Graduate Development Programme: Strategic Planning and Policy Unit

The Strategic Planning and Policy Unit leads on developing the Trust's long-term strategy and provides analysis, research and advice to help ensure that the Trust can achieve its aims in the most effective way. We have 17 staff from a range of backgrounds, working across two teams.

The Policy and Advocacy team works to influence policy and legislative developments that may affect the work and environments of the researchers we fund. The aim is to ensure that the policies and regulations governing science are supportive of those doing research. This work spans a broad range of issues from global health to access to research data. The team also develops, implements and manages a series of Trust policies setting out the circumstances and conditions associated with our funding.

The Assessment and Evaluation team works to deliver research and analysis of what effects the Trust's funding has in terms of scientific advances and individuals' career progression. A core art of the team's work is to deliver an annual report that sets out the progress and accomplishments of the Trust's activity in relation to our Strategic Plan.

Our day-to-day work is highly varied and all our staff quickly develop good project management and task prioritisation skills. You would finish your placement with a keen insight into the policy development process, including exposure to UK and EU legislative processes, experience in compiling briefing notes to support senior management decision making and meetings, and a good awareness of the approaches adopted and associated challenges of doing post-award assessment and evaluation.