Engagement Manager

Job summary

This post is open to applicants who can meet the College’s nationality, UK residency and vetting requirements.

The National Centre for AI in Policing is one of the most high-profile and ambitious technology programmes in UK policing today. Backed by central government investment and sitting at the heart of the police reform agenda, Police AI is redefining how forces use data, technology and advanced analytics to tackle crime, protect the public, and modernise frontline operations.

We are building the national capability that will determine how AI is adopted, trusted and scaled across policing. We need someone who can connect policing to the very best of what the UK (and beyond) has to offer.

The College of Policing mission is: Leadership, Standards, Performance. This guides our work with individuals, forces, and policing partners towards our vision. We exist to support police officers, police staff and volunteers to deliver the best service to the public. Only through high quality leadership, consistent standards and continual performance improvement can everyone in policing reach their full potential. Our mission guides our work with individual, forces and partners towards our vision.

We offer a supportive and inclusive environment for people to thrive. Our extensive flexible-working policy, employee wellbeing support, family friendly policies, employers’ network for equality and inclusion membership (ENEI silver award winners), and status as a disability confident leader means everyone can bring their whole self to work.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

Due to our status as Public Servants, we are not eligible to participate in the Civil Service transfer process. Therefore, while successful candidates can transfer in on their existing terms and conditions, any subsequent transfer out of the College to the Civil Service cannot be guaranteed on existing terms and conditions, and new starter/modernised terms may apply.

The College embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we comply with the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and apply the minimum selection criteria at sift stage of the recruitment process.

If you are successful at interview, you will be required to undertake pre-employment security checks.

Please note, these checks can take up to 10 weeks. You will only be offered a start date after the checks have been completed. If the outcome of these checks is not satisfactory, your recommendation for employment will be withdrawn.

Job description

As the Engagement Manager for Academia & International Partners, you will be instrumental in expanding Police AI's reach and impact through external collaborations. You will be responsible for fostering relationships with leading universities, cutting-edge research institutions, and influential international bodies.

This role is pivotal in driving AI innovation within policing, facilitating the transfer of cutting-edge knowledge into practical applications, and establishing a robust pipeline for future AI talent, ensuring policing is at the forefront of technological advancement in the AI landscape.

The scale and pace of change anticipated over the next three years are unprecedented. We will be required to operate at the intersection of operational policing, advanced technology, governance, ethics, and public accountability. Success will depend on balancing innovation with assurance, agility with rigour, and national coordination with local operational realities.

In this role you will:

• Build and manage partnerships with academic institutions to drive AI innovation and knowledge transfer.
• Design and manage a PhD pipeline linking research to operational policing needs.
• Identify, shape and progress opportunities arising from partnerships into funded projects, collaborative programmes or capability development activity.

Person specification

You should have should have:

• Strong understanding of academic research systems, funding structures and collaboration models.
• Working knowledge of innovation ecosystems and research-to-application pathways.
• Experience of developing and managing academic and/or international partnerships, including building credible relationships and identifying opportunities for mutual benefit.
• Experience of securing or contributing to research funding bids, including shaping proposals, coordinating inputs and supporting successful outcomes
• Ability to analyse and synthesise complex research, funding and stakeholder inputs to develop clear recommendations and effective partnership approaches.

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Please provide an example when you have developed and managed an academic and/or international partnership. How did you approach building a credible relationship?
• Please provide an example when you have secured or contributed to research funding bids. How did you shape the proposal and ensure all appropriate inputs were secured? What was the outcome?
• Provide an example of when you have had to analyse and synthesise complex research and stakeholder inputs to develop a clear set of recommendations for actionable activity.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,440, College of Policing contributes £17,219 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

College staff have Public Servant status. As a Public Servant, you are eligible to join the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.

The College is a great place to work. We're passionate about our people and offer a wide range of benefits, including (but not limited to):

Defined benefit pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 28.97%

• Up to 31.5 days holiday (this is in addition to 8 public holidays and 1 privilege day)
• Continued professional development and structured career paths
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Flexi-time (for certain grades)
• Benenden Healthcare
• National Dental Plan
• Discounts for on-line shopping
• Free employee support line
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Rewards and recognition scheme
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.

We also have a number of thriving staff networks that provide the opportunity for advice, support and to drive change. A place to get your voice heard, share experiences and challenge our working practices to ensure equality of opportunity for all.

For more information about our benefits and staff networks, visit What we offer as an employer , College of Policing

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Technical skills.

This role is available for 24 months as a fixed term appointment.

Whilst this fixed term contract is offered on the understanding that it will only last as long as the stated contract length, there could be a possibility that it could be extended or made permanent should circumstances allow.

An initial sift based on partnerships experience may be held if many applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The closing date for this vacancy is Sunday 28 June 2026, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

How to apply and contact information:

For further information visit our ‘Work for us’ page.

What it's like working at the College of Policing

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

We believe that a diverse workforce brings many benefits to the organisation including diversity of thought and improvements to the way we work internally and with partners and communities. We strive to be fully inclusive but we know there is more to do. We genuinely encourage people from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups to apply for this role.

We want to continually improve our recruitment processes and to remove any barriers to equal opportunities that could disadvantage those from particular backgrounds. In order for us to have the information to do this, we ask you to please complete the diversity section of the online application process. We use a “blind” shortlisting process and we hope that by using this method we will be able to promote greater diversity in our workforce and remove any subconscious decisions based on biases.

The College is committed to support the Greening Government Commitment and reducing our Environmental impact. We have a dynamic Environmental Management Plan in place which encompasses various objectives, including our pledge to reduce business travel. To support our green agenda we have, in phase one, installed Electric Vehicle Charging Points at our sites in Ryton (12 points) and Harperley Hall (4 points) alongside two at our Harrogate office. We encourage employees to become an Environment Champion to help with promoting and delivering our Environmental Management Plan. Our One Step Greener approach encourages all College staff to make small changes to create a better future for everyone.

Please note that in order to work for the College of Policing you must have the Right to Work in the UK with indefinite leave to remain. In addition, you will also be required to provide an address history in the UK for the preceding 3 years.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : College Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@college.pnn.police.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@college.pnn.police.uk

Attachments

JD Engagement Manager Academia International Partners Opens in new window (pdf, 142kB)