Senior policy researcher jobs

We are looking for someone with excellent communication and organisational skills to support with developing and communicating policy positions that contribute to the charity’s key strategic objectives.

In this dynamic role, you’ll work as a core part of the team and across the wider organisation to coordinate and draft responses to consultations and lead on responding to policy enquiries.

Your ability to influence and work together with others will help you to succeed as Policy Officer to learn from colleagues and external networks in order to contribute to policy positions, confidently represent Diabetes UK and influence others appropriately.

You will also be keen to seek out opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills and have an appetite to develop expert knowledge in particular policy areas.

Join us and be a part of something truly transformative. Together, we can change the narrative around diabetes and make a positive difference to the lives of people impacted by the condition.

As Policy and Public Affairs Manager, you will help ensure London Youth is a credible, influential voice on issues affecting young people and the organisations that support them. Sitting within the Fundraising and Communications Directorate, you will work closely with the CEO, senior leadership, and youth participation, communciations, fundraising and delivery colleagues to deliver demonstrable external influence and impact. 

You will craft clear, evidence-based policy positions that shape debate and influence decision-making at London and national level, ensuring the policymakers understand and respond to the realities facing young people in London. Through effective internal engagement, you will also ensure colelagues and our members are well-informed and equipped to respond to key policy developments. 

You will successfully represent the voice of London Youth's members and the young people they support, helping to secure greater recognition, investment, and support for youth services. By building strong relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians, and sector partners working to address the issues affecting young people inthe capital, you will help position London Youth as a trusted and respected contributor to relevant policy discussions. 

At a time of significant change across the youth sector, you will play a central role in campaigning for systematic change and in building the profile of London Youth and the wider voluntary sector as the Government's 10-year National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, is implemented. You will help ensure commitments translate into meaningful outcomes for young people, particularly in relation to youth services, enrichment opportunities, and support for young people not in education, employment, or training, and strengthen long-term investment in youth provision. 

What you will be doing 

You will lead the development and delivery of London Youth's policy and public affairs work, building a clear and consistent understanding of the London and national context for young people and youth organisations. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, including communications, fundraising, delivery, and MEL, you will help develop a clear and compelling case for support and influence. 

You will work in close partnership with the CEO and CEO's office, acting as a trusted policy adviser, supporting the CEO's external policy engagements, positioning, and relationships with senior policymakers and influencers. 

You will monitor emerging political and policy developments and relevant funding announcements, providing insight and analysis to identify opportunities for engagement. You will draft swift organisational responses to key policy announcements, in collaboration with the CEO and communications team, and ensure relevant intelligence and opportunties inform the work of the fundraising team. 

You will develop, maintain, and communicate evidence-based policy positions, insights, and priorities, convening our members regularly to inform clear policy asks and advocacy. You will shape briefings and consultation responses that reflect the needs of London Youth's members and the young people they support. You will shape policy positions and provide high-quality briefings ahead of key senior-level engagements. 

You will oversee and track our policy influencing activity, identifying emerging policy developments, coordinating internal input, engaging stakeholders and representing London Youth in external policy and public affairs forums, and reporting on the impact of our policy work. 

You will strengthen policy work through insight and engagement, analysig relevant data and research from our membership and working with the Learning and Impact Lead to ensure insights from London Youth's network inform policy development. You will also identify opportunities for members and young people from our Youth Board to engage in policy work, including through consultations, networks, and events. 

You will build and maintain strong relationships with key London and national stakeholders, identifying opportunities for partnership working with other organisations and ensuring London Youth has a visible, credible voice in debates affecting young people. 

You will contribute to London Youth's communications, campaigns, and profile, working with colleagues to shape policy activity across digital channels, produce engaging written content including articles and speeches, craft organisational messaging, support youth-led engagement, and contribute to London Youth's thematic networks, influencing events and media opportunities. 

What you bring to the role 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Strong understanding of how policy is developed in the London and national context, and experience of engaging with political agendas on behalf of a charitable or membership organisation. 
• Experience in developing robust policy positions, responses, and solutions, and influencing politicians and decision-makers. 
• Up-to-date, proven experience in public affairs, parliamentary engagement or a related policy-influencing role, with a clear track record of driving meaningful change. 
• Good understanding of UK parliamentary and government processes, and of current policy areas impacting young people in London and across the UK. 
• Experience of producing a range of briefings and written materials, including research findings, public statements, consultation responses, and briefings for senior colelagues. 
• Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with opinion-formers and other key stakeholders. 

Attributes and Behaviours: 

• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, especially when it comes to policy partners. 
• Demonstrate confidence to engage and build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including those at senior level. 
• A confidence verbal communicator and presenter able to represent London Youth within policy forums, consortia, and networking events. 
• Demonstrate ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team, with proven ability to innovate and deliver change. 
• Demonstrate ability to analyse, summarise, and present evidence to different audiences. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to ensuring young people have prominent platforms to voice their views directly on the issues that affect them. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to strengthening London's Youth sector. 
• Be willing to work some evenings and the occasional weekend. 
• Understanding and supporting the vision, mission, and aims of London Youth. 

