Policy Research Jobs

As our Research and Participation Officer, you’ll enjoy working on a diverse range of projects, collecting and analysing data, coordinating participation activities, administrating evaluation activities, and contributing to reports and other outputs. Reporting to the Insight and Impact Manager, you’ll work closely with colleagues across the organisation, conducting research and generating insights to support with Starlight’s overall priorities. You’ll need to be highly organised to coordinate different tasks and activities so the team can achieve maximum impact. You’ll have strong analytical skills, with a good grasp of different methodologies, and you’ll be able to listen to, understand and work with children, young people, families and health professionals to embed their voices into Starlight’s work.

You will be naturally curious and enjoy a varied role, from engaging with children, families and health professionals in different environments, to desk-based research and working with data. You will be willing to seek clarification before you start something new and have the ability to flex and respond to a fast-changing environment. You will be eager to listen, sensitively seeking to understand, whilst balancing the needs and impact on self, others and Starlight. With a desire for and commitment to self-development, you’ll reap the benefits of our development programme, where you’ll have the opportunity to increase your self-awareness and understanding of your impact on others and to see how our shared values and individual strengths and preferences are key to achieving our objectives. 

Permanent, part-time (4 days per week)

Remote working with regular meetings in London

Immediate start

About us

Sustainability First is a leading UK think tank and charity that acts as a critical friend to businesses, regulators, governments, and civil society, to create more sustainable energy and water sectors in the UK. We work tirelessly to advocate for policies that support environmental and consumer protection and to engage the public through accessible and impactful communication. We believe that it is possible to create a thriving economy that respects environmental limits and enables social equity.

About the role

We are seeking an analytical thinker with a curiosity-driven mindset and a collaborative approach to working. This role will be central to our ongoing success as a highly regarded independent research organisation, building an evidence base in favour of embedding sustainability principles into business practices, regulatory and public policy thinking. You will help to amplify our voice with decisionmakers, including business leaders, senior officials in central government, regulatory bodies, and amongst politicians, helping to shape public policy and legislation for a socially equitable and environmentally sustainable economy.

Ideally, you will have a sector-specific understanding (energy and/or water utilities), including familiarity with key policies and strategies, such as Net Zero targets, climate adaptation strategies, and consumer vulnerability protections. You will be able to draft practical policy recommendations, informed by evidence and stakeholder input, and be familiar with key players, including government departments, regulators, consumer groups, industry bodies, and environmental organizations. This is an excellent opportunity to develop a core role in our charity, as well as make a tangible impact on the environment and social equity in the UK.

The post will be primarily based remotely, working from home, but with access to shared office space in Camden and Monument in London. Our board of trustees meet twice a year in person in central London (and twice more online), and our Executive Director is often in London for meetings once or twice a week. You must also be able to attend occasional meetings in central London and be willing to travel (infrequently) within the UK.

For further details about the role, please download the job description.

How to apply

Please click the apply button to be taken to our vacancies page. 

When applying, please submit a CV (no more than three pages of A4) and covering letter that sets out how you meet the selection criteria for this role. Please also complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. 

Closing date: Sunday 8th February 2025.

Interviews will be online via Microsoft Teams in February.

We apologise that due to the expected high levels of applications we may not be able to reply to all candidates. If you have not heard from us by 28th February, please assume you have not been shortlisted.

Sustainability First is an equal opportunities employer and promotes equity, diversity and inclusion through its work, and through its employment practices. You must be able to work in the UK to take up this role.

SCIE Vision

We are committed to building a society which enables people who draw on social care to live fulfilling lives.

At the SCIE, we are driven by our values:

· Progressive – always learning and developing.

· Inclusive – working together for equality, diversity, and fairness.

· Credible – evidence-based, robust, and reliable.

· Transparent – open and honest.

The role:

A great opportunity for you to join our small friendly team and make a real difference to people’s lives by:

· Ensuring that SCIE’s evidence, drawn from research and people’s lived experiences, influences social care policy and practice.

· Developing and delivering influencing strategies, drafting policy papers and legislative briefings, and managing relationships with various stakeholders and key partners.

· Growing SCIE’s profile as an influential, informed, and powerful voice in the social care sector.

· Positioning SCIE to work as a partner to government, responding independently to new government policy, supporting and advising on a range of national policy programmes, initiatives, and influencing guidance and practice.

· Producing high-quality research and evaluations demonstrating what works and makes a difference in social care, promoting evidence-based good practice.

What we are looking for:

· Knowledge of the policy and political landscape developed from previous experience working in a policy or public affairs role, either in government, the civil service, charities, or non-governmental organisations.

· Proven experience developing and delivering public affairs strategies and leading influencing activities.

· Proven experience producing policy papers and applying policy research skills, such as evidence gathering, analysis and reporting.

· Proven experience as a strategic and analytic thinker who can influence policymakers with persuasive arguments, policy ideas and campaigns.

· Proven ability to manage a wide range of internal and external stakeholder relationships, including at senior levels, and to engage with people with diverse viewpoints and backgrounds.

 

What we offer in return.

