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Programme Officer – Health Inequalities Research

Connect: North Korea is a London-based charity supporting North Korean escapees to build new lives after experiences of systemic discrimination, poverty, and trauma. We are looking to recruit a new Programme Officer to lead the research at the heart of our health inequalities work as we scale our work in the UK and globally.

This is a rare opportunity to work closely with the Head of Programmes and the wider team to build the evidence base on the health of North Korean escapees in the UK. You’ll design and carry out community-based research, turn findings into reports that shape local services and our own programmes, and help take the work into advocacy as the research phase ends. Along the way you’ll build relationships with community members, partners and funders, and you’ll have room to grow into campaigns work, with training and support provided.

Position: Programme Officer
Based at: 78 Coombe Road, New Malden (hybrid working)
Contract: Full-time (40 hours per week, 9am to 5pm), 2-year fixed term
Salary: £32,000 – £35,000 per annum + 5% employer pension contribution
Other benefits: 35 days holiday per year, excluding public holidays

Job overview

To deliver the qualitative and quantitative research at the centre of CNK’s health inequalities work over the next two years: gathering evidence on the health experience of North Korean escapees, analysing it and writing it up, and working with other local community groups to compare and contrast findings. The postholder also supports relationships with UK partners and funders, and helps move the work toward advocacy as the research phase ends.

In addition, the postholder will work within CNK’s small team to deliver internal projects and conduct monitoring and evaluation of programmes under the supervision of the Head of Programmes. There is room for this role to grow into advocacy and campaigns work, alongside programme delivery, with training and support provided.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and carry out community-based and participatory action research on health issues affecting the North Korean escapee community, mainly using qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups and case studies, both independently and with external academic teams.
• Write up findings as reports and written assessments of health needs for local services, partners and funders, and to inform CNK’s programming.
• Conduct monitoring and evaluation of CNK’s community and wellbeing activities, such as group activities and mental health support.
• Support relationships with North Korean community members, UK partners, local services and UK funders. This includes contributing to bids for health and wellbeing work and sustaining referral pathways that enable local services to support the community.
• Represent CNK at meetings, presentations, training and forums.
• Comply with GDPR, safeguarding and risk assessment requirements.
• Where needed, support North Korean community members with health-related issues, such as GP appointments.
• Translate and interpret between Korean and English where needed for the work above.
• Other tasks as reasonably required by the organisation.

Person specification

Essential

• Fluent Korean speaker
• Qualitative and quantitative research skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proactive approach to work with strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to work cross-culturally

Desirable

• Experience in or knowledge of health inequalities and/or public health
• Confidence in presentations and networking with partners and funders
• Experience of working within a small team
• Experience in or knowledge of impact assessment, monitoring and evaluation
• Demonstrable interest in advocacy and campaigns-based work
• Demonstrable experience of working with refugees, asylum seekers and/or migrants

How to apply

Please submit a CV and a cover letter of no more than 2 pages explaining how you meet the person specification. Applications close on 2 December 2026, and interviews will take place the following week. We expect the successful candidate to start in early 2027.

If you do not meet all of the essential requirements, please apply anyway. Training can be provided.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability (including physical disabilities and learning disabilities), sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marriage or relationship status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or social class. We particularly encourage applications from people with lived experience of forced migration.

Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor a visa for this role. The successful candidate will need to undertake an Enhanced DBS check before taking up the role.