Policy/Research Jobs
Closing Date: 16 April 2024
Ref 6675
Save the Children UK has an exciting opportunity for a driven individual to join us as our Transformational Philanthropy Lead (12 months FTC). This key role within our Partnerships & Philanthropy department requires a dynamic and strategic leader who will make a lasting impact by driving our ambitious strategy forward, focusing on cultivating high-impact, transformational funding opportunities and partnerships.
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About you
As our Transformational Philanthropy Lead, you will be responsible for leading three critical areas within our Philanthropy & Strategic Foundations team:
- Driving New Business: Forge strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, engage with UK philanthropic networks, and work with others in the leadership team to develop a new business strategy that leverages our movement's networks and brand.
- Managing Strategic Partnerships: Oversee key partnerships with high-net-worth individuals and Trusts & Foundations, ensuring exemplary account management and securing multi-year commitments aligned with our priorities.
- Leading Innovative Projects: Take charge of pioneering initiatives within Save the Children UK, including our Next Generation project aimed at engaging philanthropists aged 35 and under.
In this role, day -to- day, you will:
- Support the growth of our pipeline alongside senior leadership, nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, and enhancing our external profile.
- Contribute to the leadership of the Philanthropy & Strategic Foundations team, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
- Personally manage transformational philanthropic partnerships, securing significant gifts and providing mentorship to team members.
- Represent Save the Children UK within global forums, collaborating with international partners to maximise the impact of our philanthropic efforts.
- Provide leadership and support to the team, ensuring their well-being and professional development.
To be successful, it is important that you have:
- Proven experience in major donor or trust & foundation fundraising, with a track record of securing six and seven figure gifts.
- Ability to drive new business and identify opportunities for growth.
- Demonstrated leadership in managing complex projects and navigating organizational structures.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels.
What we offer you:
- Working for a charity provides one of the best benefits there is – a sense of purpose and reward for helping others. However, we understand the importance of giving back to our employees to ensure a happy and healthy working environment and work/life balance.
- To have the best (and happiest) employees we focus on flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, and health and wellbeing both in and outside of work.
- We provide a wide range of benefits which will reward your hard work, motivate you, and inspire you to work to improve the lives of children every day.
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Ways of Working:
The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but there are likely to be times when you will be required to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team and is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.
Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.
Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.
Closing Date: 3 April 2024
Ref 6665
Our Global Programmes Division have an opportunity for a Programme Development Manager to join the the Business Programmes Hub for 9 months.
About the Team
The Business Programmes Hub is comprised of programme development, innovation, and MEAL professionals responsible for developing new shared valued partnerships which speaks to interests of the business community and philanthropic stakeholders.
The Programme Development Manager will lead the development of impactful high-quality programmes in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. You will ensure new programmes incorporate creativity and innovation to capture the interest of corporate partners and philanthropists.
Your Role:
As Programme Development Manager, your role will be to oversee the development and writing of high quality, bespoke pitch decks, concept notes, and proposals for business and philanthropic partners. You will project manage the opportunity development process to ensure we are designing programmes that truly leverage the unique assets and capabilities of the private sector – beyond philanthropic funding – to create transformational change for children. This includes designing innovative, sector leading partnerships that emerge through a process of co-design which you will facilitate in partnership with colleagues across the organisation in the UK Impact, Global Programmes, and Fundraising and Marketing Departments.
Your Key Accountabilities:
- Identify and develop innovative partnership opportunities that leverage the unique resources and capabilities of prospective business and philanthropy partners, working closely with the UK Impact, Global Programmes, and Partnerships & Philanthropy departments to ensure alignment between partner and Save the Children priorities
- Work with Partnerships & Philanthropy to proactively steer new opportunities and enquiries with business and philanthropic partners towards Save the Children's strategic objectives and priorities
- Project manage the proposal development process, including ensuring quality assurance of the programme design, including theories of change and budgets.
- Lead on writing high quality, bespoke and engaging pitch decks, concept notes, and proposals for business and philanthropy partners, as well as cross-sectoral proposals that bring together partners across business, philanthropy, and government.
- Build excellent working relationships with colleagues in the UK Impact, Global Programmes, and Philanthropy & Partnerships teams to ensure our business development materials are compelling for potential partners whilst driven by Save the Children priorities and needs
- Maintain updated systems and databases that track our funding and grant management activities
About You
To be successful, it is important that you have the following skills and experience:
- Experience of working in programming and an understanding of programme design and programme management
- Deep understanding of corporate engagement with society and business motivations for societal engagement, including corporate philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, and shared value creation
- Exceptional proposal writing skills – a proven track record of producing high-quality written concept notes and proposals for business and/or philanthropy partners
- Proven ability to conduct analytical research on business to identify corporate opportunities to contribute to development outcomes through core business investments
- Keen ability to tailor your work into persuasive and visually appealing materials for different audiences, including business, philanthropy, and government partners
- Outstanding project management and coordination skills, including an ability to manage high workloads and meet deadlines
- Ability to understand financial information and produce budgets
- A strong team player with an empowering and collaborative working style and excellent interpersonal skills
- Solutions-focused with a creative problem-solving approach
- Able to prioritise and manage a varied workload, taking the initiative, and meeting deadlines
- Highly accurate with a strong attention to detail
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Ways of Working:
The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but there are likely to be times when you will be required to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team and is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.
Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.
Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.
Context and Background
The NSPCC’s vision is that together, we can stop child abuse and neglect. Through the collective power of our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, and over 100 years of experience we will move closer to achieving that vision. We launched our ten-year strategy in 2021, which is centred around three impact goals. This is the difference we want to make by 2031:
1. Everyone plays their part to prevent child abuse: we’ll work together to make it easier for everyone to play their part and create a social safety net that prevents child abuse and neglect.
2. Every child is safe online: together, we’ll transform the online world, so it’s safe for every child to go online.
3. Children feel safe, listened to, and supported: more children will be able to speak out, so they feel safe, listened to, and understood – and abuse doesn’t shape their future.
The Policy and Public Affairs (PAPA) team is part of the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate at the NSPCC. The Directorate exists to help shape the world around us – and what the NSPCC does – so that it reflects what we have learned and can help keep children safe from abuse.
The Policy and Public Affairs team works across the four nations of the UK to influence legislation, policy and practice to ensure they are as effective as possible in preventing harm and abuse of children. We develop and hold the NSPCC’s positions on key public policy issues and harness these to influence policy makers and external stakeholders across the UK. We focus on policy priorities through our five core workstreams: the child protection system and children’s social care; early years and health; child sexual abuse; online safety; and young victims and witnesses.
We are recruiting a Policy and Regulatory Manager to play a central role in delivering our strategic ambitions to transform the online world so it safe for children. The post holder will play a management role in the high performing PAPA team which has a track record of successful influencing to ensure legal, policy and regulatory frameworks are fit for purpose in preventing, responding, and tackling child abuse and neglect.
The Policy and Regulatory Manager will spearhead our policy and influencing activity to make the Online Safety Act work for children. This will include delivering our regulatory strategy. They will be responsible for leading policy projects that contribute towards the NSPCC’s strategic objectives, using their skills and experience to strengthen our impact on public policy and regulatory decisions. In turn, they will make a significant contribution to keeping children safe.