We offer excellent staff benefits including a competitive salary and homeworking allowance. We provide an employer pension contribution above the statutory minimum, an award-winning employee assistance programme, and an attractive holiday package which rises with length of service.

If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us. (You can find our contact email in the 'How to apply' section)

Our client is a leading mental-health charity who has been supporting children, young people and families for the past 70 years. We are pleased to be assisting them in their search for a temporary Policy & Research Associate. The role is running until the 31st of March in the first instance and is full-time (35 hours per week) and is fully remote.

Key Responsibilities for this role include:

• Being the lead researcher and using specialist knowledge of research methods and family support services, designing a research approach and framework to develop learning in relation to family hubs and preventative services.
• Using a wide range of sources to identify and quality assure evidence and insight relevant to the development of Family Hubs and integrated family models.
• Reviewing relevant reports, papers and publications.
• Generating evidence with the regional and participation teams, including designing, planning and conducting both qualitative and quantitative research enquiries e.g. surveys, interviews and focus groups.
• Working with the wider EYP team to reinforce the triangulate insights generated into key themes that support the development of practical evidence-based guidance.
• Leading meetings with a variety of key stakeholders, shaping activity and outputs and participating in wider networks as appropriate.
• Analysing and interpreting relevant research and complex data.
• Writing and contributing to a variety of written resources e.g. case studies, website toolkit modules, reports, policy briefings and training content.
• Designing and delivering presentations to relevant stakeholders e.g. presenting findings & learning and training & workshops.
• Supporting the wider functions of the EYP department including bid writing, reports to funders and designing and monitoring evaluation frameworks.

To be considered for this position, you should possess:

• Previous experience in a similar role, preferably within a research setting.
• Demonstrable experience in translating evidence and research into practice.
• Knowledge of relevant Local Authority and Voluntary Community Sector practices.
• Excellent research skills, including research methods & design, data handling, gathering & analysis and presentation of findings.
• Ability to prioritise varying workloads and project requirements.
• Strong communication skills including verbal and written communication, specifically in translating policy, academic and clinical research into accessible resources.
• Proficient IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications and statistical software.

The position aims to start as soon as possible, requiring candidates to be available immediately or have a short notice period to be considered.

If you would like to be considered for this opportunity, kindly express your interest by submitting your CV in Word format.

As a specialist Recruitment Practice, we are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled Policy Advisor (maternity cover) to join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University. At a time of big changes in the world of work, we are looking for a talented individual who shares our goal to tackle structural inequalities in the UK labour market.

About you

You will be able to undertake research and policy analysis, help secure and manage funded research projects and clearly communicate complex issues to a range of audiences. Experience of building effective internal and external relationships with a wide range of groups including civil servants, academics, politicians, business leaders and workers will be a particular advantage.

The Policy Advisor will support the research team to deliver valuable new quantitative and qualitative evidence and insights. We are ambitious about delivering research that has a positive impact in society, and work closely with workers, employers and policymakers to realise that goal.

Working with us

We are a small, friendly and collaborative team. Flexible working is important to us at the Work Foundation and we’re open to candidates who would like to work flexible hours, part-time, or job share.

This role is London based at our office in Fetter Lane, with a hybrid working arrangement. Our team tend to work part of the week at home, and part of the week on site.

Benefits include a defined benefit pension with the USS Scheme (6.1% employee contribution, 14.5% employer contribution), generous holiday entitlement (25 days plus five university closure days between Christmas and Easter), a Cycle to Work Scheme, a confidential Employee Assistance Programme and a range of other benefits and discounts.

Further information

This is a maternity cover position for 10-months. Please note: it is the normal expectation of Lancaster University that the chosen candidate will be appointed to the minimum point of that grade.

About the Work Foundation

We believe everyone should have access to secure, rewarding and high-quality work. By engaging directly with workers, employers, policymakers and leading academics, we deliver rigorous applied research to tackle structural inequalities in the labour market and improve working lives across the UK.

About Lancaster University

Lancaster University is among the best in the UK. A top 15 university in the three major UK league tables, we are also highly ranked in international league tables such as the QS World Rankings. It has been recognised as a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident employer, and holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award for advancing the careers of women in higher education. The university has several networks focussed on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, including a Race Equality Network, an LGBT+ staff network and a Parents and Carers’ network.

Terms and conditions

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. No agencies please.

Main duties and responsibilities

Policy-Oriented Research:

 Design research frameworks that inform and shape policy decisions.

 Lead the development of policy briefs and recommendations based on research findings.

 Stay abreast of policy changes and trends that affect community wealth and asset-building.

 Draft authoritative briefings, reports, presentations and speeches.

Research Management:

 Oversee the planning and execution of research projects from inception to completion.

 Co-design and co-ordinate meetings, conferences, debates, and workshops in the relevant field.

 Work collaboratively across hubs to iteratively design briefs and editorial processes for systems, outputs, and actions.

 Ensure that research activities are conducted ethically and with cultural sensitivity.

 Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to align research efforts with community needs.

 Develop comprehensive research briefs and proposals.

