Cumbria CVS has a long history of supporting the voluntary sector and has played a key role in the Covid-response to date. We have now completed a strategic review and want to strengthen our team!  If you have the energy, enthusiasm and resilience to help our wonderful sector succeed in these challenging times and would like to work in a flexible, friendly team that is passionate about making a difference to communities across Cumbria, then this role may be for you.
We are recruiting a skilled, experienced and motivated Communications Manager (F/T) to support the development and implementation of an effective communications strategy for Cumbria CVS and the wider third sector, including digital communications.
We are especially looking for self-motivated individuals with relevant skills, qualifications and experience of partnership working and collaboration and if you have an understanding of and a commitment to the values of the Cumbria CVS - Leadership, Excellence, Equity, Integrity and Voluntarism - and would like to work for this forward thinking organisation, then we want to hear from you.

Application Pack:

Position Summary

This newly created role is to be the font of all knowledge about where FoodCycle should develop strategically in the UK. Providing essential support of our ambitious growth plans and enabling SMT to make the right strategic decisions about where new services should be located.

The right person for this role enjoys being organised, pays attention to detail and understands that they are a key component in supporting the growth of our Projects by researching and building prospect pipelines.

You will be responsible for gathering and interpreting various data sources and engagement with all staff to ensure that you are fulfilling the criteria required. You will be comfortable working in a small 'hands on' adaptable team environment.

Monitoring and evaluation of our guest and volunteer data is also a key aspect of this role and you will enjoy evaluating statistical data to demonstrate a trend and the difference we make to our guests lives. 

We are looking for an individual who is resilient, capable of working at pace and enjoys being involved in a breadth of projects with a variety of responsibilities. The successful candidate will have experience utilising research skills, and working with statistical data. You will be able to communicate and process information to a wide variety of people and record this in an orderly way. Good working knowledge of CRM and data systems and an ability to juggle multiple projects is also required. 

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Undertake high quality research and analysis for prospective projects using publicly available information. Producing shortlist of venues potentially suitable to hosting a FoodCycle project
2. Supporting expansion into new communities by conducting discrete research projects into priority areas as dedicated by SMT and Development teamwith the focus on social isolation and hunger.
3. Producing prospect profile updates for colleagues in team meetings 
4. Maintaining accurate prospect records in line with existing scoping documents, look to develop these. Ensuring everything is logged systematically on salesforce. 
5. Provide development managers and regional managers with administrative support and data in an agreed format around developing new projects new projects 
6. Desk research to identify any gaps in data for exiting projects to help grow and develop local communities there with a focus on identifying existing services to help support guest outreach and volunteers recruitment
7. Working with the development manager and fundraising team to complete initial scoping documents to enable FoodCycle to achieve funding in new locations. 
8. Work with marketing team to help support local marketing plans for prospective projects including data on volunteers, food and guests for locations 
9. Work with senior team to produce reports from our monitoring and evaluation data gathered either from Check in and chat calls or guest/volunteer surveys 
10. Facilitate and feed into fundraising applications that demonstrate how we have involved the community or set up a Project 

This is an exciting opportunity to cover maternity leave from around mid April 2021. We are looking for an experienced all rounder to lead the communications function and form part of the Senior Leadership Team. 

Leading a team of 5, the successful candidate will be able to take a strategic oversight of the communications and external affairs functions and an active role in delivery. You will manage the communications strategy adapting it as needed to meet team targets and organisational goals.

Working across the organisation you will plan and deliver our annual awareness campaign Safer Sleep Week and work with a core group of charities on Baby Loss Awareness Week. You will also provide comms support for our 50th Anniversary Campaign. 

A knowledge of digital communications is essential as you will be responsible for managing the website, overseeing our social media strategy and managing Little Lullaby our project for young parents. You will act as brand guardian for The Lullaby Trust and lead our press function, identifying proactive and reactive opportunities to raise the profile of The Lullaby Trust and increase awareness of SIDS and safer sleep.

The role involves leading our newly developed External Affairs function to grow The Lullaby Trust’s external influence achieving higher prominence of SIDS awareness and prevention and care for bereaved parents on the political and healthcare agenda. 