They will play a key role in delivering our policy and influencing activity with figures in government departments, regulators, and civil society, with regular liaison with industry, and other sectoral experts.
The Policy and Regulatory Manager will manage cross-cutting projects across directorates, ensuring we can amplify the voice of the child by channelling the expertise held across the NSPCC’s policy, research, and knowledge teams, and from our wider services.
They will be responsible for line managing two policy and public affairs team members and supporting them to develop robust policy and regulatory analysis.
The successful candidate will have a good understanding of online harms or related public policy areas and in-depth knowledge of regulatory structures and processes from experience of working in regulated sectors or for a regulator.
Job purpose
The Policy and Regulatory Manager will deliver public policy projects to support the NSPCC’s strategic objective to transform online protections for children. They will use their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC’s impact on public policy and online safety regulation.
The Manager will ensure our policy calls are robust and well-evidenced and develop policy strategies and regulatory liaison to leverage our expertise and secure necessary changes to legislation, regulation, and industry practices.
They will develop impactful and influential relationships with regulators, and with senior stakeholders across Government, parliament, industry, and civil society to inform crucial decisions about legislation and regulatory design, and in turn, the development of regulatory schemes.
The Policy and Regulatory Manager will play a lead role in delivering the NSPCC’s strategy of amplifying the voices and experience of children. The postholder will lead our regulatory engagement and will leverage our research and insight to influence the shape of regulation. This will include representing the NSPCCs views on the design of the online safety regulatory framework and responding to formal consultation.
They will play a leading role within the child safety online (CSO) workstream within the wider Policy and Public Affairs team and will line manage members of staff and help them develop their policy and public affairs skill sets.
Key relationships - Internal
· Reports to Associate Head, Policy and Public Affairs - Child Safety Online
· To line manage a Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer (in post) and a Policy and Public Affairs Officer (recruiting)
· Colleagues in the London-based Policy and Public Affairs team
· The Policy and Public Affairs teams in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
· Colleagues in the Strategy and Knowledge directorate including the CSO Solutions Labs
· Media and Campaigns teams
· Services Directorate
· NSPCC Senior Management and trustees, including Policy Committee
Key relationships - External
· Key civil servants in central government departments (such as the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
· Regulators (Ofcom, Information Commissioner)
· Technology companies, including social media and gaming companies
· Civil society organisations working on online harms
· Law enforcement agencies e.g., National Crime Agency
· Other children’s charities
· Parliamentarians
Main duties and responsibilities
Policy and influencing
· Develop and deliver effective regulatory strategies which; identify achievable goals and objectives are underpinned by robust, evidence-based policy positions are high quality, impactful and support the NSPCC’s strategy ambition to transform the online world so that it is safe for children.
· Lead the NSPCCs thinking and approach to Ofcom’s codes of practices.
· Lead and oversee the development of high-quality public policy development and influencing projects to deliver strategic, high impact policy outcomes
· Build excellent relationships with civil service, parliamentary, industry and civil society stakeholders, and leverage these to deliver high impact policy change
· Deliver persuasive, evidenced policy interventions to ensure child-centred decisions on regulatory design and delivery
Leadership and representing the NSPCC
· Provide leadership, direction, and line management to two policy and public affairs team members
· Be a key point of contact for internal and external requests for information and advice about NSPCC’s positions on complex technological and regulatory positions
· Use strong project management skills to plan the delivery of policy development and aligned public affairs work, planning both your and colleagues’ time effectively
· Work closely with Press and Campaigns teams to deliver effective and authoritative external messaging, and manage cross-cutting projects across directorates
· Represent the NSPCC on relevant issues and where appropriate, act as spokesperson for the NSPCC including through the media.
Responsibilities for all Staff within the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate
· A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
· To maintain an overview of child protection policy and practice
· To maintain an awareness of own and other’s health and safety and comply with NSPCC’s Health and Safety procedures
· An active commitment to promoting ED&I, safeguarding and trauma informed practice
· An agile approach to work
· To maintain and develop competence in the use of IT systems
Person specification
· Strong support for NSPCC’s mission and values.
· Excellent understanding of online safety, child protection, tech regulation or related public policy areas.
· Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the clear ability to influence a wide range of audiences verbally and in writing, and to tailor information to different audiences.
· Strong analytical skills, with an ability to interpret a range of data and research to design compelling, evidence-based policy solutions
· Excellent policy development skills, including being able to draw up credible positions and policy interventions on complex and highly nuanced subject matter
· Excellent stakeholder and persuasive skills, with evidence of delivering tangible change through influencing key relationships (including with regulators, government and industry), forming tactical and strategic networks, and leveraging political and external dynamics
· Evidence of team management skills and experience of managing complex and competing projects with a strong track record for delivery at speed and under pressure, responding to tight external deadlines.
· An inspiring team player, with a collaborative and flexible approach and the ability to work across teams and directorates well
Safer Recruitment
As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.
Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.
The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
Our principles:
· Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.
· Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.
· We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.
· Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.
· As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18’s joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.
· All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.
The Youth Endowment Fund
Senior Research Manager (Toolkit)
Reports to: Evidence and Engagement Lead
Salary: £51,300
Contract: 2 years fixed-term
Location: Central London, Hybrid*
Closing date: 9am Monday, 8th April 2024
About the Youth Endowment Fund
We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.
In recent years violent crime has risen significantly. Homicides, assaults, robberies and offences involving weapons have all seen growth. We have also seen increases in violent crime involving children and young people. This is a tragedy. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them.
The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build a fantastic body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We then need to convert this into highly accessible content on what works, how delivery organisations need to change their practice and how the systems they operate in need to be reformed.
About the Toolkit and Synthesis Team
The Toolkit and Synthesis team is at the heart of our work to spread knowledge of what works to prevent children becoming involved in violence. We do this by creating free, highly accessible summaries of the best available research. We love to discuss the latest developments in research methods, but we’re not just interested in research for its own sake. We want research to lead to actual changes in outcomes for children.
Our flagship resource is our Toolkit a free, online resource that summarises the best available evidence about preventing children becoming involved in serious violence. It’s based on the highest-quality systematic reviews but is written in plain English and is free of jargon. It provides practical guidance and helps practitioners and policy makers turn evidence into action. The Toolkit is a live resource – we regularly update it so that professionals working to keep children safe have access to the latest findings. We do this by commissioning new systematic reviews, building a pipeline of evidence to keep expanding the Toolkit.
Alongside our work on the Toolkit, our team is also responsible for the YEF Programmes Evidence and Gap Map and the YEF Systems Evidence and Gap Map. We’re working with external partners to explore new ways of updating the research using the latest developments in technology. We’re also working with partners on an Effect Size Database to facilitate new systematic reviews and meta-analyses of research examining the impact of violence prevention interventions.
Key responsibilities
The Senior Research Manager will be an essential part of the YEF Toolkit and Synthesis team and will develop a portfolio of impactful projects. The core of your role will be leading our work on commissioning evidence synthesis.
This will involve:
- Developing the future pipeline of systematic reviews. You’ll scope out the existing evidence base and understand the needs of our audience. You’ll use this information to recommend new review topics for YEF funding.
