Project development manager jobs in knottingley, west yorkshire

Opportunity!

SteelWatch offers a unique opportunity for an expert in steel decarbonisation with a passion for driving climate action. If you can communicate your technical analysis  to challenge legacy steelmakers with clarity and conviction, this role is for you.

In this new role as SteelWatch Industry Decarbonisation Lead, you will have the opportunity to deepen and articulate the arguments of SteelWatch, providing vigilant scrutiny and an international voice for steel decarbonisation.

The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator and natural collaborator who combines technical understanding of steel decarbonisation internationally with an ability to spot trends and their significance in data and detail. The role could be an ideal next step for professionals coming from consultancy, decarbonisation initiatives, companies in the iron and steel value chain, trade associations, international agencies, and civil society. 

Summary of the role

The Industry Decarbonisation Lead will shape SteelWatch’s position on steel decarbonisation to inform our change-making strategies, provide overall management and cohesion across our work on data analysis and industry insight, and act as a spokesperson in conversation with industry stakeholders.

The organisation

SteelWatch is an international climate campaign organisation, driving corporate accountability and action in the steel sector. Our vision is a steel sector that underpins a thriving zero emissions economy. We are a change-making organisation, with the task of driving change in an entrenched, powerful, technologically-confident sector that faces little climate pressure. SteelWatch is a non-profit registered in the Netherlands in 2023. Having grown to a team of 20, we are still a young organisation, learning-by-doing, working with fluid teams not rigid structures, ensuring we evolve, test, and learn. We seek team members who will enjoy breaking new ground with us.

We run corporate campaigns and challenge the global steel industry to replace complacency with urgent action in line with the 1.5C limit. SteelWatch has established a strong visible presence among civil society and steel industry stakeholders. We are increasingly recognised as an authoritative and challenging voice on steel decarbonisation, invited to engage in industry events and debates internationally.

Accurate and credible data, robust analysis and our global, long-term, climate-first lens on sector decarbonisation, are key strengths that underpin our campaigns and dialogue. We complement the work of other civil society change-makers bringing a vigilant voice and corporate scrutiny. We currently focus on OECD countries, and specifically across Europe and Japan, with team members in Europe/Africa and Asia-Pacific timezones.

Role and Responsibilities

The Industry Decarbonisation Lead is a new role, which will work in close collaboration with colleagues across the organisation and is fundamental to the long-term strategy of SteelWatch to transform the iron and steel industry. The core purpose of the role is to cultivate our collective ability to harness credible evidence for our campaigns, and to engage effectively with industry with an ambitious well-informed vision for decarbonisation.

For the initial year(s),  there are three main areas of responsibility.

1. The Lead will be responsible for navigating and shaping SteelWatch’s positions and point of view on relevant issues regarding steel decarbonisation with a goal of driving long term transition to near-zero emissions steelmaking.
2. The Lead will be responsible for managing and shaping our range of work on data, evidence, insights and analysis -with the team members involved -  to ensure the quality and relevance of our evidence base and our industry intelligence.
3. The Lead will be one of the key spokespeople for the organisation, particularly in industry dialogue and events. The role will report to the Executive Director and is likely to line-manage 1-3 people.

Success for this role will depend on close collaboration with others in SteelWatch including the:

• Steel Analyst, and other team members and consultants working on data and analysis;
• Campaigns Teams, ensuring campaigns are well evidenced, informed and targeted on the critical issues.
• Communications Team, ensuring everything that we externally communicate is consistent and credible, as accuracy is key in our role to speak truth to power.
• Executive Director, sharing the work of representation of SteelWatch externally and updating our arguments as the steel industry evolves.

Responsibilities

1. Shape, evolve and articulate SteelWatch’s positions and point of view on steel decarbonisation:

SteelWatch already has a strong point of view (POV) on many of the core elements of the iron and steel transition. However, the POV needs to be continually reviewed in the light of new developments, on occasion adapted, and extended to new emerging issues. Sharpening the POV is a collaborative process -  the Industry Decarbonisation Lead will be responsible for steering and landing this process. The Lead will:

• Ensure the POV is constantly evolved,improved and adapted through collaboration, guiding the process and landing the outcome;
• Ensure the POV is clearly articulated and socialised internally and externally with allies.

