Head of Policy Insights
Hours: 0.8 FTE (four days a week)
Location: Hybrid, with a focus on London. You’ll need to be in London to work from our office (near Victoria) one day a week and have about two other days per week to attend meetings with policy makers and our members. On other days you can work remotely or come into our office. Some nationwide travel expected for meetings and events.
After passing probation, you’ll have up to six weeks ‘super remote’ working per year, where you can work anywhere in the world as long as you’re online for four hours of the UK workday.
Holidays: 38 days per year, including our 3-day winter shut down and eight flexible bank holidays pro rata.
About the Fair Education Alliance
The Fair Education Alliance (FEA) unites 300 member organisations under a shared vision that no child’s success is limited by their socioeconomic background.
Our members (charities and social enterprises, think tanks, businesses and foundations, youth organisations, unions, universities and schools) are working collectively to create an inclusive system. We exist to close the gap in educational outcomes between children from low-income households and their wealthier peers.
This autumn, we’re kicking off our next strategic phase, which will take our work from neighbourhood to national, building a movement for systems change towards a fairer future for children and young people.
Why we need you
The gaps in educational outcomes between children from low-income households and their wealthier peers are staggering at every stage of education. This goes on to increase the likelihood that young people from low-income households will be out of employment, education, or training. We take a systems change approach to shifting the conditions that hold these inequities in place. With the next phase of our strategy underway—building a movement from neighbourhood to national—we need someone who can help us influence policy and practice with insight, evidence and urgency.
We aim to bring insights from our diverse and expert membership to policymakers, ensuring that local, regional and national policies best serve children and young people from low-income backgrounds. We support members to organise around themes through our collective action working groups, which have advised Government on topics such as Family Hubs, the Curriculum and Assessment Review, and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, and will continue to contribute expertise to upcoming policy moments related to SEND, Skills England and Ofsted. We also support youth voice in policymaking through our Youth Steering Group, which has contributed independently to major policy developments, bringing valuable lived experience to decision-making. From September, we’ll also support members, young people and government bodies to craft regional policy and practice that benefits children and young people from low-income backgrounds.
Our Digital Membership Tools (Member Directory and interactive Ecosystem Map) have the potential to play a crucial role in our policy work. These tools help members, funders, and policymakers target their work to where it is most needed. There is a wealth of data in these tools: the Ecosystem Map is the only place that marries up publicly available information about pupil demographics and outcomes with information about all 22,000 schools where our members are working. It shows where there is strong or weak provision related to different types of support, at a school, local authority, constituency, MAT or regional level, together with the outcomes pupils are achieving.
We now need someone who can harness these assets to produce compelling insights and engage policymakers—from local authorities and combined authorities to central government and funders. This role will turn data into impact: creating clear, targeted reports that support decision-making, identifying gaps and opportunities, and helping us tell the story of how education can—and must—be fairer.
What we’re asking of you
Develop a strategy to influence policy from neighbourhood to national
You’ll lead our approach to turning insights into influence—connecting our data, member knowledge and youth voice to shape policy that improves outcomes for children and young people. That means designing a strategy that engages decision-makers at all levels, from civil servants and funders to combined authorities and Parliament. You’ll identify the right stakeholders and entry points, use our Ecosystem Map and Member Directory to generate targeted insights, and align our regional and national work for maximum impact.
Translate data into insight—and insight into action
You’ll be responsible for developing reports and briefings that tell powerful stories with data. Working closely with our Data Officer, you’ll design templates and processes to produce timely, high-quality outputs that are tailored to different audiences, and that enable the wider team to do so. You’ll complement our datasets with wider research and trends, and ensure our insights are used by both internal colleagues and external stakeholders to inform programmes, policy and funding decisions.
Engage senior stakeholders and building meaningful relationships
You’ll represent the Alliance in meetings, roundtables, and events—sharing evidence and building trusted relationships with policymakers, civil servants, and funders. You’ll understand their priorities, and tailor our insights accordingly. This is a two-way relationship: you’ll also feed what you learn, ensuring that our influencing work is responsive and grounded in both national priorities and lived experience.
