Senior researcher jobs

Full Time or Part Time

Hybrid - Farringdon, London/Home-based

Closing Date: 19 February 2026

Save the Children UK is looking for a specialist in wasting treatment and prevention programming to join us as a Senior Nutrition Adviser (maternity cover) in our Hunger, Nutrition & Livelihoods team within our Global Impact group. In this role, you will provide high-level technical leadership, supporting both ongoing programmes and new innovations, guiding the strategic direction and quality of nutrition programmes, and working with country offices to deliver high-quality, evidence-based interventions that improve outcomes for children globally.

About Us

Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.  When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave.  We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

 About the Team

Working as part of the Global Impact group, our Global Outcomes function catalyses positive change for children by driving influencing agendas and bringing knowledge, evidence, analysis and expertise to our partnerships, programmes and advocacy work.   

The Hunger, Nutrition & Livelihoods Team works as part of the Global Save the Children movement and the wider sector to drive long lasting systems changes at the global and country levels. We are committed to promoting inclusive and equitable solutions, amplifying the voices of children most affected by inequality, and prioritising locally led efforts for lasting change. 

About the role

The Senior Nutrition Adviser is an exciting position leading Save the Children UK's work on the prevention and treatment of child wasting/acute malnutrition, providing leadership across the movement on complex assignments and projects, and contributing to overall strategy and policies. You will provide expert technical guidance to drive impactful programme design and evidence generation, and to policy and advocacy goals on child wasting / acute malnutrition. You will build and maintain strategic relationships with key decision-makers and partners, lead capacity strengthening for colleagues and partners, and champion equality, inclusion and the shifting power agenda.

In this role, you will:

• Provide senior technical leadership on the prevention and treatment of child wasting / acute malnutrition, supporting high-quality programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning across country offices and the wider movement
• Ensure nutrition strategies and programmes are informed by the latest research, scientific evidence and learning, and that this evidence is effectively translated into policy and practice
• Deliver high-level, tailored technical support to country offices managing complex nutrition programmes, both remotely and through in-country engagement
• Lead the development, adaptation and use of evidence-based nutrition standards, guidance, tools and technical positions aligned with global best practice
• Support the design and delivery of large-scale, high-impact nutrition programmes, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy, national policies and international standards
• Represent Save the Children as a technical expert on child wasting and nutrition in global forums, technical working groups, partnerships and sector networks
• Build and sustain strong relationships with donors, academic institutions, research partners and technical agencies to strengthen learning, influence and impact
• Contribute to resource mobilisation through donor engagement, development of high-quality concept notes and funding proposals, and support to partnership strategies
• Strengthen collaboration, innovation and learning across multidisciplinary teams and technical communities of practice
• Build organisational nutrition capacity through mentoring, coaching and inclusive leadership, championing equality, inclusion and impact in all aspects of the work

About you

To be successful, it is important that you have:

• Significant experience in programming and evidence generation on the treatment of child wasting
• Experience working on the prevention of child wasting, including good understanding of the issue of post-treatment relapse
• Substantial experience designing, leading and managing large-scale nutrition programmes in an international development context, including the treatment and prevention of child wasting
• Awareness and ideally experience of approaches for the economic evaluation of prevention and treatment of child wasting / acute malnutrition
• Able to strengthen evidence and learning uptake through analysis and collaboration
• Able to support development of strategies to influence key stakeholders (partners, donors, policy makers) in the prevention and treatment of child wasting
• Strong strategic, analytical and conceptual skills, with the ability to apply evidence to influence policy and practice at a senior level
• Proven ability to build and sustain effective international partnerships, and to influence senior decision-makers, donors and policy stakeholders
• Successful track record in developing high-value funding proposals, with strong monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches, budget oversight, grant management and donor reporting
• Highly collaborative leader with strong interpersonal skills, able to convene diverse stakeholders, coach others and work through teams to deliver impact
• Ideally an Internationally recognised postgraduate qualification in nutrition or a related field (e.g. MSc Public Health, Nutrition, or equivalent

Please Note: We're happy to consider flexible working arrangements and welcome applications for this role on either a full-time or part-time basis.

Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Location & Ways of Working:

The majority of our roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but at times you will be required to come to your contracted office (usually between 2–4 days per month, depending on the needs of your role, team, or service). For many roles, this is likely to be the minimum required to deliver impact.

This will be discussed and agreed with your manager / team and we encourage candidates to discuss our ways of working in more detail at interview stage.

Please note: travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense. 

Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: 

Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think. 

We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.

Circa £49,000 per annum

Temporary – Ealy Moments Leave Cover until March 2027

Part home/Part office (London) based

UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.

This is an exciting opportunity to join The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) as a Senior Policy Adviser leading our work on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), reporting to the Head of UK Policy and working closely with colleagues in London and our office in Edinburgh.

As Senior Policy Adviser (UNCRC) you will lead our foundational advocacy work to embed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child across the four nations of the UK and Crown dependencies. Sitting within the Advocacy Department, you will be ensuring that child rights are embedded in all UNICEF UK’s work, playing a critical role in our influencing work.  

We are seeking candidates committed to children and their rights and motivated to work towards achieving a world that is fit for every child. You will bring demonstrable experience of advising, negotiating with and building relationships with senior stakeholders across governments, public sector and civil society grounded in in-depth knowledge of the UNCRC and its status in legislation and policy.

Act now and visit the website via the apply button to apply online.

Closing date: 9am, Thursday 26 February 2026.

Interview date: Wednesday 11 March & Thursday 12 March 2026 (Stage One) & Wednesday 25th March 2026 (Stage Two) via Microsoft Teams.

In return, we offer:

· excellent pay and benefits (including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, big brand discounts and wellbeing tools)

· outstanding training and learning opportunities and the support to flourish in your role

· impressive open plan office space and facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

· an open culture and workplace with colleagues who share our values, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.

