Policy research jobs

Details:

Salary: £22,800 per annum based on 3 days/21 hours per week (FTE: £38,000 per annum)

Contract: Fixed term contract for two years. Part time role working 3 days (21 hours) per week.

Location: The position will be based in Northern Ireland and will have a desk at Northern Ireland Hospice, Belfast. This role is eligible for the Hospice UK Hybrid Working Arrangement from the start of employment.

Hospice UK’s head office is based in London. This role will have full web-based connectivity to the central office, with regular opportunities to engage with the line manager and colleagues via email, face-to-face meetings, video calls, and telephone.

Whilst we work flexibly, because we work with decision makers in Stormont, there will be an expectation that you can travel to Belfast at short notice if required. 

There will be occasional travel to London for department and/or organisational wide events, such as our in-person quarterly events. 

Benefits:

• 25 days pro rata in the first year, increasing to 27.5 days pro rata in the second year of service and 30 days pro rata in the third.
• Matched pension scheme up to 7% of salary
• Family-friendly culture
• Learning and development opportunities
• Enhanced carers and compassionate leave

How to apply: CV and supporting statement - using Hospice UK’s supporting statement document – see below

Closing date for applications: Midnight on Sunday 30 November 2025.

Interview dates: We expect to hold  interviews over Teams on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 December 2025.

We’ll send assessments and some questions to you in advance so that you can prepare. Let us know if you have any specific needs to be able to fully engage with the process.

Job information:

This exciting new role in our award-winning External Affairs department will work on policy and public affairs in Northern Ireland. You will fight for the hospice sector and people who need their care and support, helping us to create a nation where no one misses out on the care they need at the end of their lives.

This will be our first on-the-ground role in Northern Ireland, providing the post-holder with the opportunity to build our influencing work from the ground up. You will have the chance to build on our work over the last three years and the strong relationships we have with hospices. You will be working closely with our Policy and Public Affairs Manager (Scotland and NI) to expand our impact in Northern Ireland.

Key aspects of this role will include:

• Policy research, development and analysis - keep track of policy and political developments in Stormont, analyse their impact on hospices and people who need palliative care and brief colleagues and hospices on this. We would also expect you to prepare succinct and influential reports, consultation responses and briefings on policy issues for a range of audiences.
• Public affairs and campaigning - plan and deliver public affairs activity to achieve Hospice UK’s strategic aims and react to opportunities to influence the political debate in Northern Ireland, engaging with civil servants, parliamentarians and other external stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key partners and stakeholders
• Act as a media spokesperson and represent Hospice UK at external events, meetings and conferences
• Build relationships with hospices in Northern Ireland to understand the challenges they face and the context they operate within. 

It is essential that you have experience in policy, public affairs, campaigns or a related field in Northern Ireland and a good understanding of policy development and/or parliamentary processes in Northern Ireland.

We would also expect you to have excellent communication, influencing and relationship building skills and an ability to quickly read, understand and respond to complex information.

You’ll find lots more information about the role and team in the Candidate Information Pack (available on our website to download).

How to apply:

To apply for this role, please send us the following documents by midnight on Sunday 30 November 2025:

• Your CV. Ideally in Microsoft Word format and less than 3 pages of A4.
• A completed supporting statement form (where you can demonstrate how you meet the person specification) - available on our website to download.
• A completed equalities monitoring form - available on our website to download.

We will shortlist candidates based on their CV and supporting statements. A briefing of what to expect will be sent in advance to shortlisted candidates.

Closing date for applications: by midnight on Sunday 30 November 2025.

We believe in fair recruitment and working to remove bias, so all applications will have identifying indicators removed before being submitted to the shortlisting panel.

Please make sure you provide your contact details in your email. Please note the interview dates above and let us know if there are any accommodations you might need to participate fully in the process. We will try to be flexible.

To be considered for this role you must have the right to live and work in the UK for your application to be progressed. Hospice UK is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Role Summary

The UN Policy Manager (all genders) supports our ambitious efforts to engage with international institutions to bring food system transformation and sustainable diets to the heart of the global policy agenda. They will work within our UN team to mainstream a shift towards plant-based diets as a proven climate change adaptation and mitigation solution. 

