Senior policy research officer jobs

The Senior Youth Inclusion Officer is a key role within the Youth Inclusion team, helping to connect insights and champion young people’s voices throughout our work.

You will be one of two Senior Officers leading on the day-to-day delivery of the Future Voices Group (FVG) – our flagship youth engagement programme bringing together young people with lived experience of facing barriers to employment. 

This will involve working across the organisation to support teams to work with young people, in line with our strategy.

• You will ensure our youth ambassadors meaningfully and authentically shape our activity, in particular through our engagement and influencing of key audiences and decision-makers across the youth employment system.
• You will bring awareness of the youth employment policy landscape, alongside experience of supporting young people with lived expertise to influence policymaking, programme design or service improvement through youth voice approaches.
• This role requires availability for regular evening sessions and occasional weekend commitments.

We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

Please download our recruitment pack for more information on this opportunity.

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.

At Bipolar UK, we believe that no one should face bipolar alone. Every day, we work to ensure that people affected by bipolar can access the understanding, support and information they need to live well. As the UK's only national charity dedicated to bipolar, we reach around 10,000 people each month through our peer support services, online community, information resources, research partnerships and campaigns to improve diagnosis and access to care. 

We're entering an exciting period of growth and are looking for a passionate Senior Partnership Officer to help us build the partnerships and funding needed to expand our impact. Could you help us create a future where everyone affected by bipolar has access to timely support and specialist services? 

As Senior Partnership Officer, you'll play a pivotal role in developing and managing high-value relationships with corporate partners, major donors and strategic supporters. You'll identify and secure new partnership opportunities, create compelling funding propositions and steward supporters to deepen their engagement with Bipolar UK. Your work will directly help us reach more people affected by bipolar and deliver life-changing support across the UK. 

Key Details

Location: Flexible, home-based with occasional travel to events and team meetings. 

Hours: 35 hours per week. 

Salary: £35,000 depending on experience. 

Annual Leave: 25 days plus Bank Holidays (with an additional day accrued per each year of service)

Reporting to: Strategic Partnerships Manager. 

What You'll Be Working On

• Building and securing new corporate fundraising and strategic partnership opportunities. 
• Developing tailored partnership proposals and delivering engaging pitches to prospective supporters. 
• Managing and growing relationships with corporate partners, major donors and strategic allies. 
• Working with colleagues across services, fundraising and communications to develop innovative partnership opportunities. 
• Providing excellent stewardship through meetings, events, impact reporting and regular supporter engagement.
• Recording and tracking partnership activity through Salesforce and supporting effective monitoring and evaluation.

This Job Is For You If...

• You're a confident relationship builder who enjoys connecting with supporters and stakeholders. 
• You have experience securing income through partnerships, fundraising or business development. 
• You can create compelling written proposals and communicate persuasively with a range of audiences. 
• You're highly organised and able to manage multiple opportunities and projects simultaneously. 
• You're motivated by making a meaningful difference to the lives of people affected by bipolar. 

At Bipolar UK, we value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. If you're excited about the role but don't meet every requirement, we'd still love to hear from you. Together, we can ensure that more people affected by bipolar receive the support they need.

Making The Leap is an innovative societal change charity that aims to make a big difference. From direct delivery, to advocacy and leadership, we refuse to stay in our lane and believe passionately that those we exist to serve have the right to be anything they want to be. To say that this is an exciting time for the organisation would be an understatement, as our incredible funders, donors, partners and supporters have given us the chance to move to the next level, and have further influence and delivery nationally.

We provide skills training, school and mentoring programmes, and partner with businesses who want to drive forward social mobility via learning programmes, internships, job opportunities and more.

Our aim is to ensure everyone has access to a good standard of living and equality of opportunity, no matter what their or their parents’ occupation or background is.

We are looking for a Senior Evaluation and Impact Officer to evaluate the impact of our delivery activities with young adults and students, and to support the Head of Research and Advocacy to produce our annual Impact Reports.

We are based in London and support young people via our direct delivery programmes. We take what we learn from our work and use it to inspire businesses across the UK to do more to improve social mobility (making sure people from all backgrounds get fair opportunities).

Who we are:

Chefs in Schools exists to improve children’s health and futures through improving school food and food literacy.

We work alongside schools and catering teams to transform what children eat every day, particularly in communities facing the greatest barriers to good health. We combine practical support, training, operational expertise and sector influence to help schools serve fresh, nutritious food that children want to eat.

We are ambitious about both impact and scale. We want every child to have access to excellent school food and a real food education, regardless of background.

We are a values-led organisation. We are bold, honest, collaborative, innovative and focused on solutions.

About you and the role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Fundraising Officer to join our Partnerships and Engagement team. This is a brilliant opportunity to support a broad portfolio across income streams including Trusts and Foundations, Corporate Partnerships, and Major Donors.

