Job summary

The HFEA is looking to recruit a Scientific Policy Officer to play an active part in the HFEAsPolicy Team by focusing primarily on projects based in the ScientificPolicy side of the team, but will also undertake non-scientific policy work.This post reports to the Policy Manager.

Benefits, include days annual leave, entry into the Civil Service Pension Scheme and various others). Full-time/part-time (ideally not less than FTE) applications and secondment requests (supported by the applicants seconding organisation) are welcome for this role.

Applicants can choose to be home or office based. When working remotely all staff have supported use of IT equipment provided by the HFEA.

Start date:January 2025 (nine-month fixed term contract with possibility to extend up to 12 months)

Interviews - w/c 16 December 2024

Main duties of the job

A key part of this role will be to support the Scientific Policy team in carrying out reviews of HFEA policy, which can include giving scientific policy advice and guidance both internally and externally. You will be working on various areas of policy including ourlaw reform work on future scientific developments and artificial intelligence,which involves working closely with colleagues from across the HFEA. You will act assecretariat to the HFEAs Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC),made up of scientific experts and clinicians,andsupport the HFEAs horizon scanning function. The successful candidate will also be responsible for dealing with patient, public and sector enquiries, including queries from the media and parliamentary question.

About us

The HFEA isthe UK's independent regulator overseeing safe and appropriate practice infertility treatment and embryo research. We license and monitor clinicscarrying out IVF, donor insemination, and human embryo research.

This post isoffered as either office based (in which case you will need to attend theoffice at least one day per week) or home based (in which case office attendance will be specified byyour line manager based on business need). Our office is in Stratford, eastLondon, in attractive new premises on the edge of the Olympic Park, alongsideseveral other health Arms Length Bodies. In addition to flexibility and hybridworking we offer generous annual leave and pension arrangements.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Working as part of the Policy team, the ScientificPolicy Officer will support the scientific policy team, give scientific policyadvice and guidance both internally and externally and contribute to policyprojects on various areas of policy including our lawreform work on future scientific developments and artificial intelligence.The post holder will also be responsible for dealing with patient, public andinspector enquires, including parliamentary questions and queries from media,relating to all our policy areas.

A key part of this role will be to act as secretariatto the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC) and tosupport the HFEAs horizon scanning function so that relevant scientificdevelopments can be anticipated, for example, the stem cell-based embryomodels, public health outcomes, and the emergence of AI and data-driventechnologies.Act as secretariat to the Scientific and ClinicalAdvances Advisory Committee (SCAAC), including planning meeting agendas andlogistics, drafting, and presenting committee papers, liaising with the Chairand committee members and minuting, and coordinating its work and associatedSOPs.

Responsibilities

1.To support the HFEAs horizon scanning function,including planning the annual horizon scanning meeting, and compiling andpresenting scientific literature review findings to the SCAAC.

2.To manage small-scale policy projects andprocesses, and project management documents where needed.

3.To assist in the planning and running ofstakeholder and working group meetings by coordinating agendas, taking minutesof meetings, and liaising with members, where needed.

4.To be jointly responsible (alongside the otherPolicy Officer and Media & Stakeholder Relations Officer) for the smoothoperation of the system for responding to public enquiries. Logging, allocatingand answering queries from patients, the public and other externalstakeholders.

5.To provide guidance, briefings, and otherinformation, both internally and externally, on matters of HFEA policy(particularly relating to developments in scientific and clinical research, newclinical techniques and treatments).

6.To support Policy Managers in carrying out policyreviews, contributing to public consultation activities, analysing publicconsultation responses and contributing to committee papers.

7.To provide support and resilience across theorganisation as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Education to at least degree level or equivalent in a biological or clinical subject, or equivalent experience.

Experience

Essential

Experience of servicing meetings particularly minute taking. Experience of undertaking scientific literature searches or review of research publications Ability to summarise and identify key points from a wide range of evidence. Good written and verbal communication skills including an ability to handle sensitive enquiries. Ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Desirable

Experience of working with a variety of stakeholders Experience of working with committees Project management skills and experience Knowledge or experience of legal ethical and scientific issues surrounding fertility treatment and research

Managing work

Essential

Good time management skills and an ability to prioritise tasks effectively. Excellent organisational skills and record keeping, using appropriate software and systems skilfully