Academic Voice Policy Consultant Jobs

WHAT IS START NETWORK?

Our purpose is to be a catalyst for system-level change that improves the efficiency, effectiveness and ethics of humanitarian action. We do this by working as a network to develop, test & spread new ways of collaborating and resourcing locally-led crisis response and anticipation.

Our current membership is made up of nearly 100 local, national and international NGOs based all around the world. We also support 10 national and regional hubs made up of civil society organisations and NGOs as our vehicle for devolving power, resources and accountability.

OUR SOLUTIONS

DECENTRAISLING & LOCALLY-LED ACTION: Shifting power and resources and decentralising decision-making to locally led networks and organisations.

EARLY & RAPID FINANCING: Building a global financing system that reduces risk, anticipates, and acts ahead of predictable crises.

COMMUNITY-LED INNOVATION: Incentivising innovative, locally led, and contextual solutions and learning from them together with people affected by crises.

For more information about Start Network and what we do, please visit our website. 

OUR VALUES

WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST: Communities come first in our decision-making and programming.

WE ARE BRAVE: We have great ambition and are willing to explore new things and take risks to achieve it

WE OPERATE COLLECTIVELY: We leverage the value of working as a network, sharing risk and resources, and learning together.

WE ARE INCLUSIVE: We see the value in diverse perspectives and work to remove the barriers that prevent voices from being heard.

WE ARE OPEN: We work transparently and with integrity, building mutual trust in all levels of our work, from governance to programming.

WE ARE ETHICAL: We behave and operate based on key principles of anti-racism, non-discrimination, and anti-colonialism. This is a work in progress.

JOB PURPOSE

The role will support the research activities of Start Network and its programmes and initiatives.

Working within the Evidence & Learning team, the Research Officer will conduct research, interpret data and communicate findings across of a range of programmes and initiatives which support evidencing the impact and learning of Start Network activities. These could involve supporting in the design and administration of data collection projects; as well as cleaning, processing, and analysing primary data and literature and desk reviews. The successful applicant will require basic research skills and additional skills will be learned on the job through guidance provided by the other members of the Evidence & Learning team.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Research

• Lead and support with undertaking research, including desk reviews, conducting landscape analyses and literature reviews using a range of materials and sources, including online platforms.

• Support with the design and implementation of data collection tools for primary data (e.g., surveys, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews) and secondary data collection.

• Work with both qualitative and quantitative data, including interview transcription, data cleaning, processing, and analysis.

• Support key teams with research and analysis for their programme and initiative areas.

• Work with a range of staff across key initiatives to formulate and test research ideas.

• Assist with managing and supporting external consultants

• Support with Presenting Research Findings

• Develop, and co-develop, technical reports, PowerPoint presentations, and other written pieces for a range of audiences and platforms, both internally and externally.

• Create relevant graphics and visualisations to present qualitative and quantitative information.

• Present, and work alongside others to present, information to a range of key stakeholders including donors, Start Network member organisations and academics in formal and informal settings.

Information Management

• Work alongside others in the team to establish and maintain libraries of relevant information related to stakeholders and partners.

• Create tools related to information management (e.g., informed consent forms) and in obtaining consent and permissions for various research projects and products from member representatives and other key stakeholders.

START NETWORK CULTURE

• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children

• A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach

• The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture.

PERSON PROFILE

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

• Experience in research skills including literature reviews and data analysis.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint necessary, experience with standard data analysis, graphics, and presentation tools and packages preferred

• Familiar with best practices and practical application of both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis

• Some experience in questionnaire and survey design and basic statistics

• Strong communication skills, including being able to communicate ideas clearly across a range of mediums and professionally to a range of stakeholders.

• Strong interpersonal skills, being able to work across the Start Network team, with members, consultants, and other stakeholders.

• Strong attention to detail

• Good organisational skills, being able to handle and manage multiple projects and datasets while working to deadlines.

• Degree in a quantitative or social science field

DESIRABLE

• Experience in social research (desirable).

• Experience using Salesforce (desirable).

• Relevant language skills, particularly in French and/or Spanish (desirable).…

KEY COMPETENCIES

Communication:

• Promote different ways to engage different audiences, working with others on how to maximise impact.

• Build trust by doing what you say you will do and admitting when you don’t know something or when you have made a mistake.

