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Reference: 99094

Date Added: 26 April 2026
Closing Date: 13 May 2026

Job Title: Director of Policy and Communications

Working For: UKRIO

Location: London

Salary: £60,000 - £65,000 FT per annum

Length of Contract: Permanent

Job Details

Are you a strategic leader who is passionate about research integrity?
UKRIO is recruiting for a, Director of Policy and Communications, this newly created role sits at the centre of our evolution as we launch a new five-year strategy to deepen and expand UKRIO’s reach and impact.
This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic policy and communications professional who recognises UKRIO’s vision and potential and wants to play a leading role in bringing it to life. You will have the scope to shape our brand, elevate our profile and reach, and enhance the impact of our work. If you’re full of ideas, proactive in your approach, and motivated by meaningful work, we’d be delighted to hear from you.


About the role
This position offers a unique opportunity to:

  • Build a new function from the ground up, spearheading UKRIO’s policy, communications, and external affairs work to engage and influence actors across the research ecosystem.
  • Set the strategic direction for UKRIO’s communications, ensuring our outputs are high quality and audience focused, and leading key influencing activities such as policy roundtables, consultations, and events.• Evaluate and evolve programmes, introducing innovation where needed.
  • Help shape the organisational culture as part of the senior leadership team.

What we are looking for
You’ll thrive in this role if you:

  • Have a strong understanding of complex policy environments
  • Bring at least five years’ experience n policy, public affairs, or communications, ideally at a national or sector wide level.
  • Have a proven ability to influence government, funders, or sector bodies, including shaping policy positions and leading strategic engagement.
  • Excel at stakeholder engagement and communication.

Closing Date: 13 May 2026

Interview/Start Dates

The deadline for applications is at 11:59pm.

We aim to notify candidates who have been shortlisted by 15 May 2026.

First interviews will be held in person at our Euston office on 22 May and final interviews on 29 May.

Application Details

The full position description can be found here: https://jobs.theguardian.com/job/10080157/director-of-policy-and-communications 

Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining how your experience and skills aligns with our essential and desirable criteria to recruitment@ukrio.org 

Please note that any applications received without a tailored cover letter for this role will not be considered.

Website: https://ukrio.org/

Additional Notes