Policy Impact Officer

Job Title: Policy Impact Officer

Posting Start Date: 08/06/2026

School/Department: Research Partnerships & Innovation

Work Arrangement: Full Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Salary per annum (£): £38,784 to 43,482

Closing Date: 28/06/2026

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

We are seeking three individuals with experience of working in policy in a range of external environments, which might include international, national and/or local government, health, regulation etc. They will work with our academics to generate real-world policy impact from the findings of our research, which will be assessed by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 exercise. With a background in policy engagement, you will identify a range of opportunities to connect research with policy makers to support evidence-based policymaking. This could include organising seminars with academics and policy teams or working with academics to respond to government consultations or parliamentary inquiries. Being able to monitor, track and evidence how academic research has been used by policy makers to bring about change will also be included in the role.

Working under the guidance of Faculty Impact Managers and liaising with internal stakeholders, your work will support academics who are developing impact case studies with a policy dimension. These case studies form part of the university’s submission to the REF 2029 exercise, which measures the quality of academic research and its real world impacts.

Along with experience in policy work and an understanding of how to identify relevant policy opportunities, you will also be confident in your ability to advise senior academics on how they can best maximise research policy impact.

You will have effective persuasion and diplomacy skills, coupled with the ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships and networks. You will enjoy developing creative approaches to problem-solving and navigating the complexities of policy engagement, including working at pace to short or changing timescales. You will be able to clearly articulate complex ideas to non-expert audiences.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide focused support around policy engagement and wider knowledge exchange activities for REF impact case studies, providing bespoke advice and guidance to academics

• Work with the REF impact case study leads in the planning, gathering, and evaluation of policy impact evidence and support academics on policy engagement activities accordingly
• Identify and develop effective ways to work in partnership with policy makers to help create the conditions for research impact, advising and supporting academics accordingly
• Work with the Knowledge Exchange Policy Engagement team to inform the development of training sessions to enable REF impact case study leads to communicate effectively with policymakers
• Monitor policy engagement opportunities and updates issued by the Knowledge Exchange Policy Officer
• Support academics to develop policy briefings and other related content
• Work with REF impact case study leads and Faculty REF Impact Manager to identify opportunities for internal funding allocation for case study activity
• Work closely with the Faculty REF Impact Manager and liaise with relevant internal stakeholders to align activities with other support offered to the REF impact leads

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Undergraduate degree in a social science, science or health related subject (or equivalent experience)

Essential

Application

Experience and understanding of policy work at a local, national or international level

Essential

Application/Interview

Understanding of the challenges and opportunities in policy engagement work and experience of advising senior stakeholders

Essential

Application/Interview

Understanding of how to monitor and gather evidence of policy impact

Essential

Application/Interview

Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex ideas to non-specialist audiences

Essential

Application/Interview

Effective negotiation, persuasion and diplomacy skills

Essential

Application/Interview

Evidence of developing and maintaining strong working relationships and a network of contacts internally and with external partners

Essential

Application/Interview

Evidence of developing creative approaches to problem solving

Essential

Application/Interview

Understanding of the HE landscape and REF 2029 in particular

Desirable

Application/Interview

Experience of a range of project management approaches

Desirable

Application/Interview

Further Information

Grade

Salary

£38,784 to £43,482

Work arrangement

Full-time (35 hours per week)

Duration

1 August 2026 - 31 July 2027

Line manager

Faculty Impact Manager

Direct reports

N/A

Our website

www.sheffield.ac.uk

For informal enquiries about this job, including the possibility of a secondment from an external organisation, contact Jennifer Watson, KE Policy Engagement Lead: on ***email_hidden*** or on 07523688582.

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on Friday 26th June. This will consist of an interview and assessment. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 15th June. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Jennifer Watson, KE Policy Engagement Lead: on ***email_hidden***

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job, you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.