IDRIC Policy Research Officer

Contract: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term (until March 2025)

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business, and industry.

The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences has an international research reputation and close connection with the professional and industrial world of science, engineering, and technology. 

Job Summary

The Policy Research Officer is responsible for contributing policy aspects of IDRIC’s portfolio of work on Industrial Decarbonisation.

Detailed Description

The post-holder will play a key role in the delivery of the policy aims of IDRIC through their own analysis and research and translation and synthesis of research outputs, as well as closely working with the wider IDRIC team centrally based both at Heriot-Watt University and across all IDRIC partner organisations.

The resultant outputs will help to nurture the necessary trust to allow IDRIC to be recognised as the go-to centre of excellence on industrial decarbonisation and position it as reliable source of research evidence and independent advice on industrial decarbonisation for UK policy makers and media.

Key duties and responsibilities

The post holder is required to:

• Stay informed of policy and regulation relevant to the Centre’s mission as well as analyse and communicate this to relevant parts of IDRIC. 
• Provide the necessary policy expertise and resource to the wider IDRIC team and act as a central point of contact to simplify and streamline interactions with the Centre for external stakeholders. 
• Work with the Senior Policy Research Lead, IDRIC Director and partners across the UK and internationally to support policy and mission advocacy by providing evidence to policy makers and the public, including evidence-based policy briefings and consultation responses. 
• Undertake new research assignments and analysis of published technical and policy papers and reports, and contribute to producing review reports, position papers, and other outputs, identifying trends and solutions.  

Essential Criteria 

• Postgraduate qualification (MSc or PhD) within a relevant field such as social sciences, physical sciences, environmental sciences or engineering or equivalent practical experience within the workplace. 
• The ability to deliver targeted research and meta-analysis of data/information, paying attention to detail while grasping the bigger picture. 
• Willingness to work flexibly across policy areas and research themes in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to manage workload effectively across projects. 
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly to different audiences, both verbally and in writing. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work constructively with internal and external stakeholders. 
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. 
• Excellent IT skills and experience of project and information management systems.

For all criteria, further details and how to apply, please click the 'Apply' button, above.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.  Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.