Demonstrate living our values of being: 

• Ambitious
• Collaborative 
• Inclusive 
• Accountable 

Why work at London Youth 

• Generous holiday allowance - 39 days paid holiday each year (including bank holidays and closure days). Pro-rata if you work part time. 
• Employer 4% pension contribution
• Additional leave granted to support voluntary activity 
• Free Health Care Cash Plan 
• Free access for you and your family to the Employee Assistance Programme 
• Free access to the 'Headspace' app for you and your family
• Flexible working opportunities considered 
• You'll be working with a fantastic team of passionate colleagues across London Youth 
• You will be making a difference to the lives of young people

Circa £49,000 per annum

Permanent

Part home/Part office (London) based

UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.

This is a great opportunity to join the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) as our Senior Prospect Research Manager.

In this pivotal role, you will lead the delivery of our ambitious prospect research strategy, driving the growth and management of our high-value Philanthropy and Corporate pipelines to help achieve ambitious fundraising targets. You’ll be part of a highly experienced, supportive, and collaborative team that empowers you to thrive.

We’re looking for an experienced, strategic, and analytical prospect researcher with exceptional data skills and meticulous attention to detail. Alongside technical expertise, you’ll bring the ability to build strong relationships across the organisation, raise the profile of our team, and demonstrate influential leadership through clear and compelling communication.

Act now and visit the website via the apply button to apply online.

Closing date: 9am, Thursday 5 February 2026.

Interview date: First round: Thursday 19 February 2026 via Microsoft Teams. Second round: Thursday 26 February 2026 in person.

In return, we offer:

· excellent pay and benefits (including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, big brand discounts and wellbeing tools)

· outstanding training and learning opportunities and the support to flourish in your role

· impressive open plan office space and facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

· an open culture and workplace with colleagues who share our values, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.

· the opportunity to work in a leading children’s organisation making a difference to children around the world

Our application process: We use a system called "Applied" that anonymises your responses and focuses on your actual skills that are relevant to this role. This benefits you by giving you a greater chance of expressing your skills in this objective selection process.

We anticipate most colleagues will work one or two days a week in the office on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London and the rest of the time from home. We will happily discuss other flexible options to suit your circumstances.

We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, disabled candidates, and from men, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level at UNICEF UK. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for children.

UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

We welcome a conversation about your flexible working requirements, personal growth, and promoting a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.

We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.

If you require support in completing the online form or an application form in an alternative format, please contact the Supporter Care line during office hours.

If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.

Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland)

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. 

The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy. 

About the role

Since Crick’s inception in 2015, its external funding portfolio has steadily grown and diversified with funding now received from a broad range of national and international funding bodies, each with their own regulations, policies and conditions.

As Senior Manager – Post-Award Grant Compliance, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring the Crick’s continued adherence to funder terms and conditions. You’ll lead the development and implementation of robust post-award grant processes, working across internal teams to provide expert guidance on compliance and regulatory requirements. Acting as the primary point of contact for external funding bodies, you’ll maintain a deep understanding of funder policies and ensure that grants and contracts are managed accordingly.  As an experienced post-award professional, you will have familiarity with business-as-usual research finance practices including project reconciliation using general ledger reports, funder invoicing, journal posting, budgeting, income recognition and other month-end processes.

As a senior member of the Finance and Grants team, you’ll also provide leadership support by deputising for the Post-Award Team Lead when required, a responsibility that could lead to future opportunities for line management. Drawing on your experience within a higher education or research-intensive environment, you will have extensive experience of post award management along with clear evidence of adding value and improving processes in previous roles.  This is a high-impact role that offers the opportunity to influence best practice across the organisation so you will need to be a strong leader who is confidence in the training and development of others striving for best practice.  Previous experience in the development and implementation of systems would be highly desirable.

What you will be doing

As a Senior Manager – Post-Award Grant Compliance at the Crick, you will:

• Provide specialist expertise in matters pertaining to grant compliance and ensure that grant funded research at the Crick is compliant.

• Develop and refine robust business processes and IT system controls

• Be responsible for the development and improvement of post-award procedures, SOPs and systems to enable efficient and effective grant support.

• Be responsible for the effective communication to and training of post-award grants team members in all areas of grants management best practice.

• Proactively identify compliance risks throughout the current portfolio and advise scientific and operational colleagues on necessary actions.

• Lead on the team’s response to internal, external and funder audit requirements,

• Develop, draft, maintain and disseminate funder specific guidance documentation

Please see job description here

About you

You will have:

• Extensive post-award grant experience, including management of grant finances, and internal / external reporting*

• Extensive knowledge of key grant funder terms and conditions, particularly those related to UKRI, UK charity and European Commission funding.*

• Understand how to keep up-to-date with funders’ evolving regulations, policies and general good practices governing the administration of grants.*

• Comprehensive understanding of post-award grants management processes and best practice

• Ability to analyse complex data, draw conclusions and produce reliable and accurate reports

• Previous experience working in a scientific environment/Higher Education Institute liaising and working effectively with a range of disciplines and levels of seniority*

• Proficiency in the use of IT systems to support and enhance a grants management role

*Minimum Criteria

Are you a proficient copy-writer who is passionate about the natural world and communicating stories and impact to funders?