We are looking for a candidate to lead our biodiversity policy and advocacy workstream, including our engagement with the UN CBD. The ideal candidate is a biodiversity expert with demonstrated experience of influencing policy outcomes at national or international level. A strong understanding of relevant financial mechanisms, instruments and entities, and experience in engaging with international policy processes and UN agencies is a plus.

The UN Policy Manager (all genders) will report to the Head of UN Affairs and will work collaboratively with other teams including programmes, communications, research, impact, and country policy managers. The successful candidate will also work closely with external partners and stakeholders. 

Job Details

Reports to: Head of UN Affairs 

Department: INT UN Policy & Public Affairs

Location: Remote, preferably based in Germany (Berlin), UK or Kenya (Nairobi)

Hours: 40 hours per week (35 if UK based)

Duration: 2 years contract, with possibility of extension
 

Responsibilities

Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement (60%)

• Establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with external stakeholders and identify opportunities and strategies to improve engagement with policy-makers, environmental and other aligned organizations, healthcare officials, corporate leaders, scientific bodies, and grant-making organisations.

• Identify opportunities to influence policy narratives and (climate) agenda on biodiversity issues (international events, calls for contribution of UN agencies, coalitions work etc.)

• Collaborate with ProVeg country teams to develop a targeted outreach to national policymakers and spread our Diets Toolkit contributing effectively to our global policy impact.

• Develop ProVeg’s positions and advocacy strategy regarding biodiversity and agriculture/food systems. 

Partnership & Coalition Coordination (20%)

• Build a strong network of organizations and individuals in support of our advocacy work at the different UN bodies, specifically the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and participate in coalitions and joint advocacy campaigns.

• Maintain a database of activities, contacts, and external engagements in Hubspot. 

Event Planning & Logistics (10%)

• Coordinate talks, press conferences, and networking events in the lead up to different events (SB64, COP17, COP31).

• Speak at public events, fora, and other platforms, and serve as a representative of ProVeg to the public and the media.

• Support planning of logistical arrangements for different events (badging, travel, accommodation etc.).

Communications & Outreach (5%)

• Raise the profile of ProVeg online and offline by writing compelling content (e.g. Op-Eds) for targeted websites, campaigns, social media, mainstream media & PR (including broadcast media) with the support of our Communications team

Impact Tracking (5%)

• Support maintenance of up-to-date record of our engagements, activities and impacts.

• Assist with funding reports or donor updates.
   

Qualifications

• You hold at least a Master’s degree in political science, public affairs, law, or a similar subject. 

• You bring 3-5 years of relevant experience in policy work, and a demonstrated track record influencing international or national policy outcomes on biodiversity or a related field.

• You have a good understanding of international multilateral processes and entities (e.g., United Nations, IPCC), especially CBD COPs (advantage).

• You demonstrate excellent command of English, both oral and written; additional languages are a plus.

• You possess excellent stakeholder engagement skills, and a strong international policy network.

• You have a good understanding of food system transformation and protein diversification, particularly as they relate to biodiversity.

• You are passionate about ProVeg’s mission and believe in the power of impact-driven decision-making for achieving social change.
   

Benefits of working with us

Depending on working location these will differ. Here are some benefits we offer at ProVeg: 

• Strong organisational focus on personal development with a designated training budget
• Flexible, trust-based working arrangements and remote work. 
• Mental health & wellbeing support via access to the OpenUp platform and a free Headspace (Mindfulness app) subscription
• Provision of a work laptop and other necessary equipment
• A workplace that encourages everyone to bring their whole selves to work. We are an inclusive workplace for our diverse employees around the world.
• And last but not least: Become part of a great team and work with us towards a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet

When?

Application deadline: 12.12.2025

Start date: 01.03.2025

Timeline: 

25.11.-12.12. Published

08.12.-12.12. Screening (please note that we will first get back to you within this week)

15.12. - 22.12. First interviews with P&C

until 09.01.2026:. Trial tasks

12.01. - 23.01.: 2nd interview with the team

Final decision

Start date: Between 1 and 16 March

Libraries Connected is seeking a Research and Evaluation Manager to join our newly formed Policy, External Affairs, and Research Team. This is a unique opportunity to shape and deliver impactful research and evaluation across the public library sector.

