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This is a hands-on role that moves between two registers: structured qualitative research with proper analytical underpinning, and fast-turnaround reactive policy work. You will need to be genuinely comfortable in both able to run a multi-month thematic publication and turn around a tight briefing or consultation response within 48-72 hours when a policy window opens.
The role will lead The Difference's qualitative research and insight function, including research workstreams tied to the Difference Schools Partnership's annual thematic priorities, and our Harmful and Abusive Behaviours (HaB) workstream convening a sector council to build a shared framework for how schools understand and respond to peer-on-peer harm. You will produce briefings, evidence submissions and publications, manage external research partners, and work with the CEO, Head of Policy and Communications team to launch research with real impact. The role reports to the Head of Policy and works closely with colleagues across Strategy, Research and Programmes.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead The Difference's qualitative research and insight function, running research workstreams tied to annual DSP thematic priorities and emerging strands on MAT inclusion and LA working
- Design and deliver qualitative research with schools, MATs and local authorities interviews, focus groups, school visits and thematic analysis translating findings into evidence and policy recommendations
- Lead the Harmful and Abusive Behaviours research workstream, convening a sector council, producing briefing material and managing the route from convening to publication
- Produce timely, citable evidence for policy influence including drafting briefings, consultation responses and evidence submissions on fast turnaround
- Project manage publication cycles from scoping through to launch, working with coalition and media partners to maximise reach and tracking policy traction post-launch
- Brief, manage and integrate the outputs of external research partners where commissioned (e.g. FFT Datalab, Pro Bono Economics)
- Capture and develop case studies from DSP schools and the wider Difference network
About The Difference
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Every day, the equivalent of 5,500 children are suspended from England's schools, doubling their likelihood of being NEET by 24. The Difference is a young education charity founded to change this story through whole school inclusion. We train school leaders, carry out our own research, and turn frontline insights into policy recommendations lobbying Ofsted and the Department for Education to improve funding and support for inclusion. Our vision is to see lost learning falling nationally by 2030.
About You
Essential
- Dual capability across reactive and structured research : comfortable producing tight briefings on a 48–72 hour turnaround and running multi-month qualitative publications
- Experience in education research, policy research or applied social research, with examples of published, commissioned or internally-influential work
- Strong qualitative research skills : interview and focus group design, thematic coding, framework development, synthesis across multiple sources
- Persuasive writing for mixed audiences : able to write clearly and concisely for policymakers, school leaders, the press and the sector, and comfortable ghost-writing for senior colleagues
- Project management discipline : able to run multiple workstreams in parallel, manage your own deadlines, and keep colleagues and external partners on track
- Comfortable working at pace in a fast-moving environment where priorities shift as policy windows open and close : self-directed, flexible and able to make good judgement calls under pressure
- Shared values with The Difference and personal commitment to improving life outcomes for young people
Desired
- Strong working understanding of UK education policy, particularly around inclusion, exclusion, SEND, accountability and school improvement
- Confident data literacy and basic quantitative analysis : comfortable interrogating population-level datasets and translating findings into accessible policy language
- Understanding of why language matters when writing about behaviour, exclusion and vulnerability, and the ability to frame behaviour as a signal of unmet need consistently across all work
- Lived experience or insight into the school experiences of marginalised young people
- Experience of working in or with schools, multi-academy trusts or local authorities
- Existing relationships in education research, policy or sector organisations
Please see the attached Job Description for full role details and person specification.
We are committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups in the charity sector. As part of our commitment to fairer recruitment, all applications will be assessed with names and protected characteristics redacted.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
The Difference exists to improve the life-outcomes of the most vulnerable children by raising the status and expertise of those who educate them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
The Woodland Trust is looking for a Senior Legacy Officer to support the strategic objectives of the Legacy Income Management Team by administering and managing legacies left to the Woodland Trust, ensuring that all legacy income is secured, protected and maximised.
The Role:
• Manage a complex caseload of legacy files, including pecuniary, residuary, specific gifts, and life interest trusts, protecting income where legal challenges arise.