· the opportunity to work in a leading children’s organisation making a difference to children around the world

Our application process: We use a system called "Applied" that anonymises your responses and focuses on your skills that are relevant to this role. This benefits you by giving you a greater chance of expressing your skills in this objective selection process.

We are gradually moving back to our offices on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London and we anticipate most colleagues will work one or two days a week in the office and the rest of the time from home.  We will happily discuss other flexible options to suit your circumstances.

We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, disabled candidates, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level at UNICEF UK. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for children.

UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

We welcome a conversation about your flexible working requirements, personal growth, and promoting a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.

We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.

If you require support in completing the online form or an application form in an alternative format, please contact the Supporter Care line during office hours.

If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.

Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland)

Money and Mental Health has a trusted reputation and a strong track record of impact. We’re ready to take our fundraising to the next level, and we’re looking for an ambitious and talented Senior Fundraising Officer to help us grow our income, develop our fundraising culture and strengthen our relationships with funders.

The primary aim of this role is to help Money and Mental Health secure the income it needs to deliver its mission and further strengthen the charity’s financial footing for the future. This is a crucial role in our new Fundraising team, and the successful candidate will work across all elements of our income generation activities - from grant-writing to donor stewardship and pipeline development.

The role will have a particular focus on securing funding from Trusts and Foundations, but there will also be ample opportunities to engage corporate partners and other prospective funders. 

The successful candidates will have the chance to bring their ideas in terms of identifying new routes to funding for the organisation and shaping our income generation activities.

Key responsibilities:

Funding bids and proposals

• Draft and develop effective and impactful fundraising bids and proposals to secure both grant income and corporate sponsorship

• Project manage the process of developing funding proposals - including completing funding checklists, coordinating the team on relevant deadlines and booking in time for sign off from relevant colleagues.

Relationship management

• Play a key role in donor stewardship alongside Head of Fundraising and Senior Leadership Team (SLT), including grant makers, corporates and individual donors

• Support SLT in identifying - and building relationships with - relevant individuals within prospective funder organisations - including coordinating meetings.

• Ensure we stay on top of our grant requirements, including drafting grant reports and coordinating other team members to fulfil those requirements

• Work with External Affairs team to create excellent supporter journeys for online donors.

Pipeline development

• Work with Head of Fundraising to undertake research into new fundraising prospects and to develop a strong funder pipeline

• Stay on top of new developments in the charity sector and wider funding landscape

• Make recommendations to Head of Fundraising on new funders we should engage with or seek to build relationships with

• Maintain accurate pipeline data and prospect records, ensuring regular updates

Planning, strategy and vision

• Contribute to the delivery of our income generation strategy - including meeting relevant targets set out in the strategy. 

• Support the team with advance planning on funding bids, project managing complex cross-team processes, matrix-managing small project teams and ensuring all key milestones are met 

• Proactively suggest ideas for ways of improving our processes and ways of working to better support our income generation targets or better deliver our work.

About you:

We’re seeking someone who is ambitious, driven and emotionally intelligent. We need a relationship-builder and a clear and concise communicator, ready to step into an exciting new role and help build a fundraising function which leaves a lasting legacy.

Essential qualities 

• A proven track record of securing five-figure grants or income from trusts, foundations and/or corporate partners.

• A demonstrable track record of writing impactful and effective funding proposals, and leading the end-to-end process of applying for grants and reporting on those received 

• Strong copywriting skills, and the ability to articulate the impact from donations

• Excellent project management skills 

• Solid relationship management skills, with the ability to lead donor stewardship and develop excellent working relationships with key teams internally

• A genuine commitment to the organisation’s mission, as well as to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, managing a busy to-do list

• Ability and desire to be hands-on and get stuck in

• Excellent attention to detail, record-keeping and commitment to high standards.

• Basic understanding of fundraising regulations, including Fundraising Code of Practice, and how they apply to your work

• Experience of working towards personal income targets and managing individual KPIs.

Desirable qualities 

• Experience using relevant trusts and foundation and CRM databases

• Experience of developing and managing a pipeline of funding opportunities, and advising colleagues on where to prioritise our resources

• Experience of fundraising for a small charity, think tank or a research charity

• Experience of working with project budgets.

We are looking for a dynamic Senior Research & Analysis Officer to manage and deliver information, data, and analysis to help Youth Futures build evidence for impact.

This is an opportunity for a researcher with excellent data analysis, trial design and data skills to work widely across a busy and ambitious directorate, helping us understand and address youth unemployment in England.

Working with two teams in the Impact and Evidence Directorate, you will gain experience and contribute meaningfully across a range of research and evaluation activities.

• You will work with the Head of Evaluation and Principal Economist to support the design, delivery and management of data systems; scope, commission and manage high-quality evaluations; and conduct data analysis and quantitative social and economic research.
• You will also use your analytical expertise to extract insights from data, identify trends, and liaise with policy and communication teams to prepare outputs for external use.
• You will support the work of YFF’s evaluation team in generating new evidence for employment support programmes and Employer Practice through impact evaluations, including Randomised Controlled Trials.
• The role also offers opportunities to work on data visualisations for effective communication of data and research insights.

This role can be based at our Birmingham, Leeds or London hub. We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

For more information on this role, please download our recruitment pack.

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.

• Job title: Senior Research Analyst
• Area of work: Research & Evidence Development
• Contract type: Permanent
• Employment type: Full-time (35 hours per week)
• Salary: £50,000
• Location: Hybrid
• Annual leave: 25 days plus bank holidays
• Other benefits include: Cycle to Work scheme, discounts (retail, gym, tech, restaurants), flexitime, parental leave, staff networks, learning & development opportunities
• Closing date: Midnight, Wednesday 19th February 2025

OverviewThis is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in generating the evidence that shapes regulatory policy. As a Senior Research Analyst, you'll design and deliver high-quality primary research that informs strategic decisions, evaluating complex issues across the pensions and financial landscape.

Working within a multidisciplinary research and analysis team, you will lead end-to-end research projects, from designing methodologies and conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis, through to translating findings into actionable insights for senior stakeholders. You'll play a pivotal role in strengthening the organisation's research capability and supporting evidence-based policy development.