Strategic Thinking:

• Actively seeking to understand how your role fits into the work of the team and network by asking questions and working on cross-team initiatives.

• Able to plan and deliver flexibly to take account of changing internal and/or external factors by reprioritising and asking for help.

Collaboration:

• Actively promote collaboration by spotting and breaking down barriers to siloed working, connecting colleagues, teams and initiatives

• Build networks internally and externally by showing curiosity and learning from others.

Leadership of self and others:

• Understand own strengths and shadows and how these interrelated with others through review and reflection.

• Open and responsive to feedback

• Seek to understand and act upon own areas for growth, reflecting and learning from things that have not gone so well by showing vulnerability and openness to change

Ability to adapt and learn:

• Seek to learn lessons and apply the learning to future work by actively asking questions, being honest, curious, and brave to abandon things that are not working.

• Able to reprioritise and shift focus in response to changing needs of the organisation or network by being aware of how your role sits in the system.

• Balance the need to follow systems and processes with the courage, identifying when systems and processes do not align with the mission, suggesting alternatives

Getting things done the Start Network way:

• Overcome obstacles by taking initiatives to identify issues, seeking help to address them and escalating appropriately.

Our award winning MS Helpline are looking for a new Helpline Volunteer Officer to join our fantastic and supportive team.

Helpline Services Volunteer Officer
Type: Part-time (21 hours/or 3 days a week), permanent
Location: Office-based in London, N4 with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £19,293.60 - £20,552.40 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band E1

About us

We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK. 

Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference. 

About this job

Please note this role is part-time 21 hours/or 3 days a week.

Our Helpline runs from 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and we’re looking for an enthusiastic, warm and experienced individual to support our dedicated Helpline Volunteers and Befriending Volunteers within the Helpline team.

This role requires working flexible hours, including 9am–5pm, 10am–6pm or 11am–7pm between Monday to Friday to meet services and volunteer needs (3 days a week).

If you’re passionate about offering high quality information and emotional support and have relevant Helpline experience, we’d love to hear from you.

You will be providing continuous support to all our volunteers at the Helpline team, directly contributing in providing information and support to our Helpline enquirers, with both proactive and reactive content and information on prevalent topics or trends affecting the MS community.

Our aim is to empower people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) to:

• Live to their full potential
• Take an active role in their treatment
• Secure the care and support they need

We recognise the significant and excellent contributions; experience; and skills our employees bring to the MS Society.

Working with external pay and reward consultants, we’re taking active steps this year to review our employees’ pay and benefits package. Ensuring we’re aligned with the most accurate and up-to-date benchmarks for the UK charity sector.

Closing date for applications: 9am on Friday 10 May 2024
Anticipated interview date: Monday 20 May 2024

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Equal Opportunities 
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application. 

Disability Confident Employer 
We are a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity. 

You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes. 

If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us to discuss.

You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.

Your right to work in the UK 
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.

You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.

More about our recruitment and selection process

• The HR team will anonymise your CV and supporting statement before forwarding to the shortlisting panel. This is done as part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• The first round of our recruitment and selection process includes an interview with competency-based questions. 
• Our recruitment and selection process might also include extra tasks. For example, a written or Microsoft Excel test or making a presentation.
• We’ll let you know what the selection process will include when we invite you to interview. You can ask for any more reasonable adjustments for the interview as part of the invitation. 
• You might also be invited for a second interview. We’ll let you know about this during the selection process. 

More about our employee benefits:

We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to):

Encouraging work life balance

• 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
• More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
• Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us)
• Flexible working options

 Caring for you and your family

• Generous sick pay entitlement
• More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year
• Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis
• Enhanced leave for new parents
• Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
• Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
• 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
• 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
• New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
  • in the event of miscarriage or still birth
  • to support fertility treatments
  • for antenatal appointments for both parents
• Cycle to work scheme
• Death in service scheme
• Health cash plans to help offset the cost of health care for you and your family

Thinking about your finances

• Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
• Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax 
• New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing 

Enriching your life at work

• Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
• Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities 
• New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups)
• Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community)
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal working hours

Safeguarding

We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.

This is regardless of:

• gender
• race
• disability
• sexual orientation
• religion or belief
• pregnancy
• gender reassignment

We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.

We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.

No agencies please.