Now hiring: Director of Policy and Communications
Now hiring: Director of Policy and Communications
Deadline: 13 May 2026
Are you a strategic leader who is passionate about research integrity?
UKRIO is recruiting a Director of Policy and Communications. This newly created role sits at the centre of our evolution as we launch a new five-year strategy to deepen and expand UKRIO’s reach and impact.
This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic policy and communications professional who recognises UKRIO’s vision and potential and wants to play a leading role in bringing it to life. You will have scope to shape our brand, elevate our profile and reach, and enhance the impact of our work. If you’re full of ideas, proactive in your approach, and motivated by meaningful work, we would be delighted to hear from you.
About the role
This position offers a unique opportunity to:
- Build a new function from the ground up, spearheading UKRIO’s policy, communications, and external affairs work to engage and influence actors across the research ecosystem
- Set the strategic direction for UKRIO’s communications, ensuring our outputs are high quality and audience focused, and leading key influencing activities such as policy roundtables, consultations, and events
- Evaluate and evolve programmes, introducing innovation where needed.
- Help shape the organisational culture as part of the senior leadership team.
What we are looking for
You’ll thrive in this role if you:
- Have a strong understanding of complex policy environments
- Bring at least five years’ experience in policy, public affairs, or communications, ideally at a national or sector wide level
- Have a proven ability to influence government, funders, or sector bodies, including shaping policy positions and leading strategic engagement
- Excel at stakeholder engagement and communication
Key details
📍 Hybrid role – London Euston (2 days per week in office)
💷 Permanent full-time role (1.0 FTE) | £60,000–£65,000, dependent on experience
Learn more and apply
Further information about this role, including instructions on how to apply, is available below.
At UKRIO, we value diversity and inclusion, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Accessible application formats are available on request.