Policy/Research Volunteer Roles
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
African Development Choices (ADC) is a UK-based Social Enterprise on a mission to reduce poverty by empowering communities to make informed development choices in the management of public finances and resources.
ADC’s purpose is to enable communities to independently meet their needs for essential services, such as clean water and safe sanitation and improve lives in Africa.
At ADC we encourage a working culture of seeking and giving input, showing and taking initiative, and commitment to the organisation and its purpose.
We now have an exciting opportunity for a volunteer Head of Policy & Research (Remote) to join ADC.
Main Purpose of Job: Lead the development of policy positions through research to strengthen our evidence base and help ADC act as a thought leader in shaping debate and dialogue around key policy issues relevant to ADC’s work
Division: Operations
Department: Policy & Research
Position Reports to: Chief Impact Officer
Who Reports to this Position: TBC
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop policy positions and commission new research and policy outputs and harness the data and stories from across ADC’s work to strengthen our evidence base
- Develop a stakeholder outreach strategy aimed at building key relationships with local and international stakeholders in parliament, civil service, think tanks, peer organisations, universities/colleges and research community
- Analyse data and put together detailed research reports, executive summaries, briefings, factsheets, white papers and policy papers for internal and external audiences
- Put together emotive case studies and stories which demonstrate positive impact on communities and ensure project data is gathered for impact reporting and creating infographics for business development
- Set up externally funded research projects and apply for funding
- Recruit additional volunteers for the Policy & Research team when needed
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
Essential
- At least 5 years of experience in senior policy and research management
- Experience of strengthening evidence and influencing policy agendas
- Significant senior policy and research development experience, ideally in international development
- Background in policy and stakeholder relations with a good general understanding of the workings of government, parliament and civil service
- Significant experience in developing and implementing policy and research strategies
- A creative and strategic thinker, with the ability to develop innovative policy solutions to complex challenges
- Ability to actively take initiative and help set things up in a start-up environment
- Ability to actively seek and give input in a collaborative team environment
- A committed team player with good communication skills
- Available to volunteer at least 7-10 hours a week
Desirable
- Experience of influencing the formation or revision of international development policy at an institutional, national, or inter-governmental level
- Experience working in an early stage start-up and gone through a scaling phase
- Passion for the start-up life and comfortable in a role with a little ambiguity
What ADC Offers You
This is a volunteer, remote and unpaid position with the following benefits:
- Professional learning and career development opportunities
- An opportunity to build on your work experience within your profession
- An opportunity to be part of a diverse team representing different parts of the world that is helping to deliver systemic social change in Africa
- An opportunity to help shape a start-up social enterprise
- We provide work reference
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
Here at African Development Choices, we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our teams are made up of people from all over the world and we welcome all applications. If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition, and you require any reasonable adjustments for your application with us, please let us know by contacting recruitmentatafricandevelopmentchoicesdotorg
Join the world-class Newcastle University as Lay Member of Council and use your legal, PR or IT expertise to play a vital part in the governance of the institution as it seeks to advance education, learning and research in the North East of England and globally.
Applications close at: 9 a.m. Monday 6th May 2024
Location: Newcastle
About Newcastle University
Newcastle University exists for the public benefit to advance education, learning, and research. We are a world-class university that advances knowledge, provides creative solutions, and solves global problems.
Newcastle University is proud to be a values-led, research-intensive university that makes a significant contribution to our city, region, and globally.
The University’s core values of equality, diversity, inclusion, social and environmental justice, and academic freedom are at the heart of everything we do.
We are passionate in our belief that universities should play a fundamental role in creating and fostering more equitable societies.
We aim to work collaboratively with our many external partners to shape brighter futures, grow the economy and champion social justice.
About the role
Lay members of Council have a vital part to play in the governance of the University and bring knowledge and experience of particular value, given the nature of the environment in which universities work.
Lay Members are expected to play an appropriate part in ensuring that the necessary business of Council is carried on efficiently, effectively, and in a manner appropriate for the proper conduct of public business. You will be expected to make rational and constructive contributions to debate and to make your knowledge and expertise available to Council as opportunities arise.
Members have a responsibility to ensure that the governing body acts in accordance with the instruments of governance of the University and exercises efficient and effective use of the resources of the University to meet its charitable objectives, maintain long-term financial viability, and safeguard its assets.
Members do not play an executive role, which is primarily advisory and facilitating, and we expect Members to establish a constructive and supportive, but challenging, working relationship with the University.
Members are covered by the University’s Professional Indemnity cover in respect of fulfilling their duties.
Members of Council are appointed for three years and membership may be renewed for up to two more terms of three years. It is hoped that Lay Members will serve on one or more of the Council’s sub-committees.
As such, the University is seeking Lay Council Members who can commit up to 16 days per year to this role, which roughly equates to a time commitment of one to two days per month.
You will be provided with a full induction and training opportunities to support your work on Council.
Who we are looking for
Newcastle University is seeking exceptional individuals to join the Council as Lay Members. This is an excellent opportunity to make a considerable contribution to advancing the University’s core mission.
We are particularly interested in those who bring the following experience, expertise, skills, and commitments:
- Expertise or background in the legal profession.
- Senior strategic leadership and/or policy experience in Public Relations or Information Technology.
- Prior governance experience, although not essential is advantageous.
- Collaborative, inclusive, and enabling approach.
- Commitment to being a strong external and internal ambassador for Newcastle University.
- Ability and willingness to contribute to a broad range of University matters.
- Committed to offering your time and expertise to meet the duties of the role.
- Strong commitment to the University’s values, mission and EDI ethos.
Newcastle University is committed to being a fully inclusive global University, which actively recruits, supports, and retains staff from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support, and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.
If you think you meet these criteria and have a genuine interest in supporting Newcastle University as a Lay Council Member, please do get in touch.
Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.
Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 6th May 2024.