You’ll lead internal research and data projects, provide in-house evaluation for programmes, and manage external research partnerships—including with academic institutions. Your work will directly inform advocacy, communications, and strategic decision-making.

We’re looking for someone with strong research and analytical skills, experience in managing complex data, and the ability to translate findings into accessible outputs. You’ll be collaborative, detail-oriented, and confident working independently across multiple projects.

Do you have a good understanding of a range of qualitative research methods? Do you have a demonstrable understanding of, and interest in, health and social care policy in the UK? Are you a strong critical thinker, with good oral and written communication skills and an enthusiasm for further developing these skills?

The Nuffield Trust is looking for a Researcher to contribute directly to our mission by delivering high-quality research, evaluation, and policy analysis. You will work across a diverse range of projects and topic areas and have the opportunity to learn from colleagues who are experts in both content and methods.

In this role, you will work as part of project teams, undertaking research and policy analysis tasks to contribute to the successful delivery of our work. Supported by peers and more senior team members, you will contribute to writing and presenting work, disseminating findings and achieving meaningful impact.

We’d love to hear from you if you can bring:

• Skills consistent with experience of working in government, think tanks, or applied academic research – some of which may have been gained via a university-level qualification.
• Experience of qualitative research, evaluation, or policy analysis within health or social care.
• Strong analytical ability to synthesise evidence and turn complex information into clear, persuasive arguments.
• Proven reliability in meeting deadlines, producing high-quality outputs, and managing your time effectively.

Review the Application and Selection process in the attached Candidate Brief (page 11) for details on what your application should include.

The Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager will play a key role in positioning Action for pulmonary Fibrosis as the leading voice in improving PF care. The postholder will take a leadership role within the Policy and Public Affairs team, providing strategic direction on our key policy priorities. Working with the Director of Policy, Research and Involvement, you will lead the development and implementation of policy initiatives that align with the organisation’s strategic priorities including OneVoiceILD, our movement to bring transformational systems change to how NHS services are delivered across the UK.

This is a highly visible position, working in collaboration with healthcare and allied health professionals, commissioners, researchers, voluntary sector partners and within the wider respiratory community. As a member of APF’s Organisation Leadership Group, the PPA Manager will collaborate to drive operational delivery of strategic priorities, coordinating cross-team activity, support organisational communication and culture, and review risks, procedures and operational performance.

Key Areas of the Role:

OneVoiceILD: Lead an effective OneVoiceILD movement, our vehicle for transformational systems change in the NHS.
Policy: Provide leadership on our policy priorities across all four nations of the UK.
Public affairs and influencing: Lead a strong programme that brings our policy and influencing priorities to life through targeted engagement with key stakeholders.

Our client, a well-known anti-poverty charity is looking to recruit a Director of Policy & Engagement on a maternity contract of up to 12 months. This great charity provides front-line advice, advocacy and campaigning and policy work on behalf of people in London beneath pension age, who are experiencing issues around benefit payments, disability and housing or who are at risk of homelessness. The services they provide have become even more essential during the current cost of living crisis.

The role:
As Director of Policy & Engagement, you will lead the organisation’s policy, public affairs, and campaigns function, shaping and delivering local and national influencing to drive change on social security and housing issues. You will ensure the voices of people with lived experience are central to all of the organisation’s work, embedding meaningful participation across the organisation, in governance, services, policy and campaigns.

You will also oversee strategic external communications to support the organisation’s influencing, brand and fundraising objectives and will direct all fundraising for your department including managing funder relationships, identifying opportunities and leading on bid writing and reporting.
 
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for influencing policy and practice locally and nationally and representing the charity as a spokesperson in the media, with government ministers, MPs, and other senior stakeholders. 
 
You will manage a small multidisciplinary team of four, ensuring integrated effective delivery across the organisation. 
 
