This is an exciting opportunity to lead our approach to monitoring and evaluation at a key moment, ensuring that high-quality evidence underpins our programmes and future growth.
Villiers Park is a national social mobility charity with a strong track record of delivering impactful programmes that support young people from under-represented backgrounds to fulfil their potential. The ability to demonstrate impact clearly and credibly, both to inform our own learning and to evidence our effectiveness externally, will be critical to achieving our strategic ambitions.
As a core part of our 2025-30 strategy, the Data and Insights Manager will work to embed consistent and robust evaluation across the organisation. This will be achieved by approaches such as Stories of Change, which combines quantitative data with rich qualitative insight to build a compelling and nuanced understanding of the difference our programmes make.
Our work is possible because of a brilliant team of staff, trustees and volunteers and committed funders and partners who believe in what we do and want to make the greatest possible difference. The Data and Insights Manager will work closely with colleagues across programmes, communications, fundraising and leadership, you will ensure that data and evidence are actively used to inform decision-making, improve delivery and demonstrate impact to funders, partners and the wider sector.
This is a highly collaborative role with organisation-wide impact, offering the opportunity to shape how Villiers Park learns delivers on its long-term strategic ambitions.
Alex Grant
Assistant Director
Job purpose
The Data and Insights Manager will play a key role in supporting Villiers Park through the collection, analysis and reporting of robust evaluation and monitoring. Working across teams and hubs, the postholder will support consistent data collection, lead analysis and synthesis, and help ensure evidence informs learning, decision-making and external communication. The role will focus on coordinating mixed-methods evaluation, with qualitative approaches, including Stories of Change, as a key way of understanding young people’s experiences of change, or clarity, and the impact of our programmes.
Key responsibilities:
- Working closely with the Assistant Director, develop, implement and review monitoring and evaluation approaches for all programmes, ensuring that the data outputs can be used in a range of ways.
- Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and wider staff team to develop, implement and review Theories of Change.
- Work with the Programmes team to design and deploy monitoring and evaluation methods to capture and store relevant quantitative and qualitative data from a range of sources, including individuals and via schools/colleges and partner organisations.
- Undertake data analysis and write reports for internal and external audiences on process and impact evaluations for all programmes, including annual school impact reports.
- Support the Communications and Fundraising Teams by providing regularly updated data and evaluation, regional contextual demographic data and comparative national datasets.
- Manage programmes and impact data storage to ensure relevant access is delivered for SLT, Programmes, Fundraising and Communications teams and compliance with GDPR.
- Keep up to date with changes in regulation and best practice in data management and data protection/consent, especially when data subjects are under 18.
- Ensure that all data management and evaluation practices are compliant with statutory safeguarding and GDPR regulations and Villiers Park’s safeguarding, data protection and privacy policies.
- Deliver evaluation training and evaluation review meetings to inform and engage the wider organisation with evaluation practices and the implementation of data and insights.
- Undertake other duties as required to support the mission and work of Villiers Park.
Knowledge, experience and abilities (essential)
- Experience of, and strong interest in, high quality evaluation methodologies, including programme theory, process evaluation, mixed-methods approaches.
- Strong experience of critically appraising data and evidence, and staying abreast of developments within evaluation of youth-based charities and university widening participation, using this to support proportionate, well-evidenced conclusions.
- A strong track record in planning, coordinating and delivering successful evaluation activity across programmes, sites or stakeholder groups, including managing complex workloads, setting priorities and working to agreed timelines and standards.
- Experience of effectively communicating evaluation findings, both written and verbal, to different audiences.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making ability, including using evidence, judgement and stakeholder input to resolve challenges in evaluation delivery.
Skills and competencies (essential)
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders, articulating evaluation concepts and findings clearly and concisely.
- Skilled in planning, prioritising and managing multiple strands of work to deliver high quality evaluation outputs.
- Analytical and methodical, with the ability to interpret evidence carefully and proportionately.
- An effective manager of evaluation activity across teams, hubs and programme cycles.
- Strong qualitative and mixed-methods analysis skills, including interpretation and reporting.
- Ability to anticipate and identify challenges in evaluation delivery, and work with colleagues to resolve these productively.
- Demonstrate a curiosity about other evaluation methodologies and research from the wider evaluation sector.