This role is ideal for candidates with strong applied research experience, a passion for understanding user and industry behaviours, and the ability to turn data into compelling narratives that inform decisions.

Key Responsibilities
* Lead the design, commissioning, and delivery of primary research projects across the organisation.
* Apply expert research methods (quantitative and qualitative) to gather robust evidence that informs strategy and policy.
* Manage relationships with external research agencies, ensuring high-quality outputs and value for money.
* Conduct independent analysis, including statistical testing, qualitative coding, and data visualisation.
* Communicate complex findings clearly, translating evidence into actionable insights for senior leadership and non-technical audiences.
* Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to scope research needs and shape evidence-based recommendations.
* Mentor and support junior analysts, providing guidance on research design and analytical delivery.
* Stay abreast of innovative research approaches, tools, and best practice across the research profession.

Skills & Experience Required
Essential
* Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject (e.g., social research methods) or equivalent professional experience.
* Experience independently designing and delivering hypothesis-led research.
* Strong understanding of research methods, including quantitative and qualitative study design (e.g., cross-sectional, longitudinal, cohort, quasi-experimental).
* Proficiency in research analysis, including descriptive statistics, T-tests, chi-squared, qualitative coding, and data visualisation.
* Proven ability to manage research projects and agencies, ensuring quality, timeliness, and rigour.
* Experience coordinating work with internal and external stakeholders in a multidisciplinary environment.
* Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex findings clearly and persuasively.

Desirable
* Experience working within or alongside the UK pensions sector.
* Expertise in managing high-value research procurement processes.
* Experience using survey platforms with complex routing.
* Familiarity with social research codes of practice (GSR, SRA, MRS).

Person Specification
* Proactive and flexible approach to work.
* Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
* Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
* Collaborative, supportive, and comfortable working in teams.
* Ability to manage competing priorities and work at pace.

The Team
You'll join a supportive and collaborative research and analysis function that works closely with policy, strategy, regulatory and operational teams. The organisation offers:
* Genuine opportunities for learning and professional development.
* A values-led, inclusive culture.
* Hybrid working and flexible shift patterns.
A vibrant workplace supported by employee networks (e.g., Disability, Family, LGBT+, Minority Ethnic, Women's).

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

Grade: 3

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week, flexible hours considered

Position type: Permanent

Responsible to: Procurement Manager

Direct reports: None

Location: Truro, Cornwall (hybrid) or Remote (UK only - with required travel to HQ up to 4 times a year)

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Procurement team is crucial to ensuring ShelterBox is equipped with the supply infrastructure we need to work, fundraise, budget, manage data and ultimately deliver vital aid. In addition to working on Indirect Items, the Procurement Team is a skills resource for the rest of the business, identifying and supporting with best practice in procurement and negotiations at all levels.

The Senior Buyer will join a busy and dynamic Procurement team of three individuals (two Senior Buyers and the Procurement Manager) and will quickly become integral to the day-to-day running of the Procurement function. It is expected that the individual will have substantial procurement experience.

The Senior Buyer will be responsible for a variety of Indirect spend and suppliers. Additionally, the Senior Buyer will support the Supply Chain team and the rest of the organisation as a subject matter expert on negotiation and procurement activities.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

ShelterBox is seeking a proactive individual with proven procurement experience to add capacity to the team. Attention to detail and diligence will be at the forefront of your skillset and you'll need to be comfortable with numbers, data and sensitively posing challenging questions to understand business requirements.

We are looking for someone with excellent communications skills and the ability to balance multiple tasks with competing deadlines. The individual should be confident with developing and maintaining relationships both internally with other departments and externally with suppliers and partners.

This role would suit someone currently in a Senior Procurement Role who is looking to expand their responsibilities and skillset. CIPs qualification is desirable. Charity experience is appreciated, but we welcome applicants with appropriate experience in any sector.

MAIN ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure effective procurement of goods, services and works by conducting market research, performing supplier due diligence, implementing rigorous contracting procedures, managing contracts, negotiating favourable terms, identifying cost saving opportunities, and preparing and maintaining documentation to guarantee best value, efficiency, and accountability to both donors and recipients.

Handling a variety of stakeholders and manage expectations as well as delivering on promised outcomes.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

• Management of a broad range of categories across the organisation, focussing predominantly on indirect, non-stock purchases.

• Work with Senior Management to identify procurement improvement priorities by analysing forecast spend, supply markets and specification options.

• Design, plan and lead the tender process for a variety of buying categories up to a contract value of £2m.

• Contribute to the specification-writing process, leading to formal technical, performance and supply specifications that can be used in tendering; it is expected that the individual will write the final versions of those specifications and hold them on file.

• Regularly review and improve procurement processes for allocated categories, adapting to organisational strategic change.

• Working with the team, assess and manage risk across all allocated categories.

• Write, negotiate and sign off contracts with suppliers to achieve the maximum value for ShelterBox.

• Develop and maintain appropriate supplier and contract management processes for all allocated categories.

• Report on cost savings and avoidance and added value.

• Upskill individuals across the organisation on commercial processes, offering strategic advice and ensuring compliance with internal policies.

• Manage procurement-led projects such as procedure implementation, and software introduction.
• Develop and deliver sustainability improvements within the procurement function according to the Environmental Policy.

• Keep up to date with legislative changes, industry trends and market developments.

• Sign off on supply chain compliance as per the delegation of authority level.

• Maintain departmental databases.

• Ensure that the procurement administration is kept up to date and that all filing is in accordance with policy.

• Support procurement-related projects across the organisation.

• Uphold ethical and professional procurement standards at all times.

• Maintain commercial confidence for internal matters, and matters pertaining to suppliers.

• Represent ShelterBox as required.

Other responsibilities

• Any other duties as required which are deemed appropriate to the level and grade of the post.

