Academic advisor jobs

Title:     Engagement Manager

Salary:     £42,000–£52,000 (depending on experience)

Contract:     Permanent

Hours:     37.5 per week (Monday to Friday) 

Holiday:     25 days per year plus bank holidays 

Location:     Home based with regular travel within / to London and across the UK

Probationary Period:     3 months

Reports to:     Head of Department 

Benefits:     An additional 3 days holiday between Christmas and New Year, Flexitime policy, 5% pension contribution

Line Management:     Depending on experience, may line-manage the Senior Engagement Coordinator. 

We are River Action

We are a small and agile campaigning organisation on a mission to rescue Britain's rivers from a toxic cocktail of agricultural, sewage and industrial pollution and water shortages. We support community action, galvanise and mobilise public opinion, influence government policy, take legal actions and call out destructive industrial practices to incentivise changes that end river pollution and secure freshwater. 

We are building a talented team of positive disrupters and stakeholder mobilisers to deliver our strategy to urgently protect and restore our rivers for the benefit of communities, rivers and wildlife.

Britain’s rivers are our life support system and they are dying. We need urgent action to bring them back to life.

Who we are looking for

As River Action’s profile, influence and policy impact continue to grow, we are expanding our Public Affairs function to strengthen engagement with decision-makers, regulators, businesses, NGOs, strategic partners and local communities.

The Engagement Manager will play a critical role in helping River Action influence change by developing high-level relationships, building strategic partnerships and providing strategic leadership across River Action’s engagement programmes to advance our policy, legal and campaigning objectives.

This is a senior engagement leadership role responsible for providing strategic oversight of both stakeholder engagement and community engagement activity, ensuring River Action’s grassroots campaigning and external influence work are mutually reinforcing

What you’ll be doing

The Engagement Manager will lead River Action’s overall engagement strategy, providing strategic oversight of both stakeholder engagement and community engagement activity across the organisation.

Building and managing relationships with senior leaders across government, regulators, NGOs, businesses, financiers, academia and civil society, the postholder will identify opportunities to increase River Action’s influence, support policy and advocacy objectives, and help position the organisation as a leading voice on river protection and environmental reform.

The role will provide strategic direction and oversight to River Action’s community engagement work, including the River Rescue Kit, Community Toolkit and catchment-based campaigning activities, working closely with the Senior Engagement Coordinator who will lead day-to-day delivery, community support and programme implementation.

Working closely with colleagues across Public Affairs, Campaigns, Communications, Legal and Development, the Engagement Manager will ensure engagement activities contribute directly to organisational priorities and campaigns and that community insights help shape River Action’s policy, legal and campaigning work.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and deliver River Action’s stakeholder engagement strategy.

• Manage relationships with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Develop and implement engagement or public affairs strategies.

• Identify, map and prioritise key stakeholders across government, regulators, business, NGOs, academia and civil society.

• Build and maintain productive relationships with senior external stakeholders.

• Create opportunities for strategic collaboration that advance River Action’s mission and objectives.

• Monitor stakeholder developments and identify opportunities and risks.

Managing Stakeholder and Community Engagement

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of River Action’s stakeholder and community engagement programme.

• Ensure effective delivery and continuous development of the River Rescue Kit and Community Toolkit as key resources supporting grassroots campaigners and community groups.

• Oversee catchment-based engagement strategies that strengthen community-led action, advocacy and campaigning.

• Work closely with the Senior Engagement Coordinator to identify opportunities to expand and strengthen River Action’s network of stakeholder and community groups, campaigners and partners.

• Ensure insights, evidence and priorities emerging from stakeholders and local communities to inform River Action’s public affairs, policy, legal and campaigning work.

• Monitor the effectiveness and impact of community engagement activities and ensure learning is shared across the organisation.

• Support the development of engagement frameworks, systems and processes that enable effective community mobilisation at scale.

Public Affairs and External Influence

• Support the delivery of River Action’s Public Affairs strategy.

• Build relationships with parliamentarians, political advisers, local authority leaders and relevant government officials.

• Support engagement with regulators including the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Ofwat and other relevant bodies.

• Represent River Action in external forums, roundtables, conferences and stakeholder meetings.

• Coordinate stakeholder engagement around key campaigns, policy initiatives and legal actions.

Strategic Partnerships

• Develop partnerships with environmental NGOs, think tanks, academic institutions, financiers and businesses.

• Identify opportunities for joint initiatives, campaigns and advocacy activity.

• Strengthen River Action’s position within the wider environmental and public policy landscape.

• Convene strategic partnerships to support policy and campaigning objectives.

Organisational Leadership

• Work closely with the Head of Public Affairs to support delivery of organisational objectives.

• Provide strategic direction, support and oversight to the Senior Engagement Coordinator, ensuring community engagement activity aligns with organisational priorities and objectives.

• Provide stakeholder intelligence and strategic advice to senior leadership.