The role will cover strategic leadership, policy, public affairs & campaigns, stakeholder & media engagement, external communications, embedding participation, fundraising leadership, team leadership and cross-organisational Integration.

The person:
The successful candidate will be a strategic, politically astute leader with experience of leading policy, public affairs and campaigns at a senior level. They will have experience of integrating research campaigns, participation, external communications and fundraising to deliver impact locally and nationally. They will have excellent media stakeholder and political engagement skills, with experience of acting as a spokesperson for an organisation. This person will value and embed lived experience in all aspects of their work and will have a strong understanding of social security and housing policy. 

This person will also have substantial experience of leading on research for social policy influencing purposes in addition to having developed and shaped policy  for an organisation in a charity which works towards combatting poverty and other social justice issues. Having managed political and media engagement and external influencing activities in the past, this person will be an effective relationship manager both internally and externally, in addition to having provided knowledge based leadership to small teams in the charity sector. In addition to being a highly effective project manager, this person will be a very strong communicator both verbally and in writing, and will be fully committed to the aims and objectives of this anti-poverty charity.
​​​​​​​
This organisation is an equal opportunity employer. People with lived experience of poverty, from global majority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ individuals and disabled people are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome evidence of experience from both work and non-work settings such as volunteering and personal life. 
 

The Research Manager at Healthwatch Hounslow will be an experienced manager of community-focused projects or programmes.

You will be comfortable with all aspects of research – from scoping, to desk research, to fieldwork, to analysis and writing reports. You will be a clear and confident communicator, whether producing concise, engaging content such as reports, or resenting/speaking in meetings or at events.

We are looking for someone who understands and has experience of creatively engaging diverse groups and communities – particularly seldom heard and underserved groups. Ideally you will be familiar with and an advocate for the principles and practices of co-production and public involvement.

The Research Manager will enjoy engaging with a wide variety of people – from hearing residents’ views and experiences of services, to influencing senior commissioners or providers of health services to make changes and improvements.

You will have a keen interest in Health and Social Care; and a passion to ensure that local people in the community are heard, and health inequalities are addressed.  

The Role

What we're looking for

• Strong ability to shape and influence legal policy across government, parliament, regulators and the profession, including spotting opportunities to develop credible, evidence-based policy positions and recommendations.
  
• A solid understanding of the UK legal and political systems, alongside good knowledge of cross-cutting technology policy issues. Experience of how lawtech and responsible innovation are developing within professional services is desirable.
  
• Excellent research and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex legal and technology policy issues and assess their implications for the profession, the rule of law and the business of law.
  
• Clear and accurate communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues concisely for a wide range of audiences, both in writing and in person.
  
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues across the Law Society, office holders, members and external stakeholders at all levels, and to represent the organisation with credibility and professionalism.
  

What's in it for you

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a forward-thinking membership organisation dedicated to supporting solicitors, protecting access to justice and promoting the rule of law. We have a strong reputation for excellence and legal expertise, and are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and a culture of trust, clarity, excellence and respect.

We offer hybrid working (minimum eight days a month working on at our office in Chancery Lane), a generous flexible benefits package, a positive working environment and the opportunity to develop your career within a professional organisation.

This role is a full-time position (Monday to Friday), but we are open to considering part-time or alternative working patterns on a case-by-case basis at the point of appointment.

If you would like to have an informal discussion any aspect of the role, please contact Nick Denys on

The Law Society represents solicitors in England and Wales. From negotiating with and lobbying the profession's regulators, government and other decision makers, to offering training and advice, we're here to help, protect and promote solicitors.

Please note: if you are an internal applicant, Pay Policy will apply.

The Nuffield Foundation is a charitable trust tackling the UK’s biggest social challenges by funding research, generating evidence, and guiding decision-makers to implement solutions that improve people’s lives.​ We are now recruiting to the new role of Senior Policy Officer in order to increase the impact and influence of the research that we fund.

Working within our Policy and Public Affairs team, the Senior Policy Officer will work across the Nuffield Foundation family to enable evidence-based influence among a broad range of stakeholders including Government, parliamentarians, other policymakers at national and regional level and the third sector.

