Evaluation and Learning Lead

Full-time (or 0.8), based from home, with on-site activity that requires regular UK-wide travel. NDTi are happy to talk about flexible working.

About NDTi

NDTi has been working with communities, government, health, and social care professionals for over 30 years to ensure that people with disabilities of all ages are given choice and control over their own lives.

Our organisation exists to make change happen by celebrating what’s possible, supporting changemakers and building self-determination. Our work always focuses on wider life outcomes. We want disabled and older people to enjoy the same life course and opportunities as everyone else – education, paid work, a place of their own, fulfilling personal relationships and a chance to contribute to their communities.

Purpose of the role

As a member of the research and evaluation team, the Evaluation and Learning Lead is responsible for the development, co-ordination, delivery and impact of NDTi’s commissioned, grant and trust funded evaluation and learning work. The post holder will manage and deliver a portfolio of evaluation and learning projects and will contribute to wider programme activities as required.

The person NDTi appoint to this important role will:

• develop, lead and deliver evaluation and learning projects and act as liaison for staff and associates involved in delivery of NDTi’s evaluation work.
• identify and share learning and insights generated by our work, showcasing the team’s innovative approaches, partnerships and achievements.
• design and develop evaluation and learning methodologies and materials, maintaining a consistent and high-quality approach to R&E work across NDTi.
• maintain a steady pipeline of opportunities, negotiating, securing and project managing a range of evaluation and learning contracts.
• ensure that our evaluation and learning work is co-produced with a range of stakeholders, including people with lived experience.   
• establish and maintain diverse networks, generating new contacts and work opportunities for yourself and others in NDTi.
• ensure that NDTi’s evaluation and learning work is impactful and influential.

Key activities

Delivering evaluation and learning projects

Day to day, the Evaluation and Learning Lead will project manage and deliver a portfolio of evaluation and learning projects ensuring that each is delivered on time, within budget and to the expected high standard.

Securing and managing contracts

• develop and invest time in nurturing diverse contacts, partnerships and relationships to ensure that NDTi’s evaluation and learning work has a significant and positive profile, influencing attitudes, and changing policy and practice in order to make society more inclusive.
• identify opportunities for, and lead on, the development of proposals and tenders to ensure delivery of NDTi’s mission.

Organisational and other responsibilities

• represent NDTi nationally, regionally, and locally in various networks and forums.
• ensure NDTi is presented as a values-driven, innovative and high-quality organisation that is up to date with policy and practice and delivers effectively.
• work proactively with colleagues and teams across NDTi.​

Success in the role

The person NDTi appoints to this role will:

live our values:

NDTi is built around our desire to improve the rights and lives of those who are often excluded from the opportunities in work, community, and life that many take for granted. You will share our values around rights and equalities, enable people with lived experience to be part of our work, and ensure that work is focused on really making a difference in people’s lives.

be innovative:

Bringing in new work through proposals, bids and grant applications is key to this role. The postholder will bring their expertise and connections to build the NDTi portfolio of work around ageing and older people so that it has a range of projects of different types, and clearly moves towards our strategic ambitions.

have external influence and impact:

We exist to create change and build evidence. You will be able to gather evidence, work with people and partners, and deliver work which influences positive change and has a tangible impact.

be organised:

The role will involve managing multiple projects and project teams and managing your own workload. Successful postholders will be able to work with a diverse and changing workload.

be flexible:

Understanding and accommodating of changing priorities and being supportive of other team members commitments and capacity challenges.

work well within a team:

The evaluation and learning lead will work as part of the R&E Team. They are expected to contribute to the development of the team and its work.

build partnerships:

Relationships are key, and the person who is great in this role will bring and build connections and generate positive working relationships across sectors that enables collaboration with a wide range of people from different backgrounds and perspectives.

Person specification

Essential (e) and desirable (d) personal attributes and core competencies for this role.

Work experience & qualifications                                                                                                                                     

• At least four years of experience of delivering leading edge practice in relation to evaluation and learning activities (e)
• Minimum of two years’ experience of undertaking fieldwork on evaluation and learning projects in a related field including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
• Demonstrable ability and experience of successfully tendering and applying for funding, developing and sustaining a viable pipeline of future opportunities (e)
• Experience of managing numerous and complex projects of varying size and length for different clients (e)
• Educated to degree level or with equivalent gained through professional experience and achievements (e)
• Values and behaviours                                                                                                                                     
• You will share our commitment, values and belief in NDTi’s mission (e)
• You will demonstrate, understand and apply our workplace values of driving inclusion, being reliable, open and honest, acting with humanity, and being curious and commit to work and act in ways that positively reinforce NDTi’s values and behaviours framework at all times (e)
• You will challenge behaviours and attitudes that serve against NDTi’s values and inclusive culture (e)
• You may have personal experience of health or social services or being a family carer for someone, that you can bring to your role with NDTi (e)

​For more information please refer to the attached.