Senior International Policy Adviser

The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking a Senior International Policy Adviser to join our Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement Team in the Policy Directorate, providing key support in taking forward the Academy’s international engagement and policy advice.

This is a new role in the Academy’s Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement Team. This role has a substantive focus on the Academy’s international policy programmes on humanity, climate and nature, and global (dis) order.

Working with colleagues, Academy Fellows and wider stakeholders in research, policy and practice you will lead on projects and strands of programmes within the Academy’s diverse and fast-moving international policy and engagement portfolio. You will be a primary lead and source of expertise for the Academy’s international engagement and policy, informing and influencing policy making through expert analysis, and strengthening the Academy’s international engagement and role.

The role would be well suited to candidates who have experience in international engagement and international policy who are able to hit the ground running and are comfortable engaging with and convening policymakers, researchers and practitioners. The role has significant external-facing responsibility, requiring the building of impactful relationships and being able to effectively challenge stakeholders and counterparts.

The British Academy is the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences, established by Royal Charter in 1902. We mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. Today’s complex challenges can only be resolved by deepening our insight into people, culture, and societies. With a Fellowship of around 1,700 leading national and international academics, the Academy invests in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas;

engages the public with fresh thinking and debates; and brings together scholars, government, business, and civil society to influence policy.

The Academy currently has five directorates:
Communications & Marketing;
Development;
Policy;
Research; and Resources, plus a small Governance & Fellowship Team.

Our senior management team have worked with staff to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and empathy, in which all contributions are recognised as we work towards our common goals. Our people strategy and working practices focus on building strengths and sharing insights, with learning & development, wellbeing, and equality, diversity & inclusion at the centre of how we operate as an organisation.

Investing in our staff and encouraging a healthy work/life balance is central to our success, as we move forward and continue to grow.

The British Academy is based at 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1, a Grade 1 listed building. We offer a competitive benefits package including a 35-hour working week, with hours and location worked flexibly under our hybrid-working policy; 34 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays; a subsidised canteen and an excellent occupational pension.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, in line with our commitment to create a diverse and inclusive working environment, promote equal opportunity, and address under-representation. We will make reasonable adjustments to support disabled job applicants and offer an interview to those meeting the minimum selection criteria.

Please contact the HR team at hr if you have any questions.

To apply, and to see the full job description and our workplace values, please follow the apply link to visit our recruitment platform.

Closing date:
Midday on 23 July 2026.

Interviews for this role are currently scheduled for 3/4 August 2026, but this may be subject to change.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. In such circumstances, we will provide 24 hours' notice of the revised closing date to those who have registered their interest.