• Contribute to organisational planning and public affairs priorities.

• Support cross-team working between Public Affairs, Campaigns, Communications, Legal and Fundraising.

• Ensure strong integration between River Action’s community engagement, public affairs, campaigns, communications and legal work.

Communications and Representation

• Act as an ambassador for River Action externally.

• Support media opportunities through stakeholder engagement and relationship building.

• Prepare briefings, stakeholder reports and engagement plans.

• Help identify influential voices and advocates who can amplify River Action’s work.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Maintain stakeholder engagement plans and CRM records.

• Monitor engagement outcomes and report against agreed KPIs.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement activity and recommend improvements.

What you’ll bring

Essential Experience

• Significant experience in stakeholder engagement, public affairs, external affairs, partnerships or advocacy.

• Experience managing relationships with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Experience developing and implementing engagement or public affairs strategies.

• Experience overseeing or managing community engagement, organising or grassroots campaigning programmes.

• Experience translating community priorities and local evidence into policy, advocacy or campaigning objectives.

• Experience working across complex stakeholder environments.

• Experience representing an organisation externally.

Essential Knowledge

• Understanding of UK water-related political, regulatory and policy-making processes.

• Understanding of stakeholder engagement and influence strategies.

• Understanding of community engagement, organising and mobilisation approaches.

• Knowledge of environmental, sustainability or public policy issues.

Essential Skills

• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills.

• Strong influencing and negotiation abilities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong strategic thinking and political awareness.

• Ability to balance strategic stakeholder engagement with community-led campaigning and mobilisation.

• Strong understanding of how grassroots engagement can support policy, legal and public affairs objectives.

• Ability to develop engagement strategies that connect local action with national influence and impact.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex stakeholder relationships.

• Excellent project management and organisational skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of water policy, environmental regulation or agricultural policy.

• Experience engaging with Westminster, Whitehall or devolved administrations.

• Experience developing partnerships with businesses and financiers.

• Experience supporting policy or advocacy campaigns.

• Experience working with community-led environmental campaigns or citizen science initiatives.

Why join us?

• Be part of a mission-driven organisation working to restore and protect the UK’s rivers.

• Work at the heart of political and environmental change, influencing decision-makers at the highest levels.

• Work in an agile, supportive and happy work environment where your ideas and expertise will have real impact.

• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the organisation.

Diversity and inclusion

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. So if you like the look of this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description, we’d still love to hear from you. You may be just the right person for this role.

How to apply

To apply, please submit to jobs at riveractionuk dot com with the subject ‘Engagement Manager’:

• your CV (2 pages), 

• a cover letter (2 pages) explaining why you want to work for River Action and how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role, and 

• a written submission (2 pages) as described below. 

Only applications including all three documents will be accepted. Please provide your documents in pdf format. 

Written submission

The Government is expected to bring forward a Clean Water Bill in Parliament. River Action wants to influence the Bill to secure stronger protections for rivers, hold polluters to account, and deliver measurable improvements in river health.

In no more than 750 words, set out how you would approach this challenge. Your response should explain:

• Which stakeholders you would prioritise engaging with, and why.

• How you would use partnerships, community groups and grassroots evidence to support your objectives.

• How you would measure the success of your approach.

• One significant challenge or risk, and how you would address it.

We are interested in your ability to think strategically, prioritise effectively, and demonstrate how engagement can help deliver policy and environmental change.

Application process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until 5pm on Wednesday 15th July.

Should your application be selected during sift, the next stage will involve an initial 15-minute interview. You may then be invited to attend a second interview with a panel. 

Interviews will be held in the weeks commencing 19th July and 26th July via video conference. 

Please indicate in your covering letter or in a covering email your availability for interviews.

If you have any questions about the role or your application, please contact us on jobs at riveractionuk dot com.

This national charity is looking for a Public Affairs Manager to lead our influencing work across Northern Ireland. This is a pivotal role focused on ensuring beating cancer remains a top priority on the political agenda, working closely with MLAs, Department of Health officials and sector partners.
 
Working as part of a job share, you will shape and deliver a strategic programme of public affairs activity, building the charity’s profile and driving impact through effective advocacy.
 
Key responsibilities include:

• Public affairs strategy and leadership
  • Plan and deliver influencing strategies for the Northern Ireland Assembly
  • Lead the public affairs function locally, working closely with your job share partner
  • Contribute to wider devolved nations activity and deputise as needed
• Stakeholder engagement and influencing
  • Build and maintain relationships with MLAs, civil servants, advisers, academics and sector partners
  • Identify new opportunities to extend the charity’s reach through meetings, events and networks
  • Represent the charity at external forums and support senior stakeholder engagement
• Policy insight and political intelligence
  • Monitor political and policy developments across Northern Ireland
  • Provide insight on emerging trends and opportunities to influence
• Events and profile raising
  • Deliver a programme of events at the Northern Ireland Assembly
  • Lead party conference activity, including receptions, briefings and stakeholder events
  • Ensure strong visibility for CRUK’s expertise and innovation
• Communications and media
  • Deliver media interviews as part of influencing campaigns
  • Produce high quality briefings, speeches and political communications
• Planning and governance
  • Contribute to operational planning, objectives and KPIs
  • Support financial reporting and maintain high professional standards

About you:
You’ll bring strong experience in public affairs, policy or parliamentary work, with a proven ability to influence senior decision makers. You will have a deep understanding of the Northern Ireland political landscape, alongside excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
You’ll be strategic, collaborative and highly organised, confident managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. This role requires a proactive approach, sound judgement and the ability to build credibility quickly across a wide stakeholder network.
 
