Ellwood Atfield is proud to be partnering with Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) to recruit a talented and impactful Policy Manager to join their highly regarded Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Team.

This role comes at a pivotal moment for dementia research and care, as scientific progress accelerates and the need for strong policy leadership grows. As the UK’s leading dementia research charity, ARUK plays a central role in shaping national priorities, and the Policy Manager will be instrumental in driving forward an ambitious agenda that improves outcomes for millions of people affected by dementia.

The Policy Manager will help define and deliver strategic policy priorities that champion innovation, advance scientific breakthroughs, and influence government decision-making. Bringing strong analytical skills, policy expertise and advocacy experience, the successful candidate will contribute to work that strengthens the case for increased investment in dementia research, improved diagnostic pathways, and greater healthcare system readiness as new treatments emerge.

Collaboration is central to the role. The Policy Manager will work closely with policymakers, researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience of dementia to ensure ARUK’s policy solutions are evidence-based, forward-looking and grounded in real-world impact. They will also play a key role in enhancing the charity’s engagement with political and parliamentary stakeholders, fostering strategic partnerships, and contributing to sector-wide efforts to shape the future of medical research policy in the UK.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading major policy programmes, producing high-impact policy outputs such as briefings, reports and government submissions, and ensuring that policy messages reach and influence target audiences effectively.
• The role requires strong horizon scanning, project management and the ability to oversee complex workstreams while ensuring coherence across the team’s activities.
• Lead ARUK’s evidence and data analysis work, ensuring that policy positions are underpinned by timely, accurate and robust insight.
• As a line manager, they will support and develop two Policy Advisors, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement within the team.