Community engagement officer jobs in romford, essex
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
11 - 20
No child’s success should be limited by their socioeconomic background.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Are you a tech-savvy leader, passionate about delivering an excellent service? Do you thrive in fast-paced environments where your decisions directly impact the success of an organisation? If so, we want to hear from you.
As our Service Desk Manager, you’ll be the driving force behind our IT support operations—ensuring our users receive top-tier service and our systems run smoothly. You’ll lead a high performing team, manage incidents, and continuously improve service delivery using data, feedback, and your own innovative thinking. You’ll have responsibility for ensuring the IT Service Desk provides effective end-user support, implement the College’s IT infrastructure policies and ensuring that we minimise the number of service desk calls.
In this dynamic and fast paced role you will help achieve our Service Desk’s ultimate mission of delivering a high standard of support and customer satisfaction.
What you’ll do
- Leading and mentoring a high-performing Service Desk team
- Managing day-to-day operations and acting as the go-to escalation point
- Driving service improvements using KPIs, feedback, and best practices
- Supporting AV and video conferencing across the College
- Playing a key role in exam delivery and IT project support
- Collaborating with stakeholders to enhance user experience and IT service quality
What you’ll need:
- Proven experience managing an IT Service Desk
- ITIL v3/v4 Foundation or equivalent experience
- Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365, Windows 10/11, and ITSM platforms
- Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills
- A customer-first mindset and a passion for continuous improvement
- A proactive, self-starting attitude and a love for learning.
- A commitment to data protection, security, and sustainability.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly.
- Strong critical thinking skills and the ability to identify workarounds and solutions.
- Self-motivated and able to work effectively within a team and collaboratively across the College.
Why join us?
- Make a difference to the lives of Doctors and the specialities they work in every day!
- Hybrid working (60% working week can be done remotely)
- Modern working environment
- Equipment provided to work from home
- Generous annual leave allowance
- Excellent pension scheme
- Interest free season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
Thank you!
This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Young People’s Advocate. Suitable candidates must be experienced in advocating in a multi-agency setting to secure positive life outcomes for your clients and to making the service a success. A Safe Lives qualification is desirable.
You will be self-sufficient, assertive and possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills combined with empathy and sensitivity to build and develop supportive relationships with young people. You will maintain professional boundaries and adhere fully to Refuge’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.
Closing Date: 09:00am 2 July 2025
Interview Date: 10 and 11 July 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
As the first Head of Operations, you will provide strategic oversight, work with staff to translate our strategy into actionable, measurable plans for efficient and effective work, which will enhance the impact for people in immigration detention. Your management of the team’s operations will support our growth, resilience, and sustainability.
For futher information see the Application Pack
What they say about Medical Justice;
“What Medical Justice did was absolutely remarkable. They sent two specialists to see me in Harmondsworth and they did the most amazingly thorough job documenting all my scars. Then I got my medico-legal report which was over 40 pages long. They did thorough, professional work – there is nothing more that they could have done and ultimately this work got me out of detention.” – former detained person and Medical Justice client
“[Medical Justice] has strong characteristics and a highly respected reputation. It is regarded as principled, expert and evidence-based, tenacious in its casework and policy work, fierce and ferocious when needed and brave in the way it speaks truth to power.” – fellow non-governmental organisation
“Medical Justice has an outsized impact for its size – it is highly effective and the team is absolutely terrific, which is all the more impressive in the difficult political context.” – Medical Justice funder
Informal online information sessions
An opportunity to ask questions about Medical Justice and its work as well as about the Head of Operations role ;
12.30-1.30pm Thursday 22nd May
12.30-1.30 Thursday 5th June
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
The HR Operations Lead plays a crucial role in supporting the employee lifecycle and employee experience here at Battersea, developing and aligning HR practices with Battersea’s strategic objectives. The role ensures the efficient and customer focused functioning of the department’s daily operations, with oversight of the resourcing team and leading on policy review and development, the continuous improvement of people processes, HR compliance, and budgeting and contract management. It will also lead the development, coordination and delivery of key projects which enable the delivery of our People Strategy.
What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:
- 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year
- Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes
- Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources
- Generous pension contributions – up to 10% employer contribution
- Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year
- Annual interest-free season ticket loans
We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.
Our hybrid working model:
We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.
Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.
We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.
As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best.
More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.
Closing date: 22nd June 2025
Interview date(s): W/c 30th June 2025
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.
Registered Charity
501 - 1000
Battersea is here for every dog and cat, and has been since 1860. We believe that every dog and cat deserves the best.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.