This is an interesting and varied role which would suit someone who enjoys working across several comms disciplines and taking a hands-on approach. We are looking for a creative and strategic thinker with proven experience in a comms management role and an enthusiasm for working with a diverse audience of parents and health practitioners.

The post is currently remote working though some travel to London may be required.

Please note that this post is subject to DBS and reference checks. 

About The Lullaby Trust 

The Lullaby Trust provides emotional support for bereaved families, promotes expert advice on safer baby sleep and raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 
 
We are committed to supporting research to understand why babies die suddenly and unexpectedly and to find out more about how to reduce the risk of these tragic deaths. 
 

Community transport operators have a great story to tell and it's CTA’s job to help them tell it and to support them to develop excellent services that can transform lives and communities. 

The post-holder will support the delivery of CTA’s communications strategy/plan and will help co-ordinate communications and marketing activity across the organisation to ensure that CTA effectively, consistently and strategically communicates with a wide range of stakeholders and audiences.

This role is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund for a 12-month, fixed term. 

Please see the Recruitment Pack attached for more detailed information about the role and our organisation.

Your application should include:

1. A personal statement that demonstrates how you meet the requirements set out in the ‘Experience’ section of the Person Specification and what you think you will bring to the role.
2. An up to date, detailed CV including all relevant employment history and expertise

Purpose of position

To provide direct support to the Head of Research for the delivery of a variety of cancer research projects. Lead and implement methods to evaluate evidence and impact measurement of research funded by Cancer Research Wales for internal and external health related communications. Support the development of the research strategy, orchestrate grant calls and support funding decisions made by the scientific committee. Develop and maintain research projects information and reporting systems. Actively engage in project progress monitoring and undertake annual site visits. Represent the charity on various forums and on international and national cancer research agencies where Cancer Research Wales is a member.

If you are ambitious, innovative and self-motivated, and would like to work for a forward-thinking charity committed to transforming cancer outcomes in Wales through world-class research, then we would love to hear from you.

How to apply:

For application form and full details for this vacancy, please visit our website at Cancer Research Wales.

Closing date:   12 March 2021 (at 12 noon)

Interview dates: 30 & 31 March 2021

Researcher

The Tavistock Institute

Location: London

Salary: £22,500 to £26,000

Hours: Full Time or Part Time

Contract Type: Two year fixed-term contract with the option to become permanent

Who we are:

At the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR), we apply understanding from the social sciences to improving life in our society, building on a long history of supporting social change. We evaluate and research small to large-scale initiatives across a variety of social issues, including health, mental health and well-being, education, employment, social care, the climate change emergency, and digital and social exclusion, and have a growing interest in the arts and their role in social change. We are also an organisational change consultancy, run professional development programmes and provide executive coaching. We believe in meaningful, sustainable, and equitable change and ongoing learning.

The Institute is a small organisation with global reach and our work spans the whole continuum from carrying out primary research to evaluating policies and designing programmes to help implement the recommendations. We are a diverse, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team who bring passion, rigour, care and integrity to our work in our quest for positive social change.

We are looking for one or two individuals to join our team who share our passion for dynamic approaches to researching and influencing social change processes.

• Do you have some experience or training of research or evaluation using qualitative or quantitative methods?
• Do you have lived or professional experience of a particular issue or concern that drives and makes you passionate about social change?
• Are you a curious and self-reflective person interested in understanding and influencing organisations and policy making locally, nationally or internationally?
• Do you have a degree or other relevant qualification?

We need someone with the following characteristics:

• able to write and communicate clearly and convincingly across a number of formats, including presentations, Blogs, articles, reports or papers
• ability to analyse, interpret and synthesise data accurately from multiple sources
• ability to prioritise tasks and deliver to high quality and meet deadlines
• able to work independently and as part of a team

We offer: A salary (£22,500 to £26,000) depending on previous experience and qualifications, flexible working arrangements, bicycle or season ticket loan, contributory pension scheme, a dynamic working environment, excellent bespoke personal and professional development opportunities and a supportive working culture. We provide 25 days annual leave pro rata.