Job Title - Managing Director of Research Programmes (UK)

Contract – Permanent

Hours - 35 hours per week

Salary – Circa £75,000 per annum (negotiable)

Location - Coram Campus, Bloomsbury, with occasional travel and some working from home as agreed

About Coram

Coram, which is the oldest children’s charity, is a group of specialist organisations; we help more than 1 million children and young people from infancy to independence, creating positive change that lasts a lifetime.

Established by Royal Charter in 1739, as the Foundling Hospital, and operating from its distinctive 3.5 acres headquarters in the heart of London, Coram has built a position of insight, influence, and research by working closely with other organisations and other sectors, universities and government, professionals, and families. We have ambitious plans for the future, to be the UK’s leading recognised research organisation, dedicated to improving life chances as the Institute for Children.

About the role

This role works directly with the Chief Executive as a member of the Senior Management Team in achievement of this vision and strategy; it will lead the advancement of the Coram Institute for Children as a UKRI recognised independent research organisation (IRO), drive research capacity and capability, champion and deliver internal and external evaluations, advance Coram’s sector credibility and relationships, and inform and contribute to the group’s reach, relevance and results.

This senior position leads a large team of mixed methods researchers and data analysts and comprises an important opportunity for a credible research leader and experienced charity senior manager who is dynamic and multi-skilled with an entrepreneurial approach to lead the only IRO in the children and young people’s sector.

The successful candidate will have a strong business focus and commitment to translating research findings into policy and practice and direct experience of securing research council funding, or funding from sources such as What Works Centres, local and central government or Trusts and Foundations.

You will be able to work individually, in a team and across the organisation. Strong critical thinking ability, partnership building skills and knowledge, experience and commitment to improving lives of children are essential.

To apply for this role, please visit the Coram website to complete an application. Please note CV’S will not be accepted.

Closing date: 18th February 2026 at 12 noon

Interview date: 26th & 27th February 2026

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

At Bipolar UK, our mission is simple yet life‑changing: to empower everyone affected by bipolar to live well and thrive.
We work to reduce stigma, improve understanding, and ensure no one faces the condition alone. Our vision is a world where every person affected by bipolar has access to the right treatment and support, an understanding community, and the tools to live well.

About Bipolar UK

We are the only national charity dedicated to supporting people affected by bipolar. Through our peer support line, peer support groups, eCommunity, digital tools, workplace training, research collaborations and awareness‑raising campaigns, we reach tens of thousands of people each year.

Our work improves understanding, reduces isolation and empowers people to stay well. We are a small, ambitious, and fast‑growing team driven by purpose, compassion and innovation. Our culture is collaborative, supportive and rooted in lived experience.

Job Summary

The Senior Partnership Officer will play a pivotal role in building, strengthening and diversifying Bipolar UK’s high‑value relationships, with a particular emphasis on corporate fundraising and identifying strategic, mutually beneficial collaborations that support the charity’s long‑term needs.

Working closely with the Strategic Partnership Manager, you will manage and grow our portfolio of major donors, corporate supporters, and strategic partners. You will provide exceptional stewardship, ensuring partners feel valued, engaged, and inspired to deepen their relationship with us.

A key part of the role will involve proactively identifying and cultivating new corporate prospects, developing compelling propositions, crafting funding proposals, and pitching confidently to decision‑makers at all levels. You will help implement robust cultivation plans and ensure effective monitoring and evaluation across all partnership activity.

You will also work collaboratively across the wider Fundraising Team - including with the Fundraising Officer - supporting campaigns, events, and individual giving where needed.

This is a home‑based position with travel required for meetings and events across the UK. Some evening or weekend work may be required.

Key Responsibilities

1. Growing Corporate and Strategic Partnerships

• Drive the growth of corporate fundraising through proactive identification, research and cultivation of new corporate prospects.
• Develop innovative, mutually beneficial partnership opportunities, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Charity of the Year, sponsorships, staff fundraising, corporate challenge events, payroll giving and cause‑related marketing.
• Create compelling propositions tailored to corporate audiences.
• Lead and support pitches to secure long‑term, strategic and income‑generating partnerships.
• Collaborate with internal teams (e.g. Services, Communications) to co‑design new partnership concepts, projects or services that align with charity priorities.
• Support the development of partnership agreements and ensure expectations, deliverables and benefits are clearly defined.
• Work to a mutually agreed financial target and use the CRM to track and record relevant data to grow our donor pipeline.

2. Strengthening High‑Value Donor & Partner Stewardship

• Deliver excellent relationship management to major donors, corporate partners and strategic allies.
• Provide regular updates on impact and organisational achievements to deepen engagement.
• Organise meetings, briefings, events and engagement opportunities to showcase our work.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of all interactions on Salesforce.
• Create tailored materials, proposals and events to support ongoing partnership activity.
• Represent Bipolar UK through presentations at corporate and partner events.
• Track performance and impact of partnerships, supporting continuous improvement.

3. Supporting Wider Fundraising

• Work collaboratively with the Fundraising Officer, SPM and wider team to maximise fundraising opportunities across all income streams.
• Provide hands‑on support for individual giving campaigns, events and community fundraising when needed.
• Contribute to team planning, cross‑team projects, and organisational initiatives.

Strengths

You will thrive in this role if:

• You are an exceptional relationship‑builder with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders and corporate leaders.
• You bring creativity, energy and ambition to developing powerful partnership ideas.
• You are an excellent communicator - skilled in writing compelling copy and delivering persuasive pitches.
• You are a proficient user of professional social media platforms such as LinkedIn to support your work.
• You are an engaging public speaker, confident at events, in meetings and online.
• You are methodical, analytical and data‑driven, with strong record‑keeping and reporting discipline.
• You are adaptable, organised and calm under pressure - thriving in a small, fast‑paced organisation.
• You enjoy autonomy, value professional development, and proactively shape your own work.
• You are reliable, detail‑focused, deadline‑driven and comfortable working remotely with minimal supervision.
• You have a keen understanding of the charitable sector in the UK.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in major donor fundraising, corporate fundraising or partnership development.
• Proven track record of generating new business at 5 and 6 figure levels - from prospecting through to securing partnerships.
• Experience working to, and achieving, income targets.
• Strong understanding of the corporate sector, CSR and corporate fundraising mechanisms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience delivering pitches and proposals.
• Excellent project and time‑management skills.
• Understanding of ethical fundraising and GDPR compliance.
• Experience using Salesforce or a similar CRM.
• Confident user of Microsoft Office and quick to adopt new technologies.

