New opportunity at ADR UK: Senior Policy Engagement Manager

New exciting opportunity now live for a Senior Policy Engagement Manager (closing date 31 March 2026) to bring together and shape a rapidly developing area of work in one of UKRI’s most important investments in research infrastructure.

About ADR UK and the Senior Policy Engagement Manager role

ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) is a partnership transforming the way researchers access the UK’s wealth of public sector data. We are currently moving into our new funding period following a successful investment bid of £168 million, with a key focus ensuring our work informs policy for public good. 

By linking together data held by different parts of government, and by facilitating safe and secure access for accredited researchers, ADR UK is creating a sustainable body of knowledge about how our society and economy function. The resulting datasets are tailored to give decision makers the answers they need to solve important policy questions.

The partnership is coordinated by a UK-wide Strategic Hub, where this role will be located, which also communicates the benefits of administrative data research to the public, the wider research community, and policymakers and influencers. The Strategic Hub is embedded within ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council). 

You will join an established and growing team that works together to plan, coordinate and deliver communications and engagement activity, both for the ADR England portfolio and the wider ADR UK partnership.  

This is an opportunity for an experienced communications, engagement, policy or impact lead, with a strong understanding of the policy landscape, to shape a new role. The postholder will bring together and build on work already taking place across ADR UK to engage policymakers — in Westminster and beyond — and policy influencers with the work of ADR UK and our research outputs.

This role is critical for developing the strategic direction of this workstream and ensuring we deliver on our mission to ‘enable government policy to be informed by the best evidence available’.

Key responsibilities for this critical new policy role

• Strategic planning: Develop a policy engagement strategy, building on work achieved so far, that ensures ADR UK has the greatest impact on real-world policy decisions and includes monitoring techniques for regular reporting processes. 

• Implementation lead: Once planned, manage and report on the policy engagement strategy overtime, developing and delivering new workstreams or activities as needed to achieve our objectives. Note, this is anticipated to include developing a systematic policy briefing process, i.e. through publication production and distribution, events or other outreach as suitable. 

• Policy monitoring and horizon scanning: Develop and manage a systematic approach to horizon-scanning in the short and long term to identify policy impact opportunities for our work, for example through All Party Parliamentary Groups, Select Committee Enquiries, or sector events, for which we can provide evidence and insights. This will include advising on opportunities for ADR UK senior leaders to contribute.

• Partnership management: Lead on development and management of a policy partnership programme of work, including leading on a partnership contact database (or similar) to record contacts and activity, developing positive and fruitful collaborations across policy engagement (such as Parliamentary contacts, Government contacts, NGOs etc). This includes working with others within ADR UK where stakeholders are shared. 

• Project management and evaluation: Where needed, produce comprehensive project plans, and manage resulting projects throughout, reporting at evaluation phase to demonstrate tangible results. 

• Inclusive communications and collaboration: Produce inclusive and accessible communications as needed, promoting good equalities practice and valuing diversity. Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners, including across the nations. 

• Crisis communications and team support: Support with crisis communications management when necessary, following procedures as required. 

• Leadership: Assist the Head of Communications and Engagement as needed, including deputising where appropriate, and collaborating with the wider team on shared projects in a generous manner.

• Professional development and team contribution: Contribute to the development of the Communications and Engagement team by sharing knowledge and expertise. Keep skills and knowledge up to date by proactively seeking new opportunities for development. Support working on collaborative projects as required, for example the ADR UK Annual Report or Podcast series. 

Further information

Salary: £46,743 per annum (UKRI Band E)

Contract Type: Open ended – programme funding currently runs until 31 March 2031

Hours: Full-time / part-time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available)

Location: UKRI is based at Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire. Hybrid working is available, with regular travel to the London office required. Further details can be discussed at interview stage.

Closing date: 31 March 2026

Benefits package

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promoting a culture of continuous learning! Benefits include:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full-time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance.

Apply for the Senior Policy Engagement Manager role at ADR UK

For full details on the role, including shortlisting and interview criteria, please visit: ADR UK Senior Policy Engagement Manager job listing (External Link)

Find out more and apply