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Do you want to help shape the future of physics?

Every year, thousands of students begin their journey into physics. Some will go on to solve global challenges, drive scientific discovery, and inspire future generations. We're looking for a Student and Early Career Engagement Officer to help ensure they feel connected, supported, and part of a thriving physics community from day one.

Through innovative engagement programmes, flagship events, student societies, and ambassador networks, you'll help students and apprentices see the Institute of Physics as their professional home throughout their studies and the early stages of their careers.

The IOP exists to help physics and the physics community deliver on their potential for our lives, our society, and our planet. Together with our members and leaders from the world of physics and beyond, we’ve identified three priorities Skills, Science, and Society which shape our work and strategy for 2024–2029. You can find out more about our strategy, our priorities and our principles. Our strategy | Institute of Physics.

We're looking for a Student and Early Career Engagement Officer to join us on a permanent basis. You'll champion student and early career engagement through flagship events such as PLANCKS, FUSE, and our developing Early Careers Conference, build strong partnerships with university physics societies, and create experiences that help students and apprentices feel connected to the wider physics community.

In this role you'll play a key part in growing and supporting a community of student and early career physicists across the UK and Ireland. You'll work directly with student leaders, volunteers, ambassadors and universities to create experiences that inspire participation, build belonging, support professional development, and help students transition successfully from university into the next stage of their career.

Success in this role isn't measured simply by the number of events delivered. It's measured by the number of students who feel welcomed, supported, connected and inspired to continue their journey in physics.

Why this role matters

The students engaging with the IOP today are the researchers, teachers, innovators and leaders of tomorrow. By helping students find community, develop professionally and engage with physics beyond their studies, you'll play a direct role in strengthening the future of physics across education, research and industry. This role offers a unique opportunity to build programmes, influence strategy, work with volunteers and student leaders, and create experiences that genuinely make a difference.

What is it like working at the IOP?

The IOP is a friendly and ambitious organisation. Inclusion and diversity are central to our work and we have a ‘work anywhere’ policy to make working at the IOP as flexible as possible. Looking after our colleagues and supporting them in life and work is our priority, ensuring they can live their best lives, with competitive salaries, professional development opportunities and generous benefits.

Our comprehensive benefits package including:

• An excellent pension scheme
• Private medical insurance, life assurance, eye care vouchers, annual flu vaccinations, long service awards, employee assistance programme
• Floating bank holidays (choose where to take your bank holidays throughout the year)
• Generous annual leave (25 days starting as a standard)
• Flexible working and much more

The Role

What will I be doing?

• Support member growth: Help students understand and access the full range of IOP benefits, supporting recruitment, retention and progression from Associate Member to Member.
• Champion student engagement: Build strong relationships with ambassadors and university physics societies across the UK and Ireland, helping student leaders create engaging activities that strengthen participation, belonging and connection to the wider physics community.
• Lead engagement programmes: Deliver flagship initiatives including PLANCKS, FUSE, CAPS and help shape the inaugural IOP Early Careers Conference in 2027.
• Create meaningful experiences: Design and deliver a programme of events, workshops and opportunities that support students and early career members to develop skills, networks and confidence
• Recruit and develop ambassadors: Recruit, support and inspire a network of Campus Ambassadors and Student Panel members, helping them represent the student voice and shape the future of engagement at the IOP.
• Build partnerships and influence: Work collaboratively with universities, volunteers, professional bodies and colleagues across the IOP to strengthen engagement and maximise impact.

Projects you work on may include:

• Deliver flagship student events such as PLANCKS preliminaries, FUSE, and the Conference of Astronomy and Physics Students (CAPS).
• Help shape the IOP Early Careers Conference in 2027, creating a flagship opportunity for students and early career physicists to develop skills, expand their networks, explore career pathways, and feel part of a thriving physics community.
• Develop toolkits and grant schemes for physics societies to innovate and increase participation.
• Lead ambassador and student panel programmes, ensuring strong campus presence and engagement.
• Strengthen partnerships with international student bodies (e.g., IAPS, EPS Young Minds) and UK/ROI societies.

Who will I work with?

• Member Community and Engagement Manager (your line manager).
• Colleagues across Membership & Inclusion, Communications, Marketing, and Education, Workforce & HE teams.
• Volunteer student ambassadors, student panel members, and physics society leaders.
• External partners including universities, professional bodies, and international networks.

What success could look like in your first year

• More students engaging with IOP activities and events.
• Strong relationships established with physics societies across the UK and Ireland.
• A thriving ambassador network supporting students on campus.
• Successful delivery of PLANCKS, FUSE, CAPS and the development of the inaugural IOP Early Careers Conference.
• Increased engagement from Associate Members as they transition into full membership.
• Positive feedback from students who feel supported, connected and inspired by their involvement with the IOP.

Ideally, we hope you’ll apply if your skills include:

You’ll be successful in this role if you:

• Love bringing people together and creating communities where people feel welcomed and valued.
• Enjoy building relationships and engaging with students, volunteers and stakeholders.
• Are organised and proactive, able to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Have the confidence to facilitate conversations, deliver presentations and represent the IOP.
• Enjoy turning ideas into practical activities, events and experiences that make a difference.
• Care about widening participation and ensuring physics is accessible to everyone.

Essential Criteria

• Experience engaging students, early career professionals, members, volunteers or communities through outreach, education, careers, engagement or membership programmes.
• Proven ability to deliver events and programmes from planning to evaluation
• Skilled at building partnerships with universities and societies
• Working with volunteers or committees

Nice to have

• Experience in a membership organisation or charity

This is your chance to shape the future of physics engagement, develop leadership skills, and work on projects that make a real difference.

We know that great candidates don't always meet every requirement, and that's okay. If your experience looks a little different from what we've described, but you believe you'd bring passion, creativity and a willingness to learn, we'd still love to hear from you.

Application

Alongside your CV, please ensure you include a cover letter stating how you meet the person specification.

How will I be working?

The Institute of Physics is an inclusive employer and our people are at the heart of our approach to delivery. We have developed a innovative and exciting trust-based model of flexible working called How We Work. This empowers our staff to choose both individually and as a team how, when and where they work to deliver the goals of the organisation, acknowledging that there will be occasions where in-person meetings, collaborations and events will help generate greater impact. The How We Work initiative is based on the principles of collaboration, trust, flexibility and agility. You will be allocated a ‘base’ office which can also be a chosen place of work.

Why should I want to work for the IOP?

The Institute of Physics (IOP) is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland - we seek to raise public awareness and understanding of physics and support the development of a diverse and inclusive physics community. As a charity, we’re here to ensure that physics delivers on its exceptional potential to benefit society. There’s never been a more exciting time to join the IOP - watch ourfilmto find out more about our work.

Apply now and help us build a thriving physics community.

The IOP is committed to promoting a culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all individuals whilst celebrating diversity.

We’re committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive culture for everyone. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please let us know we’re always happy to help.

Please note whilst we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, we warmly encourage applications from candidates who already have the right to work in the UK and Ireland.