Policy Officer

Role title	Policy Adviser
Organisation	Enterprise Educators UK (EEUK)
Working pattern	Equivalent to approximately 0.4 FTE. Working hours and patterns to be agreed flexibly.
Location	To be confirmed / Remote
Responsible to	To be confirmed
Remuneration	£13k to £14k, depending on agreed scope, time commitment and FTE equivalence. (£32k-£35k FT equivalent)

Role purpose

The Policy Officer helps EEUK understand, interpret and respond to education, skills, innovation and enterprise policy in the UK and internationally. The postholder will also proactively develop EEUK’s evidence base and public policy voice by identifying opportunities for research and reports, working with EEUK Fellows and members to co-produce authoritative publications, and representing EEUK at relevant policy events, networks and activities. They turn complex policy information and sector evidence into clear and accessible insight for members, colleagues and senior stakeholders, helping EEUK remain informed, responsive and influential.

Key responsibilities

1. Policy monitoring and horizon scanning

• Monitor UK and international policy developments in further education, higher education, skills, innovation, enterprise and related areas.
• Identify policy developments that are most relevant to EEUK members and EEUK’s strategic priorities.
• Maintain an organised approach to tracking policy changes, consultations, emerging issues and opportunities for EEUK engagement.

2. Policy analysis, research and publication

• Analyse policy developments and explain what they may mean in practice for EEUK, its members and the wider sector.
• Proactively identify themes and opportunities for research, policy reports and other publications that advance EEUK’s strategic priorities and influence relevant debates.
• Scope, research, draft, edit and coordinate the publication of reports, position papers, evidence briefings, insight papers, blogs and related materials.
• Develop clear, evidence-informed findings and recommendations, drawing appropriately on published research, policy evidence and the experience of EEUK members.

3. Collaboration with EEUK Fellows and members

• Build relationships with EEUK Fellows, members and relevant specialists to identify expertise, evidence, examples of practice and potential contributors.
• Initiate and manage collaborative research and report projects, agreeing scope, roles, timescales and intended audiences.
• Convene and support contributors through working groups, interviews, roundtables, surveys, calls for evidence or other appropriate methods.
• Bring together and edit contributions from different sources into coherent, accessible and authoritative EEUK publications.

4. Member communication and resources

• Share policy updates and research findings in a clear, accessible and engaging way.
• Create resources that support members to understand and respond to policy developments and apply relevant evidence in their own contexts.
• Adapt the level of detail, format and tone for different audiences across further education, higher education and enterprise education.

5. External engagement, representation and consultation activity

• Maintain awareness of the organisations, networks and stakeholders shaping relevant policy agendas and develop constructive relationships with them.
• Represent EEUK at relevant policy conferences, roundtables, working groups, consultations, meetings and other sector activities, communicating agreed positions and strengthening EEUK’s profile and influence.
• Identify intelligence, partnership opportunities and emerging issues through external engagement, and share these appropriately with colleagues, members and EEUK leaders.
• Contribute to and, where appropriate, coordinate consultation responses, policy briefings and sector-positioning work, ensuring that public positions are appropriately agreed.

6. Internal collaboration and quality

• Work with colleagues across programmes, membership and communications to ensure policy insight, research and publications support EEUK’s wider work.
• Prepare policy briefings and supporting material for EEUK senior leaders, the Board and relevant groups.
• Share relevant policy intelligence internally to support planning and organisational decision-making.
• Ensure policy and research outputs are accurate, well-evidenced, appropriately referenced and clear about the strength and limits of the evidence used.
• Review the reach, relevance and impact of policy outputs over time, drawing on member feedback and sector needs.

Person Profile

Essential criteria

• Experience of policy research, policy analysis or closely related evidence-based work, including producing substantial reports or publications.
• Understanding of UK further education and/or higher education, or a closely related education, skills, innovation or enterprise policy context.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to turn complex evidence and varied contributions into clear, coherent and accessible publications
• Ability to scope and manage research or publication projects from initial idea through to completion, coordinating multiple contributors and meeting agreed deadlines.
• Strong collaborative and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage members, Fellows, researchers, practitioners and external stakeholders.
• Confident verbal communication skills and the ability to represent an organisation credibly and appropriately at external events and meetings.
• Ability to analyse evidence and provide proportionate, practical insight and recommendations.
• Ability to work proactively and with appropriate autonomy, while seeking input, approval or clarification when needed.
• Commitment to inclusive, accessible and evidence-informed communication.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of enterprise or entrepreneurship education.
• Experience of co-producing research or publications with members, practitioners, academics or professional networks.
• Experience representing an organisation at policy events, roundtables, consultations or stakeholder meetings.
• Experience of international or comparative policy work.
• Understanding of UK policy-making, consultation and influencing processes.
• Experience translating policy and research into practical guidance or resources for professional or practitioner audiences.

Ways of working

• Proactive and opportunity-focused, with the confidence to initiate ideas and move them forward.
• Careful, evidence-informed and detail-aware approach.
• Ability to balance complexity, intellectual rigour and practical application.
• Openness to collaboration, feedback and constructive challenge.
• Credible and confident when working with external stakeholders and representing EEUK.
• Ability to work effectively in a changing policy environment.

Our commitment to equitable recruitment EEUK is committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities and professionals we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from people whose perspectives and experiences are underrepresented in enterprise and entrepreneurship education and in sector leadership. We recognise that knowledge and expertise can be developed through many different routes. We value transferable skills, lived experience, non-linear careers and experience gained outside traditional academic or professional pathways. Applicants will be assessed consistently against the published responsibilities and person profile. We are committed to removing barriers throughout the recruitment process. Reasonable adjustments and alternative application formats are available at every stage. Please contact [insert name or email address] to discuss any access requirements or adjustments that would enable you to participate fully. We encourage you to apply if you believe your experience and approach would enable you to succeed in the role, even if your career has not followed a conventional pathway.