You will play a crucial role in our fundraising efforts by leading prospect research to identify new funding opportunities to build a strong pipeline. You will support the Senior Partnership Manager and Philanthropy Manager to grow a portfolio of trusts, corporate partners and philanthropists. You will also be responsible for maintaining the CRM database (Beacon) and administrative tasks. This varied role is perfect for someone who enjoys building relationships and coordinating meaningful supporter engagement opportunities. You will work with colleagues across Chefs in Schools to gather compelling stories and impact data that demonstrate the difference our funders make.

The responsibilities, skills and experience listed below are intended to give you an idea of what we need for this role. If you don’t meet every requirement but feel you would be able to work with us to deliver the majority of them, we urge you to apply anyway. We’re dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and for us the most important ‘experience’ is passion for our mission. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

You will have excellent organisation skills, with good attention to detail and the ability to prioritise a varied workload. You will have strong communication skills and be able to build relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

We want to get to know you at the interview and understand we can do this best if you’re at ease. We’re an inclusive employer and are passionate about creating a welcoming working environment for everyone. We’re continually updating our DEI policy and have a neurodiversity champion. If you need adjustments to the interview process please let us know.

As we work with children and young people, an offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and DBS clearance, in line with our safeguarding policy.

Key responsibilities

• Lead prospect research to build a strong pipeline of trusts, corporates and major donors which align with our mission. This includes network mapping to identify existing connections and relationships.

• Act as the CRM champion for fundraising, ensuring all donor interactions and details are accurately recorded and updated.

• Support in developing and maintaining inspiring stewardship and engagement plans for funders and supporters.

• Provide events support; logistics, guestlist management and other duties where required.

• Prepare insightful briefings for the Senior Leadership Team ahead of key funder meetings.

• Work with the communications team to create engaging end of term/ annual reports for key funders and donors.

• Monitor sector trends and newly launched funding rounds to ensure we never miss an opportunity.

• Work with the finance team to process donations and Gift Aid declarations, ensuring thank-yous are sent out promptly.

• Pull regular financial and pipeline reports from the database to assist with team forecasting and planning.

• Provide warm supporter care as the first point of contact for public fundraising inquiries.

• Support the delivery of digital appeals, regular giving, and community fundraising initiatives.

Essential skills & experience

• You have at least 1–2 years of experience in a charity fundraising environment.

• You have interest and belief in our mission, to improve child health through improving food and food education in schools.

• You are an excellent writer and communicator with strong presentation and communication skills.

• You have experience of using CRM software.

• You have strong research skills and experience synthesizing complex information into succinct and accessible copy.

• You are highly organised and can juggle multiple deadlines while maintaining a sharp eye for detail.

• You are a natural relationship builder, comfortable interacting with a diverse range of stakeholders.

• You demonstrate self-motivation, flexibility and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing, growing organisation.

Desirable skills & experience

• Experience using tools like Canva or Mailchimp to create engaging fundraising content.

• Experience in planning and delivering fundraising events.

• Familiarity with fundraising regulations and data protection laws regarding donor privacy.

What success looks like

Within the first 12 to 18 months, success in this role is likely to include a comprehensive knowledge of our existing fundraising model and key funders, taking the lead in prospect research, leading on account management of restaurant partners, small to medium scale fundraising campaigns, and supporting with event organisation. You will also have gained a comprehensive knowledge of the organisational strategy and the wider school food system. 

Our commitment to inclusion

We know that strong candidates may not meet every single requirement listed in this job description.

If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution to our mission, we would encourage you to apply.

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation where people from different backgrounds, experiences and communities can thrive. If you require assistance or reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process please let us know.

Benefits

You would be joining a friendly, supportive team who works hard but believe in a healthy work/life balance. We were voted one of CODE Hospitality's happiest places to work in 2024. We seek a diverse range of perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge. Joining a small, collaborative team means you'll be able to contribute to and draw on various projects and strategic insights.

We offer 33 days of holiday per year including bank holidays, 3 additional office closure days over the Christmas period as well as wellbeing days over the summer school holidays. We also have a Cycle to Work scheme, hybrid working, enhanced parental leave, and free access to the CODE app for discounted restaurants & hospitality venues. We are committed to developing our team and will support you with relevant training opportunities including £250 towards elective training and development of your choice.

We also offer Bupa Dental Insurance, Income Protection Insurance, as well as access to the Aviva Smart Health Platform which offers health benefits including free rapid access online GP appointments, free counselling and wellbeing support.

Application process

In line with our commitment to ensuring a fair and unbiased recruitment process, we invite candidates to answer a series of questions related to their day-to-day job. 

Each question has a 250-word limit. We recommend that you develop your answers offline and copy them in when you're ready, to make sure you don't lose your work if interrupted.

All communication about your application, other than a verbal job offer, will be sent through the Applied platform - please check your Applied account regularly (as well as your spam folder) for updates.

Your answers will go through our sifting process: all answers are anonymised, randomised and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers. A longlist of candidates will then additionally have their CVs reviewed. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 30 minute online interview. Successful candidates will be invited to attend a second, in-person interview at our office in Brixton, London.

Expected duration of this application process: 4-6 weeks

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online 30-minute competency based interview, held in the week commencing 7th September. 