Closing date ASAP – please apply as soon as possible.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Role Purpose

To lead on day-to-day delivery of the advice centre provision at the Students’ Union and line manage front facing student staff at the information point. The role primarily involves the delivery of a high-quality impartial, independent, advice service to individual student members of the Students’ Union, through information, advice, guidance, signposting and referrals and working with the Head of Student-Led Change and Advice on expanding advice provision. The role-holder will also be expected to work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation as well as the university to identify and recommend solutions to issues and concerns affecting the wider student body to improve the student experience.

Main Responsibilities and Activities

• Develop the advice centre provision ensuring it delivers a service that is appropriate for the needs of University of Salford students.
• Work to maintain and develop the skills and knowledge levels within the student-staff team, through upskilling and training where necessary.
• Assist in the development of evidence-led approaches to understand student priorities and collaborate with the Student-Led Change Lead where trends indicate that collective student action is needed.
• Line management of Student Staff, including Student Advisor and Information Point staff.
• Provide leadership and direction to student staff, ensuring they are supported to provide excellent service delivery.
• Embed a coaching culture within the student staff team to empower staff to thrive.
• To lead on day-to-day delivery of the advice centre provision and work alongside the Head of Student-Led Change and Advice to expand the service where desired.
• To undertake detailed, specialised casework related primarily to academic matters and housing issues, but more broadly on other concerns affecting student experiences.
• This will be on a one-to-one basis delivered via various methods as appropriate including telephone, email, live chat, video calling, and in person.
• To maintain accurate, confidential, and legally compliant records of student client and casework details
• To approach student casework in a holistic manner, recognising that students may require support for a range of issues both academic and non-academic.
• Signposting and referring where appropriate, ensure that students are dealt with in a supportive and wellbeing-focused manner.
• To be familiar with relevant legislation as it affects student issues and respond accordingly.
• To produce information, case studies and feedback related to student issues for the Union’s communication channels, ensuring a pro-active approach to areas of concern for the student body.
• Develop and maintain relationships with colleagues throughout the Union, University and other advice providers.
• Build effective relationships with colleagues at other students’ unions to share best practice.
• Assist with the promotion of the advice service throughout the University and to external organisations.
• Provide support to student-led groups and student leaders that provide information or advice.
• Ensure compliance with the Union’s policies, University policies and all relevant legislation – including Health and Safety, 1992 Education Act and Data Protection.
• Help our Full Time Officers achieve their manifesto commitments.
• Actively engage in student-facing projects and activities of all kinds as required.
• Be an enthusiastic advocate for student leadership and the organisation’s values.
• Maintain your own professional networks and promote the Union on a local and national level.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of providing advice and managing casework, including keeping accurate and confidential records.
• Experience of line managing staff and/or volunteers and taking a coaching approach towards their development.
• Demonstrable knowledge of and/or an appreciation of the issues currently impacting students in Higher Education

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to manage difficult or sensitive situations in a calm and empathetic way.
• Ability to demonstrate effective communication skills in a variety of situations and with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office effectively as well as other technology such as case management systems and digital collaboration tools.
• Able to manage own caseload and to prioritise work effectively.
• A demonstrable understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the challenges faced by students from minoritised backgrounds
• Able to demonstrate flexibility and agility in response to changing priorities and challenging situations.

Values and Behaviours

• A demonstrable commitment to Salford SU’s values, mission and purpose.
• A strong commitment to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Comfortable working in a democratic, student-led environment and being an enthusiastic advocate for student voice and representation.

REDRESS is looking to appoint an Advocacy Officer to deliver our work on policy advocacy with a focus on the United Kingdom, including on Magnitsky Sanctions, and work with survivors and survivor communities on our policy advocacy campaigns. We are seeking applications from intermediate professionals with some previous experience in human rights advocacy to contribute to this work.  

We are committed to amplifying the voice of survivors of torture or ill-treatment within REDRESS and the wider sector and working to ensure that people with lived experience are partners in bringing the change needed. We strongly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience, which may mean that they or their families are survivors of torture, or that they have escaped persecution.  