Synchronicity Earth is looking for a Senior Philanthropy Marketing Officer to create, curate, and design compelling materials to showcase Synchronicity Earth’s programmes and partners around the world and promote our distinct philanthropic approach. You will help us to engage new and current audiences including prospect donors, and philanthropy and conservation specialists across the UK and Europe, the US and Asia.

While the role is embedded in the Philanthropy team, you will work closely with Communications colleagues to ensure consistency across written materials (funding reports, slide decks, information sheets) and digital content (newsletters, targeted content for social media).

You will enjoy working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation (including our Engagement, and Programmes teams) to deliver high-quality materials that engage donors and supporters and contribute to our mission to protect and restore biodiversity where it is most at risk.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU USE AI IN YOUR APPLICATION, YOU ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BE SHORTLISTED. WE WANT TO SEE YOUR UNIQUE, BRILLIANT SELF. We do not use AI in any part of our recruitment and selection process.

Closing date: 16th February 2026 10am

First stage interviews (Zoom):  23rd – 27th February 2026

Second stage interviews (at our office in-person): 2nd – 4th March 2026

Synchronicity Earth’s mission it to bring conservation to life through our work, championing effective approaches and increasing funding for Earth’s overlooked species and ecosystems and the communities working to protect them.

By joining, you’re not just taking part; you're contributing to our vision of a world in which biological and cultural diversity are valued, celebrated, and flourishing.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds for this role, particularly non-graduates, and are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements. We also welcome candidates who may have taken a career break. Your unique experiences and fresh perspective will only enhance our team's diversity and strengthen our ability to tackle the complex challenges facing our planet.

Candidates from Black, Asian, and Minority-Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and people with disabilities who meet the criteria (in the section of the job description headed ‘What you will bring to the team’) and opt-in to our Guaranteed Interview Scheme will enter the first recruitment stage, see more information below.

Application and Recruitment Process

Inclusion is a priority throughout our workplace culture and is embedded in our recruitment process. To support this, the first stage of recruitment will be anonymised by Charity Job to mitigate against unconscious bias. Please let us know at any stage during the recruitment process if you have any accessibility requirements and we will do what we can to accommodate these for you. Please also let us know which pronouns you would like to be referred by, if you wish.

How to apply:

· Complete the application questions, upload your CV, and submit your application through Charity Job.

· Fill in our candidate survey. Whilst this survey is optional it is the way to opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (information below) if you would like.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

We recognise that people from Black, Asian, and Minority-Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and people with disabilities are under-represented in our sector, and that there are often additional barriers present for people from these groups when applying for roles in the charity sector and beyond.

As part of our commitment to attract and retain talented individuals from under-represented groups to the conservation and environment sector, if you belong to these groups, you can opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) in our candidate survey. See the attachment which outlines how to do this and includes the link to the survey. If you meet the essential criteria for a role, you'll be guaranteed a first-stage assessment. The results of this assessment will be used to select candidates for the first-stage interview.

In this pivotal role as Prospect Research Manager at Diabetes UK, you will lead on managing prospect research, pipeline development, and adhere to best practice across income streams with a clear strategy that focuses on sourcing prospective high value donors to fund key strategic ambitions. One in 15 of us is now living with diabetes. Together, we have the opportunity to change this for the next generation. We are looking for someone who is a strategic thinker, analytical, organised in their approach and who can demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail in their work.   Join us and be part of something truly transformational as we change the narrative around diabetes and create a more inclusive world.

War Child believes that children’s lives should not be torn apart by war. It is the only specialist charity for children affected by conflict, with four main areas of work: protecting children, educating children, supporting communities and campaigning. The charity are renowned for their creative, innovative and entrepreneurial approach, with strong connections to the gaming, music and creative industries. 

Philanthropy is a central driver of War Child’s growth. Income has risen rapidly, underpinned by exceptional networks, high-profile supporters and a highly successful portfolio of events and experiences. Following a strategic review, War Child is now investing in a more structured, sustainable approach to philanthropy fundraising with two clearly defined strands: one focused on traditional major donor relationship management and pipeline growth, and a second dedicated to high-value events and experiences as a core driver of major donor engagement and income. This role has been created to lead the second strand.

While the Senior Philanthropy Manager’s primary focus will be generating income from a warm portfolio of major donors, they will also take strategic ownership of War Child’s high-value philanthropy events, shaping donor engagement rather than delivering events operationally. This is an autonomous, externally-facing role, unlocking influential networks and converting high-profile engagement into long-term philanthropic partnerships.

Please note that this is a hybrid role, with 1-2 days per week in the Camden office, with regular events and meetings in central London.

