Location
City of Westminster

Hours
Minimum 30 hours per week over a 4 day period. Flexible working arrangements available including part time, job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Salary
£37,260 per annum plus £10,794 employer contribution to the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

About the Role
The UK’s Policy Lab works across government to improve policymaking through design, innovation and people-centred approaches. Using multidisciplinary and agile methods such as co-design and collective intelligence, Policy Lab helps policy teams develop better policies and services that improve lives across the UK. Policy Lab has over a decade of experience addressing complex policy challenges with expertise in policy, lived experience research, design, systems thinking, futures and technology.

We are recruiting two Higher Executive Officer (HEO) roles within Policy Lab: the Studio Officer and the NSPARC (National Security Policy and Research Co-Lab) Project and Operations Officer. Both roles require strong operational, financial and project coordination skills, providing essential support in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.

NSPARC Project and Operations Officer
This role supports NSPARC’s portfolio by providing operational, financial and research assistance to unlock better, faster and more sustainable outcomes for UK national security. Responsibilities include project delivery and cross-government engagement, supporting research and design activities, managing logistics for workshops and events, and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The role also leads day-to-day finance and commercial processes, contract administration, budget tracking, and operational support across multiple priorities.

Policy Lab Studio Officer
This role undertakes core operations including finance, secretariat support and cross-team coordination. Key duties include managing finance and commercial operations, developing physical and digital office spaces and tools to support multidisciplinary working, managing team assets and communications, and providing senior leader support including diary and travel management. The postholder will use sound judgement, strong organisational skills and a collaborative approach to maintain effective processes and support colleagues at all levels.

Both roles require Security Check (SC) clearance or willingness to undergo clearance. The roles are based in the UK and support hybrid working with at least 60% office presence expected. Travel to the primary office location is not reimbursed, but travel to other offices is covered.

Policy Lab and NSPARC operate on a cost-recovery basis with a wide range of government commissioners, working openly and collaboratively to tackle some of the UK’s most complex policy challenges.

Experience
- Financial or operational management experience in a project, programme or studio context.
- High-quality administrative or secretariat support experience, coordinating delivery across multiple priorities in a fast-paced, agile environment with strong attention to detail.
- Experience managing competing priorities and different ways of working across cross-team initiatives.
- Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders including internal teams, senior leaders, external partners and suppliers.
- Interest or experience in innovative policymaking approaches such as people-centred research, co-design, speculative design or strategic design.

Experience may come from various sectors and does not need to be policy-specific, provided relevant transferable skills are demonstrated.

About you
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and adapt to changing requirements.
- Collaborative and inclusive approach to working with multidisciplinary teams.
- Sound judgement and proactive problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication skills to maintain clear, professional relationships with stakeholders.
- Ability to work confidently in a fast-paced, agile environment.
- Willingness to undergo Security Check (SC) clearance if not already cleared.

Qualifications
No specific qualifications are required; however, candidates should demonstrate relevant experience and skills as outlined above.