Academic programmes officer jobs
The Youth Endowment Fund
Senior Evaluation Manager
Reports to: Head of Evaluation
Salary: £54,300
Location: Central London, hybrid*
Contract: 24 months full-time (Fixed term contract)
Application deadline: 5pm, Monday 6th July 2026
About the Youth Endowment Fund
We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.
All of us will experience violence at some point in our lives. For many children, it is a daily reality. Each year, tens of children are killed, hundreds are hospitalised, 1 in 5 teenage children are victims and the majority admit to feeling afraid of violence. It scares them when they travel home from school, prevents them from going out and makes the most vulnerable feel like they don’t matter. It is taking lives, traumatising families and dividing communities. It robs potential, progress and hope. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build an exceptional body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We need to convert this into highly accessible content on what works, how delivery organisations need to change their practice and how the systems they operate in need to be reformed. We then need to work with the right people that can make change happen, across systems, policies and practice, to have a real impact on reducing violence affecting children’s lives.
The evaluation team contributes to the design and implementation of the fund’s various funding rounds. The team is also responsible for assessing, appointing, monitoring, and the quality assurance of rigorous impact evaluations from experts in the field. The Senior Evaluation Manager will play a key role in leading evaluation work. The post holder will also lead a team of evaluation managers, ensuring they have the support to deliver a portfolio of evaluation projects.
Key responsibilities
The core of your job is to ensure that we are excellent at evaluation, so that we can find out the very best ways to prevent young people and children from becoming involved in violence.
Evaluation
Working with the Head of Evaluation the post holder will:
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Implement the processes for assessing the quality of evidence underpinning applications to the fund and making funding recommendations to the Grants and Evaluation Committee.
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Shape the evaluation approach for individual grant rounds, including leading on this for a small number of rounds.
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Act as a source of expertise on the statistical underpinnings of YEF’s evaluation work, including on issues such as power calculations, regression analysis and missing data.
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Lead the delivery of YEF’s evaluation work, designing, commissioning and managing complex and large-scale RCTs and QEDs
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Be responsible for YEF’s evaluation policies and reporting templates, ensuring they remain consistent and fit for purpose.
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Be responsible for the ongoing development of YEF’s commissioning guidance.
Team management
The post holder will likely lead the recruitment, management and development of a team of evaluation officers and will:
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Ensure they have the knowledge, skills and support to carry out their work effectively.
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Provide regular feedback and coaching on written outputs.
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Supervise and project manage the team’s evaluation work, providing quality assurance and monitoring of progress against project plans and project budgets.
Collaborative working
The post holder will contribute to the wider YEF team and will:
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Be accountable to YEF’s Fund Leadership Team for the delivery of evaluations, on time and on budget, including reporting on risks and issues.
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Work closely with colleagues across YEF and specifically the Programme team.
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Ensure high-quality evidence is at the heart of all YEF activity and that the evidence we produce is communicated in a clear and accessible way which will drive sustainable change.
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Support the management of YEF’s panel of evaluators and expert panel
General
The post holder may be involved in other elements of YEF's projects, working with senior colleagues to commission, scope and deliver projects.
About you
You are this sort of person:
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You don't want your days to pass without making a difference. You want to play a significant part in reducing the level of youth violence and see the value in an evidence-informed approach.
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You are an excellent communicator. You can produce technical documents that accurately report methodological and statistical information. You will combine this with experience of communicating complex evidence and analysis in a simple and accessible format to non- experts.
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You have a post-graduate degree (Masters or PhD) in social science, social policy, public health, health services or other field, with a significant quantitative component, or relevant experience equivalent to a Masters qualification.
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You have strong knowledge, experience and technical expertise in evaluation methodologies including experience of RCT design and/or design of complex quasi-experimental evaluations (e.g. propensity score matching, regression discontinuity design, instrumental variables).
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You have quantitative analysis skills including experience of using advanced analytical software such as R, Stata or SPSS.
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You have significant experience in carrying out or commissioning research including designing all aspects of the research and managing external contractors. This may be in academia, government or a related sector.
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You have strong relationship management skills. You are comfortable working with a wide range of people, including senior academics and other research experts, children and their families, practitioners, and policy makers. You’re able to provide constructive challenge when required.
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You bring the best out of your colleagues.You have experience in leading teams and managing others to achieve amazing results. You can both take and give direction. You are collaborative and a team player, able to build strong relationships across the whole organisation. You are happy to help out when and where it’s needed.
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You have excellent project and time management skills and the ability to deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
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You learn fast but remain humble. You like learning. You’re very good at synthesising information. You know how much you don't know and that you can always learn more.
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You work well in a team. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit. You support your colleagues to produce excellent work.
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You’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, views and values.