 Assess and communicate the potential impact of policy decisions to stakeholders and wider communities.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Lead on the management and development of the Strategic Alliance for Community Wealth Building co-ordinated by Ubele.  Engage with policymakers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to gather insights and build consensus.

 Co-ordinate consultations with internal and external stakeholders, synthesising findings

 Facilitate workshops and focus groups to co-create policies with community members.

 Represent the organization at policy forums and conferences.

 Maintain consistent and accurate messaging in all communications. Data Analysis and Reporting:

 Design and manage approaches for gathering, analysing, and interpreting data/ information across relevant sectors.

 Analyse data to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities in community wealth and asset management.

 Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations that communicate research outcomes to diverse audiences.

 Monitor and communicate social, political, and economic developments pertinent to Ubele’s approach to Community Wealth Building through the lens of racial justice.

 Deliver presentations to, or create ‘One Pagers’ for, senior leadership, colleagues, and partners.

 Translate complex data into actionable policy insights. Team Leadership:

 Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

 Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources effectively.

 Provide consultancy and thought leadership.

Inclusivity, Health & Safety, and Compliance

 Promote a workplace culture of respect, dignity, and fairness, challenging all forms of discrimination and prejudice.

 Comply with the organisations safeguarding policy and practice at all times and undertake trainings on safeguarding as required.

 Maintain awareness of health and safety, complying with Ubele’s Health and Safety policies and procedures.

 Ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act/General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), maintaining confidentiality in all programme-related information. General

 To attend and participate in internal and external meetings including staff meetings and meetings with key stakeholders.

 To attend relevant training to fulfil the requirements of the job.

 To undertake other duties which may from time to time be required and which are appropriate to the responsibilities of the post.

 Ensure that The Ubele initiative internal policies and procedures are followed through in all areas of work. They will also treat with confidentiality any information that could be deemed as personal, private, or sensitive and comply with the organisations GDPR and Safeguarding requirements.

Spark! are a growing and ambitious organisation, with a motivated and passionate team who are more determined than ever to reach our target young people and to have a deeper impact on their employment prospects and life chances. 

A key element of our success will be in our ability to:

1. understand and articulate the needs that we are seeking to meet
2. effectively demonstrate and communicate our impact
3. ensure we are evidence and data-led in our approach
4. influence change at every level across all stakeholders

This role will lead and steer the organisation towards these objectives, in order to significantly reduce youth unemployment in west London and beyond.

If you have experience of designing and carrying out both formative and summative evaluation and are highly research literate, with experience of working at the interface of policy and research, then we would like to hear from you.

We particularly welcome applicants with backgrounds that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and from candidates with links to our priority areas of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow.

Please read the full Job Pack to find out more about the organisation and role and how to apply. If you have any questions please contact our CEO, Matt Lent.

Leukaemia UK – Our Charity

Leukaemia UK is growing! We are expanding our team to achieve a step-change in income, profile and impact in 2025 and beyond.

We are a ‘small but mighty’ charity with one big ambition: to stop leukaemia devastating lives. Over the next 10 years we want to help save and improve the lives of more people with leukaemia through finding and funding life-changing research and campaigning for change.

Despite progress in recent decades, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a blood cancer every 16 minutes and survival rates are among some of the worst of any cancer.  And the physical and psychological impact can be lifelong. 

Our current strategy outlines our plan to increase our investment into ground-breaking world class research and policy development focused on improving access to kinder, more effective diagnosis, treatment and care for leukaemia and other blood cancers. To do this, we are embarking on a period of significant growth, investing strategically to grow our income, profile, influence, and engagement and impact.

As we begin the fourth year of this ambitious 5-year strategy, we are seeking a talented, creative, and motivated Policy and Evidence Officer to strengthen our policy development activity.

Team

We are a close-knit team, who are all passionate about Leukaemia UK and putting those affected by the disease at the heart of everything we do.  We are all focused on “keeping it real” with pragmatic, practical solutions, as well as ensuring that our charity gets the funding it needs to continue to help those diagnosed with leukaemia and other blood cancers.

From us you can expect fun and creativity, as well as great challenge and support. We may not be about the corporate life here, but we are all about delivering exceptional expertise and making a real change to people’s lives.

Leukaemia UK and You 

We are looking for a self-motivated Policy and Evidence Officer to take a leading role in Leukaemia UK’s evidence-based policy development that will effectively enable our policy influencing work and position Leukaemia UK as the ‘go-to’ charity to improve leukaemia outcomes. The successful candidate will be an innovative, driven and forward-thinking individual with a proven track record of developing evidence-based policy positions, recommendations and solutions within the health sector.

The Policy and Evidence Officer will be instrumental in ensuring that all our plans and activities are evidence-driven and meet the needs of patients and those who care for them. The role will be responsible for developing, expanding and maintaining Leukaemia UK’s knowledge base that will help us thoroughly understand of how diagnosis, treatment and care are delivered to people affected and how this translates to patient experience and clinical outcomes. Moreover, we want to understand at a policy level the roles of the research and treatment landscapes in improving leukaemia diagnosis, treatment and care.