- Leading on the design, commissioning, and management of systematic reviews. You’ll also work with our partners to manage existing grants for systematics reviews. This will involve reviewing protocols and reports, working with advisory groups, and ensuring that systematic reviews will meet our aims.
- Becoming an advocate for the insights generated by YEF-funded reviews both within and outside the organisation. You’ll ensure that these insights inform our strategy and are accurately communicated to policy makers and practitioners.
- Writing and reviewing content for the Toolkit. You’ll use findings from evidence synthesis to produce new content for the Toolkit, including summaries of the evidence and impactful resources which enable the application of research in practice. You’ll ensure that Toolkit content is only ever easy-to-understand and written in plain English with incredible clarity.
- Providing leadership across the organisation to ensure synthesis is high-quality. You’ll be the go-to person at the YEF for support with evidence synthesis.
- Ensuring that reviews are used to update and expand the YEF’s Evidence and Gap Maps.
- Contributing research to support the scoping, development and delivery of our grant-making.
- Ensuring that our strategy and decision-making are informed by the best available research.
About you
You’re this sort of person:
- You want to play a significant part in reducing the level of violence affecting young people. You care about having an impact.
- You share our belief that an evidence-based approach is our best hope of preventing violence. You’re fascinated by research, but you’re not just interested in research for its own sake. You want to achieve actual changes in outcomes for children.
- You’re a confident reader of research and have strong critical appraisal skills. You know when research can be trusted and when it can’t and can confidently articulate your views on the strength of research. You might have gained this expertise through your academic studies, research or professional experience.
- You have a proven track record of commissioning or conducting high-quality evidence synthesis. You have a good understanding of these methods and can discuss the pros and cons of them. You might have gained this expertise through your academic studies, training, research or professional experience.
- You have at least three years’ experience working in a role that required you to think about research. This could include a range of roles in policy, academia, funding or practice.
- You write in a way that people easily understand. You have that rare skill of writing in plain English. You have experience of translating complex research findings into plain writing that everyone can understand.
- You have excellent project and time management skills. You can work independently, quickly and to a high standard.
- You’re good with people. You’re comfortable working with a wide range of people, including senior academics and other research experts, children and their families, practitioners and policy makers. You’re able to provide constructive challenge when required.
- You learn fast but remain humble. You like learning. You’re very good at synthesising information. You know how much you don't know and that you can always learn more.
- You work well in a team. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit. You support your colleagues to produce excellent work.
- You’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, views and values.
You may have:
- A good level of knowledge and understanding of crime or violence. You know the facts, understand the issues, know the key people and can discuss the theories. You’re knowledgeable on this topic and very at ease discussing it with experts. Alternatively, you might have a strong understanding of a relevant area such as education, youth work or social care.
- Experience of developing a research strategy. You have thought hard about gaps in the evidence base, how they can be filled and how this might influence policy and practice.
- Experience of commissioning research and managing external contractors. You can scrutinise a budget to ensure it provides value for money.
- Confident public speaking skills. You’re an excellent verbal communicator. You’ve delivered dozens of talks on complex topics. You’re calm and confident when answering challenging questions.
While it’s not a criterion, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.
It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.
Additional benefits include
£1,000 professional development budget annually, 28 days plus Bank Holidays, four half days for volunteering activities.
Hybrid working details
The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month.
To apply
To apply, please send a CV and cover letter, and complete the monitoring form click on "Apply for this" button by 9:00am Monday 8h April 2024.
When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter can answer, within a maximum of 1000 words, the following questions:
- Why are you motivated to apply for this role?
- Give clear examples where your experience directly relates to the “About You” section in the Job Description.
You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.
You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. As part of our commitment to flexible working, we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage.
Interview process
Interviews will take place in the week commencing the 16th April 2024.
There will be a task to prepare for in advance.
Personal data
Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Youth Endowment Fund
Research Lead – Underlying causes of violence
Reports to: Head of Toolkit and Synthesis
Salary: £54,000
Contract: 2 years Fixed term
Location: Central London, Hybrid*
Closing date: 9am Monday, 8th April 2024
About the Youth Endowment Fund
We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.
In recent years violent crime has risen significantly. Homicides, assaults, robberies and offences involving weapons have all seen growth. We have also seen increases in violent crime involving children and young people. This is a tragedy. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them.
The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build a fantastic body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives.
We also need to understand the underlying causes of violence and which children are most in need of support. This is where your role is so important.
Your key responsibilities
As the Research Lead on causes of violence, you will be an essential part of the YEF team. You will
- Lead the YEF’s research into the causes and nature of violence in England and Wales. You’ll investigate questions like:
- Why does violence happen? What seems to protect children or put them at greater risk?
- Are there particular locations or times where violence happens most often?
- Why do people desist from violence and how can we support this process?
- How can we use this information effectively and ethically?
- Make sure we invest in research that fills important gaps in knowledge and leads to important changes. This could include commissioning:
- Systematic reviews on issues like child criminal exploitation, drug markets and children’s experiences of involvement in violence.
- Detailed analysis of individual cases of violence. You’ll commission research teams to explore:
- How we can learn about the causes and contexts of violence through rich mixed methods analysis of individual cases.
- Whether we can learn generalisable lessons from a sample of cases.
- Other new primary research such as quantitative analysis of existing datasets, rich qualitative exploration of children’s experiences or working with our large number of young people trained as peer researchers (as part of the Peer Action Collective).
- You will create accessible summaries of key pieces of research. This could include:
- A systematic review (funded by YEF) of existing research.
- Key criminological insights about the nature of crime and violence.
- You’ll create useful tools and resources (similar to our Toolkit) which support decision-makers to apply insights from your work. This could include guidance to commissioners on how to understand the nature of violence in their area, the needs of local children, and
- You’ll develop great relationships with experts and represent YEF in external meetings and events. You’ll promote our research by speaking at conferences and events.
- You’ll work with our Change team to identify opportunities for our research to influence policy and practice, and bring about positive changes that will keep children safe.
- You’ll have line management responsibility for a Research Manager. You’ll ensure they contribute effectively to your portfolio of work.
About you
You are this sort of person:
- You want to play a significant part in reducing the level of violence affecting young people. You care about having an impact.
- You share our belief that an evidence-based approach is our best hope of preventing violence. You’re fascinated by research, but you’re not just interested in research for its own sake. You want to achieve actual changes in outcomes for children.
- You know a lot about research on violence, where it happens, what causes it and who does it. You know the key ideas, debates and studies. You’re comfortable talking about this research with experts. There are many ways to acquire this knowledge, including professional experience, academic research or study, and personal interest.
- You’re a confident reader of research (including systematic reviews and quantitative methods) and have strong critical appraisal skills. You know when research can be trusted and when it can’t and can confidently articulate your views on the strength of research. You might have gained this expertise through your academic studies, research or professional experience.
- You have at least three years’ experience working in a role that required you to think about research. This could include a range of roles in policy, academia, funding or practice.
- You write in a way that people easily understand. You have that rare skill of writing in plain English. You have experience of translating complex research findings into plain writing that everyone can understand.
