Policy Manager x2

Policy Manager x2
£45,864 per annum plus excellent benefits
London (Hybrid – minimum 40% office-based in Central London)
35 hours per week, full-time
Fixed-term (9–12 months maternity cover)

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking two experienced Policy Managers to join our Health Policy team to provide maternity cover. This is a rare opportunity to play a key role in shaping national child health policy and influencing decision-makers across England and the wider UK.

Reporting to the Head of Health Policy, you will work with College Officers, policy committees, experts and external stakeholders to identify, analyse and deliver a wide range of child health policy projects and activities. You will lead policy development using research, evidence and horizon scanning to inform outputs and support the College’s influencing work.

These are high-visibility roles covering priority areas including prevention, child health inequalities, child protection and children’s rights. You will be recognised as a subject expert in your policy area(s) and will work collaboratively across the organisation and externally to maximise impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development of evidence-based policy to influence the child health agenda in England, working with devolved nations colleagues on UK-wide issues
• Horizon scanning and monitoring emerging developments in child health policy to inform strategy and planning
• Producing consultation responses, briefings, analysis and policy reports
• Delivering policy projects using strong project management, matrix working and time-bound working groups
• Building and managing relationships with stakeholders across government, academia, charities, professional bodies and the health sector
• Representing the College externally at meetings, events, conferences and policy forums
• Supporting policy committees and College Officers through expert advice, briefings and coordination of workplans
• Managing and developing a direct report (Health Policy Assistant / Projects Officer)

Essential skills and experience include:

• Relevant professional experience or graduate-level qualification in policy or a related field
• Extensive experience in policy development and influencing, with recent policy outputs
• Strong experience analysing research, evidence, data and health service information
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly to varied audiences
• Proven stakeholder management skills, including engagement at senior level
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and project management skills
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, including risk and resource management
• Ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively across a dispersed team

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows and employs around 200 staff, most of whom work in our London office in Holborn. We have a Devolved Nations team operating from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Our College values: Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire, are important to us. These values ensure we bring out the best in each other, strive forward together to make the College a positive and dynamic place to work. 

The RCPCH champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our workplace is inclusive, offering a supportive environment where staff can thrive. The College is keen to accept applications from people with protected characteristics. We believe that our staff should represent all of the diverse communities we serve. Join us to help realise our vision of a world where every child is healthy and well.

The College operates a flexible and modern working policy, whereby our colleagues work in the office for a minimum of 40% over a 4 week cycle and the remainder from home.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities. The RCPCH expects all staff to share this commitment – we place a high priority on ensuring only those who do so are recruited to work for us. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. 

Closing date: 22 March 2026

Candidates are reminded that the shortlisting process is based on the evidence provided on the application form of the skills demonstrated above.  For any questions, queries or support please contact via our website.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.