Successful candidates will be invited to an in-person second interview at our office in Brixton, London w/c 14th September. The interview overall will take a maximum of one hour.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Manager, Policy Fellowships and Systems in Government to play a leading role in the Academy’s policy programmes work. Joining the Policy Programmes team within the Policy and International Directorate, you will help connect policymakers with engineering expertise and systems thinking to address complex policy and delivery challenges across government. Drawing on your understanding of the UK policy landscape, you will lead the design and delivery of high-quality policy fellowships, systems-based programmes, workshops and events that strengthen capability across government.

Working closely with senior policymakers, Academy Fellows and expert partners, you will build trusted relationships that shape programme content, maximise impact and ensure our work remains relevant to government priorities. You will oversee programme planning, budgets, evaluation and stakeholder engagement while supporting the continued evolution of our policy fellowships and systems offer.

As you further develop programmes and partnerships, you will play an important role in positioning the Academy as a trusted partner to government and a leader in applying engineering-informed systems approaches to public policy. If you enjoy designing impactful programmes, working with senior stakeholders and translating complex ideas into practical solutions, this is an exciting opportunity to help influence policy thinking and delivery across government.

Our location

Our light, spacious head office is based in a fantastic location in central London with views over St James’s Park and close to the West End. We operate hybrid, flexible working practices with a baseline for office-based working of a mandatory weekly team day plus further days each week as required for the role and the Academy.

Who are we?

Engineering matters. It shapes our everyday lives, from our ability to turn the lights on, have a hot shower and commute into work to the mobile phones we rely on to keep connected. It also plays a vital role in addressing some of the biggest challenges facing society today, from climate change to global health pandemics and cyber threats.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is a charity that harnesses the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation, building global partnerships, influencing policy and engaging the public. Together, we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age. 

With a diverse workforce and an inclusive and supportive culture, we look to attract candidates from wide and different backgrounds who have a passion for the role engineering plays in society. Our aim is to make the Academy the best place to work for the staff we have and those we seek to attract.

Why work for us?

We’re looking for people who are driven to make the world a better place. If you’re passionate about what you do and want to work collaboratively with talented colleagues to make change happen now and for future generations, we want you to get in touch.

This is the perfect time to join us. We have a dynamic, visionary CEO, a strong leadership team and an ambitious and exciting strategy. The value we bring as experts in our field and change agents is highly recognised and makes the Academy a motivating place to be. Our work today builds on a long, proud history with a focused and ambitious future which we’d love you to be part of.

We are looking for talented people who want to make a difference to join our team – is this you?

For more information and to apply, please visit our careers page.

Closing date: 24 August 2026.
Interview date: w/c 31 August 2026.

The Academy is committed to making reasonable adjustments to remove barriers that hinder applicants from applying or staff from working effectively and comfortably.

With a diverse workforce and an inclusive and supportive culture, we look to attract candidates from wide and different backgrounds who have a passion for the role engineering plays in society. Our aim is to make the Academy the best place to work for the staff we have and those we seek to attract.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is proud to be an ‘A’ Rated Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence holder, as approved by the UK Immigration Authorities.

The Academy may consider sponsorship for roles that are eligible, as defined by the Home Office. In accordance with Home Office criteria, sponsorship may only be considered where there is a suitable Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, the minimum salary threshold is met, and all other relevant Points Based System requirements for Skilled Worker sponsorship are fulfilled. Please note that this does not guarantee that the Academy will be able to sponsor a candidate as a Skilled Worker and accordingly may not be able to make an offer.

A Certificate of Sponsorship may be assigned, and a Skilled Worker visa application will only be made once an applicant has been successfully and conditionally offered a role. All offers of employment requiring sponsorship under the Academy’s Sponsor Licence are subject to the individual obtaining the legal right to work in the United Kingdom for the Academy in the specific role.

Employment will not be confirmed until the Skilled Worker visa application has been formally approved and communicated by the Home Office. Additionally, a potential offer of employment may be made to candidates who already hold a visa permitting work for the Academy in a specific role. As with Skilled Worker sponsorship, such employment may be time-limited depending on the nature of the visa.

We are looking for a policy adviser to work primarily in our resource stewardship theme to help deliver ambitious leadership for the environment. You will also have opportunities to work on projects in our Legislation & Governance unit.

Using your strong research and strong communication skills, you will contribute to work that shapes the future of circular economy policy and environmental legislation in the UK. Collaborating with colleagues across the organization, including in comms and politics, you will help identify compelling evidence, stories, and projects to drive better use of resources in the UK and will secure support for projects and policy proposals by building relationships with politicians and policymakers, environmental NGOs and community groups, business partners and other stakeholders.

This is a varied role that will also include project management to ensure effective delivery, including ensuring outputs and events are effectively planned and executed to deadline and to a high quality.

You will need to understand, or be willing to learn about, the political and environmental policy contexts we work in and the state of resources policy and wider environmental legislation in the UK.

Youth Employment UK is seeking a Senior Policy Officer to join our Policy and Research department at an important moment for youth employment policy.

The Senior Policy Officer will strengthen Youth Employment UK’s policy and insight capacity by helping gather, analyse and communicate evidence from young people, employers, members and the wider youth employment system.