The successful candidate will be adept at using quantitative and qualitative research to gather intelligence, develop insights and turn them into evidence-based, solution-focused policy positions to drive our policy, health improvement, campaigning and public affairs programme. This includes gathering insights from desk-based research, patient groups, and health experts, as well as contributing our voice to drug appraisals to ensure patients benefit from the latest treatments. This role ensures that the 'patient voice' is heard, while also ensuring that the needs and priorities of individuals with leukaemia and other blood cancers are understood, represented and valued.

This role will be essential in leading our evolving work on drug appraisals to ensure that innovative treatments are approved and become available for patients with leukaemia and blood cancers who can benefit from those treatments.

This role requires the ability to engage patient representatives and a wide range of stakeholders at different levels of seniority, such as healthcare professionals, researchers and policy/health improvement experts to understand what changes are needed across diagnosis, treatment and care of those with leukaemia and other blood cancers. A strong understanding of the health policy landscape, coupled with exceptional communication skills and a keen attention to detail, is essential.

Experience and Skills

Essential

• Good experience of working in the health policy landscape
• Good experience in evidence-based policy development
• Good experience in undertaking evidence gathering exercises
• Proven experience of engaging and managing a range of external stakeholders and facilitating reference and advisory groups, including people with lived experience
• Proven experience of cross-team working
• Good time management skills, with an ability to organise own workload and respond reactively as required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with an ability to disseminate complex information in a way that is easy to understand by a range of audiences
• Good ability to take on multiple activities and projects at the same time

Desirable

• Experience in medical charities
• Experience within cancer policy
• Project management skills
• Experience in drug appraisals

Knowledge and Personal Traits

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in health policy or health related area
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods to develop and analyse evidence
• An understanding of the importance of engaging with people with lived experience of leukaemia and related conditions; with a view to include their insight in our work
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• An understanding of health inequalities and the importance of engaging with marginalised groups
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Desirable

• Knowledge of the health system and/or health policy across the UK

Recently named Charity of the Year by Just Giving Awards 2022, we’re committed to moving further, faster to accelerate change for everyone affected by a brain tumour. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 in the UK than any other cancer. We know that a cure can’t wait.

At The Brain Tumour Charity, we’re the largest dedicated funder of brain tumour research globally— and our External Affairs team will stop at nothing to drive forward a bold, positive agenda of change for everyone affected.

This exciting role will lead and support The Charity’s Policy and Campaigns team and our plans to identify the change most needed for our community, and to work with those affected, partners and decision-makers to influence and campaign for change in brain tumour diagnosis, treatment and care.

You’ll provide expertise to guide our focus in key policy areas from early diagnosis to access to nursing support, develop and manage the team’s evidence-based and community-led positions, grow our parliamentary presence and raise our voice as a campaign leader in this space. You’ll build strong relationships with key stakeholders and launch campaigns that mobilise action to help improve or extend the lives of those affected.

Put simply, you’ll continue to drive our ambitious policy and campaigning: ensuring the needs and voices of brain tumour patients are put on the agenda, and lead us towards long-awaited change for families affected.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with significant experience of working in a relevant policy role to deliver change, and in team leadership.

You’ll have a passion for improving health outcomes through policy development, influencing and proactive campaigning, and you'll share our commitment to being evidence-based and community-focused in all we do.

You will have strong analytical skills, first-class communication skills and an excellent attention to detail. You’ll be comfortable representing The Charity with senior stakeholders and you’ll also be a strategic thinker—able to lead the team to uncover the underlying causes of key issues affecting patients and to initiate and develop strategic campaigns that inspire people to take action.

You’ll also have a flexible approach and an excellent understanding of the political landscape to help us create, identify and react to external opportunities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Oversee and deliver influencing strategies to pursue real change including growing our parliamentary presence across the devolved nations.
• Advise on the strategic approach to policy development work adopted by The Brain Tumour Charity including knowing when to commission external research/analysis to be undertaken.
• Provide counsel and advice to the Senior Leadership Team on new and existing policy positions and provide reactive policy advice when required.
• Develop and ensure the delivery of annual policy and campaigns plans that support wider External Affairs aims and organisational objectives
• Develop campaign strategies using Theory of Change model ensuring the community voice is at the heart of campaigns, policy and public affairs work

• Lead a high performing team through their policy, public affairs and campaigning work including continually reviewing activity and adapting as/when necessary to ensure maximum impact.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of key policies relevant to brain tumours, cancer and NHS care, supporting the team to develop its expertise and horizon-scan to identify issues requiring action
• Develop and cultivate strong relationships with key stakeholders including NHS bodies, civil servants, charity partners, policymakers and healthcare professionals to influence policy
• Ensure effective, collaborative working with internal teams on policy issues and key external audiences engaged with our work.
• Play an active role in The Charity’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and contributing to the pursuit of the strategic objectives of the charity.

Senior Policy Advisor - Children in Care.

Salary:c£45,000 per annum.

Location: Remote with frequent travel to London.