Desirable:

• Experience within a mental health or health‑related charity.
• Understanding of bipolar gained through lived experience or supporting a friend or family member.

Other Information

The main tasks may be amended from time to time to reflect evolving organisational needs. Changes will be made in consultation with the post holder.

The post holder must comply with Data Protection, Health & Safety, and Equality & Diversity legislation, and follow all organisational policies and best practice.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your application by 5pm 20th February  through Charity Job including your CV and a covering letter. If we receive a high volume of applications we may close applications early.

Your covering letter (max two A4 pages) should outline:

• how your experience matches the person specification
• what you would bring to the role
• why you want to work for Bipolar UK

Interviews will be held w/c 2nd March, either online or in person.

Please note the final appointment is subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.

Good luck and thank you for your interest in supporting Bipolar UK’s vital work.

Working Pattern: 0.6 FTE (happy to discuss flexible working arrangements)

Dates: May 2026 - June 2027 (14 months)

Location: Home-based from anywhere in the UK with frequent (around once per month) travel across the UK

Working requirements: Applicants must have the right to work within the UK

Deadline for applications: Friday 6th March

Interviews: 19th and 20th March via Zoom

Salary: £42-44k dependent on experience

Job Purpose

We are looking for a Research Programme Manager with a strong grounding in scientific research and expertise in grant management to take on a maternity cover within our small and tight-knit research team.

The role’s core responsibility will be to lead on the delivery of the Foundation’s translational grant funding schemes - our Catalyst Awards and Advancing Treatments Awards. The post holder will have a visible presence within the research community acting as an important point of contact between researchers, committee members (including people living with MND), peer reviewers and the charity.

They will be responsible for the successful delivery of a large portfolio of active projects by working closely with others in the team to ensure all awards are expertly administered, monitored, evaluated and reported against, ensuring the outputs are of the highest quality and supporting the charities activities. The post-holder will identify opportunities to communicate the progress or impact of the work we fund and work with the communications team to develop compelling communications for our supporters.

Key responsibilities

Grant Funding Programme

● Lead on the management of several grant funding schemes, as well as ad-hoc applications that come to the Foundation;

● Oversee the smooth running of application rounds, peer review and ensure that funding committees function in line with AMRC guidance;

● Be the main point of contact for the AMRC with regards to research management;

● Support the ongoing implementation and development of the Foundation’s Grant Management Software, Flexi-Grant, ensuring the research team are using the platform effectively;

● Manage project set-up including contracting, the development of detailed project plans, including go/no-go milestones and budgets;

● Work with the others in the team to oversee the research programme budget including planning, monitoring and forecasting; work with the Directors of Research and Finance to ensure that accurate research finance information is available for organisational budgeting and planning;

● Seek opportunities to improve the Foundation’s grant funding schemes to increase the number and quality of applications received year on year, ensuring funded projects support the delivery of the Foundation’s research strategy;

● Monitor any developments or innovations across the sector and implement changes to maintain a high-quality impactful research funding programme.

Project Portfolio

● Manage and oversee project delivery of the Foundation’s active project portfolio by:

○ Building and managing relationships with award holders and attending site visits;

○ Approving grant payments and managing the change process for any project amendments;

○ Ensuring project progress is effectively monitored and reported against;

○ Identifying opportunities for and approving any project communications.

● Work closely with others in the research team to implement an Impact Evaluation Framework, to evaluate the impact of the research we fund.

General Responsibilities

● Support the Director of Research to deliver the Foundation’s research strategy;

● Support more junior members of the team through training and mentoring;

● Contribute to the team being proactive and supportive, and working effectively and efficiently to achieve agreed objectives;

● Contribute to the development and maintenance of strong internal relationships across the charity, working specifically with the Fundraising Team to support income generation;

● Support the Director of Research in the development of updates for the Board of Trustees and other groups such as our Scientific Advisors;

● Keep updated with the latest scientific developments in the field, attend conferences and build strong relationships with MND experts and other relevant stakeholders;

● Represent the Foundation at external scientific meetings and conferences;

● Undertake other work as required by the Director of Research.

Skills and experience required:

● Educated to PhD level or with equivalent experience in a science subject relevant to MND;

● Experience of research management, including the management of grant schemes, preferably with experience of using Flexi-Grant;

● Experience of research communications, including the ability to disseminate complex scientific information and present it to non-technical audiences;

● Experience of liaising with senior individuals in a variety of organisations with an ability to create favourable working relationships;

● Proven project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects at the same time;

● A great communicator, with excellent written and oral skills and the ability to maintain relationships with a wide variety of individuals, including those within the Foundation, researchers and clinicians, relevant organisations and industry bodies, MND patients, and other MND charities;

● Self-motivated, proactive and able to work using own initiative;

● Organised, with a proven ability to successfully manage a broad spectrum of tasks, deadlines and individuals;

● Motivated to make a real difference for those living with MND.

Are you an expert content designer with a passion for creating clear, user-centred content that helps people take action? Join Shelter as our Senior Content Designer and play a key role in shaping campaigns, policy and research content that supports people to get involved, donate and campaign with us to end the housing emergency.

About the role

Reporting to the Operations and Content Lead and working closely with product managers and stakeholders across all directorates, the role requires someone who is an expert in content design. You will be an impeccable writer and editor who can quickly adopt Shelter’s tone of voice. You’ll be able to write clearly and accurately. You will be able to write communications that encourage our supporters to campaign, donate and get involved with our work.