The successful candidate must, by the start of the employment, have permission to work in the UK.

The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations supports the principle of Equality and Diversity in employment and wholeheartedly opposes all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination. We will be conducting a blind shortlisting process.

How to apply:

1. Complete our online application form. In this form you should indicate what attracts you to working for the Institute and what you would bring to this role.
2. Submit your CV to Megan Davies. Please include your name and ‘Researcher Application 2021’ in the subject line.

Applications will not be considered without both the online form and an accompanying CV.

Closing date: Midnight Sunday 28th March.

For further information, or if you wish to discuss the role, please contact Megan Davies, who will be able to help you.

Our Role:

An exciting opportunity for a Research Officer in our Services, Policy & Evidence team to support the delivery of Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s research aims, including our programme of research grants and our work to support increased patient and public involvement in research to improve the lives of people with Crohn’s and Colitis.

This position is initially a 12 month fixed-term contract whilst we review our research strategy, but this could be reviewed.

About you:

You will have excellent experience of managing processes to support the delivery of research projects and programmes. A great communicator with excellent written skills, you will have used these abilities to establish and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, external stakeholders and networks to keep abreast of national and international research developments.You have a collaborative approach and enjoy working as part of a team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working with the Research Manager to support the process for awarding grants for research to improve the lives of people with Crohn’s and Colitis.
  • Processing applications for research funding in line with agreed policies and procedures and in accordance with AMRC good practice guidelines.
  • Supporting and facilitating the peer review process and grant awarding panel meetings.
  • Providing support to the Research and Strategy Funding Committee including arranging and supporting meetings and answering enquiries from Committee members.
  • Preparing contracts, reports and presentations as part of the grant awarding process.
  • Assessing grant invoices for approval by the Research Manager and maintaining accurate logs.
  • Maintaining accurate records of the status of all current research grants.
  • Working with the communications and digital team to effectively disseminate information about research grant activities.
  • Being the first point of contact for queries to the Research Team including via email and phone.
  • Inputting and maintaining data and contacts on the CRM database and maintaining accurate and up to date circulation lists for all research contacts.

• Contributing to the delivery & management of research projects and programmes which support and promote increased patient and public involvement in research in accordance with Crohn’s and Colitis UK’s strategic aims
  • Assessing, collating, and inputting studies that meet designated criteria into the Research pages of the Crohn’s & Colitis UK website.
  • Increasing the Crohn’s & Colitis UK Research social media presence to improve the profile of patient and public involvement in research.
  • Writing and disseminating the Research Involvement Opportunities newsletter.
  • Providing additional patient/public recruitment support for our sponsored research projects and research partners, targeted to specific audiences.
  • Supporting patient and public involvement projects associated with the Gut Reaction ‘big data’ initiative.
  • Working with the Communications team to ensure delivery of effective communications about all research projects and programmes.
  • Communicating and engaging with staff across the organisation to ensure research projects and programmes align with and support the wider work of the charity.
  • Engaging with people and patients to ensure research projects and programmes reflect the needs and priorities of people with Crohn’s and Colitis.
  • Working with research stakeholders to promote and influence best practice for patient engagement and co-production.
  • Ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion are considered, and the patient voice is at the centre, in all research projects and programmes.
  • Leading and managing the delivery of projects in accordance with project management methodology.
  • Ensuring compliance with General Data Protection Regulations requirements across all areas of work.

• Charity responsibilities 
  • Representing Crohn’s & Colitis UK at events as required.
  • Working in line with the Charity values and maintaining the reputation and standing of the Charity.

Sheffield or remote working

Do you have a proven track record in user research and a real desire to take on a role where, as part of an agile product team, your input will be a real benefit to others? Then join Shelter as a UX Researcher and you could soon be playing a big part in helping us better understand how our users are using digital advice content, webchat, telephony service and other products.

About Shelter
A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

At Shelter we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.

We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

About the team
It's an exciting time to join Shelter’s cross-functional digital team. Our work spans front and back end development, UX/UI, content design, social media, analytics and more and sets the example for Shelter in digital best practice, discovery and innovation. And, with a new leadership team working on a fresh organisational strategy, we’ve received additional investment to expand our capacity to meet the challenges ahead. Join us, and you’ll have every opportunity to help shape how our user experience and service design will work for Shelter in the future.

