Social Research Jobs

Why Access Social Care Exists  

Every day millions of older and disabled people are denied the social care they need. Most local authorities can’t meet the growing demand for care, and none are confident they can meet their legal duties in the future. This affects all of us - we will all need social care at some point in our lives.  

We all have a right to hold public bodies to account, but most of us cannot afford lawyers so rely on legal aid. The 92% drop in legal aid cases since 2010 means that we have nowhere to turn. Without access to justice, our rights do not exist. The rule of law is broken.  

What we do  

Access Social Care provides free legal advice and information for people with social care needs, helping achieve a better quality of life. We work with communities to increase knowledge of the law and our rights. We highlight the gap left by cuts to Legal Aid and provide advice for those who can’t afford it.  

With a 98% success rate, our network of lawyers provide access to justice when things go wrong. We collaborate with social services whilst ensuring legal obligations are met. We are working towards a future where social care is adequately funded and we all get the support we need.  

We provide rights awareness training to front line managers, and legal advice and support to families and individuals. As well as providing access to justice, our aim is to drive system level change through evidence-led influencing and strategic casework. 

This is an exciting time to join ASC. We have a new strategy and are growing quickly including across our senior leadership team. We have more than doubled in size and income since we started operating in April 2020 and we anticipate that this strong growth will continue for the duration of our next strategic period. We are dedicated to the people who need our help, but we also care deeply about our team and we think that work should be an exciting and satisfying place to be.

About the role  

This role is pivotal to the growth and success of the charity. Its purpose is to support the Director of Partners and Engagement, the Fundraising Team and Head of Business Development, to lead the charity’s income generation. This includes activities in sourcing small, medium, and major (up to six figures) grant opportunities from trusts, foundations, and institutional/government funders, and individual donors where appropriate. Where opportunity presents, the role holder may also support the business development function. This could involve assisting in the development and implementation of new business growth opportunities  to boost income generation. The role will involve project and core-cost fundraising. 

Responsibilities 

• Work with the Director of Partners and Engagement and the fundraising team to maintain existing funds; research new income streams and prepare and submit business cases; and source new funding opportunities for Access Social Care’s projects and core-cost needs. 

• Participate in planning and strategy meetings. Work with the Finance Director and other leaders to develop and implement annual fundraising/income generation plans, gift tables, and budgets to achieve income targets.

• Monitor income targets and provide regular progress reports and updates on performance against target.

• Create and implement cultivation plans for high-value donors. Build and maintain long-term relationships with trusts and foundations, individual donors, and other income-generation partnerships through meetings and the production of detailed reports and presentations to generate repeat donations and renew income streams.

• Lead on funding bid applications and reports including working with senior colleagues across the organisation to draft warm and cold acquisition, and bespoke written applications.

• Build, monitor and manage a pipeline of prospective Trust & Foundation and Funder opportunities.

• Keep comprehensive records of all fundraising and business development activities. 

• Maintain excellent relationships with internal stakeholders ensuring an up-to-date knowledge of current activities of Access Social Care’s work and brand. Secure case studies to showcase the charity’s work.

• Represent the organisation at public events as required. 

• Perform other duties as may be required by the Director of Partners and Engagement, Head of Business Development, and/or other senior leaders which you could be reasonably expected to perform in line with this job description.

• Where appropriate and as opportunity arises, support the Head of Business Development with potential new business opportunities. This could include tasks such as: drafting proposals, seeking new opportunities as instructed, sustaining connections and supporting plans to enter strategic partnerships. 

This list of tasks is not exhaustive and will be reviewed from time to time in discussion with the post holder. 

Person Specification

All staff at ASC are expected to share and demonstrate our values. In addition to our values, you will also need to be able to demonstrate or tell us about the following areas at your interview: 

Personal Attributes:

• Purpose driven with a commitment to our mission and values
• Commitment to working within the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. Commitment to and interest in disability rights. 
• Self motivated, interest in developing knowledge and understanding trends in charitable trusts and foundations fundraising and business development
• Willingness to adapt and ability to work in an agile way to meet the income generation needs of the organisation 

Experience

• Experience in similar Income Generation role, with a proven track-record of success 
• Experience of working independently to develop and implement income generation strategies with a proven track record of securing five-figure gifts and delivering against targets
• Proven experience in managing and nurturing relationships with trust and foundation funders 

Skills

• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills. Ability to draft and present information including briefings, applications, and project reports to a range of audiences in a clear and confident manner 
• Strong networking skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships both internally and externally to identify and leverage funding opportunities
• Organised and able to plan and prioritise to meet multiple deadlines 
• IT literate with strong online research skills to identify new funding opportunities, and experienced in using MS Word and MS Excel to manage and present information effectively
• High level of numeracy 

Desirable

• Understanding of health and social care issues and/or the law 

How to apply 
We hope that having read this far, you will want to apply! 

Please ensure that your CV and supporting statement do not include your name – use initials only. This will ensure that we avoid unconscious bias in our shortlisting process. To apply, please provide the following documents: 

• An up-to-date CV 

• A completed diversity monitoring form 

• A supporting statement of no more than two pages, addressing: 

• The essential requirements of the person specification 

If you want support applying, contact us using the email address above. 