Day to day, you'll sit in a product team focused on our campaigns, policy and research content alongside another content designer. You’ll lead on workstreams and projects, ensuring work is delivered to meet objectives. Advocating for our users and building strong relationships with our stakeholders will be key to your success.

As a line manager to one of our content designers, you'll need to be able to demonstrate your ability to support their professional development.

Role specifics

We’re looking for a curious, creative problem-solver who’s confident collaborating across teams. You’ll be an expert in content design, who is comfortable working independently to research user needs and create clear, user-focused content. You’ll have a track record of managing different groups of stakeholders, and using research and expertise to demonstrate the value content design can bring to their work. You’ll set meaningful digital content KPIs, use data and analytics to measure performance, and ensure everything you publish is accurate and high-quality.

With experience using CMS platforms and a range of design patterns, you’ll take the lead in delivering projects on time, support product managers, and help develop and motivate your team. You’ll communicate ideas clearly, work confidently with stakeholders, test design hypotheses, turn research into practical improvements, and enjoy generating ideas, running workshops and shaping user-centred content strategy. You’ll have experience identifying opportunities to improve wider content team processes and working collaboratively to set and document standards.

You’ll be an experienced line manager, who is confident leading by example, as well as coaching and supporting others to achieve their goals.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

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.

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 the team

The Digital Content and User Experience team plays a key role within Shelter by producing exciting content design work for directorates across the organisation, delivered through the Digital team. Collectively, they set the example for Shelter in digital best practice, discovery and innovation.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

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.

We’re the UK’s specialist blood cancer charity and our vision is clear: we’re here to beat blood cancer. We fund world-class research, provide information and support to patients and their loved ones, and raise awareness of blood cancer.

We’re looking for a Senior Brand Marketing Manager to lead and shape how Blood Cancer UK is seen and understood by audiences across the UK, on a maternity cover basis.

You’ll lead the strategy and delivery of brand marketing and major brand campaigns, working across teams and with agency partners to ensure our communications are clear, consistent and audience-led. With a strong focus on insight and performance, you’ll champion an audience-first approach, embedding segmentation and learning into decision-making across the organisation.

This is a highly collaborative role for a strategic brand marketer who combines big-picture thinking with practical delivery. The role is based in London with hybrid working, and you’ll be expected to attend the office 1–2 days per week on average, with some additional travel as required. It’s a great opportunity to use your skills to make a meaningful difference for people affected by blood cancer.

We are committed to actively promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity. In line with our strategy, we welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including minority communities and applicants with a disability, to better reflect the community we serve and broaden our perspectives.

Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We call these our '3Ps'.

We achieve this in two ways. First, we improve lives on the frontline through delivery of public services. Secondly, we use our knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help. With the heart of a charity and the mindset of a business, we are uniquely placed to deliver on this challenging agenda.

Our Young People & Families (YP&F) Operational Hub delivers a wide range of integrated support services designed to help resolve complex difficulties experienced by young people and their families/carers.

Support is provided to people who find themselves in a range of circumstances; they may be missing from home or have emotional, housing or substance misuse issues. We also support families where parents/carers are experiencing domestic abuse, substance misuse, emotional issues, homelessness or unemployment. Whatever the situation, we work alongside young people and their carers to find a way of stabilising their lives.

Redthread is a hospital based youth work service, working alongside NHS staff and other professionals in emergency departments.

Our experienced, specialist youth workers engage with and support young people, aiming to support them with their needs in hospital and post-discharge. We often meet young people at a moment of change and work with them to find a positive way forward.

We provide long-term, holistic support. We consider every aspect of a young person’s life and build support around them.

About the Mental Health Youth Work Service Pilot

The prevalence of reported mental health challenges in children and young people living in England have been increasing.  In addition, research tells us that children and young people facing such challenges with their mental health are more likely to self-harm. For some children and young people, A&E Departments may be a first point of contact with healthcare services following self-harm. While in recent years the number of attendances by children and young people for mental health needs and/or self-harm have stabilised, there was a sharp increase in attendances following the pandemic. For children and young people who have gone to A&E for support with their mental health, such as following self-harm, waiting a long time in A&E can be hard. A&E Departments are often very busy and loud places and there is not always access to secluded space for those who have gone to A&E when experiencing difficulties with their mental health.

Children and young people who are also neurodiverse may find the environment particularly challenging and overstimulating while they are waiting to access care and support. This pilot aims to strengthen the offer of support to young people aged 11-18 in A&E, and also consider the wider social and emotional wellbeing needs of those individuals whilst in that environment and following discharge by ensuring there is follow up support for a variety of services.

The Mental Health Youth Work Service model has been informed by young people with experience of hospital attendances after self-harming, and their feedback has been used to shape the care we aim to deliver.

The service runs across two hospital sites in London: King’s College Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. There will be a team consisting of one Senior Youth Worker and a Youth Worker embedded in each site.

Job Description

Where you fit in

This is an exciting new service working in partnership with King’s College Hospital Accident and Emergency Department. The project is a pilot that aims to provide specialist Youth Work support for young people presenting to a hospital because of their mental health, and specifically where they attend because of self-harm.

The Senior Youth Worker will lead on the Mental Health Youth Work service embedded within the A&E department. This will involve line management responsibilities for the Mental Health Youth Worker, partnership working to build relationships both internally within the hospital and externally in the local community, and with both statutory and non-statutory partners.

The Senior Youth worker will be expected to support and build trusting relationships with young people who present with acute needs and are often in a crisis. They will manage a caseload of their own, with contact taking place both in the hospital and post-discharge in the community.

The Senior Youth Worker will ensure the integration of the service at their respective hospital A&E department, and work alongside the Team Leader in reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements

Main Duties & Accountabilities

• Lead the delivery of the Mental Health Youth Work service for young people aged 11-18 who attend the A&E department. Ensure that all young people are assessed holistically and care plans are tailored, trauma-informed and empowering, with the aim of reducing further harm.

• Line manage the Mental Health Youth Worker, providing guidance and direction through regular contact and meetings, case allocation, caseload oversight and one-to-one supervision, both formally and informally.