- You have excellent project and time management skills. You can work independently, quickly and to a high standard.
- You are good with people. You’re comfortable working with a wide range of people, including senior academics and other research experts, children and their families, practitioners and policy-makers. You’re able to provide constructive challenge when required.
- You learn fast but remain humble. You like learning. You’re very good at synthesising information. You know how much you don't know and that you can always learn more.
- You work well in a team. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit. You support your colleagues to produce excellent work.
- You’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, views and values.
You may have:
- Experience of commissioning research and managing external contractors. You can scrutinise a budget to ensure it provides value for money.
- Confident public speaking skills. You’re an excellent verbal communicator. You’ve delivered dozens of talks on complex or contested topics. You’re calm and confident when answering challenging questions.
- Experience of working directly on the prevention of violence or crime. This might mean working directly with young people at risk of becoming involved in crime or working with organisations that fund or deliver relevant programmes.
- Experience of developing a research strategy. You have thought hard about gaps in the evidence base, how they can be filled and how this might influence policy and practice.
We would consider flexible arrangements to find the right candidate. This could include:
- Secondments for candidates with an established record of research on the causes of violence. This arrangement might suit an academic researcher who is looking to gain experience outside of academia but does not want to leave academia entirely.
- Flexible working alongside postgraduate study.
While it’s not a criterion, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.
It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.
Additional benefits include
£1,000 professional development budget annually, 28 days plus Bank Holidays, four half days for volunteering activities.
Hybrid working details
The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month.
To apply
To apply, please send a CV and cover letter, and complete the monitoring form click on "Apply for this" button by 9:00am Monday, 8th April 2024.
When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter can answer, within a maximum of 1000 words, the following questions:
- Why are you motivated to apply for this role?
- Give clear examples where your experience directly relates to the “About You” section in the JD.
You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.
You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. As part of our commitment to flexible working, we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.
Interview process
Interviews will take place in the week commencing the 16th of April 2024.
There will be a task to prepare for in advance.
Personal data
Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Description
Job Title: PLAY Research Analyst
Reporting to: Global Programme Manager
Hours: 37.5 Hours per week
Location: Multiple locations in Bombali, Karene, Koinadugu and Falaba
Time Frame: 18-month contract (February 2024 – July 2025)
Our Organisation:
Street Child believes that every child deserves the chance to go to school and learn. Our projects focus on a combination of education, child protection and livelihood support to address the social, economic and structural issues that underpin today’s education crisis. We partner with local organisations and communities to deliver our locally rooted programmes, using evidence to drive learning and the refinement and scale up of programmes to create maximum impact for the most children at the lowest cost. We pride ourselves on being willing to go to the world’s toughest places where others won’t, including remote, hard-to-reach areas and fragile, disaster-affected states across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Since 2008 we have helped over 1,000,000 children to go to school and learn.
The programme:
Playful Learning Across the Years 2.0: Quality Tool Testing, Learning and Pathways to Program Improvement and Systemic Uptake (PLAY 2.0) is a multi-country level programme leaded by the Education Development Centre and Street Child in partnership with the LEGO Foundation. PLAY 2.0 aims to conduct research measurement of the quality of child-centred pedagogies and their contribution to holistic outcomes for children in 450 classrooms in centres and schools across Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. PLAY 2.0 proposes to administer the PLAY 2.0 tools to educators and children to improve the tools’ use across countries and cultures, with a particular focus on crisis-affected contexts; to verify the contribution of child-centred pedagogies to holistic outcomes for children; and understand the tools’ potential to inform program improvement. PLAY 2.0 offers an outstanding opportunity to focus on the aspects of child-centred approaches that are closest to children, including agency, self-sustaining engagement, self-led exploration, and other essential elements of meaningful learning. The project provides a platform to test and adapt these tools across the three countries - and in turn, contributes to integrate and improve on the implementation of integrated pedagogies, influence their adoption, and support children at critical junctures.
The role:
Street Child is seeking a driven, detail-oriented Research Analyst to lead and effectively deliver on the PLAY 2.0 research project in Sierra Leone. The Research Analyst is responsible for the overall management of data in the research study, including codification, standardisation and strategic coherence of our data collection, collation, managing analytical approaches, documentation, translation, transcription, and ensuring the data requirements of the programme are met and well communicated to the partners. This is an outstanding opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research at a significant scale, and to enable research-informed interventions through strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills.
Key Responsibilities:
Data Collection and analysis (60%)
- Establish and embed rigorous, robust data collection, collation and cleaning protocols and databases for rapid data processing to assure the availability of data for analysis;
- Facilitate qualitative interviews including designing questionnaires, conduct interviews, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to gather relevant information from target customers, industry experts, and stakeholders.
- Explore and embed innovative approaches, including digital approaches, and inclusive approaches adapted for abilities, age, gender, geographies, etc to expand and enhance data quality;
- Liaising with implementing partners and local teams, managing data enumerators and ensuring that work is delivered to time and quality expectations;
- Ensure external and internal project reports are provided in a timely manner, summarizing data and presenting the implications of the results in written reports
- Assist and assure adherence to appropriate data storage policies and procedures, to protect the confidentially, integrity, and privacy of participants and participant information, including appropriate ethical protocols and safeguarding policies and procedures;
- Transcription, translation, and review of interview information: Convert qualitative data, such as audio recordings, into written documents, ensuring accuracy and quality. Accurately review information obtained from interviews and FGDs.
- Ensure completeness of forms, including checking collected data for accuracy and consistency to ensure all necessary information is captured.
- Follow data quality and sampling protocols: According to specific guidelines and tools for data collection to ensure proper sampling and data quality.
- Review and edit collected data, checking for errors, both intentional and unintentional and make necessary corrections.
- Keep key personnel informed about progress and issues in the field and seek guidance when needed.
- Ensure data quality by engaging in quality control exercises to identify missing or erroneous data.
Research Coordination [25%]
- Provide coordination and surge support for external/internal consultants to assure integrity and quality of research and evidence;
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to gather feedback, validate findings, and ensure research alignment with client expectations.
- Choose appropriate venues for interviews and ensure consent from all participants in collaboration with implementing partners
- Collaborate with team members and communicate effectively with country programme team, partners and global team during fieldwork.
Evidence Dissemination [10%]
- Prepare detailed reports, presentations, and summaries of research findings. Present research outcomes to internal teams and clients, highlighting key insights and recommendations.
- Ensure excellent presentation of evaluations and evidence of impact to funders, partners, and programme participants, using a range of verbal and visual tools to communicate impact, including digital tools;
- Contribute to Organisational Priorities [5%]
- Provide capacity strengthening and surge support for internal researchers and evaluators to assure integrity and quality of research results and evidence;
- Provide ad-hoc basis support to the research team, local partners, present findings with the wider group including sectors
- Represent the organization professionally: Present Street Child in a professional and accurate manner while interacting with target stakeholders and beneficiaries.
- Carry out any other related duties that are within his/her skills and abilities in agreement with line manager.
