Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)
Head of Policy
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Role Overview
To shape, lead, and, working with others, deliver the Institution of Chemical Engineers’ (IChemE) policy agenda and priorities, and influencing decision makers (including government, Parliament, Parliamentarians, public stakeholders, and industry).
This role delivers policy activity that must be visible to IChemE's members and non-members, including publications, events, media engagement, and expert convening, while building the relationships and credibility that enable IChemE to influence decision-makers on issues of strategic importance.
This role is key to IChemE’s ambitions to be a trusted advisor to government, Parliamentarians, and others on issues where chemical and process engineering has a distinctive voice, alongside collaborating with other organizations on issues of common interest.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Partnerships and Relationship Building
- Raise the profile of IChemE policy work through strategic partnerships, including, but not limited to, the National Engineering Policy Centre in the UK.
- Build, develop, and manage the Policy team and its strategic relationships, understanding how these overlap and interplay with the relationships held by teams across the wider institution and beyond.
- Engage key IChemE committees, members, and communities to harness expertise in developing policy positions, recommendations, and reports.
- Canvas and cultivate members’ views (e.g. through Member Groups, Special Interest Groups, and other IChemE Communities) on the latest government and industry thinking.
- Identify key stakeholders, working to develop and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders (as set out in, but not limited to, the key relationships listed above).
- Engage with international bodies on opportunities to provide chemical engineering insights on relevant matters.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships across UK Government, Parliament, Parliamentarians, Devolved Administrations, and others as part of a policy and impact strategy to understand demand for engineering policy advice, coordinating with expertise within members to provide targeted advice.
- Look for, and implement where appropriate, opportunities to engage with international bodies on relevant topics.
- Build strong, mutually beneficial relationships on behalf of the IChemE with policymakers, Parliamentarians, the media, employers, academic bodies, and other institutions, representing the views of members.
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Policy Development
- Provide high-quality and technically robust content to support speeches and presentations for delivery to senior industry and government figures.
- Develop & deliver policy positions to raise the profile of the importance of chemical & process engineering to the challenges faced by society.
- Liaise with senior stakeholders, internal and external, to scope projects which this role will then lead and maintain stakeholder engagement with.
- Develop appropriate policy briefings and positions on chemical & process engineering & technical skills qualifications.
- Support the development and delivery of policy development strategy.
Communications and PR
- Responsible for ensuring there is a multi-channel communications plan for IChemE’s policy activity, and overseeing its implementation and monitoring of related KPIs.
- Produce regular communications and PR pieces, including for The Chemical Engineer magazine.
- Review and sign off policy-related content produced by others in The Chemical Engineer and other IChemE communications channels.
- Where appropriate, act proactively and reactively as a media spokesperson for the IChemE on policy and technical issues.
Leadership and Management
- This role will have responsibility for a small team, supplemented by external advisers where required.
- This role is a critical outward-facing position with significant responsibility for managing the reputation and public perception of IChemE.
- Develop and implement KPIs for the Policy activity.
- Work closely with and across IChemE departments to ensure successful delivery of the IChemE Strategy, including the vision, mission, and strategic goals set out above.
- This role is responsible for managing the Policy department’s budget.
In addition to duties and responsibilities listed above, the employee may be required to perform other duties assigned by their line manager from time to time.
Other Information
Due to IChemE’s international nature, this position requires a willingness to work flexibly and to sometimes engage in business discussions outside of normal working hours. The job holder must be willing to attend and participate in such activities and associated travel. Additionally, the job holder will be required to liaise with colleagues located in different time zones on an ad hoc basis to meet the needs of the business.
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The position is based in the UK with flexible working arrangements, meaning you will usually be working three days from the London office and the remainder from home.
Only candidates eligible to work in the UK will be considered. This is a permanent, full-time role based on 37.5 hours per week working Monday through to Friday.
Starting salary will be £51,000 - £57,000 per annum (depending on experience) plus benefits which includes an excellent pension scheme.
To apply, please provide a CV and a cover letter highlighting your experience against the areas listed above and why you think you are the ideal candidate for the role. To request a copy of the full job description or to formally apply for the position, please email our HR team recruitment@icheme.org
Please note that applications sent without a cover letter will not be reviewed. The closing date for all applications is close of business Sunday 30 August 2026. IChemE reserves the right to interview exceptional candidates and make an offer of employment before the closing date should we wish.
IChemE Benefits of Employment
- Annual performance reviews
- Training and development opportunities
- Company contributory pension scheme that matches employee contributions by 1.5 times up to a maximum capped 12% employer contribution
- Life assurance linked to being an active member of the pension scheme
- 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) for full-time members of staff
- Company paid sickness leave after 6 months employment and increased at intervals based on length of service
- Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
- Health cash plan (cash back on optical, dental, physio, and more)
- Financial support to help cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions if relevant to your role
- Free parking and refreshments at our Rugby Office
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