You may have, but they are not essential:
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A good level of knowledge and understanding of crime or serious violence. You know the facts, understand the issues, know the key people, and can discuss the theories. You’re knowledgeable on this topic and very at ease discussing it with experts. Alternatively, you might have a strong understanding of a relevant area such as education, youth work or social care.
While it is not a criterion, we are especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.
It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.
Hybrid Working Details
The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office for a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month.
As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage.
To apply
To apply, please send a CV, cover letter and the monitoring form via our application page by 5:00pm on Monday 6th July
When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter can answer, within a maximum of 1000 words, the following questions:
- Tell us about why you want to work at the Youth Endowment Fund, and any experience you have that demonstrates your commitment to preventing youth violence.
- Tell us about your experience in designing, commissioning and managing evaluations. We’re particularly interested in hearing about the methodologies and tools you’ve used to ensure evaluations are rigorous and produce robust evidence.
- How do you ensure that your work – whether technical analysis or collaborative evaluation management – is inclusive and accessible?
You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.
You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.
Interview process
Shortlisted candidates will be sent a technical task to complete before the interview. Interviews will take place on the week commencing 20th July 2026.
Personal data
Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
We exist to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Salary: £45000-£49000 p.a DOE
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Reports to: Senior Insight Manager
Direct reports: There is potential for line management responsibility for an Insight Officer to support their development, oversee elements of their work, and help to ensure high standards of research quality and delivery.
Location: Harlow, Essex. Easily commutable from London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale Station. We offer a free minibus service to/from Harlow Town Train Station as well as free parking and EV charging on site.
Extra Information: Open to conversation on hybrid, flexible and compressed working arrangements. The team works a minimum of two days a week from the office.
About the role:
At the Motability Foundation we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.
This role will support the Senior Insight Manager in delivering policy research and insight as part of the new insight function. This role sits at the intersection of research and policy, ensuring that evidence is not only generated, but interpreted and mobilised effectively to inform forward-looking organisational positioning.
What you will be doing:
As Policy Research Manager, you’ll play a central role in building and mobilising the evidence needed to influence policy and public debate on mobility, disability and welfare reform. Working closely with colleagues across Insight, Policy and Public Affairs, you’ll help to ensure that the Foundation has a robust, timely and compelling evidence base to support advocacy, engagement with decision-makers, and external partnerships.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Developing clear and persuasive evidence narratives that demonstrate the social value and impact of the Foundation’s work, drawing on research, evaluation findings and wider policy evidence
- Scoping, developing and oversight of rapid evidence reviews and insight summaries to inform policy positions, responses to consultations and support external engagement
- Delivering forward-looking policy analyses using futures and foresight approaches (including horizon scanning and trend synthesis), assessing potential implications for disabled people and organisational positioning.
- Acting as the lead for policy-relevant research on welfare reform and related priority areas, synthesising internal and external evidence to inform organisational responses
- Supporting coordination with Motability Operations on shared policy and research priorities
- Supporting relationships with external partners including Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), think tanks and public research bodies, including representing the Foundation to contribute an evidence-informed perspective
- Supporting dissemination and engagement activity, including roundtables, briefings, thought pieces and events that help shape debate and explore innovative policy solutions
- Working collaboratively across the organisation to move our evidence and insight from reactive to proactive, strengthening our influence over time
Your experience:
You’re curious, motivated and motivated by public impact. You enjoy turning complex evidence into clear messages that resonate with different audiences, and you’re keen to see research used to influence real-world decisions. You understand what makes for good enough evidence to influence policy making.
You’re comfortable working across organisational boundaries and with external partners, and you bring energy, judgement and confidence to conversations about policy, evidence and social value.
You’re likely to thrive in this role if you:
- Enjoy synthesising research and data into compelling, accessible insight
- Are motivated by social purpose and improving outcomes for disabled people
- Have a strong interest in public policy
- Have a strong understanding of how evidence can be used to influence decision-making
- Are proactive, organised and able to respond quickly to emerging issues
- Are confident representing an organisation externally and contributing to policy discussions
- Like working collaboratively and building trusted relationships across teams and sectors
If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience, we'd still encourage you to apply.
Requirements
We recognise that candidates may come from a range of backgrounds. We’re particularly interested in people with strong potential who are keen to develop their skills in a purpose-driven environment.