2. Manage and shape our range of work on data, industry trends, and analysis.

SteelWatch currently has in-depth data and news tracking on two companies, the targets of our corporate campaigns. We track iron and steel industry news and analyse industry announcements. We are developing our capacity to react to steel news globally, track blast furnaces investments and other announcements, and rate and rank companies.  The Industry Decarbonisation Lead will, in collaboration with the Steel Analyst:

• Shape and prioritise our work on gathering data,  tracking industry news, and analysing industry strategies,  to support and inform the priorities of the organisation, and ensure we make best use of the information in our campaigns.
• Build capacity within SteelWatch to do this consistently across our growing portfolio of work.
• Ensure the quality and relevance of our evidence base, and the processes we have for updating and using it.
• Continue to build our capacity to assess industry announcements and to use that analysis effectively for pressure.
• Scope, support, and lead projects that are data analysis projects, and hold responsibility for the data analysis component of other projects/campaigns. These are likely to include, corporate scorecard, blast furnace trackers, and data visualisation.

3. Ensure relevance, consistency and accuracy in our external communications.

Our external communications are based on credible evidence and SteelWatch’s POV  combined with core narrative (responsibility of the Comms team), and campaign arguments and tactics (responsibility of the Campaigns Team).  Working closely with the Steel Analyst who currently is the ‘source of truth’ and fact-checker, the Industry Decarbonisation Lead will:

• Ensure all external outputs are factually correct, credible and in line with our point of view.
• Develop processes and materials that increase technical understanding and consistency across team members and amongst those we communicate most closely with (eg allies, core media).
• Ensure robust processes are in place for fact-checking.
• Lead the development of our series of SteelWatch Explainers to present key concepts in accessible form among allies and industry.
• Support the Communications and Campaign teams to assess what reactive news to prioritise, and to respond quickly and accurately.
• Strengthen our ability to brief and correct journalists, dealing with their misunderstandings around iron and steel.

4. Act as spokesperson for SteelWatch in industry dialogue.

SteelWatch is vigilant and challenging to the steel industry. Our tone of voice varies from the creative campaigns, to the engaged dialogue. The Industry Decarbonisation Lead is expected to communicate externally and directly in dialogue, in writing and especially with the industry stakeholders at conferences, in private meetings or via social media.  The lead is not the only voice of the organisation, but should be a focal point in building consistency. They will:

• Attend industry events and discussions, representing SW point of view and strengthening our industry connections;
• Speak at industry events, speak to the media where appropriate.
• Produce high quality written materials, support those written by colleagues, and support high quality data visualisation that communicates our messages.
• Engage actively on LinkedIn (and/or other social media) to respond to industry commentary and engage as SteelWatch.

5. Build relations with industry

SteelWatch is building relations with industry actors, both to share our views and ensure we are up to date on latest trends. The Lead will:

• Through industry events, networks and dialogue, strengthening our industry connections;
• Build relations with industry to acquire up to date information, and increase our ability to sense-check news and respond to trends.
• Keep abreast of industry conversations in order to identify the most relevant shifts, key topics or opportunities for SteelWatch to create pressure for change.
• Support others in SteelWatch to engage with industry, particularly in other regions and languages than your own.

6. Provide line management and task management to team members engaged in data and analysis.

SteelWatch currently has a mixture of long-term and short-term or part-time staff and consultants working on data, tracking and analysis.  They are managed by different team members.  The Industry Decarbonisation Lead will:

• Set objectives and define tasks for the data team, in line with overall SteelWatch strategy and plans, as they evolve. Provide line management for core data team members.
• Manage consultants focused on data or analysis, adapting TORs and finding new consultants as needed;
• Ensure synergy across the various team members  and their work.

Essential skills and experience

• Ten or more years of experience in industry, energy, and/or decarbonisation, of which at least 2 years focused on the steel industry.
• In-depth knowledge of steel decarbonisation pathways, current trends, the challenges and opportunities.
• Proven ability to manage and interpret data, and to use data for powerful arguments.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English, a talent for conveying complex ideas in understandable ways.
• Proven capacity to build collaboration with non-technical colleagues and enhance organisational capacity to use data and evidence. 