Manage projects and continuously improve our tools
You’ll oversee the systems and processes that make our insights work possible—ensuring reporting cycles are efficient, quality is consistent, and new datasets are brought into our tools where they add value. You’ll help embed insights across the FEA team, supporting colleagues to use data from the Tools in their work and helping to identify emerging opportunities. You will evaluate the impact of your approaches and strategise for the future of the Tools and our influencing work. You’ll also work with our funders to report on the impact of the tools and shape their future development.
Commitment to equity and systems change
We’re looking for someone who cares deeply about improving the lives of children and young people from low-income backgrounds. You’ll understand how education intersects with wider social systems—and bring a clear-eyed view of what needs to change. While direct policy or public affairs experience is a bonus, what matters most is that you’re motivated by impact, passionate about equity, and excited by the opportunity to work collaboratively to shift the system.
See the job description attached for a full job specification and application instructions.
See the job pack for full application instructions.
Submit a CV and cover letter. Your cover note should answer the following questions and be no longer than two A4 pages:
1. Why do you want to be part of the Fair Education Alliance team?
2. Give examples of how your skills and experience align with the job requirements.
Please also complete the equal opportunities form linked in the job pack.
Registered Charity 
6 - 10
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Role Purpose
The Head of Research, Policy and Insights will join the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) alongside the Head of Operations, Head of Programmes and Engagement and Head of Marketing and Communications. This role is pivotal in guiding OKRE’s strategic direction, leveraging research to inform programme and policy development, and advocacy efforts.
You will lead the expansion and application of OKRE’s distinctive research activities (see Playing with Videogame Culture, and Entertainment Industries Taskforce), developing and delivering an ambitious programme of work that helps transform understanding of entertainment media, its impacts, and the ways different communities work with it.
A key focus will be development of an “Entertainment Impact Index”, a key recommendation from OKRE’s report ‘Delivering social impact in entertainment content – priorities, approaches & challenges.’ This new framework will complement existing impact measurements, supporting cross-sector collaboration and shared learning.
Engaging with trends in entertainment, including technological developments such as AI and machine learning, and approaches to charity and social impact, your role will involve identifying challenges and opportunities. You’ll develop strategies to measure and assess the impact of OKRE’s work, ensuring data informs both annual planning and growth opportunities.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership and Strategy
- Work with fellow SLT members to develop and implement organisational strategies that embed a research and insights-led culture within the charity.
- Craft and execute strategies for OKRE’s research and policy work, broadening the organisation’s reach and impact.
- Lead OKRE’s work with research consultants and work with other senior team members to develop and support colleagues across our staff and associate team working on insights and policy activities.
- Keep abreast of developments in entertainment and media (including tv, film, video games, creator content) as well as social impact, behaviour change and narrative change sectors, to support the dissemination and use of that knowledge across the organisation and beyond.
Programme design and delivery
- Lead on the development and delivery of a high impact programme of research and policy projects, spearheading major initiatives, such as the Entertainment Impact Index, and running regular convenings with key industry figures to develop actionable tools.
- Manage research materials, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide quality assurance on research, data and insight-related work in service of the charity’s goals and objectives.
- Provide insights to the wider OKRE team on key sector trends and opportunities relevant to programmes such as the OKRE Summit and OKRE Fund.
- Evolve evaluation strategies and provide practical support to team members to assess OKRE’s work, understanding what difference the charity has made, and synthesise learning to inform future activity.
Communication and Impact:
- Commission research through internal panels or external agencies and produce tailored briefings and reports.
- Turn research findings into sharp insights, impactful policy narratives, guides, tools, and training resources for the sectors we work with.
- Represent the organisation at industry events, advocating on policy matters and advancing the organisation’s thought leadership.
Stakeholder Management
- Seek out, build and maintain strong relationships with key organisations, funders and partners working in entertainment, charity, research and policy fields.
- Be a passionate advocate for and support the whole team to adopt an insights and evidence-based approach to their work.
- Define and advance a clear learning agenda based on the needs of key stakeholders in the business.
Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in strategic planning and delivery within research and policy environments.