Person Specification / Education / Essential / Desirable
- Educated to degree level or higher in related field (Monitoring and evaluation, analysis etc)
- Accreditation or certification in specific areas relevant to role
Experience / Essential / Desirable
- Substantial experience (minimum 3 years) in mixed methods and qualitative and quantitative methodologies and methods, including instrumentation tools
- Experience and knowledge of data collection through mobile apps (Kobo Collect, ODK, ONA, DDG, etc.)
- Prior experience in interviewing and facilitating KII, FGDs, and in-depth interviews or beneficiary selection.
- Experience of using statistical software [NVIVO, SPSS, STATA, etc]
- Experience and interest in the education sector
- Previous experience of working in the Northern province.
- Experience in [quasi-] experimental research
- Previous experience of working with NGOs, civil society, UN or relevant government departments
- Experience using and working with CommCare
Capabilities and competencies / Essential / Desirable:
- Comprehensive understanding of inclusive approaches
- Good project management skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and Krio
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and tasks efficiently in a high-stress environment;
- Excellent listening, interpersonal and public presentation skills
- Excellent computer literacy in MS Office programs (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook);
- Ability to positively influence others and successfully reconcile differences.
- Comprehensive understanding of sectoral standards including CHS on Quality and Accountability
- Experience in education and research programmes
- Local language skills – Temne, Fula, Susu, Loko (Southwestern Mande), Kuranko, Mandinka
Other:
- Commitment to our vision, mission and values
- Commitment to protecting the rights of children in all circumstances
- Commitment to localisation and local action
- Credibility in advice and assistance provision, with a high degree of responsiveness and reliability
- Reflective, responsive and respectful towards communities and colleagues Resilient in challenging circumstances
Street Child’s commitment to Safeguarding:
Street Child is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the communities we serve, our partners, our volunteers, and our staff. As part of this commitment to safeguarding, all offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks, including a Criminal Records check. Street Child also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.
To apply:
Street Child welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. Please submit your CV and a covering note explaining why you think you could make an extraordinary impact in this role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and so interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Title: Programmes Officer – based in Liberia & Sierra Leone
Reporting to: Head of Programmes – Sierra Leone & Liberia
Contract Type: Full time (37.5 hours per week)
Principal Location: Monrovia, Liberia with frequent travel across Sierra Leone
Updated: Febuary 2024
Our Organisation:
Street Child believes that every child deserves the chance to go to school and learn. Our projects focus on a combination of education, child protection and livelihood support to address the social, economic and structural issues that underpin today’s education crisis. We partner with local organisations and communities to deliver our locally rooted programmes, using evidence to drive learning and the refinement and scale up of programmes to create maximum impact for the most children at the lowest cost. We pride ourselves on being willing to go to the world’s toughest places where others won’t, including remote, hard-to-reach areas and fragile, disaster-affected states across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Since 2008 we have helped over 1,000,000 children to go to school and learn.
Part 1: Role Purpose:
We are seeking an outstanding Programmes Officer for an exciting opportunity to support Street Child’s programme portfolio in Liberia and Sierra Leone. This role will cut across Street Child’s programming in the region, including a specific focus on the $12.8m Education for Every Child Today (EFECT) Project which aims to enrol 96,000 out of school children in school across West Africa over a 4-year period.
The key objectives of this role are to work closely with Street Child’s federal partners to support the effective implementation of adaptive programming, and to support accurate and timely donor reporting across a range of institutional, trust & foundations, and corporate donors. The ideal candidate will have strong written and excel skills, with experience of MEAL and financial management processes. The role will engage regular, detailed interaction with Street Child’s UK and European fundraising community.
The role holder will work in close collaboration with Street Child’s regional Head of Programmes, based in Freetown, as well as partner Programmes, MEAL and Finance teams to coordinate timely and quality implementation and reporting across the programmes portfolio.
Based in Monrovia, whilst serving a regional brief, the role-holder will be expected to be especially involved in supporting the programmes, and wider life, of Street Child of Liberia. This aspect of the role in particular demands a confident, ‘self-sufficient’ and motivated personality – who is excited by the opportunity and attendant career potential, as opposed to being overawed by the inevitable, multi-dimensional challenges.
Part 2: Key Responsibilities:
Reporting & Programme Funding Engagement – 35%
- Review narrative and financial quarterly reporting from country teams and provide feedback.
- Lead on the consolidation of narrative reporting (low-mid value donors) for a variety of donors within the portfolio.
- Ensure regular information flow to Street Child communications and fundraising teams, inclusive of collection and drafting of case studies and photos.
- Supporting income-generation opportunities - potentially including supporting donor visits, in-country donor engagement and broad-based support to the group’s global programme-funding efforts for both Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Programme & MEAL Management – 35%
- Work in collaboration with national partner and cross-country implementation teams across Liberia and Sierra Leone to ensure quality and timely implementation of project activities.
- Work alongside social, enterprise and education teams across both countries to support a joined-up approach to project implementation and MEAL, ensuring relevant data are collected with due care and utilised for project planning, reporting and learning.
- Provide strong support to EFECT programme staff and partners in Liberia & Sierra Leone in programme and MEAL department.
- Alongside colleagues provide training, guidance and advice to partner delivery staff to ensure effective and accurate use of programme documents and tools.
- In liaison with Safeguarding Focal Points monitor safeguarding policies ensuring adequate implementation of policies and procedures, and support to close feedback loops with partners & project participants.
- Provide capacity strengthening to Street Child Colleagues where possible.
Financial Support – 25%
- Support the country teams in compiling requisitions in line with programme forecasts and budgets.
- Support on the collation of financial reporting requirements for low-mid value donors.
- Support on tracking of donors & match funding within the EFECT programme.
Other – 5%
- Coordinating staff, stakeholders and donor visits.
- A strong commitment to Street Childs vision, mission and values.
- Adhere to all Street Child’s policies and procedures.
- Represent Street Child appropriately both internally and externally.
- Carry out all reasonable requests that are within the broad remit of the role.
Part 3: Person Specification
Attributes / Essential / Beneficial
- Experience and Knowledge.
- Relevant field experience of development programming, with a commitment to and respect for local partnership.
- Experience of successful delivery of team objectives by working closely and collaboratively within a team at all levels
- Experience of data collection, cleaning and analysis.
- Relevant experience of working in support of local partners.
- Demonstrable experience of quality programme implementation.
- Demonstrable experience of budget management.
- Demonstrable experience of capacity building with national staff.
- Demonstrable experience of donor reporting.
- Strong working knowledge of education, child protection and livelihoods approaches.
- Strong working knowledge of the Liberia and/or Liberia context.
Skills and Abilities
- Good organisation and administrative skills and an ability to forward plan.
- Coaching / Capacity Strengthening Skills.
- Good time management skills, able to work to tight deadlines and an ability to work under pressure.
Other
- Excellent written and spoken communications in English (additional languages welcome).
- A ‘can-do’, and agile attitude, a passion for problem solving and adaptive thinking.
- Self-starter with strong motivation to succeed and ability to work independently in carrying out assigned tasks within a fast-paced team.
Education / Qualifications
- Degree or Higher in International Development or related field; or relevant training courses in MEAL.
- Street Child’s commitment to Safeguarding.
- Street Child is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the communities we serve, our partners, our volunteers, and our staff.