Working with the Policy and Research Director, the role will support Youth Employment UK to develop high-quality policy positions, recommendations, briefings and reports, and to strengthen our reputation as a leading source of insight and practical solutions for youth employment.

This is a policy-focused role with strong research literacy. It is not a technical academic research post, but the postholder will need to be confident in interpreting evidence, drawing out implications, writing clearly, and translating insight into practical recommendations for different audiences.

Summary of responsibilities

• Monitor, analyse and respond to youth employment-related policy developments through written briefings, articles, guidance and formal evidence submissions. 

• Support the development of Youth Employment UK policy positions, recommendations and messages

• Work with Youth Ambassadors and young people to gather insight that informs policy positions, reports and recommendations

• Support delivery of our Youth Voice Census by writing up findings for a wide range of audiences

• Support Youth Employment UK’s Good Youth Employment Benchmark by conducting employer interviews and writing employer-facing reports.

• Support Youth Employment UK’s public affairs activity, including APPG, Connected Communities and other policy forums.

• Work closely with the Policy and Research Director, Policy and Research Coordinator and wider team in an agile, fast-paced working environment 

About you

We are looking for someone with strong policy judgement, excellent writing skills, professional curiosity and a commitment to improving systems for young people. 

You will bring:

• Experience in policy, public affairs, research, youth employment, education, skills, employment support, social policy or a related area

• Research literacy and confidence working with evidence, data, reports and lived experience insight

• Ability to turn complex information into clear briefings, recommendations and practical outputs

• Confidence in engaging with a range of stakeholders, such as young people, employers, members, policymakers, charities, NGOs, think tanks or public bodies.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to adapt communication to a wide range of audiences 

• A high level of self and project management skill, able to work effectively as part of a team and independently 

• A clear passion for improving education, employment and transitions outcomes for young people through policy activity. 

A full overview of responsibilities in the role and person criteria can be seen in the attached job description. 

What we will provide to you

• Competitive salary.

• Standard company pension.

• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 26 days after 12 months’ service.

• 2 volunteering days per year.

• 2 additional wellbeing days per year.

• Onsite parking, available on a first come, first served basis.

• Personal development opportunities.

• Free breakfast and lunch options when in the office.

• Team activities and events.

• Dog-friendly office.

Please note that this is a full-time (37.5 hour) role, with some flexibility over working hours. Our main office is in Kettering, right next to the train station. However, we are open to discussing remote and hybrid working arrangements with the right candidate. 

About the role: AMRC is looking for a policy officer to join our small but highly influential policy and public affairs team, working at the heart of the medical research community. You will support our influencing and advocacy work, helping build a thriving research environment that facilitates innovation. We work with government and policy makers to ensure that our charities can invest in a healthy and sustainable research system across universities and the NHS. You will undertake analysis and horizon scanning to enable us to keep our members up-to-date, and you will support the development of AMRC’s policy activity. You will support activities in many areas of work including improving the sustainability of charity-university research; enhancing research careers, translation and infrastructure; maintaining a facilitative legislative and regulatory environment; and enhancing charity-industry partnerships, helping research findings to be translated into treatments, policy and practice more quickly. There will also be a public affairs dimension to the role that includes work with the APPG for Life Sciences, for which AMRC is part of the secretariat. 

Please see our website for the job description and application instructions. 

The role

This is an exciting opportunity to join NEYDL’s growing team and help us establish and develop our work with young dads in Sunderland.

As a Senior Young Dads Worker, you will provide direct, intensive support to young dads across Sunderland, working with some of the most disadvantaged young men in the region. You will manage your own caseload, lead peer support activity, work in close partnership with Family Hubs, social care and other local services, and take a lead role in ensuring every young dad you work with is effectively supported from first contact through to positive outcomes.

This is a senior role with real responsibility. Alongside direct delivery, you will take ownership of your project budget, contribute to funder reporting, supervise junior staff and/or volunteers, and develop a designated area of specialism agreed with the senior leadership team. You will be part of a close, supportive team and will play an active role in shaping how NEYDL grows its presence in Sunderland.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone with experience of working with disadvantaged young people or young families in a direct support role, ideally in a statutory or voluntary sector context. You will be confident working independently and managing a complex caseload, and you will understand the challenges facing young dads and the systems they navigate.

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of young fatherhood or young parenthood, from individuals with local knowledge of Sunderland communities, and from people from minoritised backgrounds.

What we offer

NEYDL is a close, inclusive and supportive team that actively invests in the development of its staff. We are a non-judgmental organisation built on mutual trust, respect and honesty. If you join us, you will be part of a team that genuinely believes in what it does.

In addition, we offer:

• 7.2 weeks’ annual leave per year, inclusive of statutory and public holidays
• 5% employer pension contribution
• A flexible hybrid working arrangement
• Regular supervision and fortnightly team meetings
• Funded professional development and training
• Mileage paid at 55p per mile for business travel

Job purpose

To provide high-quality, intensive support to young dads and expectant fathers (aged 25 and under) across Sunderland; to lead and coordinate peer support activity; to manage allocated budgets and contribute to funder reporting; and to take an active role in the development of NEYDL’s commissioned services in the region.

