Contract Policy/Research Jobs in Greater London
Our programme supporting Higher Technical Education has big ambitions. Known as the ‘missing middle’ of higher education in England, we want to see the declines in level 4 and 5 technical education reversed and more providers emerge who can offer high-quality education and training to help people access highskilled occupations. Key to this transformation is the role of Institutes of Technology (IoTs) – collaborations between further education colleges, universities and employers – and we have been working closely with the National Network of Institutes of Technology to support their success. We are looking for a Project Officer to play an integral part in the successful delivery of this programme, as well as becoming an advocate for Higher Technical Qualifications more broadly.
This role sits within the small Higher Education Team at Gatsby, and you will work closely with the Project Manager and Director of Programmes to: develop and deliver a range of projects to support our programme objectives; represent Gatsby at external meetings; organise meetings and events; and develop strong working relationships with key partners.
Key Role Responsibilities:
- Deliver projects to support Gatsby’s Higher Technical Education programme, with clear objectives and planning, delivering outputs on time and within budget.
- Research, create and write compelling communications that support programme objectives.
- Co-ordinate regular meetings and external events, including drafting agendas, writing minutes, liaising with and organising contributions from external stakeholders.
- Work effectively with other Gatsby programme teams to ensure higher technical education is appropriately represented within their areas of focus.
- Commission consultants/researchers to undertake pieces of work that will inform programme direction.
- Undertake project evaluations to measure success, analysing outputs/feedback and making informed recommendations to improve activity.
- Manage the National Network of Institutes of Technology website and LinkedIn pages, ensuring they remain a compelling national presence with engaging and relevant content.
- Provide administrative and budget support for beneficiary grants and contracts.
- Create and maintain data and contact information relevant to the Institutes of Technology and other key stakeholders in higher technical education.
- Maintain a secure understanding of all high-level Gatsby policy positions and able to communicate them effectively in written form and verbally.
About You:
Experience
- Managed projects to successful outcomes, including some budget responsibility.
- Organised meetings and external events.
- Managed external contracts or grants to deliver agreed objectives on time and within budget.
- Developed and maintained a network of external contacts.
- Have produced effective communication materials for different audiences.
Knowledge & Expertise
- Some knowledge and understanding of the UK post-18 education and skills landscape.
- Basic understanding of the ways in which policy decisions are influenced and enacted in England.
Skills & Abilities
- Comfortable working with partners in education and industry, able to initiate and develop positive relationships with a diverse range of people and organisations.
- Able to persuade, engage and build rapport quickly with new contacts, and maintain important working partnerships.
- Oral and written fluency in English and able to prepare and present accurate and readable briefings and reports from complex information.
- Constantly striving to improve own projects and processes. Open to new ideas and ways of doing things, enabling constructive contributions to organisational progress and innovation.
- Able to set and meet own deadlines under pressure, often balancing conflicting priorities, and dealing calmly with unforeseen issues.
- Diplomatic and politically sensitive, using good judgement and evidence to form opinions.
- An ability to apply an awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.
Personal Attributes & Other Requirements
- Strong interest in the role of technical education and careers guidance in improving life chances.
- Highly self-motivated, setting high standards for themselves and those they work with.
- Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
- Enjoys working as part of a small team.
- Able to be flexible about working hours and locations, including working remotely and travelling to meetings around the UK and potentially overseas (may include overnight stays).
For the full job pack and details of the application process, please click the How to Apply button.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Public Affairs Assistant will work with the Public Affairs Manager, Director of Policy and Evidence and the Policy and Campaigns Team to help influence decision makers and build stronger relationships with stakeholders, and ensure there is better understanding of the impact that challenges with talking and understanding words can have on a child and young person’s life.
We are Speech and Language UK (formerly I CAN) – we want every child to face the future with confidence. For 1.9 million children in the UK learning to talk and understand words feels like an impossible hurdle. We want to reach children earlier to make sure every child has the skills to face the future. We design innovative tools and training for staff in schools and settings, give families the confidence and skills to help their child and put pressure on politicians to prioritise support for children.
The post-holder will:
· Provide the administrative support to the Speech, Language and Communication Alliance playing a key role in support the charity to foster stronger relationships with key partners
· Support the Public Affairs Manager in dissemination of briefings and correspondence with parliamentarians and civil servants, including setting up meetings
· Attend meetings as required, both in person and online to facilitate record keeping and liaison
· Maintain the Microsoft Team and SharePoint sites so that documents and notes are securely stored and accessible and version control is maintained.
We are keen to hear from you if you have:
· Previous office/administrative experience (paid or unpaid).
· Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
· Commitment to the overall aims of the charity.
· Flexible, positive attitude towards performing a variety of duties.
· Willingness to develop/learn in the role.
To apply, please submit your up-to-date CV and a covering letter of no more than two pages, addressing how you meet the criteria above by Monday 29th April, 9am. Interviews are due to take place on 7th May.
Please note that we will not close applications before this time and date as we recognise that candidates put in a lot of time and effort into making an application and we want to give each of you the time and space to put in an application you feel proud of.
Please note that we will not shortlist candidates who do not submit a CV and a supporting statement.
Due to the volume of applications we receive, unfortunately, we are not always able to respond to every applicant. If you have not received a response within one week after the closing date, you have not been successful on this occasion.
Speech and Language UK is passionate about promoting equality, valuing diversity and working inclusively. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons particularly Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants, as these groups are currently under-represented in our workforce.
We are committed to safer recruitment practices and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.