Policy Associate - Regulatory and Innovation Policy
Contract Type
Permanent
Working Pattern
Full time
Working Hours
35 hours per week
Salary
£46,272.14 for Birmingham and Cardiff; £50,899.35 for London based
Location Options
Birmingham with part of the week working from home, Cardiff with part of the week working from home, London with part of the week working from home
Function Type
Policy, Education and Research
We are looking for two Policy Associates to join our Strategy and Innovation Directorate in either our Birmingham, Cardiff or London office. These are senior roles offering substantial responsibility and the opportunity to shape the SRA's policy direction. You will contribute across diverse policy areas, including innovation, providing strategic insight, and driving meaningful change.
The role
You will be to make an informed contribution to a varied range of policy and research projects that may include regulatory policy, innovation and technology. You will be involved in the development, as well as the delivery and implementation, of major reforms, helping the SRA to deliver effective policies that protect consumers of legal services and promote the rule of law.
You will plan, organise and manage work streams within complex and high stakes policy development projects. You will also apply robust project management techniques.
You will be expected to become an expert on policy issues you may not be familiar with and will be responsible for carrying out rigorous investigation to create innovative policy solutions to complex problems. As part of the role, you will be engaging with stakeholders both internally and externally, including at executive level. You will 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.
As well as delivering policy projects in a more traditional sense, we are increasingly delivering our agenda through piloting, collaborating, partnering and influencing. You will be expected to help identify and deliver different ways of us achieving our aims.
What's in it for me
* Contribute and make an impact to the delivery of our Corporate Strategy, including on new policy areas like AI regulation
* Develop and build influential relationships with external stakeholders whilst representing the SRA
* Work in an environment that values equality, diversity and inclusion
* Join an influential team at an exciting time of change
* Additional 3% of annual basic salary for you to choose the benefits that best suit your lifestyle and personal situation
* 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and buy/sell/save holiday trading scheme
* £25 contribution to a monthly health and wellbeing portal. The portal provides access to more than 5,000 products, experiences and services. Some options available include gym membership, National Trust membership, music lessons, tennis lessons, massages, nutrition, life coaching, fertility support, financial support and much more
* Access to employee discount vouchers for savings on High Street brands, travel and supermarkets
* Pension - We will contribute 1½ - 2 times your contribution, up to 12.25%. So, if you contribute 7%, you will enjoy the maximum combined contribution of 19.25%
* Life Assurance cover of 4 times basic salary.
What we are looking for
* A proficient influencer who communicates confidently, clearly and concisely to all levels of stakeholders
* An ability to understand complex policy issues and be able to apply scrutiny and use judgement to develop practical solutions
* Excellent drafting skills producing high quality work in a range of formats for a range of audiences. In particularly producing well-argued and well-evidenced papers for executive and Board level stakeholders that will be externally published
* Experience of policy development, including in complex policy areas, and understanding the range of regulatory and research tools and technology to achieve an outcome
* Tenacious interpersonal skills with the ability to work constructively with colleagues of all levels, establishing influential relationships.
* Experience in tech, AI or GenAI, ideally within legal services or another professional services environment
Useful and additional information
* There is a full role profile attached to the bottom of this advert on our website.
* This is a hybrid role and can be based either in our Birmingham, Cardiff or London office.
* You will work 1-2 days a week within the office and from home for rest of the week.
* Some travel will be required to the SRA's other offices for meetings with stakeholders or attendance at events. This would be in addition to days required in the office.
* Interviews are due to take place via MS Teams on 10 and 11 December
* If you have any questions that aren't in this advert or on our website, please contact us via recruitment@sra.org.uk
To apply
Please click 'apply' to complete the online application form and upload a CV and cover letter, addressing how you meet the essential criteria listed under the 'what we are looking for' section above.
Take a look at our staff videos to see what our offices look like and what it is that makes people proud to work at SRA.
To find out more about the recruitment and selection process and how to make the most of your application, please visit our jobs pages
The closing date for applications is Sunday 30 November 2025 at 23:55.
IND1
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, an excellent defined contribution pension scheme and an additional 3% of annual basic salary upon successful completion of probation.
Attached Role Profile
Policy Associate Role Profile - Regulation & Innovation May 2024.docx - 537KB Opens in a new window
Converted File Policy Associate Role Profile - Regulation & Innovation May 2024.docx.pdf - 76KB Opens in a new window
Vacancy closing date: 30/11/2025, 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.