Location
London, UK (Hybrid – 50% office attendance)

Hours
Full Time - 37.5 hours per week

Salary
£44,340 per annum

About the Role
Too much good science stalls before it reaches patients, not for lack of ambition but because the people and organisations needed to move promising research forward are not always aligned early enough: researchers, funders, the NHS, industry, regulators, investors and charities may each hold part of the solution, but not always a shared plan for delivery. The Academy of Medical Sciences is uniquely positioned to change that. Its independence means partners trust it to act for patients rather than any one institution. Its Fellowship spans every discipline and it can convene people who rarely share the same room. The Translation Catalyst Programme is how the Academy turns that position into action, and this role leads it.

This role is about building the operating system around UK science—the alignment and shared infrastructure that let research succeed—and, over time, a national asset. It is as much a building role as a delivery one. The function is new, its scale not fixed in advance, and much of the job involves bringing in partners and external funding—from industry, venture capital, research councils, health charities and others—that will determine how far and how fast it can go. Success is measured by what changes in the system, not by announcements.

The Senior Translational Partnerships Officer will contribute expert analysis, coordination and delivery within a defined area of the Academy’s research translation work. Reporting to the Translational Partnerships Lead, this role supports agreed priorities through programme and project activity, and may lead discrete workstreams or specialist portfolios where coordinated action could help the UK build translational advantage. You will support evidence gathering, develop options, coordinate partner input, monitor delivery risks and issues, and provide clear, reliable advice and reporting to senior colleagues.

You will work at the interface of biomedical science, policy, programme delivery and stakeholder engagement. The role requires well-developed knowledge and experience of the UK research and health system, strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills, and the ability to apply specialist expertise thoughtfully and accurately to practical organisational challenges. It combines specialist partnership support with practical delivery, ensuring activity is well evidenced, coordinated and aligned with agreed objectives, governance frameworks and wider Academy priorities.

Key Responsibilities
- Support and lead defined workstreams, ensuring agreed outputs are delivered to required standards and timescales.
- Lead discrete workstreams or specialist projects, managing progress, risks and issues, escalating decisions as needed.
- Set and manage work priorities for yourself and provide guidance to colleagues where relevant.
- Convene the system to close translational gaps through deep-dives, workshops and roundtables, contributing to evidence gathering and analysis.
- Develop options, actions and recommendations in collaboration with partners and Academy colleagues.
- Provide high-quality input to design and development of Academy interventions that help promising science move from discovery towards development.
- Work closely with the Grants and Programmes team to ensure new schemes are deliverable, well governed and aligned.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with partners across the health and research system.
- Support partnerships that bring in external capability and insight from industry, public funders, research charities, regulators and healthcare providers.
- Provide regular reporting on progress, risks, issues and resources to the Translational Partnerships Lead.

Closing date for applications: 2 August 2026 at 12.00
Interviews: Likely between 10 August 2026 and 21 August 2026

Experience
- Well-developed experience in research translation.
- Strong knowledge and experience in biomedical science, research policy, programme delivery, grants management, stakeholder engagement, translational research or life sciences innovation.
- Understanding of key stages in moving promising research towards development, adoption or commercial application and common barriers.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills with ability to synthesise evidence, interpret complex issues, develop options and provide clear advice.
- Credibility with stakeholders in the UK research, science, health, policy or life sciences environment.
- Experience supporting partnerships, projects or workstreams, coordinating contributions, tracking actions, identifying risks and working within established frameworks.
- Experience managing defined areas of work or projects to required standards and timescales, with possible delegated responsibility.
- Ability to operate with defined autonomy within agreed objectives, priorities and governance frameworks.

About You
- Credible and effective in engaging with funders, partners, collaborators, Fellows, industry, charities and the wider health system.
- Comfortable setting and managing priorities for yourself and others.
- Self-initiates work supporting team or Directorate objectives.
- Understands the strategy for your area and how your role contributes to wider Academy priorities.
- Collaborative and able to seek input from colleagues as needed.

Qualifications
- No specific qualifications stated; emphasis on relevant experience, knowledge and skills.