- Strong IT and digital skills including Microsoft suite and data management systems.
- A collaborative team member who can also take initiative, work proactively and operate independently where needed, and who has excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate learning conversations and support and advise colleagues to use evidence confidently in practice.
Desirable
- Familiarity with longitudinal or progression tracking and/or data-sharing partnerships.
- Experience of contributing to fundraising proposals with ready evidence and an understanding of fundraising audiences.
- Proficiency in qualitative analysis software, such as NVivo, to support coding, thematic analysis and synthesis.
- Confidence using data management tools such as Dataverse, MS Forms and PowerAutomate, and Power BI for reporting or visualisation.
- Understanding of value-for-money or ROI-related analysis in a social context.
Additional Information:
- The postholder will have some travel to schools, events and partner organisations.
- An enhanced DBS check will be required.
- On occasion, evening work and overnight stays may be required.
- Hybrid – location local to our Cambridge office or near to one of our Regional Hubs
Employee Benefits
- 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rated) and additional leave over Christmas.
- A dedicated wellbeing day for you to take at any time and three days (pro-rated) paid leave for volunteering or study each year.
- Training and professional development, including termly staff development days.
- Support from our wellbeing working group and access to an employee assistance programme.
- Opportunity to join working groups with other colleagues from across the organisation as well as wider networks such as the Fair Education Alliance.
- Flexibility in working hours.
- Additional sick pay and compassionate leave policies.
Safeguarding
Villiers Park Educational Trust is committed to safeguarding and to providing a safe and supportive environment, which secures the well-being and best outcomes for the young people with whom we work.
Safeguarding is embedded in all aspects of Villiers Park's work and integral to the commitment we make to our schools, partners and the young people and communities we serve and work with. All employees and volunteers are expected to share this commitment by adhering to our organisational safeguarding procedures, attending regular in-house training and keeping up to date with developments in policies and legislation.
All employees and volunteers will also agree to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check and successfully complete our mandatory online training courses including NSPCC Safeguarding in Schools and PREVENT training.
Registered Charity 
21 - 50
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Location: Fully remote with flexible working arrangements
Salary: £39,742 per year FTE, dependent on experience
Contract: We are open to this role being part time (0.8FTE minimum preferred) or full time. We offer fully flexible working.
Closing date for applications: 12th July
Due to high numbers of applications, prior to interview we plan to carry out initial screening calls with prospective candidates before selection for interview. We will be asking about your reasons for applying and how you think your skills and experiences align to the role.
First interviews: w/c 22nd July
Start Date: ASAP
About the Warm Welcome Campaign
Founded in 2022, the Warm Welcome Campaign wants everyone in the UK to find a place of belonging and reconnection at a Warm Welcome Space near their home. We have a bold purpose to enable a more deeply connected society where we all have free access to welcoming community spaces.
We resource, connect and champion a network of over 6,300 Warm Welcome Spaces and bring together a growing coalition of local, regional and national partners representing the worlds of charity, faith, business, government and philanthropy. By working together, we can unlock the power of community spaces made by and for everyone, creating a thriving network of hope and reconnection fuelled by human warmth.
We’re working hard to reach everyone with the message that a Warm Welcome is waiting for them just around the corner, all through the year.
Throughout all our work and within our team we live out our values of being inclusive, collaborative and courageous and our personality that is friendly, adventurous and uplifting.
It’s an important moment for us - we have launched a five-year strategy, our 100% Pledge Campaign and an established programme of corporate events. We have also successfully delivered Warm Welcome Week for two years in collaboration with a wide range of partners and are looking forward to continuing to build on this success.
The Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and creative Communications and Brand Manager (Partnerships) to join a small, friendly and ambitious team in a varied role with genuine opportunity for development and impact. The Communications and Brand Manager (Partnerships) is primarily fundraising focused, delivering compelling communications strategies to support individual giving, fundraising events and our growing number of Corporate Partnerships, including Sky, Co-op, National Grid, OVO, Cadent, UKPN, Barratt Redrow and SGN. The role will specialise in maximising brand impact and income-raising potential.
The role sits within the growing Communications Team, which is led by the Director of Communications and includes the Communications Manager and Communications Assistant.