REDRESS has a diverse team from different backgrounds and with different experiences, including those with lived experience of torture. Under our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, we encourage applications from people of colour, LGBTQI+ people, and disabled people, who are currently under-represented. We will use positive action under the Equality Act 2010 to appoint from these groups if two candidates are equally qualified.

Who we are

REDRESS is an international human rights organisation based in London and The Hague that pursues legal claims on behalf of survivors of torture in the UK and around the world to obtain justice and reparation for violations against their human rights. Our approach to legal claims is strategic, so that as well as representing an individual we target the policy reasons that enabled the torture to take place, by building campaigns that uses advocacy, survivor participation, and communications to influence change.

Our 2030 Strategy sets out our priorities for 2026–2030 in response to the challenges facing the anti-torture movement and our areas of expertise.

You can find information about the organisation in the latest Trustees Annual Report. We continue to strengthen our processes to further enhance our diversity, build our survivor-centred approach, and ensure people with lived experience are part of REDRESS. 

Position Profile

The main responsibilities of the role are:

UK Advocacy. Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders relevant to REDRESS’ UK policy objectives, including government departments, parliamentarians, parliamentary committees, NGOs and academics. Draft written materials and briefing papers for policymakers, and respond to government enquiries and consultations, and undertake direct advocacy.

Sanctions Advocacy and APPG. Deliver REDRESS’s UK advocacy on Magnitsky sanctions and asset recovery for reparation. This includes supporting REDRESS’s role as secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Magnitsky Sanctions and Reparation and conducting advocacy to key stakeholders: the FCDO, Treasury, Home Office, parliamentarians and others.

Survivor Advisory Group. Work collaboratively with the Survivor Advisory Group to support our work with survivors and survivor communities on our policy advocacy campaigns.

Upholding the Absolute Prohibition of Torture. Support and deliver our policy advocacy work in the UK relating to other issues, such as an effective system for universal jurisdiction prosecutions, responding to threats to the absolute prohibition of torture, and responses to UK torture overseas. Conduct advocacy work related to the legal right to consular assistance and State hostage-taking.

Project Management. Manage and deliver specific project activities which include administrative tasks, budget management, planning and participating in the delivery of meetings and events, as well as other tasks related to project management.

Teamwork/Collaboration. Work collaboratively with REDRESS team members and external stakeholders, always exercising professional integrity. Supervise fellows and interns.

Representing REDRESS. Contribute to the wider needs of the organisation, including communicating REDRESS’ work to a wide array of audiences.

The position is also expected to carry out such further duties as may reasonably be required from time to time by REDRESS.  

Person Specification

Essential Competencies

The successful candidate will need to have the following essential competencies:

· At least three years relevant post-qualification professional experience. 

· Strong knowledge of how the UK Parliament and government works.

· Undergraduate degree specialised in international law, human rights, politics, international relations, or a related field.

· A solid understanding of international human rights policy issues.

· Demonstrated proficiency in policy analysis and policy writing and editing; demonstrated competence in writing for a broader public audience. 

· Experience at delivering projects and managing project budgets.

· Experience working with victims of human rights violations, survivor groups, or grassroots campaigns.

· Experience working with NGOs and other stakeholders.

· Experience in public speaking to a variety of audiences.

· Experience managing interns and volunteers.

· Fluency in written and oral English.

· Literacy in social media in a professional environment (primarily Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook).

· Willing to undertake travel within the UK. 

· An ability to work with a range of political parties.

Personal Attributes

To work for Redress, the candidate should have the following personal attributes: 

· Happy to work collaboratively as part of a small and energetic team with a wide range of personalities. 

· Highly efficient and organised, with an ability to multi-task, show initiative, solve problems, and take a hands-on role when necessary.

· Able to think and work strategically, creatively, and under pressure.

· Able to understand and support the aims, objectives and values of REDRESS and reflect them in all aspects of work. 

· Able to work with survivors of human rights abuse with a range of specific needs. 

Terms

Reporting. The position will report to a Senior Legal Advisor.

Hours. This is a part-time position at 21 hours a week. Evening and weekend work may be required from time to time.

Location. The position is based at the REDRESS office in London.

Flexible Working. REDRESS is an “in-person” organisation and we value teamwork, but we have a flexible working policy which allows for working from home. This role is currently required to be in the office one-two days a week.

Duration. The contract is for a fixed term of 12 months (maternity cover).

Start date. The position would start in September 2026.

Probation. There is a four-month probationary period. 

Pension. REDRESS offers a pension contribution of 10% of salary.

Holiday.  There are 25 days of holiday per year, in addition to UK public holidays. The office is also closed between Christmas and New Year.

Status. The candidate must have the right to live and work in the UK. Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor a UK immigration process for this role.

Interview process. We expect to do two rounds of interviews. We may ask candidates to complete a brief written test as part of the process but will provide information on that nearer the time.

· First round Interviews will take place on 7 August and will be on-line.

· Final round interview will take place on 13 August and will be in-person at our office in London.