Key responsibilities

1. Direct support

• Provide in-person and online 1-to-1 support to young dads and non-birthing people, helping them address key challenges and achieve personal outcomes
• Assess new referrals and manage a complex caseload, prioritising according to need and risk
• Support young dads to attend key meetings with professionals (including child protection, child in need, family court and multi-agency forums)
• Help young dads to access wider opportunities including volunteering, employment, education and community activities
• Support young dads and their families to engage in father and child activities, stay and play sessions, and peer supported recreational activities
• Promote and support access to DigiDAD, NEYDL’s free e-learning platform, and other training and information resources

2. Peer support and group work

• Establish, coordinate and co-facilitate in-person peer support groups for young dads in Sunderland
• Support the development and delivery of parenting, relationship skills and employability sessions in response to community-identified needs
• Support peer moderated video gaming groups as part of DigiDAD Gaming where relevant

3. Induction, onboarding and milestones

• Ensure every young dad is effectively inducted onto the NEYDL service, completing key onboarding steps and baseline self-evaluation measures
• Track and record progress against key milestones throughout the support journey, in line with NEYDL’s evaluation framework
• Ensure all relevant data is recorded accurately and on time in NEYDL’s data management system

4. Budget and targets

• Take ownership of allocated project budgets, monitoring expenditure and liaising with the Programme Manager (Commissioned Services) and Finance Officer as required
• Work proactively to achieve agreed referral rate targets, taking responsibility for building pathways and relationships that generate consistent referrals
• Contribute to the preparation of funder reports under the oversight of the Programme Manager and Fundraiser, providing accurate data and case study material

5. Specialism

• Take on a designated area of specialism within NEYDL, agreed with the Senior Leadership Team (for example, volunteering, safeguarding or environmental programmes)
• Take a lead role within the team in relation to your specialism, contributing expertise and supporting colleagues

6. Management of staff and volunteers

• Line manage junior staff, project workers and/or volunteers as required
• Support staff and volunteers with operational queries and day-to-day delivery
• Contribute to the induction, supervision and professional development of staff and volunteers
• Support the recruitment and progression of young dads into volunteering roles, including as DigiDAD content creators, peer researchers, DADvocates, AmbassaDADS and community leaders

7. Monitoring and evaluation

• Support the effective recording, monitoring and reporting of programme performance via NEYDL’s data management system and evaluation framework
• Comply with all monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements, both internal and funder-related
• Support the work of NEYDL’s research partners and independent evaluators as required

8. Collaboration and partnerships

• Work in partnership with key stakeholders in Sunderland to improve the service offer for young dads, including Family Hub teams, social care, health, housing, education and voluntary sector organisations
• Build referral pathways and maintain strong working relationships with local services and networks
• Develop and build effective relationships with principal stakeholders, supporters and referral partners

9. Advocacy and engagement

• Represent NEYDL at external events and meetings to raise awareness of the service and influence other organisations
• Promote, campaign and advocate with and on behalf of young men, ensuring NEYDL continues to be a leading voice for positive change
• Work proactively to enable young dads to influence the design and delivery of the service, including supporting their participation in community leadership programmes
• Support the charity’s communications and engagement activity, including contributing content to annual reports, social media and local media

10. Other

• Deputise for the Programme Managers as required
• Report to the Board of Trustees in person or in writing on a quarterly basis as required

11. Standard clauses

• The post holder must carry out their responsibilities at all times with due regard to NEYDL’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, policy and statement, and Safeguarding Policy
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that policies and procedures relating to health and safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times
• The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means, in line with NEYDL’s Data Protection Policy
• This role requires satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance prior to appointment

This job description is not exhaustive. NEYDL reserves the right to reasonably add to or revise it at any time in agreement with the post holder.

Research and Policy Officer 
Job Description 

About DigitalCare Hub 

Digital technology helps care services spend more time caring. It helps the people we support keep control of their lives, and of their care. Over the last few years, the need for information to be shared securely and efficiently between health and care services has become even moreapparent. But this introduces new risks – for example how information is kept safe and secure, and what happens if a digital system fails. 

This is a shared role across DigitalCare HubandtheBetter Security, Better Careprogramme which wemanage. 

Digital Care Hubis runwithsocialcare,for social care.The Digital Care Hub provides free information,guidanceand support to enable adult social care providers to make the most of digital technology – and to do it safely. 

We are an independent, not-for profit, Community Interest Company, guided by care providers, so we understand the needs and challenges facing the diverse range of organisations in our sector. 

Better Security, BetterCareis a support programme– funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and managed by Digital Care Hub -to help adult social care providers to store and share information safelyby using the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT). The DSPT is a free, online self-assessment for health and care providers to evaluate and improve their data and cyber security. 

The programme is delivered by acentral team and our local support organisations across the country. Most of these support organisations arelocal care provider trade associations. We also work closely with colleagues from the NHS, ADASS, DHSC and local councils. 