Contract: 12 Months Fixed Term Contract covering Maternity Leave, 35 hours per week.

Benefits:  

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave.
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities.
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages.
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover.
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailer's discounts.

Why Action for Children?

Action for Children protects and supports children, young people, and families. Our vision is that every child and young person has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

In 2023/24 we helped 687,755 children, young people, and their families across the UK. We provide practical and emotional support through 426 services in local communities across the UK, in schools and online. This includes 68 children's centres and family hubs, 61 family support services, 14 homes for disabled children, 11 residential children's homes, 15 foster and adoption services, six services for young people at risk of criminal exploitation and one residential school. We are one of the largest voluntary sector providers of residential care in England and, outside local authorities, the biggest provider of disability services for children and young people.

We also campaign passionately and work closely with policy makers to make sure the voices of young people are heard, to influence policy decisions and bring lasting improvements to the lives of children and their families.

A bit about the role 

Reporting to the Head of Policy and Research, you will design and deliver high quality research and policy outputs in support of Action for Children's work to influence and change UK Government policy around children in care and deliver lasting change in children's lives.

You'll work closely with our Influencing and Media teams and Services colleagues to ensure Action for Children is at the forefront of the policy debate and has maximum impact with key national and local stakeholders.

You'll develop and apply research and policy strategies that incorporate the views of children, parents, and our services staff to ensure that their voices are at the heart of Action of Children's policy and research. This is an exciting time to join Action for Children as it works to influence a range of policy agendas.

How you'll help to create brighter futures by

• Function as Action for Children's policy expert on Children in Care.
• Manage a diverse and challenging workload progressing policy and research projects from design to delivery, including commissioned work through external researchers, networks, and academic institutions.
• Undertake research activities using a range of approaches, including qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Provide expert advice on key policy priorities across Action for Children, ensuring that the Chief Executive and senior colleagues are informed and resourced with the relevant information.
• Establish collaborative working with colleagues to develop effective evidence gathering, research and policy activity that has the child at the centre.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with senior civil servants, politicians, academics, and opinion formers, working proactively.
• Collaborate proactively with colleagues in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to share policy and research expertise.

Let's talk about you 

• Experience in designing and delivering quantitative and qualitative research projects and/or developing policy recommendations.
• Excellent analytical skills to interpret complex information and data, including from Action for Children's Services.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within a team, across departments and with other organisations, and the ability to work with all kinds of people, including people affected by the issues we influence to change.
• Good organisation skills to respond quickly to the demands of the fast moving and complex policy and media agendas.
• Good influencing skills and the ability to identify and develop relationships with policy stakeholders who can drive change.
• Excellent research and intelligence gathering skills and ability to understand and apply information to specific audiences.

Please see the Job Description for the full list of accountabilities and requirements. 

Good to know

Application Process

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

There are five sections to complete: Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration.

Diversity, equality, and inclusion

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.

We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic, and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.

Want to know more about Action for Children?

Find us on , ,  or  to get to know us better.

Closing Date: Tuesday 28^th January 2025.

Interviews will be week commencing 3^rd February 2025.

See below for further information about working with us:

This is a key role within Learning and Work Institute’s research and development team, with responsibility for developing high-quality evidence and knowledge. You will play an integral role in maintaining excellence in the production of evidence and advice on learning, skills and employment. The ideal candidate will bring strong knowledge and experience of a range of statistical, analytical and evaluation techniques and an interest in the policy context for learning, skills and employment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake quantitative analysis to explore the effectiveness of different interventions and identify cohorts and areas most likely to benefit from them. 
• Support the implementation of evidence-based approaches and the development of new trials and pilots. Develop and utilise appropriate research and analytical methods and tools. 
• Develop and manage systems for gathering, recording, analysing and presenting data from a range of projects for maximum impact. 
• Contribute to the production of high-quality research, policy and evaluation reports, interpreting often complex evidence in a way that is accessible to a wide range of audiences. 
• Contribute to high quality evidence synthesis projects and evaluations to support policy makers, commissioners and practitioners to make decisions grounded in the latest, best available research. 
• Ensure research and findings are communicated to key stakeholders, including policy makers, commissioners and practitioners, in an informative and accessible way. 
• Support the design of toolkits and other dissemination products which key stakeholders can engage with and use to drive change in the way they design and deliver services. 
• Manage small projects and lead on elements of large projects. 
• Support the development and training of the wider team in collaboration with senior R&D staff. 
• Support income generation, in collaboration with other L&W staff, including contributing to the preparation of funding proposals. 
• Represent L&W at external meetings and undertake public speaking/presentations with support as necessary. 
• Undertake project administration and coordination tasks related to research activity. 
• Supervise interns, associates and temporary staff in relation to research activity, including possible line management responsibility for research interns. 
• Contribute to a positive, open and collaborative approach, operating in line with Learning and Work Institute’s core values and Staff Charter. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to equality of opportunity. 

Travel and occasional overnight stays will be required. 