Please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before expressing your interest in this role. We are sorry that we cannot consider applications from candidates who do not have the right to work in the UK. 

We only reach out to candidates who have been shortlisted. If you do not receive communication from us within two weeks following the application deadline, please consider that we will not be moving forward with your application.

Timeline for recruitment process 

Closing date: Friday 31st January at 11am.

Interviews will took place on Thursday 13th February and Friday 14th February. 

Please ensure you keep these dates free. 

At Access Social care, we aren’t interested in tokenism. We know that if we are to make the biggest difference for the people that need us the most, we need to get Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and anti-racism right. Part of this is recruiting greater diversity in all our teams.

With this in mind, we particularly welcome applications from candidates with experience of the communities we serve, including people with direct experience of the social care system, and from marginalised groups, particularly Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, older and disabled people, and trans and non-binary people. 

For over two decades, Social Investment Business has provided finance and support to charities and social enterprises. We empower these organisations to do what they do best - serve the communities they operate within. 

Our values are: People First, Curious, Bold, Collaborative, Accountable

For further information on what we do, our values and our generous benefits please visit our website.

Our research has highlighted the lag faced by the community sector in its transition to net zero – no longer burning fossil fuels – compared to the domestic housing sector. To respond to this challenge SIB is launching a Heat Development Company, which will work closely with community initiatives seeking to decarbonise their heating – moving from boilers that burn gas or oil – and engage with their communities to support them through the net zero transition. This role will be integral to the success of this new initiative, working closely with our customers and wider stakeholders to make the community case for electrification and away from gas. Please see page 5 for further information.

About the Role

Reporting to the Deputy CEO this is an exciting role supporting one of the UK’s leading social investors in our pioneering work on heat decarbonisation.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about the work we do, is organised and has excellent attention to detail. Someone who is flexible with a “can do” attitude and who has a desire to get involved within a fast-paced team. If that is you and you can also bring in new ideas and are keen to get involved with the wider team projects as well as collaborate across the organisation then this could be a really exciting opportunity be a part of our values led organisation. For further information please refer to the background information available below.

 Key responsibilities

1.         To co-create and implement an effective community engagement strategy for the new Heat Development Company involving the three existing grantees on the programme, in particular giving consideration to the ways in which the Heat DevCo’s new investees can best work with local residents to make the case for electrification. To be the first point of contact for the pioneer grantees, and for the programme’s first set of development sites, ensuring that excellent communications are designed and implemented, and that questions and concerns are answered in a timely and informed way.  

2.    To manage any community consultants engaged as part of the programme, or working with project management partners.

3.To coordinate regular stakeholder engagement with key interest groups: grantees & investees and their communities, the social sector, and the decentralised energy sector. To be creative in developing these contacts, and to consider new and innovative ways of carrying out outreach and ongoing engagement reflecting the differential impact of analogue and digital methods of engagement, their reach into communities, and their replicability and cost.

4. To lead on qualitative research on decarbonisation and electrification for the Heat DevCo, in particular to support the Deputy CEO and research and data team in exploring the potential of heat as a common pool resource.

5. To work closely with the policy and communications team to ensure that stakeholder engagement reflects SIB’s policy priorities on decarbonisation and electrification, and that feedback from stakeholders is reflected in policy and communication outputs. To support the policy and communications team in its development of new policy and communication assets, and to work with the data team to incorporate the best evidence into outputs across SIB’s platforms. To work with external groups on the best approach to public information campaigns on electrification, and to ensure that SIB has a voice in wider efforts to encourage electrification in the UK.

6. To develop a calendar of useful events in heating decarbonisation and electrification, to attend relevant events or conferences and to ensure that the senior team prioritise the best set of opportunities to raise SIB’s profile and progress leads and partnerships. Through attendance to present the Heat Development Company, answering questions and reporting key feedback, ensuring that internal development work effectively reflects a wide set of views and experiences. To be an accessible and responsive contact point for SIB’s work on heat decarbonisation, taking a creative and inclusive approach to outreach and information sharing.

7. To support the coordination and project management of business development in community energy, heating and cooling, social investment fundraising and capacity building, supporting Business Development colleagues with relevant case studies, customer viewpoints and grassroots experience.

8. To provide regular and timely updates on the development of opportunities in heat decarbonisation and electrification to the senior team. These updates should both support effective information sharing across the organisation, and, in particular, reflect the grassroots and community perspective. This should enable SIB to make the best use of its resources and pursue its strategic priorities in an inclusive and accessible way.

9. To contribute to high quality bid responses for invitations to tender from funders, investors and other key client groups in heating, community energy, decarbonisation and electrification, to ensure that these are well-written and represent stakeholder and grassroots viewpoints.

10. To coordinate and contribute to a clear strategy and objectives for decarbonisation and electrification at SIB.

11. To adopt our continuous improvement and learning ethos.

12. To support and embed equality, diversity and inclusion into day-to-day behaviours and activities within your role as well as contributing more widely across SIB’s commitment to E, D & I.