You will contribute to thinking and development of prioritised policy areas with within our strategic review, produce external policy outputs (including reports, briefings, consultation responses, letters and web content) as well as internal briefings on key policy issues for senior colleagues, and teams across the organisation.

The Senior Policy Officer will also horizon scan and monitor forthcoming legislation and policy agendas as well as monitoring parliamentary activity and support our parliamentary engagement strategies to promote Nuffield-funded research.

You will already have some experience of working in a policy or public affairs role, with an excellent understanding of the political climate and mechanisms of the UK political system.

You will have knowledge of social policy issue and be comfortable working with academic research and be able to identify opportunities where the Foundation can achieve real impact with its work.

You will be a strong communicator (both in person and in your written outputs) and be able to work across a wide and varied policy portfolio and engage with a range of policy makers and other stakeholders.

You should have a creative, collaborative, open and inclusive approach to working, with the ability to work well in a team and also independently.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to further develop their policy skills at a time of great shift in the social policy landscape.

About us  

The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable foundation with a founding purpose to advance social well-being.

We achieve this by funding and undertaking rigorous research, encouraging innovation, and supporting the use of sound evidence to improve people’s lives. We tackle pressing, complex questions. Our aim is to open up opportunities and to improve lives for individuals, families and communities, within a just and inclusive society. Our work addresses the inequalities, disadvantage, discrimination and vulnerabilities that people face, and considers the social and ethical implications of scientific and technological advances.

We are the founder and co-funder of Nuffield Council on Bioethics, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and the Ada Lovelace Institute.

We value diversity in background, skills, perspectives and life experiences.

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Policy and Practice Officer to work as part of our Policy and Influencing Team.

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people – regardless of who they are or their background – to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

Rethink Mental Illness is the charity for people severely affected by mental illness. No matter who a person is or how bad their situation has got, we are here to help them get the information and support they need to live a better life. We work tirelessly to ensure people living with mental illness and their carers are listened to, treated fairly and have easy access to services that meet their mental health needs and wider physical health, financial, housing, work and volunteering needs. We do this by providing our own services, campaigning on a local and national level, and working with a wide range of other organisations to create communities that care.

The Policy and Practice Officer role is based within the ‘Policy and Practice’ department which has the overall function of elevating the voice of lived experience and diverse communities to influence systemic change and ensuring it is delivered on the ground.

How you will make a difference

You will be instrumental in supporting a range of activity across ‘Policy and Practice’ including the following teams: Policy and Influencing (where this role primarily sits) and the Lived Experience Insights team. The role also has a dotted line into the Racial Justice and Equity team and may also work with other teams, such as Campaigns and Communications and Evidence and Impact. The post is ideal for you if you are keen to gain a range of experience and develop your skills in an engaging and supportive team environment.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion 

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. 

We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation 

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. You can read more about our progress here. 

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they’re likely to die from.

What you’ll do:

• Lead Marie Curie’s policy agenda on financial security at the end of life.
• Develop evidence-based policy positions and campaigns that influence government and shape public debate.
• Build relationships with MPs, government officials, think tanks, charities and researchers to deliver meaningful change.
• Use research and lived experience to strengthen policy and advocacy work.
• Act as a Marie Curie spokesperson, representing our mission across Parliament, the media and public forums.
• Work closely with colleagues across Research, Communications and Caring Services to turn insight into impact.

What you’ll bring:

• Strong experience in policy development, campaigning or public affairs — ideally within social, health or economic policy.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with confidence engaging senior stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking, analytical ability, and a passion for social justice.
• A collaborative approach and commitment to amplifying the voices of those with lived experience.

Please see the full job description

Application & Interview Process

As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.

Close date for applications: Sunday 30th November 2025

Salary: £45,000 - £50,000

Contract: 35 hours per week, permanent role

Based: Homebased (with the ability to attend meetings in Marie Curie’s office in London at least once a month).

