape. Recent projects include the Commission into Countering Online Conspiracies in Schools, the Inquiry into White Working Class Educational Outcomes, the Parent Voice Project, research into attitudes to the attendance crisis, exclusions and our work on the National Tutoring Programme .

• Higher education: Working with universities and mission groups on post-18 education, research and innovation policy. Recent work includes public attitudes to tuition fees , public understanding of R&D , polling on international students , and evaluation of the Office for Students Uni-Connect programme.

• Skills: Working across the skills system with large corporates, regional bodies and national organisations.

We are now looking for an experienced professional to take on a senior role within our Higher Education Team.

The Role

We are recruiting a Senior Policy Manager to play a leading role in delivering and shaping our higher education policy work, both in the UK and internationally.

This role is suited to someone with substantial experience (typically 3-5 years) in policy, research, consultancy or a closely-related field, who is ready to take ownership of projects and act as a trusted adviser to clients.

Senior Policy Managers at Public First lead projects day-to-day, manage and support more junior colleagues, and make a strong intellectual contribution to Public First’s work. You will work closely with Associate Directors and Directors to design projects, develop insights and arguments, and support the growth and profile of our universities' practice.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a keen interest in higher education as a public policy area , and an enthusiasm to learn more - this is the most important thing we are looking for. While this role will cover education and skills more broadly, our preference is for someone that wants to learn more about how universities work, and how policy decisions impact them; including across some broader topics, such as devolution; research and development; widening participation; and science, innovation and growth.

• · Is an outstanding communicator . You will have a strong track record of producing clear, persuasive written work for senior audiences, and be confident presenting and discussing complex issues with clients, policymakers and sector leaders.

• Brings credibility in higher education policy or a closely-related area . You may come from government, a think tank, a charity, school, consultancy or another relevant setting, but you should be comfortable engaging at a relatively senior level on higher education policy.

• Can lead complex projects independently . You will be experienced in managing multifaceted projects, setting direction, overseeing timelines, and ensuring high-quality outputs.

• Is comfortable working directly with clients . You should have experience of building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, handling client discussions and contributing to proposals or new work.

• Provides intellectual leadership . You will contribute ideas, frame problems clearly, challenge assumptions where appropriate, and help shape Public First’s thinking and voice in higher education policy.

• Supports and develops others . You should be motivated by helping more junior colleagues grow, providing constructive feedback, and contributing to a strong, collaborative team and organisational culture.

Example responsibilities:

• Project management: Supporting and leading projects day-to-day, with responsibility for delivery, quality and coordination across the team.

• Research and analysis: Conducting desk research, focus groups, polling, analysing quantitative and qualitative data, ensuring outputs are rigorous, well-structured and persuasive.

• Advocacy and engagement: Shaping and supporting advocacy and engagement strategies linked to our research, including developing policy recommendations, briefings and messaging, and engaging with policymakers, parliamentarians, sector leaders and other stakeholders.

• Client relationships: Acting as a day-to-day lead for clients on projects, building trusted relationships and ensuring work meets client needs and expectations.

• Team working: Collaborating effectively with colleagues across Public First, communicating clearly about progress and challenges, and contributing positively to team and organisational culture

Location and Salary

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and particularly encourage applications from candidates with disabilities and candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We operate a hybrid working model, with a mix of home and office working. Our main office is based in Victoria. Many of us, including the founders, have young children and we work hard to be genuinely family-friendly.

Salary will depend on experience. For this role we expect salary to range from £40,000-£55,000 for a Senior Policy Manager, depending on candidate experience.

We also offer a bonus programme, 5% pension contribution, 25 days annual leave, and private healthcare.

How to apply

Please apply below by submitting your CV and answering the application questions. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we encourage early applications.

Interviews will either be online or in person at our office in Victoria, London.

Closing date: 31st January 2026.