13. To support and contribute to the implementation and delivery of SIB’s strategy.

14. In agreement with manager to undertake other tasks and work on cross team projects that support the objectives of SIB as required.

15. To work within the organisation's values, principles, and processes to achieve operational excellence.

Core competencies

• A good understanding of net zero and decarbonisation. A background or experience in working in this area is helpful but not essential.
• Excellent relationship management skills both with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience of working with a wide range of different interest groups including communities and grassroots organisations.
• Effective time management.
• Self-motivated, with high energy and an engaging level of enthusiasm.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Excellent Microsoft Office Skills, including Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
• Flexible and adaptable as a team player.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to equality, diversity & inclusion

Desirable competencies

• Understanding of the social investment or grant-making market in the UK
• Understanding of community energy schemes

Student Fundraising Executive

Hybrid & remote working options available

£25,000-£29,000 (dependent on experience)

Immediate start

About us

Meningitis Research Foundation is an international health charity headquartered in the UK, driven by a passionate mission to prevent the devastating impact of meningitis. Founded by individuals whose lives were profoundly affected by meningitis; we are dedicated to enabling positive change by uniting people and knowledge to save lives.

Currently, our student team supports hundreds of students per year to take part in some incredible fundraising challenges. This includes national and international treks and marathons, such as climbing Kilimanjaro, trekking across the Morocco High Atlas Mountains, or running 26.2 miles through Budapest.

Working as one of our Student Fundraising Executives you will be joining our Events and Community Fundraising team and be involved in organising, recruiting, and resourcing students from across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

You will learn to build relationships with university partners and be involved in supporting the students who sign up to become fundraisers for our charity.

This is a hugely rewarding role, with a lot of variety. Full training for the position will be provided and you will join an incredibly supportive, successful, and passionate fundraising team.

Key tasks and fundraising activities.

• Attending meetings and presenting to student groups across the UK.
• Promoting Meningitis Research Foundation.
• Speaking about our student programme to universities across the UK developing and building relationships.
• Attending meetings and presenting to student groups across the UK.
• Promote student challenges and recruit students to sign up to events, engaging with students both face to face, online and via the telephone.
• Account manage a group of university partners.
• Provide stewardship and support for student challenge participants, through regular contact, and providing ideas and merchandise to aid the success of their fundraising efforts.
• Maintain accurate and up to date CRM records of participants and financial information relating to events.
• Produce progress reports to the team.
• Identify and implement ways of solving problems and optimising new opportunities.
• Provide assistance in the running of other fundraising events and activities.
• Create newsletters, supporter communications and social media content.

Skills and experience required.

• Genuine interest in working within the charity sector.
• Effective communication skills, both face to face and over the phone.
• Good organisational skills and ability to use initiative and work with autonomy.
• Experience working within a RAG society of within the charity sector desirable but non-essential.
• Ability to work anti-social hours (evening and weekends) during our student sign up season (Sept-Nov). All travel and accommodation paid for.

This is a full-time vacancy with opportunities for training development and progression and is a great starting point for a successful career within Fundraising.

To be considered for the position, please apply with an up-to-date copy of your CV and a cover letter, detailing your reasons for interest in the role and suitability. This will be reviewed by our internal recruitment team, who will be in touch with you to discuss the role in more detail if suitable.

Interviews to be held week commencing 3rd of February.

Closing date for applications- 27th of January.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Development Officer in the Social Sciences Development team to join us on a permanent basis.

What We Offer

Working at the University of Oxford offers several exclusive benefits, such as:

· 38 days of annual leave to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service.

· One of the most generous maternity and adoption leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay leave, followed by additional statutory and unpaid leave options.

· A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle.

· An excellent contributory pension scheme.

· Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans.

· Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs.

· Opportunities for growth and development, including membership to CASE.

About the Role

In this role you will be securing gifts up to £50,000 and will help identify potential donors to our academic research projects on pressing issues such as climate change, early years education and social inequality.

About You

· You will have previous experience in sales, fundraising or alumni relations

· You will be highly motivated

· You will be an enthusiastic individual who is a confident communicator

·         You will be able to manage, prioritise and adapt to a diverse workload, meet deadlines, and work calmly under pressure.

· You will be naturally curious and keen to learn

About the position

This is an exciting opportunity to help make a positive impact for animals by supporting HSI’s UK campaigns on wildlife, farmed animals, and the fur trade. As part of our dedicated and friendly team, you’ll play an important role in producing effective campaign communications materials, building HSI/UK’s brand awareness, and ensuring our events run smoothly. You'll take a lead on day-to-day publishing and community engagement on our social media channels. Whether you’re drafting engaging copy for digital platforms or providing administrative support and reporting on metrics, your skills will help us make a difference for animals in need. 

Please note: Our recruitment policy is to offer a fixed one year contract to start, with a view to move to a permanent contract in year two based on performance.

Key areas of responsibility

• Co-ordinate the day-to-day social media planning, scheduling and community engagement on channels including Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

• Assist with creation and maintenance of content for UK campaigns, such as social media posts, supporter actions and web pages, including video editing using Adobe Premiere Pro.

• Oversee the production of public-facing materials, such as banners, leaflets and props, for HSI’s UK campaigns, as directed.