As part of this commitment to safeguarding, all offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks. Street Child also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.
To apply:
Please submit your CV and a covering note explaining why you think you could make an extraordinary impact in this role through Workable by midnight 29th February 2024. We will be reviewing applications as they are submitted so interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Closing Date: 2 April 2024
Ref 6670
Save the Children UK has an exciting opportunity for a strategic and resilient individual with extensive humanitarian advocacy experience to join us as our Conflict & Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Adviser where you will work with the team on the Ukraine conflict and Syria/Turkiye earthquake response on a 50/50 split.
Please note: This is a 12 month Fixed Term Contract.
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About the role
As a Policy & Advocacy Adviser (Conflict & Humanitarian), you will carry out a broad range of assignments and/or projects in line with the strategy and policies for your professional area and under overall managerial direction. You will lead on Save the Children UK's advocacy for children affected by conflict and crisis in Ukraine and Syria, two of the most complex and sensitive contexts in which our charity works. You will hold responsibility for driving work on specific parts of the Save the Children strategy, often working with minimal supervision, including representing the organisation regularly with external experts and high-level decision-makers. You will be a recognised specialist in your field, often working on complex assignments and projects, and providing technical guidance to others in resolving complex issues in a specialised area. You will produce high-quality policy analysis and research and/or planning, delivery and evaluation of advocacy to influence duty-bearers to uphold the rights of children in low- and middle-income countries.
In this role, you will:
• Design, lead and deliver policy, advocacy, research or MEAL strategies and products, to a high standard and often with minimal supervision.
• Identify policy and research needs and influencing opportunities in your thematic area, at the country level and/or internationally.
• Maintain and develop high-level knowledge and expertise in your specific area and advise colleagues across the global movement, including at a senior level, as well as external stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders and build strong working relationships with partners and advocacy targets.
• Build strong relationships with our country programmes and other colleagues across our global movement to ensure that national-level advocacy is delivered and informs international debates and decision-makers.
About you
To be successful, it is important that you have:
• High-level expertise in global humanitarian policies, including national developing-country government policies, donor behaviour, international institutions and NGOs.
• High-level knowledge and expertise in a specific area.
• A proven track record of carrying out high-quality research, policy and/or advocacy.
• Ability to think creatively, innovate, strategize, set priorities, manage a workplan and evaluate progress with minimal supervision.
• Strong networking and experience of participating in coalitions and working with civil-society actors to achieve change.
• Knowledge of human rights, international relations, political analysis and the international humanitarian system.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to six weeks a year.
• Commitment to Save the Children's vision, mission and values.
What we offer you:
Working for a charity provides one of the best benefits there is – a sense of purpose and reward for helping others. However, we understand the importance of giving back to our employees to ensure a happy and healthy working environment and work/life balance.
• We focus on flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, health and wellbeing both in and outside of work.
• We provide a wide range of benefits which will reward your hard work, motivate you, and inspire you to work to improve the lives of children every day.
Closing date: Tuesday 2nd April
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Ways of Working:
The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but there are likely to be times when you will be required to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team and is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.
Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.
Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.
Every childhood is worth fighting for. This is our belief. It drives us. And it motivates our Strategy and Knowledge Directorate to maintain our position as an influential, informed and forceful voice at every level. Join us as a Research and Evaluation Officer, and lead progress that means more.
Introduction to the team
The Research and Evidence team carries out, commissions and partners on high quality research, including evaluation research. We seek to advance NSPCC's understanding of, and improve the evidence base around, the prevention of child abuse, and how best to support children who have experienced it. Our research is used to improve our work with children, families and communities, influence the development of policy and contribute to new NSPCC campaigns. You can read some of our recent research reports on NSPCC Learning. We also support research activity at NSPCC via our research advice clinic, evidence summary service, and the NSPCC Research Ethics Committee (made up of external experts).
About the role
This is an exciting and varied role with the opportunity to disseminate research findings directly to those who will be putting them into practice. You will be:
- Applying your research skills to carry out high quality research on a wide range of NSPCC projects
- Project managing small research projects or supporting Senior Research and Evaluation Officers to manage elements of larger research projects.
- Disseminating research findings to a range of different audiences including practitioners, decision makers, policy makers, academics and service users.
About you
You will have demonstrable experience of undertaking research and evaluation projects in different settings and contexts. You will have an in-depth understanding of:
- qualitative and quantitative methodologies and analysis.
- research ethics.
Join us and you'll become part of a team that cares about the work they do and the people they work with. You'll discover opportunities to grow, along with challenges and a shared purpose that'll bring the best out in you. And you'll get to find your own way to make a difference that means more, and that impacts millions of young lives.
Every childhood is worth fighting for. This is our belief. It drives us. And it motivates our Strategy, Policy and Evidence team to maintain our position as an influential, informed and forceful voice at every level. Join us as a Policy and Public Affairs Assistant, and lead progress that means more.
The postholder supports the work of the team in delivering real change and reform in the best interests of children. They will work across the Policy Teams in Wales and Northern Ireland and will be responsible for undertaking policy work to achieve the NSPCC's strategic goals, using their skills and passion for keeping children safe to strengthen the NSPCC's impact on public policy.
We're looking for someone with a clear commitment to the NSPCC's vision to working together to stop child abuse and neglect, and strong skills in researching, analysing and summarising key information. Our new colleague will also have excellent administrative and IT skills to support with managing engagements with external audiences and organising events. Finally, we're looking for someone who works well across different teams and can support a range of policy projects in one or more of our workstreams (on child protection and children's social care; early years and health; child sexual abuse; child safety online; young victims and witnesses).
Join us and you'll become part of a team that cares about the work they do and the people they work with. You'll discover opportunities to grow, along with challenges and a shared purpose that'll bring the best out in you. And you'll get to find your own way to make a difference that means more, and that impacts millions of young lives.
Job Title: Senior Policy Research Officer
Directorate: Strategy and Knowledge
Team/Department (if specific): Policy and Public Affairs
Salary range: £35,423 (plus £3,366 London weighting)
Location: London (hybrid working, with at least one day- Tuesday- in the office). The post holder will occasionally be expected to travel to locations across the UK.
Working hours: 35 hours (flexible working may be considered)
Date Written/ Amended: March 2024
Context and Background
The NSPCC's vision is that together, we can stop child abuse and neglect. Through the collective power of our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, and over 100 years of experience we will move closer to achieving that vision.
We launched our ten-year strategy in 2021, which is centred around three impact goals. This is the difference we want to make by 2031:
1. Everyone plays their part to prevent child abuse: we'll work together to make it easier for everyone to play their part and create a social safety net that prevents child abuse and neglect.
2. Every child is safe online: together, we'll transform the online world, so it's safe for every child to go online.
3. Children feel safe, listened to and supported: more children will be able to speak out, so they feel safe, listened to and understood - and abuse doesn't shape their future.
The Policy and Public Affairs (PAPA) team is part of the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate at the NSPCC. The Directorate exists to help shape the world around us - and what the NSPCC does - so that it reflects what we have learned and can help keep children safe from abuse.