Benefits you’ll LOVE:

• Flexible working. We’re happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.
• 25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%)
• Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets
• Continuous professional development opportunities.
• Industry-leading training programmes
• Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes
• Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits
• Access to Blue Light Card membership
• Subsidised Eye Care

Marie Curie is committed to its values, which underpin our work. We take stringent steps to ensure that the people who join our organisation through employment or volunteering, are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. This includes our staff, volunteers and all those who use or come into contact with our services. We are dedicated to creating not just a safe place to work but also a supportive and rewarding one.

We are committed to a world where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. We are devoted to the social justice imperatives and organisational benefits of full diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace, and are a Stonewall champion. We actively encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We're happy to accommodate any requests for reasonable adjustments. Please email any requests to [email protected]

Head of strategic research development
 

Location: Contracted to our Peterborough office with the flexibility for hybrid working
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 depending on experience
Benefits: We want all our employees to feel valued and engaged and are committed to offering a positive working culture along with a good work-life balance. As well as ensuring we pay our employees fairly, we offer the following benefits: Flexible working, Generous annual leave, Private Medical Insurance, including dental and optical, Pension Scheme, Sick Pay, Death in Service, Employee Assistance Programme, Bike Loan Scheme, Cycle2Work Scheme, Eyecare, Discount Portal
 
Closing date: Wednesday 3 December 2025

Telephone interviews will be held week commencing 8 December 2025

Interviews will be held week commencing 15 December 2025

No agencies please
 
Be a part of an energetic and vibrant team who are driven by the desire to improve the lives of people living with kidney disease. Our vision is the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease.

Reporting into the director of research development and partnerships, the head of strategic research development leads the development and delivery of Kidney Research UK’s research strategy in our priority and emerging research areas, working closely with our research and health system-facing teams.

The role is responsible for horizon scanning and translating strategic priorities into deliverable research funding initiatives, mobilising multi-partner collaborations that accelerate progress from concept to delivery.

The post-holder will also provide line management for the research programme managers, offering direction, guidance and professional development to ensure coherent delivery across research themes and initiatives.

As a senior member of the team, the post-holder will deputise for the director of research development and partnerships as required, representing the charity with senior stakeholders, making timely decisions, and ensuring strategic continuity across portfolios.

You will have experience in research strategy, development, funding or portfolio management within the health, biomedical or life sciences sector. You’ll combine strategic insight into how research is funded and evaluated with the ability to lead and inspire others, fostering professional growth and wellbeing.

You will be a strategic thinker, confident and assertive, able to make sound decisions, delegate effectively and keep processes moving at pace. Strong communication skills (written, verbal and interpersonal) will enable you to work well across teams, build productive relationships with colleagues, and to influence and liaise effectively with external stakeholders.

If you are interested in the position, please complete the online application form and submit together with your CV.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone and encourage applications from all sections of the community.

About Kidney Research UK:

Kidney Research UK is the leading charity in the UK focused on funding research into the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. Our vision is the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease and for more than 60 years the research, we fund has been making an impact. But kidney disease is increasing as are the factors contributing to it, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, making our work more essential than ever.

At Kidney Research UK we work with clinicians and scientists across the UK, funding and facilitating research into all areas of kidney disease. We collaborate with partners across the public, private and third sectors to prevent kidney disease and drive innovation to transform treatments.

Over the last ten years we have invested more than £71 million into research. We lobby governments and decision makers to change policy and practice to ensure that the estimated 7.2 million people living with all stages of kidney disease in the UK have access to the most effective care and treatment, and to make kidney disease a priority.

Most importantly, we also work closely with patients, ensuring their voice is heard and is at the centre of everything we do, from deciding which research to invest in to how we plan our priorities and our work across the charity.

Those patient contributions are vital, always helping us and our partners to understand what life is like with kidney disease, always ensuring we see the patient behind the treatment and always reminding us that behind every statistic and every number is a person – the patients and the carers who inspire our mission and push us forward to make a difference and change the future of kidney disease.

You may also have experience in the following: Strategic Research Development, Research Strategy Lead, Health Research Leadership, Biomedical Research, Life Sciences Research, Research Portfolio Management, Research Funding Initiatives, Research Strategy Development, Multi-partner Collaboration, Project/Programme Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Decision-making & Strategic Planning, Funding Evaluation, Policy & Research Translation, Line Management, Team Leadership, Senior Stakeholder Liaison, Charity, Charities, Third Sector, Not for Profit, NFP, etc.
 
