Policy and Engagement Manager Europe(UK Visa Sponsorship)

Job Description

About UCL and Global Health at IGH

University College London (UCL) is a world-leading research university with a strong commitment to addressing global challenges through evidence, policy, and public engagement.

The UCL Institute for Global Health (IGH) sits at the heart of UCL’s Grand Challenge of Global Health. IGH’s mission is to ensure that international health policy is informed by rigorous, interdisciplinary research. Its work spans education, public engagement, translational research, and direct policy influence, contributing to global and regional responses to complex health challenges.

This work aligns closely with UK government priorities on global health security and international collaboration

About the Programmes

The Lancet Countdown in Europe

The Lancet Countdown in Europe serves as the regional centre of the global Lancet Countdown initiative, developing and analysing indicators on climate change and health across Europe. Its aim is to translate scientific evidence into actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and civil society.

IDAlert (Horizon Europe)

IDAlert is a Horizon Europe–funded research project focused on strengthening Europe’s preparedness for infectious disease risks linked to climate change. The project addresses threats driven by rising temperatures, biodiversity loss, and environmental change, and develops early warning systems, indicators, and decision-support tools for outbreak prevention and response.

These initiatives contribute to wider European and UK strategies on climate resilience and health protection

The Role

UCL is seeking an experienced Policy and Engagement Manager (Europe) to join the Secretariat of the Lancet Countdown, based at the Institute for Global Health.

In this role, you will work closely with the Head of Policy to support and enhance the policy impact of IDAlert, particularly its contributions to the Lancet Countdown in Europe. You will play a key role in ensuring that complex scientific findings are translated into clear, timely, and policy-relevant outputs that inform decision-making at European, national, and sub-national levels.

This is a highly collaborative role, working across international research teams, policy institutions, and partner universities.

Key Responsibilities

As Policy and Engagement Manager, you will:

• Co-design and deliver the policy engagement and evidence translation strategy for IDAlert
• Support the integration of IDAlert outputs into the Lancet Countdown in Europe
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with European policy institutions, technical agencies, and academic partners

Coordinate the development of:

• Policy briefs and reports
• Evidence translation materials
• Stakeholder engagement events and policy dialogues
• Engage with policy officers and technical experts across partner organisations
• Ensure that research findings are communicated clearly to non-academic audiences, supporting uptake into policy and practice
• Your work will support evidence-informed policymaking in line with UK and European public health priorities

About You

You will be a confident policy professional with strong experience at the interface of research, policy, and engagement.

Essential requirements include:

• A Master’s degree in political science, international relations, public health, sustainable development, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Demonstrable experience in policy engagement, advocacy, or public affairs, ideally within European policy contexts
• Strong understanding of European governance, diplomacy, and policy processes

Proven experience translating technical or academic evidence into:

• Policy briefs
• Health policy recommendations
• Technical policy reports
• Experience delivering complex projects to deadline, working independently and using initiative
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomatic, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage policymakers at all levels
• Experience working on climate change, health, or infectious disease policy will be a strong advantage.

Visa Sponsorship

This role is eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, and UCL welcomes applications from international candidates who require a visa

What UCL Offers

Alongside the opportunity to shape European climate and health policy, UCL offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 41 days’ annual leave (27 annual leave, 8 bank holidays, 6 closure days)
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days’ leave
• Defined benefit CARE pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation support for eligible posts
• On-site nursery and gym facilities
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
• Staff Support Service (Employee Assistance Programme)
• Discounted private medical insurance
• Full details are available via UCL Rewards and Benefits.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, UCL is committed to creating a fair, inclusive, and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive. We actively encourage applications from candidates who are underrepresented in higher education and policy-related roles, including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ people, and women at senior grades.

The Institute for Global Health holds an Athena SWAN Silver Award, recognising sustained progress in advancing gender equality. National guidance on equality legislation is available