- Demonstrable success in identifying emerging policy opportunities and applying research-led approaches to boosting organisational influence.
- Senior level experience managing research and policy portfolios, with budget accountability in commercial or charity sectors.
- Expertise in deploying quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, tools, with a track record in informed policy advocacy.
- Proven ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for a range of stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication.
Ideally you will be:
- Resourceful with ability to think laterally to problem solve, tracking and reviewing progress to adjust accordingly.
- Happy to take ownership of projects, managing your own time while communicating clearly with others where deliverables are interdependent.
- Passionate about entertainment and its potential to shift perceptions.
- Confident with putting forward ideas, asking for and responding to feedback and coming up with actionable plans to make things happen.
- Able to establish rapport and build positive working relationships with a variety of people.
- Delivery focused with excellent attention to detail.
- Enjoys a fast-paced and evolving environment [complex/start up]
- Excited about hybrid working as part of a small but growing team, where you can play a positive part in shaping the organisation’s work and its working culture.
If you believe you have the skills and passion to succeed, we encourage you to apply. We are eager to hear from individuals who are enthusiastic about learning and growing with us.
What you will receive on top of your salary:
- Optional enrolment into OKRE’s workplace pension scheme.
- Free access to Wellcome’s onsite Nuffield Gym.
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme.
- Access to a varied menu of hot and cold food options at Wellcome’s staff food outlets, at prices substantially lower than Central London averages.
- Great views over the city from our 6th floor central London office opposite Euston station. We are based in the building that houses the Wellcome Collection, a museum and library connecting science, medicine, life and art.
How to apply for this role:
To apply please send a CV and cover letter. Together, these should clearly set out how you meet the skills and experience required and why you are applying for this role at OKRE. Candidates will be shortlisted for interview on this basis. Please send them to officemanager{@}okre{dot}org by Monday 9th June
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do and we actively encourage applications from those at different life stages.
We are committed to creating an environment where all employees, workers and job applicants can thrive.
We work to make our recruitment processes as inclusive as possible. If you would like us to make adjustments during the application process, please contact us by emailing officemanager{@}okre{dot}org with the subject line ‘Application Process’.
We expect our team to treat others on their merits and challenge any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation, or sexual, racial or any other type of harassment.
Feedback & process
We receive a high volume of applications to our open positions and consequently can’t provide feedback to every application. We will confirm receipt of your application via email.
We will invite shortlisted applicants to online interviews on 16th or 17th June.
Final interviews will be held in person at our central London office on 24th or 26th June.
All candidates selected for interviews will receive feedback if requested.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced strategic lead to drive the next phase of our Right to Health campaign. This new role will work with our experienced and well respected team and our extensive network, to make the political case for the better legal recognition and real-world protection for the right to health.
An ideal candidate
You will be a passionate and experienced advocate for health, human, social or environmental rights, committed to driving meaningful change in the UK. You will bring proven expertise in leading policy, advocacy, or parliamentary engagement work - ideally within health, human rights, social or environmental justice sectors - and thrive in building strong, strategic relationships with government, civil society, and community stakeholders.
You have a good understanding of the structural causes of health inequality and the power of human rights frameworks to address them. You will know how the UK political and parliamentary systems work, and you are skilled at influencing these processes through clear, compelling narratives backed by evidence.
You are able to communicate with clarity and impact, tailoring your message to diverse audiences - from policymakers to grassroots activists. You are confident working independently and collaboratively within a small, flexible team, balancing strategic vision with practical delivery. Your approach is solutions-focused, inclusive, and grounded in the lived realities of people affected by health inequalities.
Most importantly, you are motivated by the opportunity to join a dynamic and well respected organisation and lead a strategic campaign that challenges the status quo and contributes to a fairer, more just UK.
You have the right to work in the UK and be able to work from home in London or within easy reach of London. A minimum of weekly attendance in London will be required.
This opportunity is open to applicants wishing to deliver the work on a self-employed freelance or employed basis.
For application, please complete:
- the Application Form
- a CV outlining your career (including paid and unpaid work), with any academic and professional qualifications, to date.
Applications that do not include both documents will not be considered.
