Policy Associate

Permanent
Full time - flexible working may be considered
35 hours per week
£40,000 - 50,000 per annum
London - Old Broad Street
Based in Birmingham, with a staff of over 600, the SRA is currently in the midst of a major and exciting programme of regulatory reform and organisational change, focused on reducing regulatory burdens, and delivering effective policies that protect consumers of legal services and promote the rule of law.

The role of the Policy Associate will be to make an informed contribution to key elements of the development, as well as delivery and implementation, of the SRA's regulatory policy and/or Education and Training agenda.

This is a new opportunity and the post holder will plan, organise and manage work streams within complex and high stakes policy development projects, applying robust project management techniques. The successful candidate will be responsible for carrying out rigorous analysis and applying judgement to create innovative policy solutions to complex problems in legal education and/or the market for legal services and/or legal education in England and Wales. You will be expected to have a clear understanding of the range of available regulatory tools, the importance of an evidence base and the values of equality, diversity and inclusion to deliver effective policy outcomes.

The Policy Associate will operate in a matrix working pattern on programmes covering both regulatory and educational projects. The educational work will include Training for Tomorrow (the SRA's response to the Legal Education and Training Review), and in particular the development of a new qualification and assessment framework for solicitors.

The role holder may be based either in London or in Birmingham and will be expected to travel regularly between the two locations.

Please note that currently we have more roles in our Policy Directorate. For more information please visit www.sra.org.uk/jobs.

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and covering letter in one document. Please ensure that your CV and covering letter clearly demonstrate how you meet the knowledge, skills and experience requirements of the role.

Essential

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and experience:

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Relevant, senior level experience of one or more of: regulation, consumer policy, economics, legal services market, education and training

Relevant experience of leading policy development and delivery in a similar or related environment

Demonstrable ability to apply regulation to the legal services market and/or to professional legal education and a good understanding of the wide range of regulatory tools which deliver effective policy

An excellent understanding of research tools and techniques, and the role of research in policy development

Demonstrable ability to think independently, with the capability to develop well argued, well-evidenced, and practical solutions to complex policy issues

Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to make a significant contribution to building a network of internal and external stakeholders

Confident, fluent and influential communicator, able to engage effectively both internally and externally and to present information to a wide range of audiences

Excellent drafting skills, with demonstrable experience of producing written reports, consultation papers, policy documents, committee and board papers to a high standard

Strong commitment to equality and diversity both as a colleague and regulator

The SRA is the independent regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales, protecting consumers and supporting the rule of law and the administration of justice. We do this by overseeing all education and training requirements necessary to practise as a solicitor, licensing individuals and firms to practise, setting the standards of the profession and regulating and enforcing compliance against these standards.
We offer an inclusive, supportive and friendly working environment and the chance to develop your career within a professional organisation. We are committed to the health and wellbeing of staff, helping everyone to strike a good balance between personal and professional life.

Additionally, we provide a generous flexible benefits package, including gym membership with a tax only cost, an excellent defined contribution pension scheme and an additional 3% of annual basic salary upon successful completion of probation.
Vacancy closing date: 19/09/2014, 23:55

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Diversity and inclusion is central to everything we do. We are actively committed to promoting and participating in good practice in the way that we attract, recruit and retain staff.

Everyone is encouraged to bring their whole self to work because we appreciate the value that a truly diverse workforce brings to an organisation. We celebrate difference, recognising the benefits this brings to our inclusive culture, including age, disability, gender identity and expression, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation and socio economic background.

 We are a Stonewall Top 100 Employer, a member of ENEI, a disability confident employer and we are happy to talk flexible working.

This opportunity is closed to applicants.