The Policy Advisor will work across Nesta’s three missions and make a significant contribution to our UK Options 2040 programme.

About Nesta
We are Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good. We design, test and scale solutions to society’s biggest problems. Our three missions are to give every child a fair start, help people live healthy lives, and create a sustainable future where the economy works for both people and the planet.

You will be based in the Nesta Scotland team, working closely with the Head of Scotland, Mission Managers and our Communications and Engagement Manager to influence policy and achieve social impact at scale in each mission as well as working with colleagues across Nesta to inform wider work.

There are two key workstreams for this role - supporting the development of mission-focused policy work in Scotland and contributing to our UK Options 2040 project.
You will be responsible for keeping abreast of relevant policy developments, writing briefings, developing policy proposals, and building relationships both internally and externally within Scotland.

Your time will be split across two strands of work:
Developing mission-related policy work in Scotland (c. 60% of role)
As we ramp up our work in Scotland across our three missions, focusing on policy as a vehicle for, and an enabler of, innovation will become increasingly important in helping us achieve impact at scale. You’ll support the Scotland team to develop a strong understanding of the relevant policy landscape and opportunities, developing coherent policy positions, ensuring our policy asks are evidence-based and rigorously tested and help drive radical thinking in policy development.

UK Options 2040 (c. 40% of role)
UK 2040 Options supports policymakers as they make choices about what to prioritise and how to deliver: setting out alternative policy options and pathways for the future, creating space for honest debate about the trade-offs and testing and interrogating ideas that take us beyond immediate crises.
Working on a small number of our chosen policy areas, you will work with the UK Options 2040 team to ensure that the differences, impact of and opportunities generated by devolution are effectively recognised in our work and seek opportunities to engage Scotland based policy makers in the Options 2040 programme of work as appropriate.