As Senior Philanthropy Manager, you will:

• Manage and develop a portfolio of donors and warm prospects capable of giving 6-figure gifts, including high-value donors currently sitting with senior leadership
• Take strategic ownership of War Child’s high-value events as a core driver of the major donor pipeline, shaping and strengthening this strand so it becomes a defined, sustainable part of the philanthropy programme
• Lead on donor engagement around events, including narrative, asks, pledge levels, follow-up and conversion to income
• Analyse and prioritise prospects with the Data & Insights Manager to focus effort on the highest-value opportunities
• Unlock and activate influential networks through ambassadors, senior volunteers and high-profile supporters
• Work closely with the Head of Philanthropy, Data & Insights Manager, Events Producer, and Principal Giving Lead

Essential skills and experience:

• Significant experience of high-value major donor fundraising, with a track record of securing £50k+ gifts from HNWIs
• Strong experience of developing donors through identification, cultivation, solicitation and long-term stewardship
• Credibility and confidence working with wealthy, influential individuals, advisers, celebrities and senior volunteers
• Experience of shaping donor engagement strategy around high-value events or pledge environments
• Strategic thinker with strong judgement on prospect prioritisation and pipeline management
• Excellent relationship management, influencing and written communication skills
• Comfortable operating autonomously in a fast-moving, high-profile environment

Desirable:

• Experience of pledge dinners or high-value special events at a strategic fundraising level
• Experience working with ambassadors or high-profile supporters
• International development or humanitarian sector experience

Not required: Direct event production experience; Line management experience

Employee benefits include: 

• 28 days’ annual leave, rising to 33 days, plus public holidays (entitlement is pro-rata for part-time staff
• Enhanced pay provision for maternity, partner/coparent/paternity, shared parental and adoption leave.
• Life insurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan and Cancer Cover
• Enhanced Sick Leave (from Day 1, entitlement increases with length of service)
• Paid Emergency Time Off for Dependants: Up to 5 days paid leave per annum to deal with an emergency involving a dependant
• Flexible Public Holidays: Staff may exchange up to two standard UK public holidays around Easter and Christmas for those that have cultural or religious significance to them
• Career Break: 3-12 months’ unpaid leave available to staff after 3 years’ continuous service
• Temporary Overseas Working: Up to 4 weeks per annum to work from a location outside of the UK
• Volunteer Leave: Up to four days paid leave per annum (pro rata) to participate in volunteering activities
• Cultural Benefits: As a charity that works closely with the creative industry, we’re delighted to offer our staff a number of free tickets to the best cultural events, including gigs, art exhibitions, private views and more! You’ll also receive free membership to Tickets for Good who provide free and discounted tickets to even more live events.

Longer working lives and ongoing economic transitions are reshaping careers: how we start them, and how we move through them. But too many people remain paid in low-paid, low-quality work – with damaging consequences for them personally, and our economy as a whole. We’re seeking a senior, policy-oriented research leader to help us and our partners generate insights that enable more people to move into and progress through better work.

You’ll have a proven track record in scoping and securing funding for research and influencing activity, with significant autonomy to lead your own programme at L&W. You’ll be supported by committed researchers and managers whom you will coach, lead, and develop—alongside a peer group of Deputy Directors working across other key pillars. We welcome quantitative expertise, but most important are the skills to design and deliver high-quality, impactful research programmes.

You’ll join an organisation with a national reputation for driving policy change—and a friendly, highly capable, delivery-focused team. 

Location: Hybrid working: 40-60% in an L&W office. Our offices for this role are currently in Leicester and London, but if you are based elsewhere, please contact us to talk about how the role could work for you.

Team:Research and Development

Salary:£64,450 -£77,880 per annum (pro rata), dependent on experience and location

Duration:Permanent

Working hours:0.8 to 1 FTE, with flexible working supported (e.g. condensed hours, flexible start and finish times)

Main Purpose

The Deputy Director, Policy and Research (Better Work and Progression) will have overall ownership of the ‘Better Work’ pillar of our strategic plan at L&W: overseeing all projects and activity in this area and generating new work (including developing project ideas and securing funding).

While there is significant scope to shape the ongoing programme of research and impact work, we anticipate that key areas of focus in this area going forward will be: understanding & better supporting career change; understanding and improving policy to increase employer investment in skills; high quality and fair access apprenticeships and technical education; understanding how to better support progression from low pay.

They will be a senior leader for the organization – helping to continuously shape our strategy and the plans we are implementing to deliver it.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Intellectual leadership of the Better Work pillar: developing and owning policy positions, messages, theory of change and research priorities, and supporting the wider team to feed into and understand them
• Line management of senior and mid-level staff
• Act as a senior leader at L&W – including taking on specific organization-level responsibilities where appropriate

Income

• Write and/or co-ordinate responses to reactive research and evaluation tenders in the areas of employment, better work and progression
• Develop pro-active proposals that will drive change in your area, and respond to the interests of funders and partners
• Build relationships with current and potential funders and research partners

Impact

• Act as an external expert on the issues of better work and progression: writing press quotes, articles and blogs;speaking on platforms
• Building relationships with practitioners, policymakers and partners to improve our insights, and get our recommendations implemented
• Develop appropriate means of tracking impact towards our better work goals, and monitor against them. 