• Recruit, line manage, and mentor the Legacy Assistant, providing ongoing support and guidance.
• Maximise legacy income through proactive case management and strategic decision-making.
• Deputise for the Legacy Income Manager and support team leadership and mentoring.
• Provide legal and advisory support on legacy-related matters to internal stakeholders.
• Monitor legacy notifications and income, supporting forecasting, reporting, and audit requirements.
• Collaborate with fundraising teams to enhance legacy journeys and secure future pledges.
• Contribute to policy development, process improvements, and data quality initiatives.
• This is a hybrid position with a mix of home working, and from our head office in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Head office attendance would be required no more than once a month on average. Occasional travel to other offices and remote locations may also be required.
The Candidate:
• Experience in legacy management or administration and/or Wills, Probate and Trust law.
• Background working in a charity legacy management team.
• Skilled in case management systems (ideally First Class 4) and Microsoft Office.
• Proven ability to manage residuary estates, probate disputes, and complex caseloads.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and advising colleagues.
• Strong stakeholder relationship-building skills across internal and external teams.
• Knowledge of probate, tax, charity, and data protection law relating to estate administration.
• Qualified in legacy administration (e.g. ILM Certificate in Charity Legacy Administration) and/or other legal qualifications.
Benefits and Wellbeing:
Joining our team means you’ll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:
• Enhanced Employer Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 Days Plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d for part-time)
• Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme
• Enhanced Parental Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
About Us:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees.
People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.
Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application.
Application Advice:
For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and we do not ask for your CV at application.
Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role.
Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools.
Apply Now:
If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete.
Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams on 9th & 10th July.
Thank you!
Pathway Manager
Apply today to step into a role where your leadership will drive real, measurable impact—empowering teams, shaping inclusive services, and making a lasting difference in people’s lives every day.
Location: Lambeth - Lambeth YP Assessment Time Out
Salary: £43,632 per annum
Closing date: 05 July, 2026
Employment Type: Permanent
Hours per week: 37.5
About the Role
Lead the delivery of a high-impact, person-centred service as a Pathway Manager, where your leadership will directly shape outcomes for individuals and communities. You’ll drive performance, quality, and continuous improvement across a multidisciplinary pathway, building strong partnerships and using insight and data to inform confident, effective decisions.
We’re looking for a proactive, values-driven leader who thrives in complex environments. You’ll bring strong operational oversight, team leadership, and stakeholder management skills, alongside a commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and excellence. If you’re action-oriented, collaborative, and passionate about delivering meaningful change, this is your opportunity to make a real difference in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Please note that this job opportunity is offered as a full-time (37.5 hours a week), permanent role.
Key Deliverables
• You will be committed to working in and maintaining an environment that supports the safeguarding of young people as the Safeguarding Lead for the service
• You will be adept in managing the service and its partnerships
• You will manage, monitor, evaluate and continuously improve the service and its operation within Lambeth’s developing approach
• You will comply with quality inspection and assessment procedures
• You will ensure effective support, learning or family support plans (as applicable) for young people are in place and regularly reviewed
• You will maintain a safe and secure environment, that has appropriate risk assessment processes and systems in place that are regularly reviewed and monitored;
• You will ensure young people are a major part in shaping service delivery
• You will ensure effective delivery of Depaul UK’s approved life skills training and work closely with Participation and Volunteering leads.
• At the end of this programme, you will develop an evidence based report, that will enable us to embed what was done well, share learning internally and externally
• To be successful in this role you will be expected to go the extra mile by being flexible with the hours you work always bearing in mind the needs of the business.
• You will undertake full line management of the Team Leader and ETE worker
• Any other duties commensurate with the role
Health and Safety:
• To ensure a safe and secure environment and maintain high standards within the services. This includes risk assessments, health and safety checks and the cleaning and preparation of rooms for new residents.
• To involve service users in developing an awareness of their own personal and building health and safety, through information sessions, key working and support planning and resident meetings.