• Assist with the planning and organisation of events (including media and Parliamentary events) for HSI’s UK campaigns, including handling bookings, invitations, and RSVPs, as directed.

• Co-ordinate the implementation of communications plans to support campaigns.

• Conduct research to inform and develop media lists for campaigns, as directed.

• Undertake administrative tasks, including communications project management, expense tracking and maintenance of visual asset library.

• Assist the media and communications program manager with research and communications to maintain and develop HSI/UK’s celebrity and influencer networks and activities.

• Ensure accurate, timely recording and internal communication of progress against strategic communications goals, including through social media analytics, tracking of media coverage and quarterly reports.

About you 

Our successful candidate will be highly organised, positive and proactive with excellent attention to detail. You’ll have the ability to create creative and persuasive digital content which informs our supporters and encourages them to take action for animals. An understanding of the media and celebrity/influencer landscape in the UK would be beneficial. You’ll have experience working in a communications role, ideally gained within the charity sector, and a proven track record of supporting the delivery of effective campaigns and external communications.

About us 

Humane Society International/UK is part of Humane Society International, a global animal protection organisation striving for a better future for animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programmes. In the UK we are an leading voice for animals, running effective campaigns on wildlife protection, the fur trade, and farmed animal welfare, backed by hundreds of thousands of supporters across the country. HSI/UK has big ambitions to create further positive change for animals both here in the UK and around the world. 

This is a key role within Learning and Work Institute’s research and development team, with responsibility for developing high-quality evidence and knowledge. You will play an integral role in maintaining excellence in the production of evidence and advice on learning, skills and employment. The ideal candidate will bring strong knowledge and experience of a range of statistical, analytical and evaluation techniques and an interest in the policy context for learning, skills and employment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake quantitative analysis to explore the effectiveness of different interventions and identify cohorts and areas most likely to benefit from them. 
• Support the implementation of evidence-based approaches and the development of new trials and pilots. Develop and utilise appropriate research and analytical methods and tools. 
• Develop and manage systems for gathering, recording, analysing and presenting data from a range of projects for maximum impact. 
• Contribute to the production of high-quality research, policy and evaluation reports, interpreting often complex evidence in a way that is accessible to a wide range of audiences. 
• Contribute to high quality evidence synthesis projects and evaluations to support policy makers, commissioners and practitioners to make decisions grounded in the latest, best available research. 
• Ensure research and findings are communicated to key stakeholders, including policy makers, commissioners and practitioners, in an informative and accessible way. 
• Support the design of toolkits and other dissemination products which key stakeholders can engage with and use to drive change in the way they design and deliver services. 
• Manage small projects and lead on elements of large projects. 
• Support the development and training of the wider team in collaboration with senior R&D staff. 
• Support income generation, in collaboration with other L&W staff, including contributing to the preparation of funding proposals. 
• Represent L&W at external meetings and undertake public speaking/presentations with support as necessary. 
• Undertake project administration and coordination tasks related to research activity. 
• Supervise interns, associates and temporary staff in relation to research activity, including possible line management responsibility for research interns. 
• Contribute to a positive, open and collaborative approach, operating in line with Learning and Work Institute’s core values and Staff Charter. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to equality of opportunity. 

Travel and occasional overnight stays will be required. 

About You

Essential

• Degree (in economics, statistics, research or social science with significant statistics element), equivalent qualifications or evidence of equivalent experience 
• Quantitative analysis skills, including regression, weighting, significance testing
• Skills in conducting analysis using statistical software packages such as Stata and SPSS 
• Ability to develop sampling strategies and draw samples using statistical software 
• Knowledge of large administrative and survey datasets in the areas of lifelong learning, employment and skills 
• Strong track record of organising, coordinating and managing a range of activities against competing deadlines and priorities 

Desirable

• Experience of designing complex quantitative analysis projects
• Experience of designing and analysing experimental or quasi-experimental evaluation projects (including randomised control trials, matched statistical designs, difference-in-difference designs or regression discontinuity designs) 
• Skills in designing and analysing value for money and/or economic evaluation (including cost-benefit analysis, Social Return on Investment) 
• Experience of disseminating statistical findings from research and evaluation via written reports, workshops and presentations 
• Experience of undertaking policy-related research projects, using a range of research methods

The successful candidate will have to undergo an enhanced DBS check. 

Benefits

Salary of £25,200 - £34,125 , depending on experience and location

- 31 days' holiday increasing to 33 days after 5 years’ service, of which 3 are shutdown days in addition to public holidays.

- Generous company pension scheme with 8% employer contribution

- Group Life Assurance 3*salary

- Hybrid working (with 40%-60% of your time in the office)

- Flexible working practices

- Employee Development Scheme

- Retailer Discounts

- Enhanced occupational maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental pay

- Enhanced occupational sick pay

- Eye care scheme

- Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programme

- Silver award in Investors in People

How to Apply

To apply, please fill out the application form and upload your CV and a short supporting statement answering the 4 questions below (no more than 250 words per question please).