Delivery

• Deputy Director/Project Director-level oversight of projects being delivered in your and related areas: supporting project team to shape research plans, deliver sharp insights and manage funder relationships
• Quality Assurance of research proposals and outputs
• Use your research skills and experience to support the wider development of the Learning and Work team

Person Specification

Experience

Experience of developing, overseeing and delivering programmes of policy-relevant research at a high level - Essential

Experience of business development in a policy/research context: developing ideas, writing bids and building relationships with funders- Essential

Experience of building senior-level relationships with external stakeholders for impact and influence -Essential

Track record of delivering national and/or local policy change - Essential

Experience of senior organisational leadership as part of a team - Desirable 

Experience of responding to tenders- Desirable 

Skills

Advanced research skills (qualitative of quantitative) -Essential

Quantitative skills: experience of using key national research and administrative data sets to generate insights into the labour market -Desirable 

Clear and direct written communication style - Essential

Knowledge

Knowledge of, and commitment to, L&W’s charitable aims and purpose.- Essential

Demonstrable knowledge of employment and/or skills policy in the UK - Essential

Demonstrable knowledge in the specific areas of Better Work and/or progression -Desirable 

Learning and Work Institute works across the UK. Our work in Wales is led by a Cardiff based team, but all staff are required to follow the guidance set out in our Welsh language scheme when working in Wales.

The Difference is an education charity, founded to change the story on lost learning. Our vision is to see lost learning falling nationally by 2030 and for schools to be better equipped to support all children, particularly those most vulnerable.

Leading national policy strategy

As Head of Policy you will work closely with the CEO to develop and execute a four-year influencing plan.  Together we’ll aim to shift local and national incentives on inclusion by 2030, which see the national trend of rising suspension and absence begin to fall. 

You will hold relationships with the Department for Education and Ofsted and advise on policy priorities ahead, such as:

• Widening the definition of inclusion beyond special needs, recognising the needs of those young people historically or currently interacting with social services

• Reducing perverse incentives for schools to alter their school roll through admissions and pupil exits

• Expectations for multi-academy trusts in capturing and analysing data on lost learning, including how it disproportionately affects different groups

• Improving local alternative provision eco-systems, to improve outcomes for young people

• National standards for inclusive school practice, at a universal and targeted level

• Professional development standards for school inclusion

Developing implementation expertise in the middle tier

In your first six months, you will advise on the internal development of a new programme for middle tier policy actors: multi-academy trust and local authority leaders.  You will support the Programme team in its design, to plan strategically for the recruitment of trusts and local authorities, and you will plan the research and influencing work which will seek to share their success nationally.

Building the evidence base

In your second six months, you will work with the CEO to build out our research function. Your influencing plan will include how The Difference can learn from the work across our multi-academy trust, local authority and internal AP pioneer partners over the next four years, to develop influential publications. Research work ahead will include publishing sector-facing publications of The Difference’s own research, carried out by our research lead and associates; alongside managing external contractors and internal colleagues to bid for and deliver aligned research disseminating our ideas.

Raising your voice

This is an exciting opportunity for someone committed to inclusive policy change. The Difference has always punched above our weight in national and sector press reach. In post,  you will publish blogs and comment pieces, disseminating our shared ideas.  You will be a prominent voice on inclusion.

The Difference is still a small and growing charity. This means that our work is fast-paced, our roles are broad, and there is a culture of being highly autonomous, reactive and flexible, as the needs of the organisation evolve. If this sounds exciting rather than daunting, then this could be the role and team for you!

The Role
This is an exciting time to join The Difference as we increase our impact, reach more schools, and develop our influencing strategy. As Head of Policy and Public Affairs you will: 
 

Design and execute an impactful influencing plan 

• Design an influencing plan - Identify via horizon scanning opportunities to influence national policy using open policy windows, or by nudging/creating new ones. 

• Execute an influencing plan - Utilise own assets and assets across the organisation, including the Director team, to deliver against the influencing plan.

• Relationship building - Build highly credible and impactful relationships with a variety of stakeholders who hold power. This will include policy makers in national governments, local government officials, politicians, other third sector organisations and think tanks. 

• Leadership - Play a significant role internally and externally in communicating the organisation’s policy position, raising organisational and own brand.

Build policy capacity and credibility across the organisation

• Policy positions and solutions- Use the concepts, work and experience of The Difference’s programmes to develop new, and refine existing, national policy positions to shift incentives. 

• Thought leadership - Be the organisation’s education policy and political expert. 

• Generating income - Use own and team’s expertise and credibility to generate income via speaking engagements and consultancy to support the organisation’s financial sustainability. 

Person Specification

Essential – We are looking for someone with the following knowledge, experience and skills, though you may be stronger in some areas than others:
 

• Deep expertise in education policy, particularly on the topic of lost learning and the various policy and political debates, including areas of controversy, surrounding this policy topic. 

• Strategic thinker with a proven track record in identifying policy windows and designing activities that lead to meaningful national policy change. 

• Excellent relationship builder, who brings with them their own network of influential stakeholders and has a plan for building new relationships. Adept at navigating tricky situations and explaining complex, sometimes difficult, messages.

• Expert convener with a strong knowledge of the education sector, including which schools, trusts and local authorities are influential and experience in bringing a variety of perspectives together to generate consensus. 

• Persuasive and clear writing style for publication, including reports, press, blogs and ghost writing for members of the senior leadership team, often based on consensus positions, and designed to communicate key messages for impact. 

• Confidence and credibility in communicating nuanced messages in a contentious landscape, in writing, verbally and in public (e.g. on panels), to raise the profile of The Difference. 

• Strong project manager who can design systems and processes to keep self, team and other stakeholders on task and on time. Experience of designing programmes of work and monitoring their effectiveness. Flexible project management style that can adapt to a changing environment. Confidence in managing a variety of stakeholders and supporting them to deliver on time. 