About you and the role 

We're looking for an inquisitive, analytical and collaborativeResearch and Policy Officerto join our growing team. 

You'll play a key role in helping Digital Care Hub become the leading source of evidence, insight and practical guidance on digital transformation, data, AI and cybersecurity in adult social care. 

Working across our national programmes, you'll design and deliver research projects, analyse policy developments, engage with providers and partners, and translate complex issues into clear, practical resources that help the sector improve. You'll contribute to consultation responses, produce reports and briefings, support national events and webinars, and help us demonstrate the impact of our work. 

This is a varied role that combines research, policy development, stakeholder engagement and programme delivery. No two weeks will look the same—you could be facilitating a roundtable with care providers, analysing survey data, drafting a briefing for government, interviewing providers for a case study or helping develop new guidance on AI in social care. 

You'll work closely with colleagues across Digital Care Hub and our national partners, taking an entrepreneurial approach to identifying emerging issues, generating insight and turning evidence into action. You'll report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and will have the opportunity to shape the development of our research and policy function as the organisation continues to grow. 

Key Responsibilities 

Research and Insight 

• Design and deliver research projects. 

• Develop surveys and analyse data. 

• Conduct interviews and focus groups. 

• Facilitate provider roundtables. 

• Review policy and academic literature. 

• Produce evidence summaries. 

• Identify emerging issues across digital health and adult social care. 

Policy Development 

• Draft policy papers and consultation responses. 

• Translate research into practical recommendations. 

• Produce briefings for government, boards and senior leaders. 

• Track developments across DHSC, NHS England, CQC and ICO. 

• Support Digital Care Hub policy positions. 

Programme Delivery 

• Support grant funded programmes. 

• Develop guidance and resources. 

• Produce webinar materials and case studies. 

• Coordinate advisory groups. 

• Support monitoring and evaluation. 

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Build relationships with providers and representative bodies. 

• Collaborate with universities, government and sector partners. 

• Engage technology suppliers where appropriate. 

Communications 

• Write reports, briefings and newsletters. 

• Draft articles and presentations. 

• Support thought leadership. 

Monitoring and Evaluation 

• Develop outcome measures. 

• Analyse programme impact. 

• Produce evaluation reports. 

• Identify lessons learned. 

Person Specification 

Essential 

• Degree or equivalent experience. 

• Experience designing research projects. 

• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills. 

• Excellent written communication. 

• Ability to explain complex subjects clearly. 

• Excellent organisational skills. 

Desirable 

• Charity experience. 

• Knowledge of digital transformation. 

• Understanding of AI and cybersecurity. 

• Experience evaluating programmes. 

• Experience working with government. 

 
Main terms and conditions 

• £36,000 per annum including pension. 

• Full timefixed term12 month fixed term contract 

• Homebased,withsometravelacross England 

• 28 days annual leave plus Bank holidays 

Lead change. Shape policy. Amplify the voices of bereaved families.

Child Bereavement UK is looking for an accomplished Head of Policy & Research to lead our evidence and policy agenda at a pivotal time for the charity.

You'll bring a strong track record of leading policy and research activity, developing influential partnerships, and translating evidence into meaningful change. With an established understanding of the policy landscape and the credibility to engage senior stakeholders across health, social care, government and the voluntary sector, you'll play a key role in shaping policy and practice for bereaved families across the UK.

You'll lead our research programme, develop evidence-based positions, build strategic partnerships, and ensure the experiences of bereaved children, young people and parents bereaved of a baby or child are reflected in policy and practice across the UK.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience and established networks in policy and research.
• Can translate complex evidence into compelling recommendations for change.
• Is an exceptional relationship-builder, communicator and strategic thinker.
• Is passionate about improving outcomes for bereaved children, young people and parents.

This is a rare opportunity to shape national conversations, influence decision-makers and ensure lived experience is at the heart of policy and practice.

Please note, the role will involve regular travel to London based conferences, events and network meetings as required, plus occasional travel to team meetings in Birmingham.

Join us and help create lasting change for bereaved families across the UK.

Head of Research and Policy
£45,000–£50,000
London (office-based with UK travel)
Full-time, Permanent

Our client is a UK-registered charity dedicated to tackling anti-Muslim hate and supporting those affected by it. Through victim support, research, community engagement and policy influence, the work to challenge Islamophobia and create lasting change.

As the Trust expands its national reach, they are strengthening the senior leadership team to increase its impact, deepen the evidence base and ensure the voices and experiences of Muslim communities are reflected in public policy and practice.

Prospectus is pleased to be working with our client to recruit a Head of Research & Policy to join the team based in

The Role
The Head of Research and Policy will lead the trust's research, evidence and advocacy work.

Reporting to the CEO, you will develop and deliver the trust's research agenda, including flagship reports on the scale and impact of anti-Muslim hate. You will turn evidence into influential policy positions, lead engagement with government, parliament, statutory agencies and the media, and ensure that the lived experiences of those the Trust support informs policy and practice.