1. Please tell us what attracted you to the researcher role at Learning and Work Institute. When answering this question, explain why you are interested in L&W in particular, and the attributes you bring to this specific role and the organisation.
2. Please outline your key research and analytical skills and capabilities, providing examples of how you have used them. When answering this question, explain how your skills and capabilities meet the job description and person specification. Examples should be detailed and include key considerations that you took into account when applying your skills and capabilities.
3. Please describe a time that you had to work as part of a team to deliver a project, and your role in delivering the project. When answering this question, explain the aspects of the project that you had responsibility for, how this related to the wider project and the steps you took to ensure there was effective teamwork and the project was successfully completed. Consider the key aspects to effective teamwork, and how these are demonstrated by your example.
4. Please tell us about a time you managed/coordinated a project or piece of work. How did you ensure that it was completed to time and quality expectations? When answering this question, explain the steps you took when managing/coordinating the project or piece of work, how you planned and prioritised tasks and the time required to complete them, and the outcome you achieved by doing this successfully.

Applications will only be considered when submitted with a CV and supporting statement.

The closing date for applications is: 2nd February 2025

L&W is passionate about equality and diversity, it drives our organisational values and mission, and we are particularly keen to receive applications from all under-represented groups in society.

As our Research and Participation Officer, you’ll enjoy working on a diverse range of projects, collecting and analysing data, coordinating participation activities, administrating evaluation activities, and contributing to reports and other outputs. Reporting to the Insight and Impact Manager, you’ll work closely with colleagues across the organisation, conducting research and generating insights to support with Starlight’s overall priorities. You’ll need to be highly organised to coordinate different tasks and activities so the team can achieve maximum impact. You’ll have strong analytical skills, with a good grasp of different methodologies, and you’ll be able to listen to, understand and work with children, young people, families and health professionals to embed their voices into Starlight’s work.

You will be naturally curious and enjoy a varied role, from engaging with children, families and health professionals in different environments, to desk-based research and working with data. You will be willing to seek clarification before you start something new and have the ability to flex and respond to a fast-changing environment. You will be eager to listen, sensitively seeking to understand, whilst balancing the needs and impact on self, others and Starlight. With a desire for and commitment to self-development, you’ll reap the benefits of our development programme, where you’ll have the opportunity to increase your self-awareness and understanding of your impact on others and to see how our shared values and individual strengths and preferences are key to achieving our objectives. 

SCIE Vision

We are committed to building a society which enables people who draw on social care to live fulfilling lives.

At the SCIE, we are driven by our values:

· Progressive – always learning and developing.

· Inclusive – working together for equality, diversity, and fairness.

· Credible – evidence-based, robust, and reliable.

· Transparent – open and honest.

The role:

A great opportunity for you to join our small friendly team and make a real difference to people’s lives by:

· Ensuring that SCIE’s evidence, drawn from research and people’s lived experiences, influences social care policy and practice.

· Developing and delivering influencing strategies, drafting policy papers and legislative briefings, and managing relationships with various stakeholders and key partners.

· Growing SCIE’s profile as an influential, informed, and powerful voice in the social care sector.

· Positioning SCIE to work as a partner to government, responding independently to new government policy, supporting and advising on a range of national policy programmes, initiatives, and influencing guidance and practice.

· Producing high-quality research and evaluations demonstrating what works and makes a difference in social care, promoting evidence-based good practice.

What we are looking for:

· Knowledge of the policy and political landscape developed from previous experience working in a policy or public affairs role, either in government, the civil service, charities, or non-governmental organisations.

· Proven experience developing and delivering public affairs strategies and leading influencing activities.

· Proven experience producing policy papers and applying policy research skills, such as evidence gathering, analysis and reporting.

· Proven experience as a strategic and analytic thinker who can influence policymakers with persuasive arguments, policy ideas and campaigns.

· Proven ability to manage a wide range of internal and external stakeholder relationships, including at senior levels, and to engage with people with diverse viewpoints and backgrounds.

What we offer in return.

We offer excellent staff benefits including a competitive salary and homeworking allowance. We provide an employer pension contribution above the statutory minimum, an award-winning employee assistance programme, and an attractive holiday package which rises with length of service.

If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us. (You can find our contact email in the 'How to apply' section)

Our client is a large national Charity, listed in the top 100 Best Companies to work for. They are committed to supporting young people and adults to realise their potential and their mission is to drive social mobility by enabling more people to access and succeed in education, training and employment. 

Director of Research and Impact

Salary: £60,000 per annum 

Hybrid working with 2 days a week minimum in their Liverpool office and Flexi time 

25 days Holiday increasing with Service 

They are now seeking to appoint a Director of Research and Impact, which sits as a key part of the Senior Leadership Team and will have a significant internal and external profile.  

You will strategically lead and enhance their approach to research and evaluation, demonstrating impact, ensuring that you can improve services, influence policy and share best practice. 

Our ideal candidate will be ambassadorial, with excellent presentation skills and will have expertise in innovative research and evaluation, able to engage and influence senior stakeholders internally and externally and most importantly, you will have a passion for helping people to realise their potential. The charity are still developing their research journey, so there is significant scope for the successful candidate to shape and develop their strategic approach going forward.  