Must haves:
- Experience conducting or coordinating research, evidence reviews or analysis in a policy, public affairs, research or related setting
- Familiarity with government policy-making processes, consultations and/or parliamentary engagement
- Ability to synthesise complex information into clear, concise written outputs
- Understanding of how research and evidence can be packaged and used effectively to inform or influence public policy
- Experience working with or alongside external organisations such as think tanks, charities, DPOs, academic or public research bodies
- Strong written communication skills and confidence contributing to external briefings, reports or events
- A relevant degree or postgraduate qualification in a social science, public policy or related discipline, or equivalent work experience
Nice to haves:
- Experience working on disability, welfare, transport or social policy issues
- Experience supporting advocacy or public affairs activity using evidence
- Experience designing or managing rapid evidence reviews or insight products
- A recognised professional research qualification such as the MRS Advanced Certificate, or equivalent professional research training.
Benefits
Who are we?
We are building a future where all disabled people have the transport options to make the journeys they choose.
We fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.
Why choose us?
We want working for the Motability Foundation to be the best career move you’ve ever made. When you join the Motability Foundation you will join a group of people who are supportive, innovative and motivated to improve the lives of our beneficiaries.
We value everyone’s unique qualities and celebrate having a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture where everyone feels safe to be their authentic selves. This is embedded into our values, Collaborative, Respectful and Evolving.
We bring our people together through our People Forum, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Forum, Social Squad and our Wellbeing Champions and our employee Spotlight Awards help us recognise the excellence and dedication of our staff.
We are proud to be recognised as Disability Confident Leader, have attained Platinum Level Award for Investors in People and are members of the Business Disability Forum.
A career with Motability Foundation can offer you so much more than earning potential, we pride ourselves in offering some fantastic benefits. Some of these include:
- 26 days annual leave, plus the option to buy/ sell up to five days.
- One wellbeing day for extra flexibility.
- Pension scheme - Up to 20%, including a 10% non-contributory contribution and matched contributions up to 5%.
- Life Assurance of four times your salary.
- Private healthcare through BUPA for you and your family, along with a Medicash Health Plan.
- Employee assistance programme: GP appointments, eye tests, flu vaccinations, sick pay and free gym and yoga sessions.
- Enhanced Parental Leave, including Adoption Pay.
- Free parking, EV charge points and a minibus service to/from the town centre and train station.
- Fresh fruit, breakfast snacks, and a Dress for Your Day dress code.
- Learning and development opportunities to help you grow.
Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, and we aim to be an employer of choice for candidates with disabilities.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we have committed to ensuring that disabled people and those with long term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential. We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to perform their best when interviewing and when working with us, so if you require any reasonable adjustments that would make you more comfortable, please let us know so that we can do our best to support you.
To help us create an inclusive workplace we are committed to offering to interview every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the job. Some of our roles attract a high volume of applications and in some circumstances, we may need to limit the number of interviews offered to disabled and non-disabled candidates. re
Registered Charity
101 - 500
We are building a future where all disabled people have the transport options to make the journeys they choose.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Are you a passionate, skilled and compassionate Occupational Therapist who believes every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive? Do you want to work somewhere where your expertise has a visible, lasting impact — where independence grows, barriers are reduced, and young people are empowered to succeed in all aspects of their lives?
At Southover, we are looking for a committed Occupational Therapist who brings clinical excellence, creativity and a genuine determination to make a difference. Our students have often experienced disrupted journeys, but with the right therapeutic support, they make exceptional progress — not only academically, but socially, emotionally and functionally.
This is a unique opportunity to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, where therapy is fully integrated into the school day. You will play a key role in supporting students with sensory and motor needs, helping staff embed effective strategies, and ensuring every young person can access learning and daily life with confidence.
If you thrive in a dynamic environment where no two days are the same, where relationships are central, and where your professional judgement and innovation are valued, you will feel right at home here.
We are seeking an Occupational Therapist who is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based interventions, raising aspirations and supporting students to develop the skills they need for lifelong success.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a good school where your work truly matters. You will contribute to a nurturing, ambitious and holistic environment that prioritises the wellbeing and development of every young person.
What we are looking for:
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A qualified Occupational Therapist who will make a real difference
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A skilled clinician with experience of sensory and motor needs
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Someone who is flexible, creative and solution-focused
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A strong relationship-builder with excellent communication skills
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A proactive team player who thrives in a collaborative environment
What we offer:
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A warm, welcoming and supportive working environment where staff wellbeing really matters
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The opportunity to work closely with students and see the direct impact of your interventions
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A committed, multi-disciplinary team who collaborate, support and celebrate each other
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Opportunities to contribute to whole-school practice, training and development
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A highly rewarding role where you can have a transformational impact on young people’s lives
Important information:
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We only accept applications using our application form; CVs cannot be considered
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Southover is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment
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The successful candidate will require an Enhanced DBS Certificate and will be subject to a range of safer recruitment checks
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All staff must comply with data protection responsibilities and adhere to GDPR principles
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We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and operate in full accordance with the Equality Act 2010
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Applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK
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Please note: Depending on application numbers, we may shortlist and interview before the closing date
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.