Working closely with the CEO and COO, you will strengthen the trust's reputation as a trusted voice on anti-Muslim hate, producing high-quality research, policy briefings and consultation responses while supporting organisational growth and impact. As a member of the senior leadership team, you will also contribute to strategic planning, managing budgets and overseeing the development of the research and policy function.

This person will work closely with a Research and Campaigns Officer to deliver on overall objectives.

The Person
The successful candidate will bring significant experience in research, policy, public affairs and advocacy, ideally within the charity, equality, human rights or community sectors. You will have a strong understanding of the issues facing Muslim communities in the UK and a proven ability to use evidence to influence policy and decision-makers.

An outstanding communicator and analytical thinker, you will be confident interpreting complex data, engaging senior stakeholders and producing compelling written outputs for a wide range of audiences. A confident public speaker, you will be comfortable presenting to government officials, parliamentarians and the media whilst also able to mobilise others to advocate and campaign. You will possess sound judgement, integrity and sensitivity when dealing with confidential information, delicate issues and vulnerable individuals. Most importantly, you will share the trust's commitment to compassion, integrity, inclusion, courage and collaboration, and will be passionate about advancing equality and tackling anti-Muslim hate.

The organisation & Prospectus are both committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of the issues affecting the communities the trust serves. Recruitment decisions are made solely on merit, and reasonable adjustments will be provided throughout the recruitment process where needed.

 

About Us

For over 21 years, The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre has offered free, holistic support to anyone in our community affected by cancer through complementary therapies, talking therapies, art, and our supportive community.

In 2025 alone, we had 1,911 individual visits and 1,021 therapy sessions - entirely through the dedication of our volunteer team. We are currently renovating our new centre, and we want to use it to reach further into our community than ever before. This is the first paid role in our history.

About the Role

As our first Executive Director, you will be the single point of accountability between our Board of Trustees and the day-to-day operation of the Centre - working alongside our (voluntary) Centre Manager and (voluntary) Volunteer Manager to support their roles, not duplicate them. You'll lead our strategy delivery, guide the charity's move into its new home, and oversee a service redesign informed by a fresh programme of visitor, volunteer and community research.

About You

You already know how to do this job - you've held a senior, accountable position in a charity or comparable organisation and can bring that experience from day one. You're confident reporting to a board of trustees, comfortable getting things done, and able to win the trust of a highly experienced, long-standing volunteer team through competence and credibility, not authority alone.

Key Activity Areas

• Financial management – budgeting, financial controls, and reporting to the Board and Treasurer

• Governance & best practice – supporting trustees to discharge their statutory duties; maintaining the policy suite and risk register

• HR & people leadership – supporting our entire volunteer and therapist team; communication is key to our volunteers

• Fundraising – write and lead on a fundraising strategy, implement new funding streams and be the ‘face of Pickering’ – local networking will be essential

• Change management – leading the transition to our new centre and evolving service model with care and consultation

• Compliance – safeguarding, health and safety, GDPR, and other regulatory requirements

Qualifications - Desirable

All the below are not necessary qualifications but would assist with this role:

• CIPD qualification, or equivalent hands-on HR experience

• A recognised governance qualification (e.g. Chartered Governance Institute) or completion of a charity leadership programme or similar

• Financial management experience – a qualification would be useful but not essential

• Safeguarding lead training

Experience and Competencies — Essential

• Senior leadership experience with genuine authority and accountability in a charity or comparable mission-led organisation

• A track record of reporting to and working with a board of trustees or non-executive directors

• A track record of leading organisational change, with evidence it was genuinely adopted

• Sound financial literacy - budgets, management accounts, financial controls, dealing with auditors

• Working knowledge of safeguarding, risk management and regulatory compliance

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including board-level reporting as well as the ability to speak in public

• Experience making a leadership role pay for itself, through income generation, cost savings, or both

• A genuine, demonstrable commitment to Pickering's mission

Experience and Competencies — Desirable

• Fundraising experience across grants, trusts, community fundraising and corporate partnerships

• Experience within the cancer support, wider healthcare, or hospice sector

• Lived experience of cancer, personally or through supporting someone close to you

• Experience leading a refresh of a brand or a rebrand, service redesign, or physical relocation of services

• Familiarity with Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding local community

Safeguarding

This role involves working with adults who may be vulnerable by virtue of serious illness. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory reference checks before appointment, and will act as, or oversee, the charity's designated safeguarding lead.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Pickering is committed to equal opportunity for all and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. A copy of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy is available on request.

How to Apply

Please apply by Sunday 6 September 2026. Interviews are expected to take place w/c 14 September 2026.

The role

This is an exciting opportunity to join NEYDL’s growing team and help us establish and develop our work with young dads in Tees Valley.

As a Senior Young Dads Worker, you will provide direct, intensive support to young dads across Tees Valley, working with some of the most disadvantaged young men in the region. You will manage your own caseload, lead peer support activity, work in close partnership with Family Hubs, social care and other local services, and take a lead role in ensuring every young dad you work with is effectively supported from first contact through to positive outcomes.