About You

Essential

• Degree (in economics, statistics, research or social science with significant statistics element), equivalent qualifications or evidence of equivalent experience 
• Quantitative analysis skills, including regression, weighting, significance testing
• Skills in conducting analysis using statistical software packages such as Stata and SPSS 
• Ability to develop sampling strategies and draw samples using statistical software 
• Knowledge of large administrative and survey datasets in the areas of lifelong learning, employment and skills 
• Strong track record of organising, coordinating and managing a range of activities against competing deadlines and priorities 

Desirable

• Experience of designing complex quantitative analysis projects
• Experience of designing and analysing experimental or quasi-experimental evaluation projects (including randomised control trials, matched statistical designs, difference-in-difference designs or regression discontinuity designs) 
• Skills in designing and analysing value for money and/or economic evaluation (including cost-benefit analysis, Social Return on Investment) 
• Experience of disseminating statistical findings from research and evaluation via written reports, workshops and presentations 
• Experience of undertaking policy-related research projects, using a range of research methods

The successful candidate will have to undergo an enhanced DBS check. 

Benefits

Salary of £25,200 - £34,125 , depending on experience and location

- 31 days' holiday increasing to 33 days after 5 years’ service, of which 3 are shutdown days in addition to public holidays.

- Generous company pension scheme with 8% employer contribution

- Group Life Assurance 3*salary

- Hybrid working (with 40%-60% of your time in the office)

- Flexible working practices

- Employee Development Scheme

- Retailer Discounts

- Enhanced occupational maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental pay

- Enhanced occupational sick pay

- Eye care scheme

- Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programme

- Silver award in Investors in People

How to Apply

To apply, please fill out the application form and upload your CV and a short supporting statement answering the 4 questions below (no more than 250 words per question please).

1. Please tell us what attracted you to the researcher role at Learning and Work Institute. When answering this question, explain why you are interested in L&W in particular, and the attributes you bring to this specific role and the organisation.
2. Please outline your key research and analytical skills and capabilities, providing examples of how you have used them. When answering this question, explain how your skills and capabilities meet the job description and person specification. Examples should be detailed and include key considerations that you took into account when applying your skills and capabilities.
3. Please describe a time that you had to work as part of a team to deliver a project, and your role in delivering the project. When answering this question, explain the aspects of the project that you had responsibility for, how this related to the wider project and the steps you took to ensure there was effective teamwork and the project was successfully completed. Consider the key aspects to effective teamwork, and how these are demonstrated by your example.
4. Please tell us about a time you managed/coordinated a project or piece of work. How did you ensure that it was completed to time and quality expectations? When answering this question, explain the steps you took when managing/coordinating the project or piece of work, how you planned and prioritised tasks and the time required to complete them, and the outcome you achieved by doing this successfully.

Applications will only be considered when submitted with a CV and supporting statement.

The closing date for applications is: 2nd February 2025

L&W is passionate about equality and diversity, it drives our organisational values and mission, and we are particularly keen to receive applications from all under-represented groups in society.

Location:  HQ - Godalming, UK (Hybrid flexible working available, with at least 2 days in the office per week) 
Job Type: Full-time; Permanent  
Salary: £55,000 - £59,000 (Depending on Skills, Experience and Location)  

Help transform billions of lives. Including yours. 

Compassion in World Farming International is a leading global organisation dedicated to ending factory farming and championing sustainable food systems that prioritise the welfare of animals, people, and the planet.

About Us

With headquarters in the UK and offices in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium and the USA, we are the leading animal environmental organisation working towards a nature positive, compassionate and free of animal cruelty world.  Our campaigns focus on fixing the broken food system, ending factory farming, and delivering a world that is nature positive for animals, people and planet. Our supporters and partners throughout the world help us deliver on our mission.   

About The Role

As the Global Head of Research and Policy (Campaigns), you will play a critical role in ending factory farming through policy development and championing scientific knowledge to bring about positive change. This is a senior leadership role, which involves managing the research team and leading on projects that deliver strategic policy recommendations, as well as assisting with technical knowledge on issues such as climate change, environmental pollution, and animal welfare. You will also represent Compassion at the highest levels, in technical forums such as the FAO, UNFCCC, and CBD processes.

This exciting position is responsible for delivering high-quality technical and policy resources, which support our campaigns and advocacy. You will work closely with the international affairs team and the Head of Research - Food Business, to ensure a collaborative and transparent research function across the organisation. By building partnerships and engaging with academic, governmental, and technical bodies, you will advocate for dismantling factory farming and transforming food systems. 

About You

To succeed in this role, you will need to have a proven track record in applied scientific research or scientific analysis with a focus on translating evidence into actionable policy recommendations. Your expertise will include either extensive knowledge of global food systems and farmed animal welfare, or technical expertise in climate and environmental issues related to livestock. You will also be skilled at managing teams, condensing complex scientific information into clear messages, and advocating for systemic policy change at international levels. Your strong communication skills and strategic focus will allow you to inspire and influence diverse audiences. Ideally, you will also have experience of working with UN bodies and knowledge of aquaculture and its associated environmental issues.

 Why Join Us?  

