Manager, Physics Workforce

We're looking for an ambitious and influential Manager, Physics Workforce on a full-time, permanent basis, to lead research, insight and engagement that helps our stakeholders better appreciate and understand the value of physics skills, the workforce challenges facing physics-powered sectors, and identify solutions that make a lasting difference.

Physics for our future. From clean energy and advanced manufacturing to healthcare, defence, digital technologies and emerging industries, physics skills are critical to economic growth, innovation and solving global challenges. Yet, at the same time, the contribution of physics skills remains poorly understood and often invisible in national workforce conversations. The Institute of Physics is determined to change that.

Why this role matters. Our vision is a world where physics transforms lives, creates opportunity and helps tackle society's biggest challenges. The Manager, Physics Workforce will play a central role in building evidence and supporting the translation of insight into action.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape national conversations. You'll uncover evidence that informs decision-making, develop thought leadership that challenges assumptions, and support the building of partnerships that drive positive change across industry, education and government.

What will I be doing? As Manager, Physics Workforce, you'll help position the IOP as a trusted authority on workforce and physics skills issues. You will:

• Lead high-profile workforce and skills research programmes across the UK and Ireland.
• Develop compelling evidence and insight that supports change and informs decision-making.
• Translate complex evidence into clear, persuasive narratives that inspire action.
• Produce influential reports, briefings and thought leadership.
• Identify emerging workforce trends and opportunities.
• Contribute to skills and workforce activity across our strategic priorities of Skills, Science and Society.

In doing the above you'll help:

• Raise awareness of the economic value of physics skills.
• Influence workforce and skills policy and investment at national and regional levels.
• Support physics-powered sectors to thrive.
• Raise the visibility of pathways into physics-powered careers.
• Ensure evidence drives action across the physics skills ecosystem.
• Help create a stronger, more diverse and more future-ready workforce.

Who will I work with? You'll engage with a diverse network of influential stakeholders, including industry leaders and employers; sector bodies and workforce experts; policymakers and strategic influencers; members of our physics community, and colleagues across the IOP.

This is a role for a strategic thinker, someone who enjoys collaboration and working across organisational and sector boundaries.

About you. You're naturally curious, motivated by impact and comfortable navigating complex challenges. You know how to turn evidence into influence and insight into action.

You may already be working in:

• Workforce development, skills/STEM policy or public affairs, or labour market research and analysis.

Most importantly, you'll bring:

• Exceptional research and analytical capability, with the ability to create compelling narratives from data and evidence.
• Domain knowledge and understanding of the complexities of the skills ecosystem.
• Strong project and programme leadership experience.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• A track record of delivering work that informs decisions and drives change.

Why join the Institute of Physics, the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland? The IOP is a friendly, inclusive and ambitious organisation, where 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 (that can be taken flexibly)
• Exceptionally flexible working opportunities (see below for more details)

Our current strategy, Physics for our future, is built around three priorities: Skills. Science. Society. Everything we do is focused on creating positive impact through those priorities. As a core part of our Workforce and HE team, you will have an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to all three.

If you're excited by the idea of combining research, influence, stakeholder insight and thought leadership to tackle some of the most important workforce challenges facing physics-powered sectors, 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.

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 as 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.

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 operationally 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 the Kings Cross area of London.