Job Description

Job Scope:

The Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK, dedicated to recognising, promoting and supporting excellence in science and encouraging the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. It is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world's most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering and medicine.

International activities are embedded across the work of the Society. They feature within many of the Society's core programmes and targeted activities are led principally by the International Affairs, Grants, Science Policy and Scientific Programmes teams.

The Society is committed to international work that benefits science and science that informs diplomacy, while always putting scientific excellence and integrity first and retaining the Society's independence. We also recognise that it is vital to balance legitimate concerns around national security while still enabling international collaborations to take place. This role sits at the centre of balancing these twin imperatives of global collaboration and national security.

With significant knowledge and a real enthusiasm for science and international affairs, the post holder will join a small International Affairs team of nine, but will work across the Society, including building close relationships with colleagues in Grants, Fellowship and Governance, Science Policy, Scientific Meetings and beyond.

This post will lead the Society's work in assessing and managing the risks and regulatory implications around our international work, including our partnerships with key countries, our governance processes, and our international grant work. A key part of this will be focusing on national security risks and the implications of the relevant legislation and programmes, for example the UK's National Security and Investment Act, Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, and Trusted Research campaign.

The role holder will also work flexibly on a number of projects, often in cross-sectional teams involving external partners, whilst also contributing to the work of the section as a whole. The postholder will be expected to hold relevant experience of working on international risk and/or regulatory compliance issues, ideally in a higher education or research environment.

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Reports to

: Head of International Affairs (Americas, International Organisations and Africa)

Line manages

: N/A

Pay band

: E

Salary

: 51,250

Contract type

: Full-Time Permanent

Hours:

35

Location:

Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG plus the option for some hybrid remote working

Closing date for applications:

Midnight Monday 23 June 2025

Interviews will be held: WC 14 July 2025

Responsibilities:
Lead the Royal Society's approach to national security risk management and other international risk and regulatory requirements, including advising on and coordinating cross-Society activities on this topic Produce and regularly update an assessment of the Society's exposure to international risks arising from our grants portfolio and international partnerships Implement a programme of audits and reviews of key Society international activity and develop processes and internal procedures to monitor risks. Advise senior staff and the Royal Society's leadership on our international risks and possible mitigations, particularly those linked to UK legislation and Government advice. Develop and maintain expertise around UK government regulations and legislative activity, including the Trusted Research programme Deliver a system of assurance around national security related due diligence conducted by Royal Society funding partners, focused particularly on our international grant programmes Work closely with colleagues in International Affairs who lead on the Trusted Research programme and ensure the Society implements best practice guidance. Monitor developments in international risk and regulatory policy, horizon scanning to producing regular briefings and updates for Fellows and colleagues Ensure the case is regularly made of the benefits and opportunities arising from safe and secure international scientific cooperation Organising meetings and events, preparing agendas, background papers, presentations and minutes Leading on projects and larger programmes, ensuring they are delivered on time, on budget and in scope Building and maintaining a wide network of contacts and databases Promoting the importance of risk and regulatory work across the Society, including within key delivery and policy teams Contributing to other activities within the Royal Society as required Management of additional staff members as required

Key Knowledge and Skills Required:
Knowledge and experience of international risk and/or regulatory compliance issues, ideally in a higher education or research environment. (essential) Excellent writing skills with the ability to write for a variety of audiences Strategic thinking and the ability to communicate strategic priorities with nuance and clarity Able to convey complex and sensitive information and ideas effectively Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage conflicting deadlines Ability to use own initiative and contribute new ideas Ability to work effectively in a team and interact with people at all levels of seniority
Circumstances

Able to be flexible about working hours and undertake travel on occasions Personal qualitiesA proactive self-starter, who is open and curious about issues in international science and able to draw on this to seize opportunities and improve performance A confident communicator, who acts with honesty, integrity, professionalism, manages expectations and considers wider political, social and cultural contexts An adaptive and resilient team player, able to plan, deliver and prioritise under pressure, proposes solutions to problems that take account of risks and how to manage them
Competencies:

Pay Band E - Role Descriptor and Competencies

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At Band E you will hold a role as a manager, senior specialist or professional in your field. Pay Band E roles are described in the following dimensions:

Decision-making -

You organise and undertake a wide range of projects and specialist/professional tasks. You provide input to policy development and/or professional standards or approaches for others to use. You take decisions or make recommendations within broad policies and guidelines. Guidance is available for agreeing on priorities/resources and in reconciling cross- functional issues.

Thinking challenges -

Specialist issues require you to apply creative solutions to solve problems. You identify and implement new ways to of working to improve performance, policies or procedures, based on a combination of theory, your experience and applying your initiative and creativity.

Communication -

You maintain professional relationships on behalf of The Royal Society; and may be responsible for developing new professional relationships on behalf of the organisation, persuading or advising colleagues, external representatives or members in a wide range of circumstances. You may be required to represent Royal Society externally in networking activities or in third party relationships.

Developing people -

You have formal management responsibility for managing a team. You may also be a leading expert in your field of work, and whilst you may have no direct management responsibility, you will focus on delivering results through providing specialist advice, coaching, training, project managing and otherwise guiding and coordinating the work or contribution of others.

Managing Resources -

You may have delegated budget, income generation targets or provide input to budgetary or other resource planning.

Applying knowledge & expertise -

You possess managerial and professional expertise that enables you to manage an important area of work and look beyond the horizons of your own specialism.

The competency levels for a pay Band E role are described below.

Self-management

Identifies difficult situations Recognises stress in others and takes steps to reduce it Controls pressurised situations Effectively enthuses those in the team Proactively sets goals and targets for own work

Working with others

Actively seeks ideas and criticisms from within the team Resolves conflicts within and between teams Embeds feedback processes within the team Seeks out new networks that will create opportunity for the Society Able to present complex issues simply Uses discretion, tact and empathy when negotiating with and/or seeking to influence others Understands the need to manage expectations and to only promise what is deliverable

Resource management

Determines strategy and deployment of resources, balancing cost and benefit; risk and potential for maximum impact across significant business areas Manages complex cross-cutting projects to time, budget and specification Ensures others accept responsibility towards results or quality Sets the quality standards for own business areas in accordance with strategy and contributes to the formulation of quality standards across the Society Sets and monitors priorities Identifies and manages risk effectively

Critical thinking

Uses questioning, analytical and probing skills to 'dig deeper' Knows when enough information has been obtained and adapts presentation of information to the needs of the audience Evaluates the benefits, practicalities and value for money of ideas and obtains feedback Makes sound decisions in a complex or ambiguous environment and is able to gain support and manage challenges confidently

Adaptability

Actively seeks the input and opinions of others, often outside his/her section and accommodates and incorporates this thinking into any output. Actively seeks new challenges and projects; leads discussions surrounding new ideas, approaches and projects Anticipates need for innovation and seeks new ideas, approaches and solutions

Managing people and relationships

Sets expectations of others and ensures they deliver Demonstrates a positive attitude towards work, celebrating success and instilling confidence, which encourages the same from others Encourages others to share ideas and participate in the discussion and decisions of the team * Assesses needs of clients/stakeholders/staff and makes plans to meet these needs