About the role
You’ll be joining a team of digital leaders who collaborate with others across the organisation to deliver first-class content, products and services, in an agile, iterative and data-driven manner. Your challenge will be to research details of unmet user need and design new service features or optimise and iterate existing ones.

Conducting user research, applying analysis and presenting clear findings that product teams can understand and use to inform product roadmaps and development sprints – all are aspects of this interesting role. This role involves the continuous evaluation of the impact of change on our users, not only during the design and development phase but long-term use too.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About you
Proactive, results-driven and commercially aware, you have experience of selecting and conducting the most appropriate user research method for a given task, both qualitative and quantitative, and can turn this data into clear findings that inform decision makers. You have good knowledge of user-centred design and an understanding of how to embed this into an agile workflow to deliver timely insights. And, if, you've worked in a multi-disciplinary product team and /or have knowledge of modern design and prototyping tools, even better. At the moment, we're using Figma alongside virtual and real whiteboards, pen, paper and post-its. But, as you know, tools change all the time.

Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We're here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Position: Research Communications Manager
Type: Full-time (35 hours per week), permanent
Location: Flexible but will require regular travel to London (currently home-based)
Salary: £46,364 - £50,909 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band G, Level 3
Department: Research

At the MS Society, we make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive environment where you will make a difference.

About this job

We’re looking for a communications professional with an excellent grasp of biomedical science to oversee our ambitious research communications programme. You will lead the day to day operational work of the research communications team, line managing two members of staff.

This role involves leading on a broad and varied range of projects, often working collaboratively with other departments across the organisation. You’ll oversee the development of engaging research related content for digital and print, as well as managing an annual programme of research talks and events. You’ll also represent the Society at regional and national events and through print and broadcast media.

As a key member of the Research management team, you’ll contribute to the leadership, planning and policy formulation of the department as a whole.

You’ll be joining the research team at an exciting time as we prepare to launch a multi-million pound clinical trials platform. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a supportive and friendly team.

We offer 35 days annual leave (including bank holidays), travel loan and various other benefits such as supported developmental opportunities.

The MS Society is in the midst of an exciting, transformational, period which builds on our great history and will drive us towards achieving our mission and vision as we embark on our new 5 year strategy.

As part of this exciting transformation, we’ll be moving from our current National Centre based in Cricklewood, London to Finsbury Park, London later this year. We’re expecting to be moving into our new office from August 2021.

Closing date: 9am on Thursday 25 March
Interview date: 7 April

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity. 

No agencies please.

This is a full time post in the Communications Team at University Hospitals Birmingham Charity (‘UHB Charity’), the official NHS Charity for the four hospitals of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust - Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital.

UHB Charity is dedicated to improving the experience of patients, their families and the staff who care for them.

The Charity raises funds to support patients of the four hospitals by providing new and innovative equipment, funding research and supporting patient and family welfare projects.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in particular has a world class reputation, and specialises in cancer treatment, organ transplantations and trauma care. It is also home of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, where the UK’s military patients are treated.

Heartlands Hospital has a specialist neo-natal unit and very busy children’s and maternity units.

Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital serve the towns of Sutton Coldfield and Solihull.

The post offers flexible working from home and the opportunity for office working at any of our four hospital sites as suits the job holder and line manager.

The Communications Assistant will work closely with other members of the hospital charity, in particular the Communications Manager and Charity Chief Executive, to efficiently promote the activities of the hospital charity to a wide audience.

This role would suit someone looking to develop their skills in media, communication plans and creative content.

You'll be pitching stories to TV, radio, press and magazine contacts and supporting those stories on social media, planning innovative and exciting social media campaigns, writing features, promoting our wide range of fundraising events and appeals and telling stories about people who do extraordinary and heart-warming things to help support patients at Birmingham’s busiest hospitals. 

As well as generating positive media coverage, the successful candidate will update the Charity’s websites and social media pages, attend Charity events and help compile the Charity’s quarterly newsletters.

Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) is the only UK charity dedicated to raising awareness of economic abuse and transforming responses to it.  The Head of Policy and Communications will be a key members of the Senior Leadership Team, and responsible for leading on all aspects of SEA’s policy, public affairs, media relations, digital and marketing communications, including increasing the charity’s profile and brand awareness 

We work in partnership to ensure women have access to and control over their own economic resources. We focus on four strategic priorities: public education and awareness-raising; transforming professional responses; ensuring systems do not inadvertently facilitate economic abuse; and influencing policy.

Our work is led by victim-survivors of economic abuse (Experts by Experience). Their lived experience and knowledge shapes everything we do. We are always learning, and we share our expertise via a national working group and an international network of practitioners, researchers and policymakers.

About GiveDirectly 

GiveDirectly aims to reshape international giving -  and millions of lives - by enabling donors to provide capital grants directly to some of the world’s poorest people. GiveDirectly’s cash transfers stand on the shoulders of giants, backed by hundreds of high quality research studies that have documented the myriad positive impacts of cash on peoples’ lives. 

GiveDirectly has been at the forefront of this evidence generation effort since we launched a decade ago. Fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GiveDirectly’s programs are either ongoing or completed. These have covered diverse, cutting edge research questions including: the macro impact of transfers on local economies, the impact of a universal basic income, and establishing cash as a benchmark that traditional, ‘in kind’ aid interventions should beat in order to be considered cost-effective. We are increasingly seeking to integrate qualitative and quantitative approaches within individual studies to better understand how and why change happens.

These studies do not just sit on dusty shelves -- since 2018, GiveDirectly RCTs have been covered in top media outlets including: Washington Post (twice), New York Times, The Economist, Vox (several times over), Quartz,  NPR (twice), DevEx, Fast Company, Axios and Wired. Delivering and disseminating research studies have become a core part of GiveDirectly’s value proposition to donors, and central to our ability to raise the revenue that enables people living in poverty to transform their own lives.

Cash transfers are at a potential inflection point: COVID-19 has amplified the challenges of bulkier in-kind aid models, and governments are deploying cash as their most common tool of assistance to vulnerable populations. This brings new research challenges and opportunities. How do we combine existing research knowledge with recent data to design high-impact programs in a new humanitarian context? How do we evaluate the impact of those programs when in-person data collection is not possible? 

GiveDirectly currently operates in multiple African countries: DRC, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Morocco, Rwanda, Togo and Uganda. We have also delivered disaster response programs in the United States and the Bahamas.

About the role

We are seeking a versatile individual who can lead our research function through our next phase of growth: overseeing high quality academic research studies (e.g. managing 11 ongoing RCTs), equipping our team to design evidence-informed programs (e.g. synthesizing existing research on nutrition impacts of different cash designs), and setting the research agenda for the coming years (e.g. what are the highest priority questions to answer?). 

This role requires a dynamic leader, who is animated by both the practical problem-solving needed to drive research excellence (e.g. how do we deliver robust impact research at high speed in a humanitarian setting?), and the research uptake challenge of leveraging the evidence base to maximize program impact and grow the global cash movement. 

Our team is passionate about shifting the status quo with respect to how and by whom decisions are made in the aid space. We believe elevating recipient choice is critical, as are demonstrably committing to transparency around metrics and evidence. We are looking for applicants who are deeply aligned with these objectives, and energized by the prospect of building an organization that advances them.

Reports to: Managing Director

Responsibilities:

• Research oversight

• Ensure excellence across all external GD research studies (most of which are RCTs) through proactive project and stakeholder management across academics, research delivery partners, GD Field Operations, Field Technology and Revenue teams and funding partners.

• Support the GD Field Operations teams to design and deliver robust internal (non-experimental) monitoring and evaluation of a wide range of projects, leveraging GD’s extensive routine data collection through SMS, USSD and phone surveys.