By joining Compassion in World Farming, you’ll be part of a passionate and dedicated team working to drive global change. You’ll have the opportunity to lead impactful campaigns and shape policies that make a real difference for animals, people, and the planet, all while contributing to a compassionate and sustainable future.

Join us on a collective mission to shape a compassionate future for farm animals worldwide, while experiencing a workplace that truly cares for you:  

- Enjoy an enhanced annual leave of 25 days per year, along with bank holidays   
- Free onsite parking at HQ  
- Optional savings schemes   
- Embrace a fulfilling career that prioritises your well-being, while also enjoying excellent development opportunities  
- Flexible, hybrid working model   
- A defined Contribution Pension Scheme  

To Apply:  

If you are passionate about animal welfare and have the skills and experience to excel in this role, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a cover letter, outlining how you meet the Person Specification detailed in the job description. Please note that we reserve the right to commence interviews on a rolling programme, so we encourage you to submit your interest.  

Interview Process:  

- Closing date: 10th January 2025
- 1st stage Interviews via Teams: Week commencing 17th February 2025 (date TBC)
- 2nd stage Interviews in person at HQ (Godalming, Surrey): Week commencing 24th February 2025 (date TBC)

No Agencies please.  

 Please complete the online application form and upload your CV and covering letter outlining how you meet the person specification detailed in the Job Description. 

Compassion in World Farming International is absolutely committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. We value diversity and experience, and acknowledge the underrepresentation of people from certain backgrounds, both within our organisation and across the sector. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups, whether these be of ethnicity, gender, identity, religion, physical ability, sexual orientation or other. 

To comply with legal requirements, as part of our selection procedure we ask all potential employees to prove their eligibility to work in the UK.

REF-219022

Do you have a passion to help Children and Young People and want to make a difference?

Are you a senior leader with excellent intuition and ability to make powerful, high impact policy positions, influencing national, regional and local government and decision makers?

Are you a driven, collaborative leader who wants to shape and significantly grow The Children's Society's impact and reach?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Director of Policy, Advocacy and Influencing to join our dynamic and ambitious team.

Permanent contract (following 6-month probation period), working full time (35 hours a week).

The role can be situated in our The Children's Society's national office at Whitecross Studios, Old Street, London, or one of our regional offices (currently in Birmingham and Greater Manchester), with hybrid working options available. Alternatively, home-based by arrangement with the ability to frequently travel to the national office and other venues as required.

Salary: £61,125.54 per annum (National), £63,990.72 per annum (London)

The Children's Society is clear on the impact it wants to create for young people -directly through our services for young people and through our systems change and influencing work at all levels in society. The Director of Policy, Advocacy and Influencing is part of the Senior Leadership Team at The Children's Society, a Senior Leader within the Youth Impact domain. The Youth Impact domain is where all of our service delivery for young people and a lot of systems change activity takes place.

The Director will lead our Policy, Advocacy and Influencing Knowledge Group - a team of people who work hard to influence government policy for the benefit of young people through astute public affairs and campaigning. Our charity has been campaigning for change for young people for years, we have an excellent track record, and have had a number of policy successes, reaching young people way beyond the boundaries of our charity. We work well in collaboration with other charities, especially children's charities - the role holder will lead our strategic partnerships and external coalitions to build our external presence and collaboration opportunities. The recently published impact report of the Children's Charities coalition is an excellent example of this. Maintaining a relentless focus on the external environment to ensure that the charity responds to sector developments and remains a strategic leader in the field will be an essential part of the role. Your ability to cultivate a rapid response culture to opportunities to achieve impact will be vital.

Our collaborative culture at The Children's Society means that this role holder will work very closely with colleagues who lead research, evaluation and impact activities. Our developing Impact Measurement Framework will form part of the work of the Director of Policy, Advocacy and Influencing - ensuring the impact of the team, and reach of The Children's Society is effectively captured and reported.

Integrated working with colleagues across our impact domain is essential, for example with those who lead on external communications and messaging, bringing together compelling evidence to drive change - in public awareness and attitudes, and in policies and systems - that can improve young people's lives. Policy, advocacy and influencing works to put young people's voice and experience at the centre of our thinking and outputs. Internal collaboration with our wide range of young people's services is essential and the Director will be required to work with other leaders in the organisation to expand this work.

This is a newly formed Director role that will an active member of our Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the Executive Director of Youth Impact. It is a strategic, national role. With your energy, enthusiasm and passion to make a difference in young people's lives, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic policy approach, influencing government for the benefit of young people - through political influencing (public affairs and campaigning). Your leadership, and the work of your team will help us drive forward the achievement of our goal.

Key responsibilities will be to:

-Lead and inspire ambitious policy, advocacy and influencing strategies to achieve policy change in the best interests of young people - through effective and aligned policy, public affairs and campaigning plans to influence change

-Lead the generation of The Children's Society's policy positions - playing to the unique strengths of our charity, aligned with our goal and strategic objectives - influenced by young peoples voice and experience

-Maintain the charity's strong external policy presence and political influence, ensuring strategically driven developments - through frameworks for proactive and reactive lobbying and campaigning.