To learn more about this unique and exciting opportunity, please see the dedicated recruitment website by clicking 'Apply via Website'.

Deadline for applications: Sunday 23rd February Midnight 

Interviews with Prospectus: w/c 3rd March 

Interviews with the charity: 17th-19th March 

Career Connect are committed to achieve greater diversity among its workforce, and welcome applications regardless of sex, gender, race, age, sexuality, belief or disability. They are a disability confident employer and proud to be recognised as an Investor in Diversity.

Permanent, part-time (4 days per week)

Remote working with regular meetings in London

Immediate start

About us

Sustainability First is a leading UK think tank and charity that acts as a critical friend to businesses, regulators, governments, and civil society, to create more sustainable energy and water sectors in the UK. We work tirelessly to advocate for policies that support environmental and consumer protection and to engage the public through accessible and impactful communication. We believe that it is possible to create a thriving economy that respects environmental limits and enables social equity.

About the role

We are seeking an analytical thinker with a curiosity-driven mindset and a collaborative approach to working. This role will be central to our ongoing success as a highly regarded independent research organisation, building an evidence base in favour of embedding sustainability principles into business practices, regulatory and public policy thinking. You will help to amplify our voice with decisionmakers, including business leaders, senior officials in central government, regulatory bodies, and amongst politicians, helping to shape public policy and legislation for a socially equitable and environmentally sustainable economy.

Ideally, you will have a sector-specific understanding (energy and/or water utilities), including familiarity with key policies and strategies, such as Net Zero targets, climate adaptation strategies, and consumer vulnerability protections. You will be able to draft practical policy recommendations, informed by evidence and stakeholder input, and be familiar with key players, including government departments, regulators, consumer groups, industry bodies, and environmental organizations. This is an excellent opportunity to develop a core role in our charity, as well as make a tangible impact on the environment and social equity in the UK.

The post will be primarily based remotely, working from home, but with access to shared office space in Camden and Monument in London. Our board of trustees meet twice a year in person in central London (and twice more online), and our Executive Director is often in London for meetings once or twice a week. You must also be able to attend occasional meetings in central London and be willing to travel (infrequently) within the UK.

For further details about the role, please download the job description.

How to apply

Please click the apply button to be taken to our vacancies page. 

When applying, please submit a CV (no more than three pages of A4) and covering letter that sets out how you meet the selection criteria for this role. Please also complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. 

Closing date: Sunday 8th February 2025.

Interviews will be online via Microsoft Teams in February.

We apologise that due to the expected high levels of applications we may not be able to reply to all candidates. If you have not heard from us by 28th February, please assume you have not been shortlisted.

Sustainability First is an equal opportunities employer and promotes equity, diversity and inclusion through its work, and through its employment practices. You must be able to work in the UK to take up this role.

Role description

 The Head of Social Value (HoSV) is HACT’s specialist subject matter expert on social value and impact measurement. The post holder will be able to clearly explain what social value means and have knowledge of a range of impact measurement methodologies and how they can be applied in different contexts.

The HoSV will ensure that HACT maintains its position at the forefront of social value and impact measurement thinking, constantly identifying areas for innovation and development. The post holder will also build and strengthen relationships with customers by providing quality social value consultancy, training and research.

The HoSV will have regular contact with HACTs strategic partner, SImetrica-Jacobs, ensuring there is 2-way dialogue based on market intelligence, understanding competitors and any other feedback which will positively support HACTs position in the social value space.

Working at the cutting edge of how social impact measurement is used within the built environment, the post holder will have an enthusiasm to lead new thinking and the ability to be flexible, adaptable and to thrive on the challenge of working in a developing area and work closely with the Head of Services and Head of Customer to develop the product map.

The HoSV will be the ‘go to’ person within HACT for social value and will represent HACT as an expert in this field in the sector.

Responsibilities

 • Be the subject matter expert for social value and impact measurement at HACT, providing guidance and expertise internally to HACT colleagues and externally to customers. This will involve leading on the development of guidance materials for implementing HACT’s Social Value Banks and measurement methodology and practice notes.

• Deliver social value services to customers at the right level of quality, ensuring customer needs are met.

• Identify opportunities to enhance HACT’s social value services, expand HACT’s Social Value Banks and provide more value to customers.

• Identify business development opportunities for social value services within the housing sector, built environment and beyond.

• Build and manage existing relationships with partners, Associates, and other stakeholders, working with these partners to support delivery, information flows, and engagement with customers.

• Continually keep own expertise up-to-date and current through market scanning and analysis and use this insight to support improvements to the HACT offer.

• Represent HACT with key stakeholders and at sector events.

• Stay abreast of issues in the social housing, built environment and health sectors, and feeding these into HACT work.

• Undertake any task that may be requested from time to time that may be consistent with the nature and scope of this post.

• Travel and occasional overnight stays across the UK will be required.

