Job Description

Working hours - full time (35 hours a week) - you'll agree your working pattern with your manager (core working hours are 10:00 - 16:00).

Purpose and scope

Are you looking for a policy role where you can make a difference? We're looking for a senior policy and campaigns adviser at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) to translate our members' views and experiences into robust policy positions that effectively influence the national agenda.

You'll be part of the policy and campaigns team, responsible for ensuring the RCP maintains its position as a credible, influential stakeholder in the eyes of government, NHS systems and our physician members.

You'll join the organisation just as it finalises its new strategy and decides its new areas of policy focus for the coming year. You'll play a critical role in developing and delivering policy work on a range of high-profile topics to ensure we influence healthcare policy and the implementation of the 10 Year Health Plan.

You'll need a sharp eye for detail and be able to quickly and accurately interpret and communicate complex information. You'll use your enthusiasm, skills and experience to work with members to explore and turn their views into coherent policy positions. You will have strong experience of analysing policy developments in the external landscape and making recommendations for how to evolve our policy positioning in response. You will be as comfortable speaking to officials and other stakeholders as you are writing policy reports, consultation submissions and briefings.

You will brief the president, senior officers and senior staff for meetings and play an active role in engaging external stakeholders in NHS systems and the wider sector. You will provide lead support to an RCP advisory group, working closely with the chair to set and deliver a workplan.

The RCP represents around 40,000 members and fellows in the UK and internationally. Our members and fellows work across over 30 medical specialties such as cardiology, neurology, infectious diseases, geriatric and respiratory and acute internal medicine - working in hospital and community settings.

The policy and campaigns team - which is part of the wider communications, policy and research directorate - is a fast paced, collaborative and innovative environment. You will help us shape our objectives and continuously improve how we work.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering policy work across a range of topics within the RCP's policy portfolio.
• Delivering robust horizon scanning and policy monitoring to proactively identify key issues and opportunities to evolve our policy positioning and further our aims.
• Developing proactive and reactive policy positions on high-profile issues relating to the RCP's work, working in partnership with senior officers, RCP members, communications colleagues and other staff and organisations as appropriate.
• Working flexibly and proactively, undertaking a range of work such as writing briefings, policy positions, reports, committee papers, consultation responses.
• Supporting senior officers and staff in stakeholder meetings, including researching and drafting briefings and yourself representing the RCP at meetings and events.
• Building and owning relationships with sector stakeholders, NHS systems and other organisations relevant to the RCP's policy and campaigns aims.
• Contributing policy advice to the media team to underpin media releases, comments, statements and opinion pieces.
• Supporting RCP committees and advisory groups to develop and deliver policy work.
• Any other duties commensurate with your post, including deputising for the Head of policy and campaigns and other staff as required.

Experience

You will

• have a strong background in policy development and effective influencing, with a demonstrable understanding of the policy development process and how to influence national and/or arms-length body policy processes.
• be able to quickly and accurately analyse and interpret complex information to aid understanding and decision making.
• have excellent writing skills and strong experience of producing briefings, consultation responses and other communications on behalf of an organisation.
• have experience of successfully managing competing views, priorities and interests to achieve your aims.
• be able to quickly develop positive and effective working relationships with a diverse range of people, including those in senior positions.
• be able to act on your own initiative to develop new work, proposing reasonable and realistic solutions.
• understand the importance of and be committed to involving a diverse range of organisations and people in developing and delivering influencing work.

How to apply

Please click "Apply Now" to submit your CV and a supporting statement (no more than 2 pages) explaining, with clear examples, how your skills and experience match the job description and person specification. Applicants who do not submit a relevant supporting statement as requested will not be shortlisted.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already significantly transforming the way we work. The policy and campaigns team is excited by the prospect of AI and is committed to learning how it can be used, just like any other tool, to help us be better at our roles. We recognise it can be helpful in applying for jobs too! We have developed guiding principles for what we think good, responsible use of AI looks like in the context of policy work. One of these is that we will not solely use AI to write policy materials. To ensure we are able to fully consider your application, we ask you not to solely use AI to generate a cover letter. AI tools may help you to apply for this role, but it's essential that you use them appropriately. Authenticity is important. We are interested in who you are, how you think, and how you write.

Closing date: 26 April 2026

Interviewing date: 06 May 2026