• In collaboration with the other Senior Youth Worker, provide overall support to the team to develop and improve skills, including assessment and recording, to ensure that Redthread’s model of intervention is delivered consistently.

• Promote high levels of wellbeing for staff members who are working with young people who have experienced acute and chronic mental health challenges

• Hold a caseload and work with young people with often complex needs, in a range of settings, including in A&E, in the community, face-to-face and virtually where required, and promote their personal, educational, health and social development through all interactions

• Assist with the on-going development of the service model to ensure that young people and other stakeholders gain the maximum benefit from Redthread’s interventions

• Along with the team, tailor and design youth work resources that are specific to the young people we are working with

• Contribute to the training programme that Redthread provides for hospital staff, including informal microteaching and more formal presentations.

• With support from the Team Leader, maintain strong working relationships within the Hospital, and NHS staff ensuring that Redthread youth workers are fully embedded in the health setting and are working with clinical staff to deliver a service that meets the needs of young people, including promoting the service within the hospital and attending appropriate internal meetings

• Assist in building and maintaining strong working relationships with Redthread stakeholders, project partners and with other agencies working with young people and to represent Redthread at external meetings as required.

• Ensure that as a team, you are proactive in researching and networking with other organisations working with young people in the area served by the hospital to ensure that the Youth Workers have a good knowledge of other services and projects that may be of interest to the young people we work with or appropriate for us to refer to.

• Attend multi-disciplinary team meetings in hospital, working with ED staff and CAMHS teams to support and safeguard young people

• Maintain a good level of professional knowledge of the issues affecting young people, particularly related to their mental health needs and self harm.

• In all areas of the work, apply an in-depth understanding of safeguarding responsibilities when working with children and young people, and provide guidance to your team members that adheres to Redthread’s Safeguarding policy and procedures and safeguarding policies of respective NHS Trusts.

• Ensure information resources such as client forms, databases and contact files are kept fully up-to-date and secure, in line with GDPR, the Data Protection Act and our Confidentiality Policy and Consent Policy. Maintain high-quality recording of interventions with young people on our database, Salesforce, in line with Redthread’s best-practice requirements. (Training will be provided.)

• Collect and record evidence of project outcomes and young people’s achievements, to ensure the completion of monitoring forms and project progress reports as required.

• Work as part of a team to continue to develop the programme’s monitoring and evaluation in order to facilitate internal reflection and learning, and to demonstrate its effectiveness and impact to external stakeholders.

 • To ensure that the Youth Worker accurately captures and records data on the CRM system. To ensure that it can be used to identify trends and provide insights. To use these insights and trends to shape service delivery and share information with partners.

• With support from the Team Leader and oversight from the Service Manager, produce monthly and quarterly reports as required by funders and to inform leaders of the operational performance of the organisation.

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential:

Relevant level 3 or 4 qualification in health & wellbeing, youth provision or similar or demonstrable equivalent experience

Desirable:

A degree-level qualification in social work, youth work, social science, education or another relevant field
Qualifications in counselling and/or mental health first aid for young people

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• A thorough knowledge and understanding of the physical, social and emotional developmental needs of young people • Understanding of the issues faced by young people living in inner city areas • An awareness of child protection and safeguarding issues and knowledge of current best practice within the youth work sector • Knowledge of Mental Health systems and processes and the function of statutory services such as CAMHS • Knowledge of the specific needs of young people who self harm • A knowledge of best practice in case recording

Desirable

• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence • Knowledge of solution-focused brief therapy tools or a similar counselling methodology. • Knowledge of psycho-education tools appropriate to share with children and young people who also may be neurodivergent • Knowledge of health inequalities and how these can affect different groups/individuals

EXPERIENCE

Essential

Significant professional experience of working with vulnerable young people in a range of activities and settings • Experience working with young people in a health and well-being context, especially with young people experiencing mental health challenges • Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team • Experience of leading and managing a project to enable growth and continuity • Experience in developing and maintaining excellent relationships with partner organisations • Experience in planning and delivering training

Desirable

• Experience of working in a London borough • Experience in leading, managing, supporting, and motivating a team in their work • Experiencing of developing a project’s processes, procedures, and policies • Experience of monitoring and evaluation systems to measure programme impact

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Essential

• Resilient and reflective • Well-developed verbal and written communication skills and an ability to interact young people on a one-to-one basis within a range of contexts • Ability to plan and manage own workload • Accurate data entry and record keeping and monitoring processes Ability to use up-to[1]date IT systems • Able to analyse and evaluate information and provide effective management oversight of high-risk complex cases. • Able to oversee cases using an electronic database

Desirable

• Leadership and management skills to enable the team to have a clear sense of direction, feel motivated and have a clear understanding of how their own roles contribute to and enhance the work of the organisation • Able to provide supervision, guidance, and support to youth work teams, particularly around task allocation, setting priorities and personal development
 

OTHER

Share Catch22 values
Awareness of and commitment to Equality & Diversity
Willing to travel and work flexibly
Desire to develop and undertake training as required
● Enthusiasm for Redthread’s work
● Approachable, self-motivated and committed to continuous personal development
● A commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities as they apply to all aspects of Redthread’s work

Additional information

Those interested in applying for this opportunity should review the Job Description & Person Specification to find out more.

When applying please be cautious over the answers you provide. If you select “NO” to the screening question regarding Right to Work in the UK, your application will automatically be closed. 

Contract: Permanent

Hours & work pattern: 37 hours per week, with regular evening and weekend shifts required. Evening shifts cover the hours of 1pm to 9:00 pm 

Salary: £32,917.50 per annum

Location: King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London. With regular travel to other Redthread sites and offices when required.

Screening: Successful admission to post subject to enhanced DBS check and employer Right To Work in the UK check. The post-holder must have right to work in the UK. Catch22 does not currently provide a licence to sponsor visas but please see this register to see those that do.