How to Apply

Please upload to our recruitment portal a single PDF file including both: 

· A cover letter of no more than one page explaining (a) why you would like to work for REDRESS, (b) how you fulfil the personal specification for the role, and (c) how you will contribute to the diversity of REDRESS, and

· Your CV or resume.

Please also complete the anonymous Diversity Monitoring Form. We use the information from the form to tell us about the diversity of the applicant pool for each of the positions that we advertise. We keep the conclusions of the analysis for our records, and the underlying data is deleted three months after the recruitment closes.

Deadline: 31 July 2026

About the role

Cardiomyopathy UK's Director of Research and External Affairs leads the charity's research, policy and advocacy, and communications and marketing functions, with a team of four staff. The post-holder sets the strategic direction of the directorate, drives high-quality delivery,  upholds the charity's values, and represents the charity externally. The Director is a member of the charity's Leadership Team, working closely with the CEO to steer the charity forward. 

For the right person, this is an opportunity with real strategic scope. We want to build on our strong policy positions and evidence base and translate them into more proactive campaigning and influencing, moving from good policy thinking to concerted public affairs activity, strategic stakeholder engagement, and campaigns that achieve real change. 

The Director will also lead the next phase of our research work, following our inaugural research grant-funding activity and James Lind Alliance top ten work. They will work with the Research Manager and our clinical and academic partners to better define and deliver our ambitions.

Raising awareness of cardiomyopathy, its signs, symptoms and genetic risk, is also within the team's scope. Too many people are still diagnosed late because neither they nor their GP knew what to look for. The Director will drive our communications and marketing agenda purposefully, equally ensuring the charity’s external profile is actively managed and enhanced.

About you

We're looking for a leader who is a collaborative and inclusive, able to build trust with staff, colleagues, external partners and the Board. They will have strong strategic, analytical and planning skills, with the ability to develop coherent strategies. They will have experience as a senior leader/ manager in a charity, health, research or patient-focused organisation. See the Person Specification for further details.
 
Why join us?

Cardiomyopathy UK is the national charity for people affected by cardiomyopathy. We provide specialist nurse support, peer support, wellbeing services and trusted information to thousands of people each year, as well as influencing policy, supporting advocacy, and funding and enabling better research.

We are ambitious about our future. We are committed to quality, accountability and continuous improvement. Most importantly, we are committed to ensuring that everyone affected by cardiomyopathy can live well with the condition.

We are a family friendly employer with flexible and hybrid working. We offer an enhanced Employee Assistance Programme, additional annual leave linked to length of service, and an extra special occasion day each year.

We are midway through our five-year strategic plan, at a genuinely exciting moment, both for the charity and for cardiomyopathy more broadly. If you are excited by the opportunity to shape our Research and External Affairs work, lead a strong team and ensure we can clearly demonstrate the impact of our work, we would love to hear from you.

The Youth Endowment Fund

Senior Research Manager (SRM)- Youth Justice

Reports to: Head of Guidance and Policy 

Salary: £54,320 

Contract: 13-month maternity cover (fixed term contract) 

Location: Central London, hybrid* (see p.6) 

Closing date for applications: 9pm Monday 6th July 

  Interview dates: 22nd and 23rd July

About the Youth Endowment Fund 

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice. 

Violence continues to shape the lives of too many teenage children. In the past year, nearly one in five said they had been a victim, one in eight admitted to carrying out violence themselves, and half told us they had witnessed violence being committed against someone else. This violence takes many forms— from physical and sexual assault to robbery and threats with weapons. And the consequences are often severe. Nearly three in ten victims, equivalent to 5% of all teenage children in England and Wales, needed medical treatment from a doctor or a hospital. 

At the Youth Endowment Fund, we work to prevent this violence. To do this, we aim to build the evidence base on what works, and then use this to change policy and practice.

In the first instance, this means producing strong, relevant evidence through research, data analysis and insights into young people’s lives. But evidence on its own isn’t enough. We must use this evidence to promote real change in day-to-day practice and ambitious system reform to better protect children.

About the role  

This role is a hugely exciting opportunity to change practice and policy in the Youth Justice sector. Using the vast body of evidence YEF has compiled (including four new research projects that are currently underway), the Senior Research Manager (SRM) for Youth Justice will spend the year writing two reports: 

1. A Practice Guidance Report (publishing in May 2027). 
2. A System Guidance Report (publishing in September 2027). 

Practice Guidance Report 

The Practice Guidance Report will provide 5-8 evidence-based recommendations on how individual Youth Justice Services can prevent children’s involvement in violence. It will be similar in style and approach to previous YEF Practice Guidance in other sectors (such as the education practice guidance, and youth sector practice guidance report). It will likely recommend a range of evidence-based strategies including:

• The importance of commissioning evidence-based interventions (detailed in the YEF Toolkit). 

• How to meet the health needs of children in the Youth Justice System. 