Desired – You are more likely to be successful in your application if you have one or more of the following: 

• Familiarity with The Difference’s programmatic work, theory and practice. 

• Lived experience or insight into the school experiences of marginalised young people (e.g. those with experience of the care system, mental ill health, special educational needs, exclusion, and racism).

We know that some people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution, we warmly encourage you to apply. 

We actively welcome applications from people whose backgrounds are under-represented in the charity sector, including but not limited to: people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people with experience in the case system, non-graduates and first-in-family graduates.

L&W is growing our research team and looking for a Head of Research to lead innovative, impactful research and evaluation projects across our focus areas of employment and skills.

This role will expand our capacity to win and deliver evaluation and qualitative research, while strengthening our methodological capability. We’re open-minded about what that means—but we want people who can go beyond standard process evaluations and basic qualitative approaches. You might have experience mapping and evaluating complex system-level change, applying realist evaluation methods, or developing co-design and participatory research projects. You will have have applied these while working alongside the practitioners and policymakers who need these insights to make decisions.

You will join a team that is enthusiastic about learning and improving, and a peer group of experienced qualitative and quantitative research leaders who you will work alongside.

If you have research consultancy experience and want to join a purpose-driven organisation that delivers real impact locally and nationally, we’d love to hear from you. But you might come from a different professional background and still meet our criteria. 

Location: Hybrid working: 40-60% in an L&W office. Our offices for this role are currently in Leicester and London, but if you are based elsewhere, please contact us to talk about how the role could work for you.

Team:Research and Development

Salary:£45,650-£59,080 per annum (pro rata), dependent on experience and location

Duration:Permanent

Working hours:0.6 to 1 FTE, with flexible working supported (eg, condensed hours, flexible start and finish times

Main Purpose

The Head of Research: Evaluation and Qualitative Methods is a new post for L&W – as we seek to deepen our capability and expand our capacity.

The post-holder will direct research projects across all of our areas of work, providing specific leadership and expertise in programme and system-level evaluations, and projects mobilising innovative or advanced qualitative methods (such as system mapping, co-design methods, ethnographic methods, creative methods and/or theory-based/realist evaluation).

They will work with the Head of Research: Employment and Better Work to develop the wider qualitative and evaluative skills of the wider research team.

They will also play a key role in leading and writing responding to tenders and working with colleagues to develop pro-active research proposals that fill key evidence gaps and respond to the interests of our funders. They will be a good relationship manager – who can understand what commissioners are interested in, and shape projects to deliver meaningful insights that solve the problems practitioners and policymakers face across employment and skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Line manage members of the R&D team
• Co-lead the qualitative methods group at L&W: supporting the wider research team to develop their skills. 

Income

• Write and contribute to reactive and proactive funding proposals across L&W’s areas of work, with a specific focus on process and theory-based evaluations, and proposals using advanced/innovative qualitative methods
• Build relationships with current and potential funders
• Identify and build relationships with research partners

Impact

• Ensure that all projects under their direction generate meaningful insights and recommendations that respond to the real-world concerns and challenges faced by practitioners and policymakers
• Communicate insights clearly and effectively to funders and other stakeholders

Delivery

• Act as Project Director for research and evaluation projects: liaising with funders; shaping research proposals and plans; supporting project managers; leading project meetings; ensuring project margins are delivered effectively; carrying out research directly where appropriate
• Work with External Affairs team to develop appropriate comms and influencing plans for projects under your direction
• Use your research skills and experience to support the wider development of the Learning and Work team

Person Specification 

Expericence 

Experience of delivering and directing high-quality programmes evaluation and policy-relevant research: shaping research plans, working with funders and delivering meaningful insights -Essential 

Experience of responding to research and evaluation tenders and writing proposals. -Essential 

Experience of managing, supporting and developing researchers and research managers -Essential 

Experience of carrying out research and evaluation in the areas of employment and skills -Desirable

Skills

Advanced qualitative evaluation and research skills, eg. One or more of theory-based evaluation, ethnographic methods, creative/art-based methods, co-design methods, system-level evaluation -Essential 

Effective and efficient relationship management -Essential 

Clear and direct written communication style -Essential 

Knowledge

Knowledge of, and commitment to, L&W’s charitable aims and purpose -Essential 

Demonstrable knowledge in the areas of employment and skills policy and practice -Desirable

Learning and Work Institute works across the UK. Our work in Wales is led by a Cardiff based team, but all staff are required to follow the guidance set out in our Welsh language scheme when working in Wales.

Join Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) as our Senior Trusts and Foundations Officer, and play a vital role in our fundraising team. This position manages a portfolio of high-value Trust and Foundation (T&Fs) donors with complex and varying requirements. They will work closely with the Trusts and Foundations Lead to drive transformational new business, directly generating essential revenue for MSF’s medical humanitarian operations worldwide. We are looking for exceptional candidates with specialised experience working with T&Fs and high-value donors, and a record of building strong, long-term relationships. The ideal candidate will be a highly organised and results-driven professional, with the ability to work both autonomously, and as part of a fantastic and supportive team.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Mon Fri

Duration: Permanent

Location: London - hybrid, 2 days per week in London office (Including Wednesdays)

Salary:£46,784.49 - £57,181.04 per annum

Salary is offered in line with our pay framework and typically starts at the entry point of the band. Salary increases are considered annually and are subject to our appraisal and performance review process.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Trusts and Foundations Officer is an integral part of the Philanthropy team, responsible for supporting with the implementation of the Trusts and Foundations Strategy.