The PAPA team works across the four nations of the UK to influence legislation, policy and practice to ensure they are as effective as possible in keeping children safe. We focus on policy priorities through our five core workstreams: the child protection system and children's social care; early years and health; child sexual abuse; online safety; and young victims and witnesses.
We are recruiting a Senior Policy Research Officer to develop and deliver our early years and health policy work to deliver real change and reform in the best interests of children.
The post holder will work in the UK/England part of the Policy and Affairs Team focussed on influencing the Westminster Government. The role involves a variety of responsibilities including policy research, policy development and public affairs. This is a great opportunity to drive policy work in an exciting policy area, by building a strong evidence base and contributing to effective influencing strategies.
Job purpose
The Senior Policy Research Officer will be responsible for undertaking policy research to achieve the NSPCC's strategic goals, using their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC's impact on public policy relating to the early years and health. In doing so, they will make a significant contribution to protecting the youngest children from abuse and neglect
Key relationships - Internal
· Reports to the England Policy and Public Affairs Manager
· Colleagues in the wider Policy and Public Affairs team across the UK
· Colleagues in the Media and Campaigns teams
· Colleagues in the Research and Evidence team
· Colleagues in the Services directorate (to ensure policy development is informed by experiences and learning from our frontline professionals/ volunteers)
· Colleagues in the Participation Unit (to ensure the involvement of young people in policy and influencing work)
Key relationships - External
· Key civil servants and policy advisers in the UK Government
· MPs and Peers in the UK Parliament
· Colleagues in relevant voluntary and statutory agencies
· Practitioner bodies
· Key academics, researchers and research networks
Main duties and responsibilities
· Develop and maintain a high level of expertise on priority policy areas, with lead responsibility for early years and health policy.
· Scope, develop and refine NSPCC policies on priority policy issues, putting forward the economic case for change where possible.
· Analyse a wide range of primary and secondary sources of evidence (such as official data sets and statistics, policy documents, academic literature, economic analyses, FOls and survey data) to develop innovative and evidence-based policy solutions to complex problems.
· Prepare high-quality policy outputs such as briefings, summaries, consultation responses, papers and presentations for internal and external audiences.
· Contribute to the delivery of our research activity, working with teams across NSPCC to assess policy and evidence needs, then design and undertake impactful research projects to address these.
· Contribute to the commissioning of methodologically robust and ethically sound research to investigate a substantial child protection challenge, including by devising clearly defined requirements for the work.
· Manage policy research projects from development and commissioning stage through to completion, providing direction and supervision to ensure the highest standards of delivery.
· Develop and maintain a network of key contacts across parliament, the civil service, and civil society, using this network to amplify the NSPCC's voice and take advantage of opportunities to influence policy making.
· Represent the NSPCC on relevant internal and external advisory groups, meetings, and stakeholder events.
· Act as media spokesperson for the NSPCC on relevant subject areas, including live and pre-recorded interviews as well as background discussions with journalists on policy relating to early years and health.
Responsibilities for all Staff within the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate
There is a set of responsibilities for all staff within each directorate.
· A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people
· To maintain an overview of child protection policy and practice
· To maintain an awareness of own and other's health and safety and comply with NSPCC's Health and Safety procedures
· An active commitment to promoting ED&I, safeguarding and trauma informed practice
· An agile approach to work
· To maintain and develop competence in the use of IT systems
Person specification
1) Strong support for the NSPCC's mission and values.
2) Good understanding of child protection, early years, health or related public policy areas combined with knowledge of the wider legal, government and media context.
3) Excellent policy development skills, with the ability to develop and refine policy solutions to complex problems.
4) Proven ability to undertake research (qualitative and/ or quantitative) and analyse findings, with an ability to design methodologically robust and ethically sound research that is delivered to a high standard and agreed timescales.
5) Experience of successfully presenting research accurately to make a clear and compelling case for policy and legislative change.
6) Excellent communication skills including a clear and concise writing style, combined with good oral presentation skills, that can be tailored to a variety of audiences.
7) Good public affairs skills, with strong knowledge of parliamentary processes, sound political judgement, and experience of contributing to the delivery of influencing strategies to secure support from decision makers in parliament and beyond.
8) Ability to work on own initiative with strong organisational and project management skills, including demonstrable experience of project managing small research projects, working at speed and under pressure when required, while successfully managing project progress, risks and quality.
9) Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build constructive working relationships with external stakeholders, as well as to work effectively as part of an internal, cross departmental team.
Safer Recruitment
As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.
Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.
The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
Our principles:
Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.
• Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.
• We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.
• Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.
• As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18's joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.
• All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.
We have an exciting opportunity for a New Business Account Handler to join our team.
Location: Lancing, West Sussex (Hybrid Working)
Salary: £30,955.71 per annum inclusive of Market Supplement, Band D Level 3
Working Hours: 35 hours per week- 3 days minimum in the office
Job Type: Permanent
We’re Scouts and everyone’s welcome here - all genders, races and backgrounds. Right across the UK, we help over 400,000 young people aged 4-25 gain skills for life and find their place in the world. We help them speak up, play their part and shine bright.
About the Role:
The New Business Account Handler is a telephone based insurance business development role, focussed 100% on acquiring new business, to help accelerate sales growth from our core charity markets. Your role will therefore be to act as a New Business contact for Unity's portfolio of prospects and clients, comprising of small/medium size charities for their insurance requirements
As the New Business Account Handler you will have:
- Knowledge and experience of FCA Compliance and TCF practices
- Computer literate and experience of using insurance systems
- Professional insurance qualifications – Cert CII or Diploma in Insurance
- Experience and track record in new business sales
- Experience in selling, broking and advising on small charities insurance and direct dealings with charity clients
Key responsibilities as our New Business Account Handler:
- Achieving targets set in respect of new business growth and lead generation and other key performance indicators
- Lead generation on various new business campaigns
- Offering information, guidance and quotes to prospects in respect of their insurance needs and converting these to clients
- Completing the key task of “fact finding” to identify clients’ requirements and to provide a quotation to fulfil their needs
- Using the information gathered, to determine which insurers will provide the most competitive rates for the covers required
As our New Business Account Handler in return, we offer you:
- Work in a way that suits you, your role and your department
- Be proud to say you’re part of a team with Investors in People (Gold)
- Plenty of opportunity for learning and development
- 28 days holiday a year, plus bank holidays rising to 32 days after two years
- Four extra days to look after your family when they need you
- Three extra days over Christmas
We are proud to be a family-friendly employer and offer…
- Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Flexible working hours
- Store Discount at our Scout Store + other online benefits
Closing date: 11:59pm Sunday 31st March 2024
Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 1 April 2024
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join our fantastic team! Click ‘Apply’ now!
The Scouts is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to diversity and actively seeking applicants from a wide range of backgrounds.
Strictly no agencies.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Spring Community Hub wants to recruit an enthusiastic and dynamic person with experience in project delivery or impact measurement and evaluation to join our Business Support Team to work on a variety of projects and provide administrative support to the Charity.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
- Lead the establishment of an impact and evaluation function in the organisation to report on the impact of our projects to colleagues, partners, donors and funders.
- Provide project management support to the Senior Management Team.