Reporting to the Director of Communications, the postholder will play a key role in telling the Warm Welcome Story for positive change, raising awareness to grow the brand and creating campaign strategies to support income generation.
We are looking for someone who is highly organised, agile and collaborative, whilst bringing creativity and initiative to their work. Relationship building will be key, working with a wide variety of high-profile corporate partners, stakeholders and ambassadors. You will be an excellent brand champion with the skills to develop stand out creative ideas for partnership campaigns, awareness campaigns and activations. While the role is primarily fundraising focused, you will support the delivery of the wider Warm Welcome Communications Strategy.
In this role, you will work across all aspects of communications strategy including, PR, events, brand asset development, storytelling, digital marketing, and campaigns.
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Act as the primary communications adviser for the fundraising team, including the Corporate Partnerships Manager and corporate partners, identifying communications opportunities and advising on strategic messaging, content, PR and tactics.
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Manage the development and execution of communications strategies for Warm Welcome’s flagship partnerships, specialising in maximising brand impact and income-raising potential.
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Deliver communications strategies to inspire audiences and support organisational goals, working closely with colleagues across the Communications and Fundraising, and with external partners.
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Develop stand out creative ideas for campaigns and activations to shape and deliver integrated activities that cut through, including Warm Welcome Week.
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Act as a brand ambassador, advising and supporting the team to deliver brand-aligned messaging and content. Plus, crafting messaging and designing brand assets, marketing materials, presentations and resources.
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Create content to show the impact of Warm Welcome Spaces, including delivering hard-hitting press releases and impact reports.
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Create content for social media channels, website and digital newsletters.
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Develop case studies and organise photoshoots to tell the Warm Welcome story for positive change.
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Support the delivery of the Patrons and Ambassadors Strategy.
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Help manage the systems and processes needed for effective partnership and stakeholder management, including CRM use, reporting and tracking.
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Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Warm Welcome Campaign to connect partners with Warm Welcome Spaces and activities across the UK.
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Contribute to wider communications activity and team objectives.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
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Proven experience designing and executing high-impact brand or corporate partnership communications plans, ideally for a non-profit organisation.
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Strong track record of developing and delivering integrated communications campaigns across multiple channels, targeting a range of audiences.
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Highly collaborative and able to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
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Proven experience of crafting messages and stories.
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Experience creating brand assets using Canva or similar tools.
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Experience of crafting compelling content for press releases and liaising with journalists.
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Strong track record of delivering content for digital media channels.
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Experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
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Experience of monitoring and evaluating communications impact, using data and insights.
Desirable Experience
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Experience using CRMs or databases for relationship management and reporting.
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Experience working within the charity, community or social impact sector.
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Experience of delivering patrons and ambassadors programmes.
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Experience of developing new brands.
Abilities and Understanding
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Ability to brief, critique and develop creative work constructively, with a good eye for brand, design, film and photography.
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Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
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Ability to communicate confidently and professionally with a range of audiences.
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Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently.
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Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
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Understanding the importance of accurate record keeping and effective systems.
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Ability to work collaboratively within a small and fast-moving team.
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Confident using Google Workspace, Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
Competencies and behaviours in our team
The core competence of everyone in our team is the ability to build trusted relationships among people with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. We are looking for people who are:
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Committed to the power of relationships to facilitate social change
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Collaborative, inclusive, ambitious, aligning with our core values
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Self-starter with high level of commitment, energy and motivation
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Curious and show initiative, with problem-solving skills and an ability to learn quickly and adapt to a rapidly changing context
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Calm under pressure, and can adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment
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Willing to pitch in to help other team members if needed
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Organised with effective time management skills.
Working Arrangements
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Current members of the team are based across the UK, with some in London, Reading, Bristol, Manchester, York and Northern Ireland. Applicants must be able to travel to Bristol once a month for a Tuesday full team meeting. Given the nature of this role we would also expect the applicant to carry out a reasonable amount of travel to both Warm Welcome Spaces and partners across the UK.
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This role is fully remote, with flexible working arrangements.
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All employees, volunteers, partners, suppliers and consultants working with GFP are expected to adhere to our Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies. GFP’s commitment to safeguarding means we seek to ensure that no harm comes to people as a result of contact with the organisation’s programmes, operations or people.
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You will need to have the right to work in the UK.
For full details on how to apply, please view the attached role description.