They are responsible for managing a portfolio of key T&F relationships, typically giving at the £50,000 - £250,000 level. In addition, they will drive new business from prospective T&Fs capable of giving between £100,000 - £250,000 and will work closely with the Trusts and Foundations Lead on new business activity above this level

Please download the full job and person specification below for further details.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Experience of T&F fundraising including, report writing, application and proposal writing, and knowledge of restricted funding models.
• Experience managing a portfolio of high value major donors with a range of requirements.
• Proven track record of developing new business relationships and delivering income from prospective major donors.
• Proven experience of planning and delivering strategic activities.
• Excellent and engaging written communication skills and ability to adapt style to suit a wide range of supporters.
• Confident interpersonal and verbal communication skills, including diplomacy and negotiating and influencing skills.
• Experience of presenting to senior decision makers.
• Proven ability to negotiate, influence and communicate with people at all levels and from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Accuracy and excellent attention to detail.
• Proven organisational skills with experience of managing multiple tasks and deadlines with the ability to prioritise effectively.
• Experience of working in an office environment, maintaining effective administrative systems and procedures.
• Flexible, can-do attitude and good team player – this role involves working very closely and collaboratively with colleagues in the UK and internationally.
• Ability to work independently to general guidelines, with capability to use initiative and seize opportunities.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Interest in international, humanitarian work.
• Commitment to the aims and values of MSF.
• Willingness to travel within the UK and internationally.
• Experience in the practical use of personal IT equipment and Microsoft Office 365 suite. The ability to effectively collaborate and communicate within a hybrid working environment utilising Teams, SharePoint, One Drive and Yammer.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply on our website by submitting a copy of your CV together with a letter of motivation by the closing date.

Please apply as soon as possible as MSF reserves the right to close the vacancy early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Recruitment timetable:

• Closing Date for applications: Sunday 8 February 2026, 11.59pm (GMT)
• First round interviews: Wednesday 18 February 2026 - Thursday 19 February 2026
• Second round interviews: Monday 23 February 2026 - Wednesday 25 February 2026
• Projected Start Date: Dependent on applicant availability

MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community. 

Safeguarding

MSF UK/IE is dedicated to safeguarding everyone who comes into contact with the organisation, for whatever reason and however brief. All posts are subject to safer recruitment process which include robust reference requests, scrutiny of employment history and where applicable criminal record and barring checks.

Our safeguarding commitment is underpinned by policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the organisation. On joining MSF UK/IE you will be required to attend safeguarding training to ensure responsibility for and maintaining safe working practice and to safeguard our teams, beneficiaries, and communities.

Within commuting distance of London, Birmingham, Blackburn, Doncaster, Bradford, Redcar or Bristol

£52,413 (plus London weighting if applicable) + benefits

Fixed term | Full or part-time

NIoT is at the forefront of enhancing teacher development by generating and interpreting robust, school-led research. As a Senior Research Fellow, you will join a dynamic team of experts engaged in pioneering research and the effective mobilisation of evidence into practice. We are seeking individuals who are passionate about translating educational research into meaningful impact for practitioners and policymakers. If you are eager for a new challenge and committed to making a real difference in education, we warmly encourage your application.

About us

The National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) is a school-led and research-informed organisation operating across England providing teacher and leadership training, from initial teacher education (ITE) to a dedicated course for CEOs of multi-academy trusts. The NIoT is among the largest national providers of ITE and trains thousands of teachers a year, across four regional teams and six campuses. We are committed to high quality, evidence-informed teacher education, and are on a mission to improve the quality of teacher and leader development across the system.

About the role

In your role as Senior Research Fellow within our Impact team, you will take a lead in advancing research mobilisation focused on teacher training and professional development. Working in close partnership with the Head of Impact and colleagues across NIoT, you will play a central role in promoting the use of high-quality evidence, bridging the gap between research and teacher development, and building strong relationships with a wide array of stakeholders, including academics, educators, and policymakers.

A key responsibility will be to oversee the ongoing development of the NIoT’s Evidence Portal. Your work will empower those involved in designing and delivering professional development to make evidence-informed decisions. In addition, you will contribute to the refinement and delivery of NIoT’s Impact Framework, shaping the organisation’s self-evaluation, monitoring, and strategic planning processes.

The NIoT vision is a school system that nurtures the talents of teachers and leaders at all stages of their careers, so they can provide children with the excellent education they deserve. This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to make a tangible and immediate impact to improve the quality of teacher and leader development at a system level.

Key benefits:

• Generous Annual Leave – 27 days’ holiday a year (plus 8 bank holidays) rising to 33 days after five years’ service.

• Flexible Working – we offer flexible start and end working times, with hybrid working in place for all roles.

• Pension - Entry to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – We offer salary sacrifice schemes for bikes, cars and tech!

• Lifestyle Benefits – We offer discounts on gyms, cinema, retail and much more!