• Program and research design

• • Drive evidence-informed program design within GD by synthesizing existing data and evidence in accessible formats and championing research uptake during the program design process

  • Partner with Revenue and Field teams to design programs that are operationally feasible, evidence-driven and meet donor requirements, thoughtfully assessing the trade-offs required

  • Design new research studies -- always in partnership with GD teams, and often in partnership with external academics

  • Develop a deep understanding of the impact of research design choices on the work of GD Field Operations and Field Technology teams, and use that knowledge to design research studies that thoughtfully negotiate the trade-offs between multiple priorities.

• Fundraising

  • Equip GD’s Revenue teams (e.g. Partnerships, Communications, Growth) with high-quality, accessible tools (e.g. cash evidence summaries by topic / domain) that enable them to:

    • Communicate clearly with external audiences about the prevalence of cash programs and the impact of cash transfers, ensuring GD’s reputation for honest communication about evidence is maintained

    • Write funding bids that are informed by the latest evidence about cash transfers without needing to seek bespoke advice

    • Maximize the reach and impact of GD research publications by communicating externally about results, and synthesizing findings so others on the team can do so (e.g. summary notes, slide decks)

  • Enable high-quality donor reporting by providing timely progress updates on research studies 

• Research strategy

• Develop GiveDirectly’s research strategy for the next 3 years. Establish the high priority research questions GD studies should seek to answer, integrating the perspectives of GD Field Operations and Revenue teams, and looking for new ways to advance our understanding of recipient perspectives (e.g. priorities and preferences)

• Develop guidelines for how to assemble study teams that reflect a diversity of characteristics, perspectives and expertise

Core competencies and experiences

• Understanding of the lives of people living in poverty - learned or lived experience of the reality of poverty -- this could be extreme absolute poverty or relative poverty in a higher income country

• Communication - be equally comfortable having a technical conversation with an academic as you are describing a study in straightforward terms to a donor who has zero context. Expertise in communicating about research in a clear and compelling manner with a range of internal and external audiences -- both verbally and in writing -- is crucial in this role.

• Quantitative research expertise - 3+ years experience of designing, undertaking or overseeing experimental / quasi-experimental research studies (e.g. RCT, RDD, PSM designs) is essential; experience of cognitive testing survey questions, survey design and analysis, developing power calculations, and quality-assuring quantitative research designs would all be helpful

• Qualitative research expertise - experience of qualitative research design (e.g. sampling), interview guide development, undertaking interviews / FGDs, qualitative analysis, integration of qual and quant in design and analysis

• Research stakeholder management - speak the language of external researchers (primarily academic economists), understand the norms and incentives of academic researchers, experience of influencing research decisions that are made by consensus rather than contract, experience of project managing organizations / individuals to deliver research on time and to budget, experience of overcoming unexpected roadblocks that derail research projects

• Project management - experience of keeping multiple large-scale projects on track, proactively managing risks and stakeholder communications, maintaining project tracking systems 

• Strategic planning and strong execution - ability to seamlessly navigate between big-picture strategy and day-to-day operational decisions, ability to navigate through ambiguity

• Alignment with GiveDirectly Values:

• Recipients first.

We prioritize recipient preferences over those of donors or ourselves.

We do not impose our preferences, or judgments, on the beneficiaries; instead we respect and empower them to make their own choices, elevating their voices in the global aid debate. This value is core to GiveDirectly’s identity as the first organization exclusively devoted to putting the poor in control of how aid money is spent. It comes at a potential cost, as it means that neither we nor donors get to set priorities (and we may even lose some “efficiency” in providing this option).

• Team next.

We do what’s best for organizational - not individual - success.

This is a team sport, where we will succeed (or fail) together. The best players are not those with the best individual statistics, but those with biggest impact on our overall performance. We avoid territoriality, self-promotion, and I’m above this attitudes.

• Be proactively candid.

We say what we believe, and are honest in sharing information.

Having confidence that other people are telling us what they truly believe, without gloss or omission, is critical to effective communication and to our ability to learn and grow from feedback. We owe it to each other - and our donors - to instill this confidence even though giving and receiving information candidly are unusual in both professional and social life, and can be very uncomfortable.

• Create positive energy

We strive to be a source - not drain - of energy for our colleagues.

Our work is hard, practically and emotionally, and we cannot overemphasize the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, enjoying the company of our colleagues, and not taking ourselves too seriously.  In doing so, we aspire to generate energy and excitement amongst our colleagues in pursuing our mission. This should not preclude candor, and we aspire to achieve both.

