For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.
Research and Development Officer
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Part Time, 28 hours per week (0.8 FTE)
Salary: £27,526 per annum, with annual salary increments for the first three years
Location: Homebased – however NCB and RiP has offices in Sheffield, Newton Abbot and Belfast that staff can work from should they choose.
The Vacancy
For over 20 years, Research in Practice has been at the forefront of supporting evidence-informed practice in adult social care. We are now looking for a passionate and experienced Research and Development Officer to join our adults’ team.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a skilled facilitator with strong experience in adult social care (or a related sector, e.g. housing, homelessness, mental health or criminal justice) who is motivated to make a real impact. While the role requires a solid understanding of research and its application, it is not a primary research post—instead, the focus is on translating evidence into meaningful learning and development opportunities.
You will play a key role in designing and delivering high-quality learning experiences, including programmes, full-day workshops, webinars, and events, working with diverse audiences such as senior leaders and practitioners.
What you’ll be doing
- Designing and delivering engaging learning and development activities for a range of audiences
- Translating complex research, policy, and legal frameworks into accessible, practical learning
- Developing high-quality outputs (e.g. publications, tools, and learning resources)
- Building strong relationships with stakeholders and supporting collaborative projects
- Managing multiple projects effectively in a varied and fast-paced environment
About you
We are looking for someone who brings:
- In-depth knowledge of adult social care, or related sectors such as criminal justice, housing and homelessness, or mental health
- Experience in facilitation and delivering learning, including workshops and webinars
- A strong understanding of research, policy, and practice frameworks
- Skills in knowledge mobilisation, with a passion for co-production and evidence implementation
- Proven experience in relationship management
- Excellent communication skills, including confident public speaking
- The ability to manage competing priorities and work flexibly (including occasional travel and overnight stays)
Research in Practice
Research in Practice is part of the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) family. For over 60 years, the NCB has been building a better childhood for all.
Research in Practice works with organisations across the adults and children’s social care, health and criminal justice sectors, supporting them to develop an evidence-informed approach to their work. Our focus is on using evidence from research, practice and lived experience, to provide resources that improve policy and services, in order to achieve positive outcomes for people of all ages.
About NCB
For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.
Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.
The Benefits
- 30 Days Annual Leave
- Generous Pension Scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Flexible Working
- Winter Holiday Closure & Break
Employee Assistance Programme
Closing date: 8am, Friday 10th July 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible .
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.
No agencies please.
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. Almost one million people are living with dementia today. This is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. Behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a life that matters.
At Alzheimer’s Society, we are working to change this. We are committed to ending the devastation caused by dementia. Could innovation be part of the answer?
Innovation turns ideas into real change. It takes research out of reports and into everyday life. Through our Innovation Programme, we work with entrepreneurs, researchers, clinicians, and people affected by dementia. Together, we develop and scale new ideas. So far, we have supported over 60 innovations, reaching more than 1.5 million people and helping partners secure over £13.5 million in follow-on funding.
What could you help make possible?
As Innovation Assistant, you will help make this work happen. You will report to a Senior Innovator and join a small, supportive Innovation team within Research and Innovation. Your role is to keep things running smoothly day to day. You will support events, relationships, and ensure the detail behind our work is clear, accurate, and organised.
Dementia devastates lives. Could your work help change that?
What you’ll do
You will help hold the moving parts together so the team can focus on impact. What does that look like in practice?
You will:
- Help our innovation community stay connected across programmes, events, workshops, and showcases
- Support planning and delivery of events such as workshops, conferences, and meetings. What needs to be ready on the day?
- Provide day-to-day admin support, including inbox management, meeting scheduling, agendas, action tracking, and keeping records in order
- Keep stakeholder information accurate and up to date so others can rely on it
- Help prepare presentations, reports, and materials that make ideas easy to understand
- Support financial processes, including invoices, budget tracking, and clear record keeping
About you
We are looking for someone organised, curious, and comfortable working across different tasks and teams. You do not need to have done everything before. Can you learn quickly and adapt when priorities change?
We welcome applications from people who may not meet every requirement but are keen to grow into the role.
You might enjoy this role if you:
- Can work across teams to support complex projects, helping bring structure to competing priorities
- Are comfortable with data and digital systems, or willing to learn. How confident are you with IT tools?
- Have supported events in some way, such as planning, coordination, logistics, budgeting, or engagement
- Are a collaborative team player who supports others and shares workloads when things get busy
- Can work at pace in a complex environment, staying calm and organised when priorities shift
Alongside this, you bring strong organisation, attention to detail, clear communication, and a genuine interest in improving how things are done.
Interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place on Friday 17th July via MS Teams.
About Alzheimer's Society
Dementia is the UK's biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
At Alzheimer's Society, we're the UK's leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.
Together with our supporters, we're working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.
Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.
Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society.
Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.
Our hiring process
During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply. Please also contact Alzheimer's Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.
We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.
We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.
Giving back to you
Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society.
You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it's like to be an employee at the Society.