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).

Start date

- January 2026

Location

- London and homeworking (minimum 6 days a month in the London office, anchor day in the office every Wednesday)

Purpose and scope

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is recruiting a

senior policy and campaigns adviser

to join its policy and campaigns team in the new year.


This is an exciting opportunity to join the RCP as the organisation seeks to finalise and implement its new strategy.


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.


With the 10 Year Health Plan outlining three shifts for health policy in England, the senior policy and campaigns adviser will play a critical role in developing policy positions rooted in physician experience so we can effectively influence the national agenda. You will develop and deliver policy work on a range of high-profile topics such as the NHS workforce - including issues facing early career doctors - health inequalities, digital and AI and clinical research.


You'll need a sharp eye for detail and be able to quickly and accurately interpret and communicate complex information. You will have experience of analysing policy developments in the external landscape and making recommendations for how to evolve and progress 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 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 policy and campaigns team - and 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.

For more information about the role and RCP, please view the role description attachment at the bottom of this page.

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 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.


For an informal discussion about this role, candidates are welcome to contact our recruitment team on:


Email: recruitment@rcp.ac.uk


Telephone: 020 3075 1649

Closing date: 05 October 2025

Interviewing date: 21 October 2025

The RCP positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.

The RCP is all about our people - our members, staff, volunteers and leaders. We educate, influence and collaborate to improve health and healthcare for everyone and know we can only do this by being inclusive, encouraging and celebrating diverse perspectives. Welcoming into our community people who represent the 21st-century medical workforce and the diverse population of patients we serve is a priority for us.



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