REF-225 057

As a cross-border, cross-culture children’s charity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of what we do. We are committed to fostering a workplace that promotes mutual respect and allows equal opportunity for all. We seek applications for candidates with diverse backgrounds including, but not at all limited to, family overseas, experience being raised by non-biological parents, ethnic minority communities and people with health conditions or impairments. 

Job Outline:

CFAB supports children on the move between the UK and other countries and children who are separated from their family in another country. The complexities of migration and international separation can make many of these children particularly hard to support and particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. We ensure that children in these circumstances enjoy the same care, protection and right to a family life as we would want for any child.

We are the only UK representative of the International Social Service network, and the only charity in the UK with a dedicated international social work team. We are proud to have royal patronage from HRH, Princess Alexandra.

You will lead CFAB’s programme of campaigns, research and advocacy. You will raise awareness of our work to protect children who are separated from their families across international borders by developing key relationships with Government departments, drafting policy briefings, developing campaigns and leading on our public affairs work. You also will produce newsletters, create compelling content for our social media channels, maintain our website and promote our campaigns to key stakeholders.

We are looking for a highly motivated, creative individual who has excellent written skills and is positive, proactive and eager to learn. You will be working in a small team so a hand-on, solution focused approach is a must.

Key responsibilities:

Policy

• Draft policy positions, briefings and internal and external reports as appropriate.
• Identify and cultivate parliamentary and ministerial contacts sympathetic to our cause.
• Monitor Parliamentary inquiries, Bills, debates, parliamentary questions, and government consultations and draft submissions in a timely manner.
• Monitor and analyse government statistics.
• Work with Experts by Experience to shape advocacy and amplify the voices of those with lived experience of our work.

Campaigns & Communication

• Lead on developing our public-facing campaigns, tailoring our key messages for different audiences and identifying ways to push forward our issues through presentations, meetings, social media and other channels.
• Lead on our Public Relations work, maintaining our database and relations with relevant media, trade press and sector leads to raise awareness of our work and our policy campaigns.
• Write and produce CFAB's digital newsletters.
• Produce and track the efficacy of email marketing campaigns.
• Responsibly use digital and AI tools to enhance communication strategies, ensuring alignment with organisational values and safeguarding data privacy and integrity.

Marketing

• Contribute to the updating and maintenance of CFAB’s website as required.
• Design and produce other marketing materials as needed.

Social media

• Manage all activity on our social media channels including the creation of posts, videos and images and ad hoc engagement.
• Track online engagement with CFAB and regularly monitor performance to enable an effective assessment of our communication tools and outputs. 

Other duties commensurate with the role as required by CFAB.

Person specification: (Skills, Abilities, Knowledge and Experience)

Essential:

• Excellent written English, with proven ability to research and write accessible, clear policy documents and reports for a range of audiences.
• Passionate about CFAB’s mission.
• A ‘self-starter’ with a willingness to learn about CFAB’s complex cause. • Sound knowledge of the political system and policy making in the UK.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to juggle multiple priorities. • The ability to engage and build relationships internally and externally to CFAB
• A clear commitment to CFAB’s values and beliefs, including the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 

Desirable:

• Educated to degree level.
• Experience of providing strategic and tactical political and/or policy advice, including to senior management.
• Experience in a marketing or communications role, preferably within the third sector. • Experience using Mailchimp and website management.
• Sound working knowledge of window-based software packages, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, electronic mail, and the internet.
• Graphic design skills and experience working within brand guidelines. • Experience in building relationships with journalists and placing stories.
• Familiarity with Salesforce.

Additional Requirements

1. Ensuring adherence to necessary legislation e.g. Data Protection Act, Health and Safety Act
2. Participation in evening and/or weekend events, networking and meetings

This job description is a non-contractual document and may be changed at any time by CFAB. All employees are expected to be flexible over the tasks/duties and responsibilities of their roles in order to meet the needs of both of CFAB and our service users/partners.