Skills and experience

Essential

· Minimum 3 years of experience working in social value and impact measurement

· Proven track record in managing and delivering research/consultancy projects to meet funders’ requirements, including to time, budget and quality expectations

· Experience of developing and delivering training that applies complex issues into everyday organisational and individual behaviours in understandable ways

· Experience of working with customers to design new projects and secure income

· Demonstrable track record of preparing successful project proposals, consultancy briefs, and/or funding bids

· Proven skills in writing for/speaking to a range of audiences to ensure impact

· Innovation and drive – the ability to independently spot and successfully curate projects that respond to emerging opportunities

· Excellent time management, with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and to tight deadlines whilst maintain quality

· Ability to work under own initiative, be flexible, and have a proactive approach to problem solving

· Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage a range of audiences, stakeholders, funders and partners using different media

· Good knowledge of a variety of social impact measurement methods and confident in both qualitative and quantitative research methods

Desirable

· Minimum 3 years of experience working in social value and impact measurement

· Proven track record in managing and delivering research/consultancy projects to meet funders’ requirements, including to time, budget and quality expectations

· Experience of developing and delivering training that applies complex issues into everyday organisational and individual behaviours in understandable ways

· Experience of working with customers to design new projects and secure income

· Demonstrable track record of preparing successful project proposals, consultancy briefs, and/or funding bids

· Proven skills in writing for/speaking to a range of audiences to ensure impact

· Innovation and drive – the ability to independently spot and successfully curate projects that respond to emerging opportunities

· Excellent time management, with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and to tight deadlines whilst maintain quality

· Ability to work under own initiative, be flexible, and have a proactive approach to problem solving

· Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage a range of audiences, stakeholders, funders and partners using different media

· Good knowledge of a variety of social impact measurement methods and confident in both qualitative and quantitative research methods

About HACT

HACT’s products, services, consultancy, and research helps organisations to:

• Calculate social return on investment with rigour using our Social Value Banks.

• Broker housing and health partnerships, demonstrate the importance of housing in delivering health outcomes and integrate housing into the delivery of health services.

• Measure impact, understand communities and demonstrate the value of community investment work through our insight tools.

• Provide a forum to network with partners to complement and strengthen success of delivery through our Centre for Excellence in Community Investment.

• Connect, share ideas and innovation, and develop sector specific tools such as the UK Housing Data Standards.

• Identify cost benefits, evaluate performance, and deliver strategic insights.

We are a deeply committed team, working with individuals and organisations who share our vision for impact, innovation, and collaboration within social housing and beyond.

The Social Impact Manager will lead on various aspects of implementing ParalympicsGB’s social impact strategy including managing the athlete community, disability education programme in schools and other projects on behalf of the organisation.

ParalympicsGB Social Impact Programme

· Support the Head of Social Impact and Director of Communications & Social Impact in the implementation of ParalympicsGB’s new social impact strategy.

· Support the Head of Social Impact with the socialisation of the new social impact strategy, supporting colleagues with their understanding of social impact and how this can be embedded across their respective roles to achieve social impact outcomes.

· Lead on capturing social impact case studies and outcomes from across the organisation including collaboration with the Commercial, Operations and Sports departments to inform ParalympicsGB’s social impact storytelling.

· Establish and manage a number of relevant stakeholders, developing and managing relationships with key stakeholders across the sport and disability sectors connected to collaborating on aspects of the strategy implementation.

· Organise the Social Impact Leadership Group and Social Impact Committee meetings and provide the administration for the group.

Social Impact Projects

· ParalympicsGB Athlete Community Project

o Manage ongoing athlete reconnection campaign for Paralympians from pre 2010 and compile a database (Salesforce) of retired Paralympians who took part in previous Games as far back as the 1960 Paralympic Games.

o Manage ParalympicsGB’s athlete community comms including opportunities for athletes within the community e.g. Ambassador roles, key-note speaker opportunities, campaigning opportunities.

o Manage the Athlete Community Advisory Sub-Group, maximising input from the group on the ongoing project development and implementation.

o Lead on scoping and project managing a digital platform solution for the Athlete Community, with support from Head of Social Impact.

o Lead on scoping and managing a training programme for athletes who are part of the community e.g. advocacy and campaigning training, environmental sustainability training, mentoring etc.

o Lead on organising and managing athlete celebrations events and networking opportunities across the home countries.

· Get Set

o Support the Head of Social Impact, alongside Get Set delivery agency, with the Get Set youth education programme operations and athlete engagement.

o Manage the Get Set Be the Change programme development in conjunction with Get Set agency, researching and advising on the future direction and growth of the social model of disability education programme in schools.

· Beyond the Podium

o Support commercial team with a number of the commercial partners’ plans and activation around social impact, providing access and inclusion advice and guidance.

· Contribute to the other relevant social impact project groups as necessary and capacity permitting e.g. Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Group and Athlete Advisory Groups.

This job description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and may be amended from time to time in the light of the changing needs of the organisation through appropriate processes of consultation and the mutual agreement of both parties.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

QUALIFICATIONS

· A degree or similar-level qualification, or equivalent working experience

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Essential

· Project management skills

· Experience in providing access and inclusion advice and guidance

· Experience of establishing and managing effective stakeholder engagement

· Experience of being effective at planning, monitoring, and reviewing

· Willingness to get ‘stuck in’ to ensure projects delivered on time and within budget

· Passion for promoting equal opportunities for disabled people

Desirable

· Strong and effective communication skills

· Experience of planning and delivering small scale stakeholder events

· Good at problem solving and analytical mindset

· Demonstrated affinity with digital tech, ability to manage online athlete community platform

· Be able work as part of a team and on your own initiative

· An understanding of Customer Relationship Management systems

· General knowledge of disability / inclusive sport and physical activity

· Lived experience of disability

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND QUALITIES

Essential

Communication: The ability to express message and impart information clearly, concisely, and convincingly to a wide variety of audiences and through a variety of mechanisms, including both verbal and written communication.