To Apply: Please provide your CV and cover letter, along with the completion of the screening questions to express your interest in this opportunity. Please note, in the interest of safer recruitment and ensuring that applicants are a right fit for the role, submitted applications must contain a CV, satisfactory responses to the screening questions, and information detailing interest in the role, to be considered for this position.

Closing date: Thursday 19th February at 5pm

Interviews will be held in week commencing 2nd March

AI generated applications are not acceptable and could lead to a disqualification of your current and future applications across Catch22 jobs. In order to ensure that applications are fair, genuine, and representative of the candidate applying, our teams may use a number of tools to identify occurrences where candidates have not given an honest response during the application process. 

Catch22’s Commitment to Ban the Box

Catch22 is proud to have “Banned the Box”. This means that we do not ask for candidates to disclose criminal convictions at the application stage. Instead, we invite disclosures at interview stage, and encourage them at the offer stage. 

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See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.

See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.

Catch22 is committed to rigorous safeguarding and safer recruitment practices; ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.

Please note, we will conduct an online search as part of our due dilligence checks for successful candidate(s). This will involve a search of all publicly available information online and in social media. 

We're the UK's specialist blood cancer charity and our vision is clear: we’re here to beat blood cancer. We fund world-class research; provide information and support to patients and their loved ones; and raise awareness of blood cancer.

Are you a strategic marketing leader with a passion for making a difference? Blood Cancer UK is looking for a Senior Direct Marketing Manager to manage a high-performing team, deliver insight-led, multi-channel campaigns, and make a real difference to the lives of people affected by blood cancer. This is an exciting opportunity to be responsible for impactful direct marketing campaigns that grow individual giving and engage supporters. 

Based in London with hybrid working options (2–4 days per month in the office, may increase dependent on business needs), this role offers the opportunity to lead a talented team, innovate with digital channels, and champion campaigns that engage and inspire supporters. If you thrive on turning data into action and delivering outstanding results, we want to hear from you.

We are committed to actively promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity. In line with our strategy we welcome approaches from individuals from underrepresented groups, including minority communities, and applicants with a disability, to better reflect the community we serve and help broaden our perspectives. 

Longer working lives and ongoing economic transitions are reshaping careers: how we start them, and how we move through them. But too many people remain paid in low-paid, low-quality work – with damaging consequences for them personally, and our economy as a whole. We’re seeking a senior, policy-oriented research leader to help us and our partners generate insights that enable more people to move into and progress through better work.

You’ll have a proven track record in scoping and securing funding for research and influencing activity, with significant autonomy to lead your own programme at L&W. You’ll be supported by committed researchers and managers whom you will coach, lead, and develop—alongside a peer group of Deputy Directors working across other key pillars. We welcome quantitative expertise, but most important are the skills to design and deliver high-quality, impactful research programmes.

You’ll join an organisation with a national reputation for driving policy change—and a friendly, highly capable, delivery-focused team. 

Location: Hybrid working: 40-60% in an L&W office. Our offices for this role are currently in Leicester and London, but if you are based elsewhere, please contact us to talk about how the role could work for you.

Team:Research and Development

Salary:£64,450 -£77,880 per annum (pro rata), dependent on experience and location

Duration:Permanent

Working hours:0.8 to 1 FTE, with flexible working supported (e.g. condensed hours, flexible start and finish times)

Main Purpose

The Deputy Director, Policy and Research (Better Work and Progression) will have overall ownership of the ‘Better Work’ pillar of our strategic plan at L&W: overseeing all projects and activity in this area and generating new work (including developing project ideas and securing funding).

While there is significant scope to shape the ongoing programme of research and impact work, we anticipate that key areas of focus in this area going forward will be: understanding & better supporting career change; understanding and improving policy to increase employer investment in skills; high quality and fair access apprenticeships and technical education; understanding how to better support progression from low pay.

They will be a senior leader for the organization – helping to continuously shape our strategy and the plans we are implementing to deliver it.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Intellectual leadership of the Better Work pillar: developing and owning policy positions, messages, theory of change and research priorities, and supporting the wider team to feed into and understand them
• Line management of senior and mid-level staff
• Act as a senior leader at L&W – including taking on specific organization-level responsibilities where appropriate

Income

• Write and/or co-ordinate responses to reactive research and evaluation tenders in the areas of employment, better work and progression
• Develop pro-active proposals that will drive change in your area, and respond to the interests of funders and partners
• Build relationships with current and potential funders and research partners

Impact

• Act as an external expert on the issues of better work and progression: writing press quotes, articles and blogs;speaking on platforms
• Building relationships with practitioners, policymakers and partners to improve our insights, and get our recommendations implemented
• Develop appropriate means of tracking impact towards our better work goals, and monitor against them. 

Delivery

• Deputy Director/Project Director-level oversight of projects being delivered in your and related areas: supporting project team to shape research plans, deliver sharp insights and manage funder relationships
• Quality Assurance of research proposals and outputs
• Use your research skills and experience to support the wider development of the Learning and Work team

Person Specification

Experience

Experience of developing, overseeing and delivering programmes of policy-relevant research at a high level - Essential

Experience of business development in a policy/research context: developing ideas, writing bids and building relationships with funders- Essential

Experience of building senior-level relationships with external stakeholders for impact and influence -Essential

Track record of delivering national and/or local policy change - Essential

Experience of senior organisational leadership as part of a team - Desirable 

Experience of responding to tenders- Desirable 

Skills

Advanced research skills (qualitative of quantitative) -Essential

Quantitative skills: experience of using key national research and administrative data sets to generate insights into the labour market -Desirable 

Clear and direct written communication style - Essential

Knowledge

Knowledge of, and commitment to, L&W’s charitable aims and purpose.- Essential

Demonstrable knowledge of employment and/or skills policy in the UK - Essential

Demonstrable knowledge in the specific areas of Better Work and/or progression -Desirable 

Learning and Work Institute works across the UK. Our work in Wales is led by a Cardiff based team, but all staff are required to follow the guidance set out in our Welsh language scheme when working in Wales.