Desired skills and experience

• Experience working across a range of topics, projects and tasks, juggling short-term deadlines and long-term priorities.
• We are particularly interested in candidates that bring deep expertise in the energy transition, and/or in financial analysis of companies' approach to decarbonisation, as these would complement existing skills.
• Knowledge of steel decarbonisation across different geographies, particularly including countries of Asia.
• Experience in climate and/or campaigning organisations (professional or voluntary)

Essential competencies and aptitude

• An eye for detail and ability to ensure 100% accuracy;
• A strategic mind, an instinct to see the big picture, long-term trend, and ability to spot opportunities for engagement or leverage;
• Willingness and ability to toggle between the detail and the strategic;
• Ability to work at pace, with the rhythm of a campaign organisation.
• Excellent people skills and proven track record as a team player, able to work well with colleagues across cultures and geographies;
• Flexibility to work early or late hours on some days each week to overlap with other time zones and to travel 3-6 times per year.
• An affinity with the messaging and campaign approach of SteelWatch. You do not have to have campaign experience or act as a campaigner, but you must agree with the level of transformation that we believe is required, and be excited to contribute your skills to an organisation that critiques the limited ambition of current industry players.

Language requirements

• Ability to work in English at a professional level is a requirement. Additional skills in European or Asian languages are useful, particularly Mandarin, Portuguese or German.

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country location

This role is open to candidates working in timezones UTC -1 to UTC +4 and in countries in which it is possible to have a 2-year fixed term employment contract with an Employer of Record. Within Europe, we welcome applications from candidates based in the Netherlands, UK and Germany, and in addition we welcome applications from candidates in Africa or the Middle East.

Location and remote working and travel

• Location: work location is remote from your home base. Staff members work remotely and online on a daily basis.
• Travel is an essential part of the role.  If you are constrained in your ability or permissions to travel, please discuss this before investing in an application.
• Travel to an annual full team retreat is essential - this happens once a year and may be in Asia, Europe or other. Additional travel for events and face to face time is expected. This may be in Europe, Asia, or elsewhere and likely to be 2-5 times a year.
• While we offer flexibility for you to work away from home base, this will need to be coordinated with travel of other colleagues, may depend on timezone changes and/or be limited by legal contracting constraints.

Working conditions and benefits

• Working hours are flexible. Whichever time zone you are in, you will need to have flexibility to work early or late across different time zones straddling Asia/Pacific/ Europe&Africa /UK. You also have the opportunity to build in some flexibility around your own non-work commitments.
• This role is full time, 5 days/week.  We may also consider 4 days a week (Monday to Thursday) but would require flexibility around this. If you prefer part time please indicate this at time of application.
• The initial contract period will be up to 24 months with a possibility to renew, depending on country regulations. The type of contract will depend on the location.
• You must have a valid work permit in the country where you plan to be employed. SteelWatch is not in a position to support a visa process.
• Remuneration is according to SteelWatch norms,  level of experience and location of employment. For a technical expert in this Lead role, a Netherlands-based salary is in the range of  €72,000 - 92,000.  Salaries are adjusted by location. 
• Our leave policy, unless varied by national regulation, provides 34 days in total combining public holidays and paid leave in all countries, plus birthday leave and inspiration time.

Ethics:  we are a values-based organisation. Every staff member and consultant is asked to sign our Ethics statement and help us as an organisation live up to our values.

Equal opportunities:  we strive to be an equal opportunities employer. We actively welcome applications from candidates from historically underrepresented groups in the climate change movement.  If you require any adaptation or assistance during the application process, please be sure to let us know so that we can adjust.

The Youth Endowment Fund 

Violence against Young Women and Girls Lead

Reports to: Head of Toolkit

Salary: £55,000 per annum

Contract: 2-year fixed term

Location: Central London, Hybrid* 

Closing date: Friday 13th June 2025 at 9am

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.

