Programme Manager, Science Communities
| Posting date: | 19 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £44,137 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Plus benefits |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 January 2026 |
| Location: | Cambridge, Cambridgeshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | JR301 |
Summary
We are seeking a Programme Manager on a permanent basis to join our Science Communities Team.
The role offers an opportunity to combine your passion for the chemical sciences with strategic programme development. You will work closely with the chemical sciences community to identify emerging issues and opportunities, and lead projects that address these topics in innovative and impactful ways.
You’ll work with colleagues in our Prizes & Grants and Conferences Development teams to strengthen connections to our Science Communities. You'll also work with teams across the Royal Society of Chemistry as well as in partnership with external stakeholders such as funding bodies and sister societies.
At the RSC we embrace flexibility and offer hybrid working, which means our teams come together when they need to collaborate. It is expected that you will attend the office two days per week, with the addition that you may need to attend more regularly for in-person events and meetings. This role will involve some UK travel including to work from our London office. If you need flexible working arrangements, please outline this in your application.
Key responsibilities:
Lead on the development of strategic insights into the current and future trends in chemical sciences research and innovation, within and across specific subfields.
Design and deliver projects that foster collaboration within and across disciplines and sectors, support early career scientists and explore emerging topics in the chemical sciences.
Engage with our Science Communities and the wider scientific community to inform RSC thought leadership, programmes and policy influencing activities.
Provide secretariat support for our Science Community Councils, ensuring effective governance and engagement.
Represent the RSC externally, building strong and effective relationships (e.g. within the chemical science community, with funding bodies, sister societies and government departments) to advance our science programmes and achieve science-driven influencing objectives.
Stay informed on developments in the research and innovation environment and its broader political, economic and societal factors.
Represent the RSC externally, building strong and effective relationships (e.g. within the chemical science community, with funding bodies, sister societies and government departments) to advance our science programmes and achieve science-driven influencing objectives.
What we are looking for:
PhD in chemistry or related science and engineering area or equivalent experience. Equivalent experience might be gained, for example, through working in science labs or science-related project management, publishing or community engagement.
Initiative to seek knowledge and open-ness to learning about technical areas of science as well as about new approaches or fields from expert colleagues and collaborators.
Experience of working on projects involving multiple stakeholders and / or able to balance and prioritise across multiple projects, tasks and deadlines.
Ability to leverage quantitative and qualitative data to make informed project and programme decisions.
Ability to build strong relationships and establish ongoing 2-way engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders e.g. different career stages, roles, levels and from different sectors.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.
Experience of facilitation or organisation of networks, meetings or workshops.
Interest or awareness of chemistry’s role in advancing science and technology and of the factors currently influencing the research and innovation environment, as well as the needs and concerns of people in the research and innovation community.
If you are interested in this role, please apply by the closing date. When applying, you will need to provide an up-to-date CV and as a cover letter (in no more than 500 words) telling us about your relevant knowledge, skills and competencies and why you are applying for this role.
About the RSC
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a not-for-profit organisation with a thriving international community of around 60,000 members in over 100 countries, an internationally renowned publisher of high-quality chemical science knowledge and the professional body for chemists in the UK, with a reputation as an influential champion for the chemical sciences.
Visit our Work For Us website to learn more about us, our benefits, equal opportunities statement and inclusive culture pledge.
At the RSC, we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds to apply. We particularly encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates.
As a part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we endeavour, where possible, to offer an interview to candidates meeting the essential criteria of the role, who has a substantial physical/mental impairment which impacts their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
We are committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team at jobs@rsc.org or on +44 (0) 1223 432229 and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.
If you have any questions, please contact us at jobs@rsc.org
The role offers an opportunity to combine your passion for the chemical sciences with strategic programme development. You will work closely with the chemical sciences community to identify emerging issues and opportunities, and lead projects that address these topics in innovative and impactful ways.
You’ll work with colleagues in our Prizes & Grants and Conferences Development teams to strengthen connections to our Science Communities. You'll also work with teams across the Royal Society of Chemistry as well as in partnership with external stakeholders such as funding bodies and sister societies.
At the RSC we embrace flexibility and offer hybrid working, which means our teams come together when they need to collaborate. It is expected that you will attend the office two days per week, with the addition that you may need to attend more regularly for in-person events and meetings. This role will involve some UK travel including to work from our London office. If you need flexible working arrangements, please outline this in your application.
Key responsibilities:
Lead on the development of strategic insights into the current and future trends in chemical sciences research and innovation, within and across specific subfields.
Design and deliver projects that foster collaboration within and across disciplines and sectors, support early career scientists and explore emerging topics in the chemical sciences.
Engage with our Science Communities and the wider scientific community to inform RSC thought leadership, programmes and policy influencing activities.
Provide secretariat support for our Science Community Councils, ensuring effective governance and engagement.
Represent the RSC externally, building strong and effective relationships (e.g. within the chemical science community, with funding bodies, sister societies and government departments) to advance our science programmes and achieve science-driven influencing objectives.
Stay informed on developments in the research and innovation environment and its broader political, economic and societal factors.
Represent the RSC externally, building strong and effective relationships (e.g. within the chemical science community, with funding bodies, sister societies and government departments) to advance our science programmes and achieve science-driven influencing objectives.
What we are looking for:
PhD in chemistry or related science and engineering area or equivalent experience. Equivalent experience might be gained, for example, through working in science labs or science-related project management, publishing or community engagement.
Initiative to seek knowledge and open-ness to learning about technical areas of science as well as about new approaches or fields from expert colleagues and collaborators.
Experience of working on projects involving multiple stakeholders and / or able to balance and prioritise across multiple projects, tasks and deadlines.
Ability to leverage quantitative and qualitative data to make informed project and programme decisions.
Ability to build strong relationships and establish ongoing 2-way engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders e.g. different career stages, roles, levels and from different sectors.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.
Experience of facilitation or organisation of networks, meetings or workshops.
Interest or awareness of chemistry’s role in advancing science and technology and of the factors currently influencing the research and innovation environment, as well as the needs and concerns of people in the research and innovation community.
If you are interested in this role, please apply by the closing date. When applying, you will need to provide an up-to-date CV and as a cover letter (in no more than 500 words) telling us about your relevant knowledge, skills and competencies and why you are applying for this role.
About the RSC
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a not-for-profit organisation with a thriving international community of around 60,000 members in over 100 countries, an internationally renowned publisher of high-quality chemical science knowledge and the professional body for chemists in the UK, with a reputation as an influential champion for the chemical sciences.
Visit our Work For Us website to learn more about us, our benefits, equal opportunities statement and inclusive culture pledge.
At the RSC, we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds to apply. We particularly encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates.
As a part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we endeavour, where possible, to offer an interview to candidates meeting the essential criteria of the role, who has a substantial physical/mental impairment which impacts their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
We are committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team at jobs@rsc.org or on +44 (0) 1223 432229 and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.
If you have any questions, please contact us at jobs@rsc.org
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.