Cohort research manager jobs

This is a pivotal moment to join Public Law Project. As part of our five-year strategy, we are deepening our commitment to centring the voices and experiences of marginalised communities — and this new role is at the heart of that work.

As Community Network Manager, you will establish and lead our new Community Knowledge Exchange, bringing together people with lived experience of marginalisation, frontline partners, lawyers, researchers and others to share knowledge, build collective power and shape fairer systems. You will build and sustain the relationships and infrastructure that ensure community insight drives our litigation strategy, policy influence and advocacy — working in ways that are ethical, equitable and genuinely co-productive.

This is a rare opportunity to shape something from the start. You will develop the networks, tools and approaches that help PLP engage meaningfully with communities, while also acting as an internal champion — building our organisational capacity to work in partnership with lived experience in non-extractive ways.

If you are an experienced community organiser or network coordinator who is passionate about putting lived experience at the centre of social change, we would love to hear from you. As part of our commitment to recruit fairly we use anonymised-selection processes until interview, offer additional interview opportunities to the highest-scoring candidates from under-represented communities, and use ‘tie-breaker’ provisions at all stages of our selection process. This work is made possible by The National Lottery Community Fund's Solidarity Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, Public Law Project has received more than £3.5 million over five years from The National Lottery Community Fund. The funding will be used for strategic legal action, co-produced research and communications to challenge unfair decisions and shape fairer systems.

Job purpose

The Community Network Manager will establish and lead PLP's Community Knowledge Exchange — a new network bringing together people and organisations with lived experience of marginalisation, frontline partners, lawyers, researchers and others to share knowledge and shape fairer systems.

At the heart of the role is a commitment to centring lived experience in PLP's work in ways that are ethical, equitable and non-extractive. The post holder will translate community insight into policy influence, strategic litigation and advocacy, while also strengthening PLP's internal capacity to engage in co-production and lived experience partnership working effectively.

They will develop and help to steward PLP's relationship with The National Lottery Community Fund and engage with the wider cohort of funded organisations, identifying opportunities for collaboration and collective endeavour. Internally, they will act as a champion and adviser, developing tools, guidance and approaches that help colleagues across PLP engage meaningfully with communities and frontline partners.

Key relationships

Reports to the Communications & Engagement Director, works closely with the wider Communications & Engagement team and is a member of the SMT1. Collaborates across PLP with colleagues including from events, public affairs, research and casework teams and advise the Senior Leadership Team. Externally, represents PLP within the Community Knowledge Exchange network and The National Lottery Community Fund cohort, and facilitates and maintains relationships with community partners, frontline organisations and other stakeholders relevant to PLP's strategic priorities.

Primary duties and responsibilities

The following is an illustrative but not exclusive list of the primary duties and responsibilities of the role

Network development and coordination

• Establish, coordinate and grow the Community Knowledge Exchange – a network of people and organisations with lived and living experience of marginalisation, working with colleagues and frontline partners such as advice organisations and campaign groups.
• Manage relationships, communications and logistics for network members and meetings.
• Develop peer resource hubs and strong feedback loops between community insight and organisational delivery.
• Engage with the cohort of National Lottery funded organisations, making the most of connections and insights to shape the Community Knowledge Exchange and activities such as events.
• Connect PLP with communities and partners relevant to our strategic priorities. Uphold and promote PLP’s safeguarding policy, recognising and responding appropriately to concerns and escalating them through agreed procedures.

Knowledge exchange, influencing and storytelling

• Shape and develop network resources, working in collaboration with colleagues across the Communications & Engagement, Research and Casework teams and SLT.
• Work with the events team (which is part of the Communications & Engagement team) to develop and deliver convenings, meetings and trainings for the Community Knowledge Exchange and feed into PLP’s overall programme of events.
• Work with research and public affairs colleagues to support the co-production of research, policy and influencing work.
• Work with strategic communications colleagues to support and enable people with lived experience to share their stories publicly in ways that are ethical, empowering and on their own terms.
• Coordinate internal staff contributions to network delivery.

Funder relationship and programme development

• Play a lead role in developing PLP's relationship with The National Lottery Community Fund, acting as the primary point of contact for the development of the programme and support regular, high-quality communication and reporting.
• Represent PLP within the wider cohort of funded organisations, building relationships and identifying opportunities for collaboration, joint working and shared learning.
• Ensure that senior colleagues and the wider staff team are informed of developments in the programme, including emerging opportunities, funder priorities and cohort-wide initiatives.
• Shape the development of KPIs, in collaboration with others, and lead on tracking and reporting for PLP and sharing learnings internally and externally
• Contribute to and coordinate PLP's input into any collective communications, advocacy or other joint work across the cohort.
• Ensure PLP is well-positioned to respond to opportunities the funder makes available, including around communications support or additional resourcing.

Building capacity for lived experience partnership

• Advise colleagues on approaches to co-production and lived experience partnership working that are ethical, equitable and non-extractive.
• Shape and develop internal tools, guidance and resources to build organisational capacity in this area.
• Support teams across PLP to engage meaningfully with communities and frontline partners in their work.
• Act as an internal champion for centring lived experience across PLP's work, including casework, research, public affairs, strategic comms and events.

Management responsibilities and organisational contribution

• Contribute proactively as part of SMT to PLP’s strategy and goals.
• Role-model and embed PLP’s values and culture framework in day-to-day leadership and team development.
• Assist with management of the Communications & Engagement team e.g providing input on planning, chairing team meetings as appropriate, and assisting with recruitment, induction and training as required.
• Draw on network insight to contribute to organisational planning and strategy, including advising on emerging trends, risks and opportunities relevant to PLP’s priorities.

General duties

• Contribute to PLP’s general development, including improvement of systems, processes and ways of working.
• Ensure work is carried out in accordance with PLP policies, procedures, and relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in PLP’s day-to-day operations, including accounting and financial reporting (including to funders).
• Work with other internal teams as required from time to time, beyond the areas set out above.
• Support fundraising activities as required, including contributing to grant applications and reporting.
• Attend meetings and other fora and represent PLP as required.
• Manage your own administrative tasks, correspondence and document preparation efficiently.
• Assist others with gathering data for monitoring and evaluation, both internal for SLT/Board and external for funders and stakeholders, including the Legal Aid Agency.
• Attend occasional evening meetings. These and other events may also result in the post holder having to be away from home overnight. However, PLP recognises that post holders may have caring and other commitments and seeks to be as flexible as possible in this regard. In addition, reasonable notice will be given of such commitments outside normal working hours where possible, and time off in lieu may be taken by arrangement.
• Undertake other tasks appropriate to the role as required