• Think rigorously; act quickly.

We are intellectually rigorous with a drive towards action - not debate.

We reason from first principles, grounding our decisions in objective claims about the world, rather than hard-to-disprove assertions or hierarchy. We aim to brainstorm inclusively and respectfully, but critically self-vet ideas we put forward, so as to ensure productive and prudent decision making.

Demanding this level of rigor forces us to think harder about decisions and our assumptions than we otherwise might. This is a real cost. It can be taken too far: it is possible to overthink decisions, and we avoid debate for the sake of debate.  We are not here to philosophize or ensure consensus. We decide and act quickly, avoiding getting bogged down in debates.

• Accept reality. Propose solutions.

We do not dwell on problems. We work actively to create solutions.

There will always be an endless list of things to improve. We focus on the things that can be changed; find the most important of those things, and propose actionable answers. We do not allow “problems” to weigh us down and be a source of negativity.  We are forward looking, which we believe not only leads to better team outcomes, but also creates a more enjoyable, energizing environment for all.

• Be productively ambitious.

We take the risks to pursue industry-changing success, not incremental progress.

We seek step-change improvements at all levels, and are willing to make big-bets; we do not accept complacency nor do we simply optimize existing processes. In doing so, we allow ourselves to dream big with a belief that perceived constraints are merely opportunities for creativity.

Such ambition not only requires hard work (i.e., this is not a 9-5 job), but also a willingness to accept and learn from temporary setbacks and failures.  In accepting these failures, we’re conscious to not point fingers, nor obsess over “mistakes” made.

• Know yourself and grow.

We recognize and accept our imperfections with a focus on growth.

We are an organization of exceptional people and trust in each other’s abilities, yet we recognize that none of us is perfect. We strive to maintain an accurate understanding of our individual and institutional strengths and weaknesses, in order to position ourselves to maximize our chances of success.

At the same time, we seek personal growth for ourselves and our teammates. Feedback is given with a spirit of helpfulness; and sought out with a desire to learn.

**GD is committed to observing all local, national and international laws that protect children, vulnerable adults, and basic human rights of all.  GD is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH)” and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.**

We are looking for an enthusiastic and skilled full-time writer with some experience in the field of non-fiction writing or journalism to deliver engaging, creative and accurate content across a range of Barnabas Fund digital and print communications.

To fulfil this role, you will have experience of producing written content in a professional setting and a degree in a related field, such as communications, international relations, history, politics, journalism, or other relevant background. You should be able to demonstrate the ability to competently select engaging material and produce copy to a brief in the required tone. A keen eye for detail and a passion for factual accuracy are also essential. Your experience could have been gained in the not-for-profit, public or commercial sectors.

This is an amazing opportunity to join our organisation to use your skills and abilities to serve the global persecuted Church. In this fast-paced and rewarding role, you will be working within our Editorial team and across our creative teams to produce outstanding publications and media content.

Why Barnabas Fund?

As a world-renowned international aid agency, Barnabas Fund serves the global persecuted Church by channelling practical aid to suffering Christians in over 80 countries who face oppression, discrimination and persecution. This is an opportunity to be part of an organisation that transforms the lives of our persecuted Christian family throughout the world.

What will you be doing:

You will be involved in writing copy for our many printed publications, web articles, news reports, magazine features, prayer materials and fundraising appeals, in line with in-house style and under the guidance of the Managing and Senior Editors. You will also be involved in proofreading, fact-checking and copyediting pieces of work submitted by colleagues.

What will you need:

• A passion for producing truthful, accurate and compelling written copy that our readers and supporters will find engaging and informative.
• A meticulous eye for detail, high standards of accuracy, along with excellent English grammar, punctuation and spelling skills.
• Basic research and fact-finding skills, including library and internet research experience. In addition, relevant IT skills, including knowledge of standard word processing programmes are essential.
• A demonstrable ability to organise a complex workload, meet regular short and longer-term deadlines and work well under pressure within a tightknit team.
• Some experience of feature writing, journalism or other non-fiction copywriting.
• A good knowledge of Christian theology, current affairs, geopolitical issues and world religions would be a considerable advantage.