• How to respond to serious violence and weapons carrying. 

• How to support the sentencing process. 

• How to support children in and after custody.

• How to ensure effective diversion takes place. 

The SRM for Youth Justice will lead the development and writing of these recommendations.

System Guidance Report 

Targeted at policy makers and system leaders (including national government and the inspectorate) this guidance report will make 5-8 policy recommendations on how the Youth Justice sector can be reformed to better protect children from involvement in violence. While the practice guidance will focus on day-to-day changes that Youth Justice services can make, the system guidance will focus on how the system itself should be changed to make it easier for Youth Justice services to do ‘what works’. It will be similar in style to the education system guidance. It will likely recommend a range of evidence-based reforms, including: 

• How to use funding, training and inspection to improve the provision of evidence-based interventions in the Youth Justice System.

• How to ensure that other agencies and sectors (such as health and education) effectively collaborate with Youth Justice Services. 

• How to improve responses to the most vulnerable children and young people, and how to improve sentencing, custody and resettlement.

The SRM for Youth Justice will also lead the development and writing of these recommendations. 

Both guidance reports will include as a priority recommendations that will reduce the racial disproportionality currently evident in the Youth Justice System, and you will work closely with a Race Equity Advisor who will play a vital role as a critical friend.

You will also be supported by a brilliant internal YEF Youth Justice Change Team (former Youth Justice practitioners who work within YEF to change practice and policy across the sector), in addition to external expert input from the leading sector experts. This will include liaising closely with the Ministry of Justice in producing both reports. You will also be able to draw from the practice and system guidance reports that YEF has already produced on diversion.

This role is a unique opportunity to change the Youth Justice System and YEF will invest significant resource in making the recommendations that you write happen. For instance, we published our Education System Guidance Report in May 2025. Three of the eight recommendations included in it have already been enacted. We intend to push for practice and system change at pace and will use the work you produce to do so.

The Senior Research Manager will be part of YEF’s Research team. The Research team is at the heart of our efforts to learn what works and put it into practice. We do this by developing the YEF’s funding strategy and creating free, highly accessible research summaries and actionable recommendations for policy makers, commissioners and practitioners. We’re a high-performing team which values intellectual rigour and getting to the truth, compassion for children, ambition about what we can achieve and humility about what we know. We love to discuss the latest developments in research methods, but we’re not just interested in research for its own sake. We want research to lead to actual changes in outcomes for children. 

Key responsibilities 

You’ll... 

• Write a practice guidance report for the Youth Justice Sector. This will use the best available evidence (including a range of research that YEF has funded, commissioned, and synthesised) to provide evidence-based recommendations to Youth Justice Services on how to prevent children’s involvement in violence. You will work closely with the internal YEF Youth Justice Change Team, an external expert panel and the Ministry of Justice to produce high quality guidance.

• Write a system guidance report for the Youth Justice Sector. This will use the best available evidence (including a range of research that YEF has funded, commissioned, and synthesised) to provide evidence-based recommendations to Youth Justice policy makers and system leaders on how the sector can best protect children from involvement in violence.You will work closely with the internal YEF Youth Justice Change Team, an external expert panel and the Ministry of Justice to produce high quality guidance.

• Become the YEF’s expert on Youth Justice. You’ll make sure we understand the key issues, stay on top of the latest research and are connected to the right people. 

• Read, comment on, and support the publication of four research projects focused on the Youth Justice system concluding in late 2026.These projects, which are currently underway, are reviews of current practice that focus on: Youth Justice responses to serious violence, VAWG and weapons; a review of how community sentences and court orders are used for children involved in violence; a review of custody aftercare and resettlement programmes for children and young adults; and a review of whether the youth justice system is currently meeting the health needs of children within it. Alongside YEF’s existing research (particularly the YEF Toolkit), these reviews will support the development of guidance.

• Develop great relationships with experts and represent YEF in external meetings and events. You’ll promote evidence-based policy and practice by speaking at conferences and events. 

• Work with our Change Team to produce resources and accessible summaries for Youth Justice colleagues on the evidence. This will also include supporting the Youth Justice change team in producing a self-assessment tool based on your practice guidance report.

About you 

You are this sort of person: 

• You want to play a significant part in reducing the level of violence affecting children and young people. You care about having an impact. This might mean you’ve worked directly with young people at risk of becoming involved in crime, for organisations that fund or deliver relevant programmes, or have conducted research on this topic. 

• You share our belief that an evidence-based approach is our best hope of 

preventing violence. You’re fascinated by research, but you’re not just interested in research for its own sake. You want to achieve actual changes in outcomes for children. 

• You know a lot about Youth Justice. You know the key ideas and debates, recent policy developments and key people. You’re comfortable talking about Youth Justice with experts. There are many ways to acquire this knowledge. You might have worked in Youth Justice, in associated organisations, or learnt about it during a degree. 