Last year, 244 people in England and Wales tragically died after being assaulted with a knife. Of these, 32 were children. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them. Even when violence doesn’t strike directly, we know that the fear of violence has a terrible effect on children’s lives. One in 12 women will be a victim of violence against women and girls each year in England and Wales. Our Children, Violence and Vulnerability (CVV) research with teenage children showed that 33% of teenagers have encountered online content that encourages violence against women and girls.

The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build an exceptional 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 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. We then need to work with the right people that can make change happen, across systems, policies and practice, to have a real impact on reducing violence affecting children’s lives.

Violence against Young Women and Girls

At the heart of our work is getting clear on what works. We are looking for someone who can lead our research and change agenda on violence against young women and girls (VAWG). We have built the foundations of this work by:

• developing our understanding of experiences of violence through our Children, Violence and Vulnerability (CVV) research with teenage children;
• reviewing evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that aim to prevent relationship violence and violence affecting young women and girls, which is summarised in our Toolkit; and
• ensuring a strong focus on VAWG prevention in our Education Systems Guidance and Education Practice Guidance, based on the evidence we have for relationship violence prevention delivery in education settings.  

There is still a lot to do. We need to fund new research to fill gaps in our understanding of what works. We need to turn this evidence into actionable recommendations and sustainable change that will keep children safe from violence.

Key Responsibilities

The Violence against Young Women and Girls Lead will lead the VAWG research and change agenda for YEF. 

You will:

Be the YEF’s expert on VAWG

• Making sure we understand the key issues, stay on top of the latest research and are connected to the right people.

Lead YEF’s research agenda on VAWG

• Commissioning research that fills important gaps in knowledge and leads to important changes in policy and practice.

Develop evidence-based recommendations on the prevention of VAWG.

• Drawing on research and expert insight to produce recommendations for systems and practice guidance, across the seven essential sectors that we work with: children’s services, education, health, neighbourhoods, policing, youth services, and youth justice.
• Writing and publishing evidence briefings and recommendations for policy makers and system leaders about how to prevent VAWG.
• Working across YEF teams to ensure that YEF recommendations on VAWG are incorporated across our evidence and change products, including systems, sector and practice guidance, the Toolkit and implementation resources.

Develop and lead a change strategy.

• Developing great relationships with senior leaders, policymakers, commissioners, and key stakeholders connected to VAWG across England and Wales.
• Generating a strong understanding of key issues and needs across systems and sectors and building credibility and trust in YEF’s evidence products and recommendations.
• Creating practical tools and resources that help leaders put evidence into action.
• Developing, managing and tracking your change plan to get more senior leaders to be aware of and use our guidance, tools and resources, continuously looking for data-driven improvements.
• Delivering events and presentations to effectively connect people with the evidence.

As a senior member of staff in the organisation you also:

• Build a culture where it is natural to perform well and support colleagues brilliantly.
• Contribute to setting the strategy, delivering results and building and modelling the culture that we need to succeed.

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.

Secondments

We are open to candidates that would prefer to join us on a 12-month secondment. Secondment candidate should ensure that their current organisation is in support of this in principle, all candidates will go through the full interview process. Candidates should state clearly in their covering letter if they would like to join us as secondee.

Hybrid Working Details

The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office for 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.

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.

To Apply

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter, and complete the monitoring form click on "Apply for this" button by 13th June 2025.

When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter can answer, within a maximum of 1000 words, the following questions:

1. Briefly describe the key pieces of research that you have commissioned or delivered related to VAWG and be clear about the role you played in the work.

2. Provide some clear examples of work you have delivered to translate research findings into products or activities to influence policy and practice. Include the key people or organisations that you were seeking to influence.  

Interview Process

This will be a two-stage panel interview process. The first stage interview will take place in week commencing the 23rd June 2025.

Shortlisted candidates, invited to an interview, we will ask you to prepare a 10-minute presentation on the main issues that the Youth Endowment Fund should be addressing related to Violence against young women and girls.

The second stage interviews are currently scheduled for the week commencing 30th June 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Benefits Include

• £1,000 professional development budget annually

• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

• Four half days for volunteering activities

• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support • Volunteering days - 4 half days per year

• Death in service - 4 times annual salary

• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

• Financial support including travel and hardship loans

• Employer contributed pension of 5%

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.