• To ensure that the project is clean and safe and to encourage residents to take some responsibility in the cleaning of their communal areas and their room.
• To work for a proportion of the time as a lone worker and as part of the wider team.
• Undertake appropriate risk assessments for lone working.
Administration:
• To maintain written records and monitoring information as appropriate and input and retrieve data on the Inform system.
• To prepare reports, statistical data and other information that maybe requested by the Asst. Area Director.
• To ensure that any repairs and maintenance issues are reported in a timely manner in order to ensure the health and safety and security of the building environment.
• Any other administrative tasks that will ensure the smooth running of the service.
Finance:
• With the support of the Area. Director devise effective, safe and timely methods for the collection of accommodation and service charges from residents, and to maintain auditable records of payment.
• Ensure that arrears management procedures are adhered to.
• To take responsibility for petty cash and record all transactions in line with policy.
General:
• To contribute to a high quality and effective delivery of service.
• To participate in internal/external meetings as required and attend training, events, conferences and other functions as necessary.
• To participate in regular supervision and IDP and help in identifying your own job-related development and training needs.
• To contribute to and be supportive of young people’s involvement in our services and in all levels of decision making throughout the organization.
• To ensure that all Depaul policies and procedures are adhered to.
• To be successful in this role you will expected to go the extra mile by being flexible with the hours you work always bearing in mind the needs of the business.
• Any other duties commensurate with the role.
What we are looking for from you
When completing your application form please address all the points set out below.
• A commitment to the ethos and values of Depaul including the organisation’s policies and procedures
• Demonstrable experience of working with young and vulnerable people and young families with multiple and complex needs.
• Experience and understanding of challenges and barriers faced by young people in securing accommodation and sustainable education and training.
• Experience of leading a team, establishing processes and relationships.
• Negotiating skills
• Coordinating and organising skills
• Able to work on own initiative but at same time able to exercise sound judgment in knowing when to consult or delegate tasks.
• Able to work flexibly and develop positive working relationships at a range of different levels including staff, volunteers, managers, young people and stakeholders to set and deliver organisational goals and resolve conflicts of interest professionally.
• A clear understanding and ability to implement risk management, information sharing and data security arrangements.
• Awareness of and commitment to equal opportunity and diversity practice. Ability to promote and implement diversity practice and policies and generally treat colleagues and young people fairly and with respect.
• Demonstrate ability to use IT to a level which will enable high quality reporting to be carried out. This should include an ability to use data capture systems including running queries and reports.
• Expertise to manage a medium sized team of staff with responsibility for multiple projects/ services, a range of which of which operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
• The ability to provide cover Monday to Friday with occasional management support at weekends.
What You’ll Receive
· Tailored training and development
· Flexible working options where suitable
· 26 days annual leave, rising with service
· Family friendly leave policies
· Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%
· Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access
· Discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more
· Cash health plan for you and your family
· Death in service benefit
· Access to legal and practical support
Safer Recruitment
Depaul UK is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.
About Depaul UK
In the 1980s, high unemployment and steep inflation was contributing to a shocking rise in youth homelessness across London. Thousands of young people were sleeping rough every night, with many areas notoriously dubbed “cardboard cities” due to the visible rise in street homelessness. Appalled by the scenes playing out across the capital, a group of people came together to tackle the challenge head on. Led by Cardinal Basil Hume and Mark McGreevy OBE, in 1989 Depaul UK was born.
What began as a single housing project in North London soon expanded across London, Greater Manchester and the North East of England. Today, Depaul UK provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year.
As our name suggests, the work of Depaul UK has been inspired by St. Vincent de Paul – a man who devoted his life to helping vast numbers of people throughout the 17th century. St. Vincent de Paul’s belief in the intrinsic worth of all people and his commitment to taking bold action remain central to our values today. Depaul UK now forms part of a family of Depaul charities around the world. We each focus on the specific challenges in our own countries, but we’re united by our shared values and mission to end homelessness.