Organisational Skills: The ability to plan, organise and execute work programmes, working to tight deadlines.

Desirable

Creativity: The ability to understand a problem or issue, and the factors that influence it, and consider constructive inventive ways in which a solution can be found, and a positive work outcome achieved. The desire constantly to consider ways in which existing practices could be done better and more efficiently.

VALUES

The British Paralympic Association is an organisation with a unique role and key responsibilities within the UK high performance system. Delivery of our ambitions very much relies on both working with, and through others, and by focussing on our two strategic priorities: taking the best prepared team to each summer and winter Games; and inspiring social change.

As an organisation we are committed to three values: excellence, respect, and integrity. Every BPA employee is expected to adhere to: 

Excellence

Everything we do at the BPA reflects our ambition to be world leading. We care deeply about what we do and bring a flexible, positive, and progressive approach to our interactions with others. Like the athletes that we support, we will always challenge ourselves and others to do better. 

Respect

Our relationships with each other, our partners and the wider community are based on respect, trust, and a deep-seated belief in diversity, inclusion, and the value of our differences.

Integrity 

We demand the highest standards from ourselves and others, seeking always to do the right thing and to engage with openness and transparency in all that we do. 

Policy and Research Officer 

Would you like to work in a dynamic forward-looking organisation as the Policy and Research Officer, where you can help to advance, promote, and maintain high standards of practice of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling for the benefit of all?

Position: Policy and Research Officer

Location: Hybrid/London (in the office at least once per month on average)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full and part time hours considered

Salary: £33,824 per annum (FTE) (pro rata for part time hours)

Closing Date: Monday 20th January 2025

Please note we reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

About the Role

We are looking for a Policy and Research Officer who is passionate about mental health service provision in the UK, to join a vibrant and thriving team, working to build the psychotherapeutic evidence base in support of the public interest and the charitable objectives. This is a particularly exciting time to join as we have just launched our three-year strategy. 

You will be pivotal in developing and implementing the research and policy strategy, including campaigning to national policymakers to drive positive change in the mental health arena. To help to support and promote the research work of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors.

Key responsibilities include:

• To assist the policy and research manager and wider campaigns team in their ongoing national policy and campaigning work, such as raising awareness of psychotherapy and improving access to psychotherapy.

• Supporting all aspects of policy, campaigning and public affairs work – including MP engagement, campaign design and administration.

• Leading on the devolved policy engagement work in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

• Building relationships with stakeholders within parliament, public bodies, higher education institutions and the wider mental health sector.

• Contribute to work to lobby Government, NHS England, local commissioners and other decision makers and stakeholders.

• Undertake desk-based research to support policy objectives, such as literature reviews and scoping research.

• To support appropriate research projects, including collecting and analysing survey data.

• Provide administrative support to the organisation’s research committees.

• To assist in the organisation’s advocacy work on behalf of members and services.

• Produce written briefings, publications and other materials that communicate complex messages clearly and effectively to different audiences.

• To provide policy and research input to support the delivery of the organisation’s strategy.

About You

This is a role for an individual who is open to new ideas, who is motivational and pragmatic. You will enjoy the opportunity to support an important cause where there is a growing demand in society for greater choices of high-quality mental health service provision. There’ll be scope for professional development as well as personal reward in working with autonomy in a small team and for an important charity. In short, it is an opportunity to make a real difference.

You will need to have the following skills and experience:

• A good working understanding of policymaking, public affairs and campaigning.

• An understanding of parliamentary procedures and how to influence the political and policy making process.

• Ability to understand and analyse information including research reports and legislation.

• Experience of conducting research in an academic context.

• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to write for a range of non-academic and academic audiences.

• Ability to engage and build positive relationships, including with colleagues from other organisations across the sector, and with higher profile stakeholders such as MPs and policy makers.

• Excellent ability to plan and prioritise multiple projects to meet agreed deadlines and targets, and ability to respond to tight deadlines and changing circumstances.

About the Organisation

The employer is the leading professional body for psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Alongside professional support for members, they are the leading research, innovation, educational and regulatory body working to advance psychotherapies, and emotional and mental wellness for the benefit of all. They represent training organisations and over 8,000 individual therapists - working privately or in the NHS or voluntary sector - offering a wide variety of psychotherapeutic approaches or modalities.

You may have experience in areas such as: Policy Assistant, Research Assistant, Policy Officer, Research Officer, Policy Lead, Research Lead, Policy Analyst, Research Analyst, Public Affairs Officer, Public Affairs Lead, Communications Officer, Communications Lead, Communications Analyst, Engagement Officer, Engagement Lead. 

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.