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Prospectus is delighted to be leading the search for the Head of Research Policy and Legal. This role leads the development of evidence-based, equity-driven research, policy and legal interventions that advance a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK.
Our client supports efforts to create a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK. We urgently need to phase out oil and gas drilling to stay within safe climate limits. Yet, despite having renewable resources in abundance, the UK remains Europe’s second largest oil and gas producer.
We can and must be ambitious about moving past oil and gas production, while empowering and supporting workers and communities who rely on the industry for their livelihoods. Working with everyone from policy-makers and Parliamentarians, to academics and campaigners, the organisation undertakes research, analysis and campaigning to support a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK.
This role leads the development of evidence-based, equity-driven research, policy and legal interventions that advance a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK. Core responsibilities will include:
Team management and staff development
- Leading the organisation's RPL team, fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture and line-managing senior staff.
- Supporting Principal advisers and researchers to lead their respective sub-teams Implementing project management, commissioning, and prioritisation processes for smooth organisational integration, and overseeing monitoring, evaluation, learning, and the team budget to support fundraising.
Strategy, thought leadership and advocacy
- Defining and overseeing the organisation's research, policy, and legal agenda.
- Translating the mission into evidence-based proposals, providing thought leadership to the climate sector.
- Strengthening messaging, brand, advocacy, and partnerships with high-quality insights and quality assurance, and building high-level relationships with external stakeholders and overseeing commissioned work.
Organisational leadership and management
- Contributing actively to organisational strategy and culture as a Senior Management Team (SMT) member.
- Monitoring risks, implementing mitigations, and ensuring smooth cross-team collaboration.
General responsibilities and duties
- Fulfilling duties professionally in accordance with operational policies and wider objectives.
- Contributing to the ongoing evaluation and improvement of activities.
- Maintaining positive stakeholder relations and work outside usual hours if required.
At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Catherine Bunting at Prospectus.
Thank you!
Purpose of the Role
The Director of External Affairs and Growth is an SLT role responsible for leveraging the voice and power of the eoa's network to influence and accelerate the growth of the employee owned sector.
The role leads the eoa’s external affairs, policy and insights, marcomms and events, shaping the external environment for employee ownership and securing the funding and commercial income needed to support sustainable sector growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead external affairs strategy, building the relationships and influence needed to shape policy, remove barriers and expand EO.
- Build strategic relationships and secure grant funding and commercial partnerships, generating income to support advocacy, events and sector growth initiatives, including the UK EO Growth Strategy.
- Oversee our policy and insights work, engaging key stakeholders to co-produce content that influences EO practice and policy and strengthens the eoa’s voice in public affairs.
- Oversee the delivery of a mar-comms strategy that delivers commercial objectives and positions the eoa as the leading authority on EO.
- Oversee our events programmes, ensuring they drive knowledge-sharing, sector development
- and commercial sustainability.
- Represent the eoa at industry forums, policy roundtables and public affairs events,
- championing the employee ownership model.
- Collaborate with the Director of Membership and Operations to align advocacy and external
- engagement with member needs and priorities.
- Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering innovation and delivering measurable impact across income generation, advocacy, policy, events and mar-comms activities
Knowledge, Experience, and Attributes
- Proven expertise in external affairs, advocacy, or policy leadership, ideally within a business, trade body, or membership association.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience influencing government, media, and corporate partners.
- Demonstrated ability to drive sectoral or policy change, leading successful advocacy initiatives.
- Strong commercial acumen, with experience in sponsorship acquisition, revenue generation, grant funding and developing financially sustainable initiatives.
- Exceptional strategic communication and storytelling skills, able to engage and mobilise diverse audiences.
- Experience in event programming, ensuring high engagement and sector impact.
- Passion for employee ownership and economic models that promote shared prosperity.
- Innovative, creative, and proactive in problem-solving and strategy execution.
- A confident and transparent leader who fosters collaboration and inclusivity.
- Self-aware with emotional intelligence, resilience, and integrity.
What Constitutes Success in This Role?
Success in this role means having a positive impact on the growth of the employee-owned sector, strengthening the eoa’s influence and increasing the adoption of “great EO”. Stronger stakeholder relationships, greater advocacy impact and improved commercial sustainability through a diverse mix of grant funding, sponsorships and strategic partnerships will also be key indicators of success.
Key outcomes for the role
- Outcome - Growth of the employee ownership sector
- Measure - Increased number of EO businesses, heightened sector awareness
- Outcome - Strengthened corporate engagement
- Measure - Growth in strategic partnerships, corporate and government engagement
- Outcome - Strong Commercial Sustainability
- Measure - Increased sponsorship revenue, secured long-term commercial partnerships
- Outcome -Increased policy influence
- Measure - Policy recommendations adopted, increased government engagement
- Outcome - Enhanced sector insight and intelligence
- Measure - Utilisation of high quality data and insights for regular sector related content outputs
- Outcome - Development and adoption of best practice
- Measure - Creation, adoption and promotion of best practice across the EO network.
- Outcome - Successful events programmes
- Measure - Increased participation, sponsorship growth, positive feedback.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit:
- A two-page CV
- And one of either:
- Cover letter setting out your motivation, approach, and what you will bring to the role
- Video (maximum 10 minutes) setting out your motivation, approach, and what you will bring to the role
Applications should be submitted before 9:00am 17 August 2026. We will close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. If you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Interviews will be in two stages. The first stage will be a virtual interview via teams on
26 August. For those who successfully move to stage 2 there will be an in-person
discussion w.c. 31 August.
The eoa welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those
who are under-represented. We recruit based on values, skills, and contribution to our
purpose.
Non Charity Employer
11 - 20
We exist to grow and strengthen employee ownership as a force for powering fairer livelihoods, stronger businesses, and a more resilient economy.
