Manager, Physics Workforce

The Institute of Physics (IOP) exists to help our lives, our society and our planet through promoting physics applications and supporting the people behind it.

Working alongside our members and leaders from across the physics community and beyond, we’ve identified three priorities that will shape our work over the next five years: Skills, Science and Society. These priorities sit at the heart of everything we do.

We’re proud of our ambitious and forward looking 2024 – 2029 strategy. You can find out more about our priorities and principles by clicking here.

We’re currently looking for a Manager, Physics Workforce, offered on a full time, permanent basis to help us deliver our mission.

What’s it like working at the IOP?

The IOP is a friendly, inclusive and ambitious organisation. Diversity and inclusion are central to how we work. We focus on supporting our people to thrive, offering competitive pay, great development opportunities and a generous benefits package.

Some of our benefits include:

• An excellent pension scheme
• Private medical insurance, life assurance, dental insurance and a healthcare cash plan
• Eye care vouchers, annual flu vaccinations, long service awards and access to an employee assistance programme
• 25 days’ annual leave as a standard, rising to a maximum of 30 days with continued service, in addition to floating bank holidays
• Flexible working opportunities

The Role

What will I be doing?

The Manager, Physics Workforce is a key role in the team with a core purpose of supporting and shaping activities that develop a strong and robust evidence base through research to:

• Identify the skills needs of physics powered sectors and champion new ways to meet them. 
• Highlight the often-hidden contribution of physics skills to our economy.

Projects you may work on include:

• A multi‑year, Physics Workforce programme that delivers evidence and insight on physics skills across the UK and Ireland.
• Development of sector deep dive projects to identify impactful policy, industry and IOP/partner-led solutions to identified shortages and challenges(with associated reports and stakeholder engagement).
• Supporting the workforce and skills elements of policy submissions and other initiatives across IOP’s strategic pillars of Skills, Science and Society.

Who will I work with?

You’ll work closely with a range of colleagues and stakeholders, including:

• Strategic influencers across the skills ecosystem.
• Physics-based sector and industry stakeholders, including those holding IOP Membership.
• A wide range of colleagues across the IOP - Policy and Public Affairs; Membership; Science, Business and Data Insights; Communications and Marketing; Nations; and EDI.

Ideally, we hope you’ll apply if you bring:

Essential:

• Credible evidence of translating data, evidence, and stakeholder insight, into compelling narrative (through the writing of reports and similar communication assets).
• Project management competence and experience, including leading high profile, initiation-to-evaluation, multi-stakeholder programmes.
• A strong background of leading stakeholder and desk-based research to drive influence and engagement, ideally developed through a STEM-based policy, public affairs or research role.

Nice to have:

• An understanding of the skills ecosystem and the challenges faced by STEM-based sectors.
• Line management experience.

At the IOP, we know that great candidates don’t always tick every box. If your experience looks a little different, but you bring enthusiasm, curiosity and a willingness to learn, we’d love to hear from you.

How to apply

Alongside your CV, please include a cover letter explaining how you meet the person specification. Where possible, please give examples of thought leadership you have developed and the impact it had.

How will I be working?

We operate a flexible, trust based working model that gives colleagues autonomy over how, when and where they work, while recognising the value of in person collaboration. You will be assigned a base office, with hybrid working offered as standard.

You will engage in regular in person collaboration with your team (as operational appropriate), as well as with colleagues across the wider organisation, to ensure effective operational alignment and to support our inclusive approach to working.

As an organisation we also meet in person once a quarter at our Head Office in Kings Cross, London. 

Why join the IOP?

The IOP is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. As a charity, we’re passionate about increasing public understanding of physics and supporting a diverse and inclusive physics community. There’s never been a better time to join us, watch our film to find out more about the difference we make.

We’re committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive culture for everyone. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please let us know we’re always happy to help.

Please note whilst we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, we warmly encourage applications from candidates who already have the right to work in the UK and Ireland.