• You take ownership of your work. You demonstrate ownership and agency and can take the leading role on a project. You can take broad objectives and deliver a concrete workplan to make them happen.

• You’re a confident reader of research and have strong critical appraisal skills. You know when research can be trusted and when it can’t and can confidently articulate your views on the strength of research. You might have gained this expertise through your academic studies, research or professional experience. 

• You have at least three years’ experience working in a role that required you to think about research. This could include a range of roles in policy, academia, funding or practice. 

• You write in a way that people easily understand. You have that rare skill of writing in plain English. You have experience of translating complex research findings into plain writing that everyone can understand. 

• You have excellent project and time management skills. You can work independently, quickly and to a high standard.

• You are good with people. You’re comfortable working with a wide range of people, including senior academics and other research experts, children and their families, practitioners and policy makers. You’re able to provide constructive challenge when required. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit. You support your colleagues to produce excellent work. 

• You learn fast but remain humble. You like learning. You’re very good at synthesising information. You know how much you don't know and that you can always learn more. 

• You’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, views and values.

While it’s not a criterion, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants 

who have lived experience of youth violence. 

It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or socio-economic background. 

Additional benefits include 

£1,000 professional development budget annually, 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, four half days for volunteering activities. 

Hybrid working details 

The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month.

To apply: 

To apply, please send a CV, cover letter and the monitoring form via our application page by 9:00 pm Monday 6th July.  

When applying for this role, ensure you complete our Monitoring Form and attach your CV. Additionally, please submit a supporting statement that answers the following questions. Your response to each question should be no longer than 400 words: 

1. Why do you want the job? 
2. Can you give an example where you’ve had to summarise evidence on a specific topic that was highly contested? How did you manage the process and communicate the result? 
3. Please provide an overview of your experience in relation to Youth Justice and explain why this experience makes you a good fit for this role. 

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. As part of our commitment to flexible working, we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage. 

Interview process 

Interviews will take place on 22nd and 23rd of July.  

There will be a task to prepare for in advance. 

Personal data 

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area. 

The Youth Endowment Fund 

Senior Evaluation Manager

Reports to: Head of Evaluation

Salary: £54,300 

Location: Central London, hybrid* 

Contract: 24 months full-time (Fixed term contract) 

Application deadline:  5pm, Monday 6th July 2026 

About the Youth Endowment Fund 

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice. 

All of us will experience violence at some point in our lives. For many children, it is a daily reality. Each year, tens of children are killed, hundreds are hospitalised, 1 in 5 teenage children are victims and the majority admit to feeling afraid of violence. It scares them when they travel home from school, prevents them from going out and makes the most vulnerable feel like they don’t matter. It is taking lives, traumatising families and dividing communities. It robs potential, progress and hope. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build an exceptional body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We need to convert this into highly accessible content on what works, how delivery organisations need to change their practice and how the systems they operate in need to be reformed. We then need to work with the right people that can make change happen, across systems, policies and practice, to have a real impact on reducing violence affecting children’s lives. 

The evaluation team contributes to the design and implementation of the fund’s various funding rounds. The team is also responsible for assessing, appointing, monitoring, and the quality assurance of rigorous impact evaluations from experts in the field. The Senior Evaluation Manager will play a key role in leading evaluation work. The post holder will also lead a team of evaluation managers, ensuring they have the support to deliver a portfolio of evaluation projects. 

Key responsibilities 

The core of your job is to ensure that we are excellent at evaluation, so that we can find out the very best ways to prevent young people and children from becoming involved in violence. 

Evaluation 

Working with the Head of Evaluation the post holder will: 

• Implement the processes for assessing the quality of evidence underpinning applications to the fund and making funding recommendations to the Grants and Evaluation Committee. 

• Shape the evaluation approach for individual grant rounds, including leading on this for a small number of rounds. 

• Act as a source of expertise on the statistical underpinnings of YEF’s evaluation work, including on issues such as  power calculations, regression analysis and  missing data.

• Lead the delivery of YEF’s evaluation work, designing, commissioning and managing complex and large-scale RCTs and QEDs

• Be responsible for YEF’s evaluation policies and reporting templates, ensuring they remain consistent and fit for purpose. 

• Be responsible for the ongoing development of YEF’s commissioning guidance. 

Team management 

The post holder will likely lead the recruitment, management and development of a team of evaluation officers and will: 

• Ensure they have the knowledge, skills and support to carry out their work effectively. 

• Provide regular feedback and coaching on written outputs. 

• Supervise and project manage the team’s evaluation work, providing quality assurance and monitoring of progress against project plans and project budgets. 

Collaborative working 

The post holder will contribute to the wider YEF team and will: 

• Be accountable to YEF’s Fund Leadership Team for the delivery of evaluations, on time and on budget, including reporting on risks and issues. 

• Work closely with colleagues across YEF and specifically the Programme team. 

• Ensure high-quality evidence is at the heart of all YEF activity and that the evidence we produce is communicated in a clear and accessible way which will drive sustainable change. 