Salary is dependent on skills and experience.

You will be working within our Editorial team from our international office in Pewsey, Wiltshire. This is an office-based role.

Any successful candidate will need to be committed to Barnabas Fund’s ethos, statement of faith and aims and already have the right to work in the UK.

*Due to the volumes of applications received, if you do not hear from us within 2 weeks of applying, your application will have been deemed unsuccessful. Thank you.

Role based at our Head Office in London (Tooley Street, London Bridge) or flexible remote working with regular travel to our Head Office

What the job involves
Funding research that will improve the lives of men with, or at high risk of, prostate cancer is one of Prostate Cancer UK’s highest priorities. Prostate cancer is harming too many men, in exchange for too few cures, which is why we are motivated more than ever to deliver a future where lives are no longer harmed by prostate cancer. We invest in the most innovative ideas to accelerate our knowledge and understanding of prostate cancer, and to develop better treatments and more effective approaches to diagnose the disease, so that we can transform the lives of all men with, or at risk of, prostate cancer.

We are looking to appoint two passionate and enthusiastic Research Officers to join our Research Directorate. You will support the delivery of our research grant funding activities to ensure that we only fund the very best projects with the greatest chance of making a real difference for men. You will develop a good understanding of the science contained within the research proposals we receive and use this knowledge to find individuals within the international research community with the right expertise and experience to assess these proposals. You will provide support to applicants who wish to submit their research projects to us for funding, and you will contribute towards the preparation and delivery of the charity’s research committee meetings, where funding recommendations are made. This includes corresponding with, and assisting, our scientific committee; preparing meeting documentation; writing full and clear minutes of our committee meetings; and preparing outcome letters detailing funding recommendations.

In addition to our grant funding activities, you will also support our Research Manager & Grant Manager in overseeing the charity’s portfolio of research grants, handling and reviewing annual progress reports and invoice claims. You will also support and take part in engagement visits with our funded researchers and their support teams (virtually and in person at their institutions) to discuss their research and the short and long-term plans in order to achieve patient benefit.

You will work on a variety of collaborative projects with others within the Research Directorate and the wider charity, using our research portfolio to support our communication and fundraising activities by demonstrating the impact of the charity’s research investments in taking us a step closer to taming prostate cancer.

What we want from you
We are looking for two highly enthusiastic individuals with a degree in a bio-medical (or relevant) science subject who are eager to develop a career in research management. You should be able to understand a broad range of complex scientific information presented in funding applications, and utilise this information to identify potential peer reviewers with relevant expertise to assess the research proposals we receive for funding (prior experience of conducting peer review is desirable, but not essential). 

You will frequently be in communication with a variety of researchers, as well as colleagues at all levels across the charity, so you will need to be a confident and clear communicator both orally and in writing. 

You should be motivated to develop a decent understanding of research management and strive to consistently perform to the highest standards. We are looking for someone with a keen attention to detail and who is proficient in the use of standard IT packages, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Importantly, you must be excited and motivated about achieving major improvements for men with, or at high risk of, prostate cancer.

Why work for us?
Simply put, we believe men deserve better. They deserve a future where lives and bodies are not harmed by prostate cancer. We continue to invest millions of pounds each year into ground-breaking biomedical research and we need motivated individuals to help ensure that we fund research of the highest quality and which has the greatest potential to take us a step closer to benefitting men affected by the disease.

We have a clear focus on delivering radical improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, so that it can become a disease the next generation of men need not fear.

The support we’ll provide
Join our team and you’ll be working at an award-winning charity that will help you learn and develop your skills and expertise. We provide everything you’d expect from a professional organisation – competitive benefits package, enhanced contributory pension scheme, life insurance, season ticket loan – but much more besides. Work with us and you’ll see your efforts pay off as we fight for a better future for men.

For more information and to apply online please visit our website via the link.

Closing date: 7 March 2021.
Interviews start: W/C 22 March 2021.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Prostate Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1005541) and in Scotland (SC039332). Registered company number 02653887.