Policy Associate (Regulatory and Innovation Policy)

Contract Type   Permanent Working Pattern   Full time - flexible working may be considered Working Hours   35 hours per week Salary   From £45,404 to £47,541 for Birmingham and Cardiff based and from £49,945 to £52,295 for London based, depending on knowledge, skills and experience Location Options   Hybrid - home based and Birmingham, Hybrid - home based and Cardiff, Hybrid - home based and London, Old Broad Street Function Type   Policy, Education and Research  

Policy Associate – Regulatory and Innovation Policy

We are looking for a Policy Associate to join our Strategy and Innovation Directorate in either our Birmingham, Cardiff or London office. This is a senior role which carries significant responsibilities and opportunities to influence the policy direction of the SRA. You will have the opportunity to work across our policy areas, including on Innovation policy. We may be able to consider different flexible working arrangements.

The Policy Associate role

We have an ambitious and exciting three-year Corporate Strategy for 2023-2026. The Strategy, Innovation and External Affairs Directorate has a leading role in delivering this Strategy, working with the Executive and the Board. The Directorate is also responsible for identifying new projects that deliver our new strategic objectives.

The role of the Policy Associate will be to make an informed contribution to a varied range of policy and research projects that may include regulatory policy, innovation and technology and education and training. You will be involved in the development, as well as the delivery and implementation, of major reforms, helping the SRA to deliver effective policies that protect consumers of legal services and promote the rule of law.

You will plan, organise and manage work streams within complex and high stakes policy development projects. You will also apply robust project management techniques.

You will be expected to become an expert on policy issues you may not be familiar with and will be responsible for carrying out rigorous analysis to create innovative policy solutions to complex problems. As part of the role, you will be engaging with stakeholders both internally and externally, including at executive level. You will have a clear understanding of the range of available regulatory tools, the importance of an evidence base and the values of equality, diversity and inclusion to deliver effective policy outcomes.

As well as delivering policy projects in a more traditional sense, we are increasingly delivering our agenda through piloting, collaborating, partnering and influencing. You will be expected to help identify and deliver different ways of us achieving our aims.

What's in it for me

• Contribute and make an impact to the delivery of our Corporate Strategy, including on new policy areas like AI regulation
• Develop and build influential relationships with external stakeholders whilst representing the SRA
• Work in an environment that values equality, diversity and inclusion
• Join an influential team at an exciting time of change
• Additional 3% of annual basic salary for you to choose the benefits that best suit your lifestyle and personal situation
• Pension - We will contribute 1½ - 2 times your contribution, up to 12.25%. So, if you contribute 7%, you will enjoy the maximum combined contribution of 19.25%

 What we are looking for

• A strong influencer who communicates confidently, clearly and concisely to all levels of stakeholders
• An ability to understand complex policy issues and be able to apply analysis and use judgement to develop practical solutions
• Excellent drafting skills producing high quality work in a range of formats for a range of audiences. In particularly producing well-argued and well-evidenced papers for executive and Board level stakeholders that will be externally published
• Experience of policy development, including in complex policy areas, and understanding the range of regulatory and research tools and technology to achieve an outcome
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work constructively with colleagues of all levels, establishing influential relationships

Useful and additional information

There is a full role profile attached to the bottom of this advert on our website.

We are recruiting for this role on a full-time basis, working 35 hours per week. We welcome applicants who may be looking to achieve a balance between their personal and professional life and may be able to consider flexible working arrangements. If you have any questions that aren’t in this advert or on our website, please contact us via recruitment@sra.org.uk

The SRA headquarters are in Birmingham although the Regulatory Policy team is split across our Birmingham and London offices. This is a hybrid role and can be based either in our Birmingham, Cardiff or London office 1-2 days a week, and from home for rest of the week. Some travel will be required to the SRA’s other offices (usually to our Birmingham office), or for meetings with stakeholders or attendance at events. This would be in addition to days at your home office.

The salary offer for this role will be from £45,404 to £47,541 per annum for Birmingham and Cardiff based and from £49,945 to £52,295 per annum for London based, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.

To apply

Please click ‘apply’ to complete the online application form and upload a CV and cover letter, addressing how you meet the essential criteria listed under the ‘what we are looking for’ section above.

Closing date for applications is 12 January 2024 at 23:55.

The SRA is the independent regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales, protecting consumers and supporting the rule of law and the administration of justice. We do this by overseeing all education and training requirements necessary to practise as a solicitor, licensing individuals and firms to practise, setting the standards of the profession and regulating and enforcing compliance against these standards. We offer an inclusive, supportive and friendly working environment and the chance to develop your career within a professional organisation. We are committed to the health and wellbeing of staff, helping everyone to strike a good balance between personal and professional life.

Additionally, we provide a generous flexible benefits package, including gym membership with a tax only cost, an excellent defined contribution pension scheme and an additional 3% of annual basic salary upon successful completion of probation. Attached Role Profile   Policy Associate Role Profile (May 2024).docx – 530KB Opens in a new window
Converted File Policy Associate Role Profile (May 2024).docx.pdf – 61KB Opens in a new window Vacancy closing date: 12/01/2025, 23:55

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Diversity and inclusion is central to everything we do. We are actively committed to promoting and participating in good practice in the way that we attract, recruit and retain staff.

Everyone is encouraged to bring their whole self to work because we appreciate the value that a truly diverse workforce brings to an organisation. We celebrate difference, recognising the benefits this brings to our inclusive culture, including age, disability, gender identity and expression, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation and socio economic background.

 We are a Stonewall Top 100 Employer, a member of ENEI, a disability confident employer and we are happy to talk flexible working.

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