• Parenthood Leave – We offer above the statutory minimum for maternity, adoption and paternity leave.

• Working Environment – We have a stimulating, supportive and rewarding working environment with a dedicated team of likeminded professionals.

• Support - Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provides confidential support for employees on personal or work-related matters.

• Development - We fully support the development of our staff and ensure that you have high level of continuous professional development.

We think a wide range of different work and educational experiences could support you to be successful in this role. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities.

If you have any queries about this role, please email our recruitment team.

For more information and to apply, please visit our careers page via the apply button.

Closing date: 5.00pm on Sunday, 8th February 2026.

 This post requires a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with a Children’s Barred List Check and Occupational Health Check is required as a condition of employment.

The Role
We are looking for a Education & Early Years Senior Adviser to use your expertise to influence professional practice, systems and policies to improve outcomes for deaf children in early years and education. You will champion Family Centred Early Intervention (FCEI) Principles both internally and externally and embed learnings from the latest research on meeting the needs of deaf children.  
 
What you'll do

• Use your expertise to influence professional practice, systems, and policies to improve outcomes for deaf children in early years and education.
• Champion Family Centred Early Intervention (FCEI) principles internally and externally.
• Embed insights from the latest research to meet the needs of deaf children.
• Focus primarily on England, with flexibility to support UK and international contexts using transferable expertise.
• Engage with the education sector and represent NDCS at key forums (e.g., BATOD, NATSIP).
• Collaborate with external partners to strengthen impact and reach.
• Work with the Activate Chapter to develop strategic resources for decision-makers, including policy materials and consultation responses. 

 
What you'll need

• Deep understanding of early years systems and support for children with disabilities and additional needs.
• Appreciation of devolved systems and ability to represent NDCS in forums across the UK.
• A collaborative mindset and commitment to improving outcomes for deaf children.
• Capability to adapt within a changeable environment.
• Strong digital skills and a sound understanding of agile values & principles.
• A criminal record check / DBS disclosure (if offered the position).

What you'll get

• Home-based working with flexible hours.
• 25 days holiday - plus an additional 3 days at Christmas (& bank holidays).
• Pension (5.5% employer contribution).
• Healthcare Cashplan.
• Annual performance-based salary increase.
• Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programmes.

 
What we do
 
The National Deaf Children's Society are the leading charity for deaf children. We give expert support on childhood deafness, raise awareness and campaign for deaf children's rights, so they have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Disability Confidence
 
We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to offering interviews to candidates who request to be considered under the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum requirements of the person specification. Please contact us at [email protected] with any accessibility or reasonable adjustment enquiries.
 
The National Deaf Children’s Society is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1016532 and in Scotland no. SC040779.

We are looking for ambitious and strategic Development Manager – Corporate and Philanthropy to lead the growth of our corporate fundraising, build high-value partnerships, and work with our network of senior supporters to unlock transformational opportunities.

With a strong foundation of mid-level corporate partners (typically £5k-£25k) and a skilled Senior Officer in place to manage and grow those relationships, you’ll be free to focus on securing new, higher-value partnerships and support.

The Role:

You’ll lead our corporate new business development identifying and approaching companies aligned with our mission, and converting them into long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships.

You’ll work closely with the Director of Fundraising to cultivate high-net worth individuals and senior volunteers who can introduce us to the right people and help get us in the room.

Working with colleagues across communications, marketing and services, you’ll create professional, pitch-ready presentations and proposals that inspire companies to partner with us – and then deliver those pitches at a senior level, with confidence and clarity.

Key responsibilities:

· Research, Identify and approach new corporate prospects, building a strong pipeline of potential six-figure partners

· Lead on creating bespoke, compelling pitch decks and proposals, working with the communications and Marketing Team to ensure quality and impact.

· Deliver high-level presentations and pitches to senior stakeholders across a range of industries.

· Work with the Director of Fundraising to identify and engage major donors and key contacts who can help unlock introductions and strategic support

· Manage Senior Officer who leads on existing mid-level corporate partnerships.

· Support the growth of the mid-level portfolio and ensure excellent stewardship and reporting for all corporate partners.

· Collaborate with marketing, communications, and service delivery teams to ensure partnerships are meaningful, on-brand, and mutually beneficial.

· Monitor income and pipeline progress, ensuring accurate forecasting and tracking.

What we’re looking for:

· A track record of securing new business or corporate partnerships, ideally in a fundraising CSR setting

· Confident writing and presenting skills, with experience creating professional pitch decks and delivering high-level presentations

· A strategic thinker who can spot opportunities, plan a compelling approach, and close the deal

· Experience collaborating across teams (e.g. Marketing design, service delivery) to shape proposals and deliver joint objectives

· A strong relationship-builder with the credibility to work with senior executives, philanthropists and decision-makers

· Organised, self-starting and passionate about helping families when they need it most

· Line management experience desirable, but not essential

We welcome applications from the commercial sector and those working in CSR, partnerships or business development roles

We will be reviewing applications ongoing so early applications are advised. We may close the advert earlier than advertised.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please submit your CV along with a covering letter(max 2 pages) explaining how your experience fits the role. More details can be found in the recruitment pack attached. 

Closing date: 6 February 2026