- Collect quantitative and qualitative data via online and paper surverys and focus groups. Interpret and analyse that data using our CRM and other sources of data.
- Disseminate data, analysis and findings including to colleagues in fundraising, communications, service delivery and engagement and act as an internal advocate for effective monitoring and evaluation strategies.
- Support the development of new tools to collect data.
- Gather project case studies by liaising with colleagues and project leads.
- Assist with the recruitment of staff and volunteers and help to foster a positive volunteer culture
- Represent the organisation at external meetings and events as required
- Assist with daily administration being flexible to the changing needs of the organisation and undertaking tasks not specifically listed when required
Person Specification
- Excellent written and oral English.
- Strong presentation skills and experience presenting research outputs and technical concepts to diverse audiences including colleagues, partners and donors.
- Excellent communication and relationship building skills including with colleagues, partners and donors.
- Experience in designing data collection methods and strong qualitative and quantitative research skills including basic data collection.
- Strong data analysis skills and ability to use relevant software as well as general IT packages.
- Knowledge of the implications of GDPR and other relevant legislation to Spring Community Hub
- Strong project management skills and the ability to deliver on time, to budget and to a high standard
- Degree or equivalent experience
- Experience working or volunteering in the voluntary or not for profit sectors
- Ability to work collaboratively and excellent listening skills
- A compassionate and empathic approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of others
- Self motivated with a methodical approach to work and excellent attention to detail
There will be some out of hours work for, for example, the AGM, events, training and development and you will be able to arrange time off in lieu via your Line Manager
Spring Community Hub offers opportunities for learning and development and is actively committed to equality and diversity. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of significant poverty and inequality and people from marginalised groups and communities.
The role is subject to a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Closing Date: 1 April 2024
Ref 6666
Save the Children UK has an exciting opportunity for a collaborative and influential individual with advocacy experience to join us as our Senior Policy & Advocacy Adviser where you will work with the Education Policy and Advocacy Team.
Please note, this is a 3 - year fixed term contract. This role is also part time at 17.5 hours a week.
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About the role
As a Senior Policy & Advocacy Adviser you will work in the Education Team within the Global Policy, Advocacy and Research department.
Save the Children is partnering with the LEGO Foundation on an exciting new project to advocate for changes in policy, participation, and funding to improve the quality of instruction and wellbeing of teachers in refugee hosting communities in Kenya.
Your role will focus on advocacy on refugee education, including a focus on teachers and the education workforce. The role will require you to work closely with colleagues in our Kenya office, to both support advocacy at the national level, and to affect change on refugee education through global advocacy.
Our ideal candidate for this role would be someone who is a sharp strategic thinker, who understands how to make political and policy change happen across different contexts. You will have experience of working with partners to achieve national and global policy change, and have strong networking and relationship building skills. Experience of working in global education or humanitarian sectors is desirable.
In this role, you will:
- Design, lead and implement complex policy and advocacy strategies and products, to a high standard and with minimal supervision
- Identify global policy and research needs and influencing opportunities in your thematic area
- Represent the organisation externally including in high-level meetings and events and with donors and other key stakeholders, building relationships with external experts, partners and coalitions
- Write advocacy briefings, reports, externally published articles and blogs, as well as assist in the drafting of press releases, Q&As and opinion pieces
- Maintain and develop very high-level knowledge and expertise in global education and advise colleagues across the global movement, including at a senior level, as well as senior external stakeholders
About you
To be successful, it is important that you have:
- Very high-level expertise in global development policies, including national developing-country government policies, donor behaviour, international institutions and NGOs
- Very high-level knowledge and expertise in global education policy and advocacy.
- A proven track record of carrying out first-class research, policy and/or advocacy
- Ability to think creatively, innovate, strategize, set priorities, manage a workplan and evaluate progress with minimal supervision
- Strong networking and experience of participating in coalitions and working with civil-society actors to achieve change
- Commitment to Save the Children's vision, mission and values.
What we offer you:
Working for a charity provides one of the best benefits there is – a sense of purpose and reward for helping others. However, we understand the importance of giving back to our employees to ensure a happy and healthy working environment and work/life balance.
- We focus on flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, health and wellbeing both in and outside of work.
- We provide a wide range of benefits which will reward your hard work, motivate you, and inspire you to work to improve the lives of children every day. You can read more about our benefits here.
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Ways of Working:
The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but there are likely to be times when you will be required to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team and is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.
Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.
Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.
Closing Date: 1 April 2024
Ref 6676
Save the Children UK has an exciting opportunity for a collaborative and influential individual with advocacy experience to join us as our Senior Policy & Advocacy Adviser where you will work with the Education Policy and Advocacy Team.
Please note, this is an 18 month fixed term contract. This role is also part time at 21 hours a week.
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About the role
As a Senior Policy & Advocacy Adviser you will work in the Education Team within the Global Policy, Advocacy and Research department.
Your role will focus on advocacy on school safety and risk reduction in the education sector. Specifically, you will be working closely with colleagues at Save the Children and members of GADRRRES (Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction & Resilience in the Education Sector) to promote the global implementation of the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF). This is an important time for this area of work, as the revised CSSF was launched in September 2022, and as the education sector contends with the increasing risks posed by climate change, health pandemics, and conflict. This project is being delivered in partnership with Prudence Foundation, who have partnered with Save the Children to promote school safety and resilience at the national, regional and global level. Our ideal candidate for this role would be someone who is a sharp strategic thinker, who understands how to make political and policy change happen across different contexts. You will have experience of working with partners through coalition, and have strong networking and relationship building skills. Experience of working in global education, humanitarian or climate sectors is desirable but not necessary.
In this role, you will:
- Design, lead and implement complex policy and advocacy strategies and products, to a high standard and with minimal supervision
- Identify global policy and research needs and influencing opportunities in your thematic area
- Represent the organisation externally including in high-level meetings and events and with donors and other key stakeholders, building relationships with external experts, partners and coalitions
- Write advocacy briefings, reports, externally published articles and blogs, as well as assist in the drafting of press releases, Q&As and opinion pieces
- Maintain and develop very high-level knowledge and expertise in global education and advise colleagues across the global movement, including at a senior level, as well as senior external stakeholders
About you
To be successful, it is important that you have:
- Very high-level expertise in global development policies, including national developing-country government policies, donor behaviour, international institutions and NGOs
- Very high-level knowledge and expertise in global education policy and advocacy.
- A proven track record of carrying out first-class research, policy and/or advocacy
- Ability to think creatively, innovate, strategize, set priorities, manage a workplan and evaluate progress with minimal supervision
- Strong networking and experience of participating in coalitions and working with civil-society actors to achieve change
- Commitment to Save the Children's vision, mission and values.
What we offer you:
Working for a charity provides one of the best benefits there is – a sense of purpose and reward for helping others. However, we understand the importance of giving back to our employees to ensure a happy and healthy working environment and work/life balance.
- We focus on flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, health and wellbeing both in and outside of work.
- We provide a wide range of benefits which will reward your hard work, motivate you, and inspire you to work to improve the lives of children every day. You can read more about our benefits here.
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Ways of Working:
The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but there are likely to be times when you will be required to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team and is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.
Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense.
Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.