Senior Research and Policy Officer for Local Ops England & Wales

About Youth Advantage UK

Youth Advantage UK is a growing organisation  working to improve outcomes for young people across England and Wales. Our England & Wales Local Operations Department leads local policy and research projects across counties, regions, cities and towns — identifying local challenges and developing evidence‑based recommendations that support young people to thrive.

As a young organisation, we are still building our systems and ways of working. This is a great opportunity to help shape a department at an early stage and contribute to meaningful, place‑based change.

Please note: This is a voluntary and unpaid role, with no financial compensation or future paid opportunities attached. We encourage you to apply if you have relevant or transferable skills. YAUK is currently an unregistered charity, working towards gaining the registered status.

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Research & Policy Officer to support the delivery and coordination of local research and policy projects across England and Wales. You will supervise and support Officers, Researchers and Advisors, helping to delegate tasks, resolve issues, and ensure high‑quality outputs.

Working closely with the department’s management team, you will contribute to planning, decision‑making, and the development of effective ways of working. This role is ideal for someone with strong research skills who enjoys supporting others and thrives in a collaborative, evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities

- Delegate tasks and oversee the work of Officers, Researchers and Advisors.

- Provide day‑to‑day supervision, guidance and support to team members.

- Help resolve issues, remove barriers and maintain smooth project delivery.

- Lead or contribute to local research and policy projects across England and Wales.

- Ensure research is rigorous, ethical and relevant to local contexts.

- Support the development of team members through feedback and coaching.

- Build positive working relationships with internal teams, volunteers and external partners.

- Work alongside the management team to support planning and decision‑making.

About You

You will have:

- Experience in research, evaluation or policy analysis.

- Strong analytical and writing skills.

- Ability to supervise or support others in a project or team setting.

- Experience volunteering and/or managing volunteers in a charity or community environment.

- Confidence working in ambiguity and helping build structure where needed.

- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

- A collaborative, supportive approach to teamwork.

- Commitment to improving outcomes for young people.

Why Volunteer With Us

- Play a key role in shaping a new department at a formative stage.

- Use your research and leadership skills to support real, local impact.

- Gain supervisory and project‑coordination experience in a supportive environment.

- Join a mission‑driven team passionate about youth opportunity.

Apply Now

If you’re passionate about evidence‑based change and want to help shape a growing organisation, we’d love to hear from you. Join Youth Advantage UK as we build our Local Operations Department and create better opportunities for young people across England and Wales.