• Support the management of YEF’s panel of evaluators and expert panel 

General 

The post holder may be involved in other elements of YEF's projects, working with senior colleagues to commission, scope and deliver projects. 

About you 

You are this sort of person: 

• You don't want your days to pass without making a difference. You want to play a significant part in reducing the level of youth violence and see the value in an evidence-informed approach.

• You are an excellent communicator. You can produce technical documents that accurately report methodological and statistical information. You will combine this with experience of communicating complex evidence and analysis in a simple and accessible format to non- experts. 

• You have a post-graduate degree (Masters or PhD) in social science, social policy, public health, health services or other field, with a significant quantitative component, or relevant experience equivalent to a Masters qualification. 

• You have strong knowledge, experience and technical expertise in evaluation methodologies including experience of RCT design and/or design of complex quasi-experimental evaluations (e.g. propensity score matching, regression discontinuity design, instrumental variables). 

• You have quantitative analysis skills  including experience of using advanced analytical software such as R, Stata or SPSS. 

• You have significant experience in carrying out or commissioning research including designing all aspects of the research and managing external contractors.  This may be in academia, government or a related sector. 

• You have strong relationship management skills. You are comfortable working with a wide range of people, including senior academics and other research experts, children and their families, practitioners, and policy makers. You’re able to provide constructive challenge when required.

• You bring the best out of your colleagues.You have experience in leading teams and managing others to achieve amazing results. You can both take and give direction. You are collaborative and a team player, able to build strong relationships across the whole organisation. You are happy to help out when and where it’s needed. 

• You have excellent project and time management skills and the ability to deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment. 

• You learn fast but remain humble. You like learning. You’re very good at synthesising information. You know how much you don't know and that you can always learn more.

• You work well in a team. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit. You support your colleagues to produce excellent work.

• You’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, views and values. 

You may have, but they are not essential: 

• A good level of knowledge and understanding of crime or serious violence. You know the facts, understand the issues, know the key people, and can discuss the theories. You’re knowledgeable on this topic and very at ease discussing it with experts. Alternatively, you might have a strong understanding of a relevant area such as education, youth work or social care.   

While it is not a criterion, we are especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence. 

It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background. 

Hybrid Working Details    

The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office for a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month.     

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage. 

To apply 

To apply, please send a CV, cover letter and the monitoring form via our application page by 5:00pm on Monday 6th July 

When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter can answer, within a maximum of 1000 words, the following questions:    

   

1. Tell us about why you want to work at the Youth Endowment Fund, and any experience you have that demonstrates your commitment to preventing youth violence.   
2. Tell us about your experience in designing, commissioning and managing evaluations. We’re particularly interested in hearing about the methodologies and tools you’ve used to ensure evaluations are rigorous and produce robust evidence.   
3. How do you ensure that your work – whether technical analysis or collaborative evaluation management – is inclusive and accessible?  

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission. 

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Interview process 

Shortlisted candidates will be sent a technical task to complete before the interview. Interviews will take place on the week commencing 20th July 2026. 

Personal data 

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area. 

As Principal Policy Adviser (interim), you will collaborate with Uplift’s team and key partners to drive the design, development and delivery of work that generates influential policy and ideas addressing the challenges of a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK.

From proactively setting the agenda, to responding to policy announcements, to ensuring our team has a sound understanding of the future of the North Sea, this is a diverse role at the heart of our work pushing for a rapid and fair transition.

The successful candidate will have exceptional policy skills, an ability to think politically, and a keen interest in climate and energy-related policy and campaigns. A strong commitment to Uplift's mission and core values is also required.

This role is a 9 month long contract to cover a secondment within the team.

 

Core responsibilities will include:

• Policy: Lead Uplift’s policy work, spearhead the development and testing of innovative policy initiatives, and identify and work through knowledge gaps relevant to Uplift’s strategy.

• Coordination and Strategy Delivery: Work with teams to set and execute policy priorities, provide in-house policy support, contribute to the management of the Research Policy and LEgal Tea, and develop systems for quality assurance and knowledge management.

• Advocacy and Network Support: Build capacity amongst other Uplift teams to understand the intersection of their work with policy topics and represent Uplift to policymakers and partner organisations.

Please see the job description for the full core responsibilities.

About You

Our ideal candidate will have: 

• Experience in a similar or related role.

• Strong knowledge of UK climate and energy policy (direct expertise in just transition, fossil fuels or renewables would be a significant advantage).

• Excellent research and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information quickly and accurately and a demonstrable ability to provide compelling and novel analysis.

• Exceptional writing and communication skills, with strong attention to detail and political nous.

• Motivation, initiative, exceptionally high standards, a collaborative approach, and associated qualities are needed to work in a dynamic organisation with an ambitious agenda.

• A strong commitment to Uplift’s mission and core values of equity and climate justice.