-Build and grow strategically aligned external partnerships and coalitions - adding value, yet maintaining The Children's Society's own presence externally.

-Effectively communicate - verbally, written, illustratively The Children's Society's ambitions for change, and influential positions - reporting internally and externally to a range of audiences

You will be expected to represent the organisational externally, at the highest levels, with a wide variety of people and organisations. These could be supporters, politicians, civil servants, funders, media, partners - the list is endless. The effective verbal, written and visual communication skills you have will be important. You are likely to represent The Children's Society through media and public speaking - a good track record here will be encouraged.

The Children's Society ensures that youth voice is central to its work and drives its strategic objectives. The post holder will be expected to develop youth voice activity throughout our work, upholding the highest standards of promoting safe and ethical practice.

The Director of Policy, Advocacy and Influencing is a senior leadership position in the charity. This means you will get involved in cross-organisational development activities and will have an important role in championing our strategic objectives. Supporting and participating in integrated approaches within the organisation will be important - to ensure consistent messaging and to increase our external profile, brand and support network - to widen the reach and impact of our charity.

Here are just some of our benefits:

-Flexible working hours: 8 to 4, 9 to 5, 10 to 6, or in between (to be agreed with your manager).

-Family-friendly policies: Including enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.

-Pension: Stakeholder pension scheme: with company-matched employee contributions of up to 8%.

-'Xtras': Employee discount scheme offering a range of savings across groceries, fuel, clothing, and holidays.

-Free confidential counselling service: Available to all staff and volunteers.

-28 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays.

Recruitment process

The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 19th January 2025. If after 14 days, we have received enough applications we can close this vacancy from the 3rd January 2025 onwards.

First interviews will be held on the week commencing 27th January 2025, followed by further shortlisting.

Second interviews will be held on the week commencing 3rd February 2025.

We are currently working on agreeing a date for a young people's panel. We will advise shortlisted candidates of this date as soon as possible.

About us

The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We run more than 70 local services that help thousands of young people who desperately need our support, and we lobby and campaign to get laws and policies changed to make children's lives happier and safer. Every day we're changing the lives of children in this country for the better - you can find out more by reading our 'Impact Report' https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-impact

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across our services.

Therefore, candidates will be required to complete an “Employment history template” document prior to interview. The fully completed document should be loaded by the candidate at the point of uploading your CV.

IN1

Employment Policy and Public Affairs Officer
Remote working
£30,000 - £34,000 pa pro rata plus excellent benefits
35 hours per week (part-time considered)

This is not a traditional policy and public affairs role. You may have gained your experience in the third sector, civil service or working for an MP, or maybe in a corporate HR or EDI role.  You will help deliver our ambitious plan to secure social change to make society more inclusive for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. In this role you will be working across our range of policy, programme and public affairs activity – engaging with external stakeholders, including policy makers and large corporate partners, to improve access to and the experience of employment for our communities.

Around half of your time will be dedicated to policy work as part of our Employment Programme. We know that people who are deaf or have a hearing loss are less likely to be in employment, and that employer attitudes and poor Government support holds our community back. You’ll need to understand the disability employment policy landscape and marshal our evidence to make a persuasive case for social change to Government and other stakeholders.

RNID provides consultancy services to or enters into partnerships with businesses to help them become a better and more inclusive employer of people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. You will support this work by bringing your knowledge and expertise of employment policy to ensure that we provide up to date advice and guidance. You’ll also play a key role in translating this evidence into information and guidance for our website.

You will be the public affairs coordinator for the team, including actively supporting the APPG for Deafness, for which RNID provides the secretariat. You’ll also be required to undertake daily political monitoring and co-ordinate how we support our parliamentary champions in Westminster.

Essential experience:
• Some experience in a policy and public affairs role
• Understanding of day-to-day parliamentary procedures
• Demonstrable ability to distil information into well-structured written briefings or summaries
• Experience of working on employment and/or disability employment issues
• A proactive and creative mindset, with an ability to work flexibly
• Evidence of strong organisational skills
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team

We are RNID: the national charity supporting the 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. We also know the value of a friendly face in local communities to support people where they need it most.

We are a remote working organisation, with colleagues based across the UK and Ireland.. We come together in person three times a year for our Staff Summits.. We bring together the best of digital and in-person working in a modern, progressive organisation. We offer a sector-leading flexible working policy to all our staff from day one.

We know our colleagues have responsibilities and interests outside work and we want to support that, which is why we offer a sector-leading flexible working policy to all our staff from day one. Our values are at the heart of how we work and communicate with each other, and the outside world. We strive to be an organisation that is connected, insightful, curious and passionate in everything we do.

We champion the value of difference and equality and celebrate our diverse and inclusive workforce. We actively encourage applications from eligible candidates from BAME backgrounds or who are deaf or hard of hearing. With almost 20% of our employees having a disability we proudly hold Disability Confident Leader status and guarantee an interview for disabled applicants meeting the minimum essential criteria.

Closing date: 10 February 2025
Interviews: w/c 17 February 2025