This is a senior role with real responsibility. Alongside direct delivery, you will take ownership of your project budget, contribute to funder reporting, supervise junior staff and/or volunteers, and develop a designated area of specialism agreed with the senior leadership team. You will be part of a close, supportive team and will play an active role in shaping how NEYDL grows its presence in Tees Valley.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone with experience of working with disadvantaged young people or young families in a direct support role, ideally in a statutory or voluntary sector context. You will be confident working independently and managing a complex caseload, and you will understand the challenges facing young dads and the systems they navigate.

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of young fatherhood or young parenthood, from individuals with local knowledge of Tees Valley communities, and from people from minoritised backgrounds.

What we offer

NEYDL is a close, inclusive and supportive team that actively invests in the development of its staff. We are a non-judgmental organisation built on mutual trust, respect and honesty. If you join us, you will be part of a team that genuinely believes in what it does.

In addition, we offer:

• 7.2 weeks’ annual leave per year, inclusive of statutory and public holidays
• 5% employer pension contribution
• A flexible hybrid working arrangement
• Regular supervision and fortnightly team meetings
• Funded professional development and training
• Mileage paid at 55p per mile for business travel

Job purpose

To provide high-quality, intensive support to young dads and expectant fathers (aged 25 and under) across Tees Valley; to lead and coordinate peer support activity; to manage allocated budgets and contribute to funder reporting; and to take an active role in the development of NEYDL’s commissioned services in the region.

Key responsibilities

1. Direct support

• Provide in-person and online 1-to-1 support to young dads and non-birthing people, helping them address key challenges and achieve personal outcomes
• Assess new referrals and manage a complex caseload, prioritising according to need and risk
• Support young dads to attend key meetings with professionals (including child protection, child in need, family court and multi-agency forums)
• Help young dads to access wider opportunities including volunteering, employment, education and community activities
• Support young dads and their families to engage in father and child activities, stay and play sessions, and peer supported recreational activities
• Promote and support access to DigiDAD, NEYDL’s free e-learning platform, and other training and information resources

2. Peer support and group work

• Establish, coordinate and co-facilitate in-person peer support groups for young dads in Tees Valley
• Support the development and delivery of parenting, relationship skills and employability sessions in response to community-identified needs
• Support peer moderated video gaming groups as part of DigiDAD Gaming where relevant

3. Induction, onboarding and milestones

• Ensure every young dad is effectively inducted onto the NEYDL service, completing key onboarding steps and baseline self-evaluation measures
• Track and record progress against key milestones throughout the support journey, in line with NEYDL’s evaluation framework
• Ensure all relevant data is recorded accurately and on time in NEYDL’s data management system

4. Budget and targets

• Take ownership of allocated project budgets, monitoring expenditure and liaising with the Programme Manager (Commissioned Services) and Finance Officer as required
• Work proactively to achieve agreed referral rate targets, taking responsibility for building pathways and relationships that generate consistent referrals
• Contribute to the preparation of funder reports under the oversight of the Programme Manager and Fundraiser, providing accurate data and case study material

5. Specialism

• Take on a designated area of specialism within NEYDL, agreed with the Senior Leadership Team (for example, volunteering, safeguarding or environmental programmes)
• Take a lead role within the team in relation to your specialism, contributing expertise and supporting colleagues

6. Management of staff and volunteers

• Line manage junior staff, project workers and/or volunteers as required
• Support staff and volunteers with operational queries and day-to-day delivery
• Contribute to the induction, supervision and professional development of staff and volunteers
• Support the recruitment and progression of young dads into volunteering roles, including as DigiDAD content creators, peer researchers, DADvocates, AmbassaDADS and community leaders

7. Monitoring and evaluation

• Support the effective recording, monitoring and reporting of programme performance via NEYDL’s data management system and evaluation framework
• Comply with all monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements, both internal and funder-related
• Support the work of NEYDL’s research partners and independent evaluators as required

8. Collaboration and partnerships

• Work in partnership with key stakeholders in Tees Valley to improve the service offer for young dads, including Family Hub teams, social care, health, housing, education and voluntary sector organisations
• Build referral pathways and maintain strong working relationships with local services and networks
• Develop and build effective relationships with principal stakeholders, supporters and referral partners

9. Advocacy and engagement

• Represent NEYDL at external events and meetings to raise awareness of the service and influence other organisations
• Promote, campaign and advocate with and on behalf of young men, ensuring NEYDL continues to be a leading voice for positive change
• Work proactively to enable young dads to influence the design and delivery of the service, including supporting their participation in community leadership programmes
• Support the charity’s communications and engagement activity, including contributing content to annual reports, social media and local media

10. Other

• Deputise for the Programme Managers as required
• Report to the Board of Trustees in person or in writing on a quarterly basis as required

11. Standard clauses

• The post holder must carry out their responsibilities at all times with due regard to NEYDL’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, policy and statement, and Safeguarding Policy
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that policies and procedures relating to health and safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times
• The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means, in line with NEYDL’s Data Protection Policy
• This role requires satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance prior to appointment

This job description is not exhaustive. NEYDL reserves the right to reasonably add to or revise it at any time in agreement with the post holder.