Policy research jobs

At Endometriosis UK, we are passionate about driving political change for the 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth living with endometriosis in the UK. This role will play an instrumental role in supporting the campaigns and policy function within the wider Communications Team.

This will be a busy, varied and important role working closely with the Policy and Public Affairs Manager and Head of Campaigns and Communications to provide administration and wider support for the charity’s growing policy and campaigns function. This will include contributing to the production of government consultation responses, writing letters to politicians, producing background briefings ahead of parliamentary meetings and taking responsibility for political monitoring and informing the team of any engagement opportunities. A key part of the role will also be providing administration support for the policy function of the charity and the Head of Communications and Campaigns, including administrative support for the All-Party-Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis which Endometriosis UK provides secretariat support for. Tasks will include writing minutes, helping produce briefing papers, and booking events and meeting rooms.

You will also be the first point of call for our campaign supporters, and will be aiding our supporters to take campaign actions through the drafting and creation of e-actions using Engaging Networks.

This is an exciting opportunity to help build our campaigning work and work towards the goals of our new 2025 organisational strategy. 

The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Senior UK Policy Manager to support the Policy team based at our London or Glasgow office.

Deadline: 5pm on Monday 5th May
Location: London OR Glasgow
Salary: Starting at £41,800 rising to £48,070 pro rata, plus £3,285 London Weighting if applicable
Hours: Full-time, 32 hours per week (as part of our 32-hour week pilot and may revert to 35 hours after July 2025) [part-time hours may be considered]
Contract type: Permanent

This exciting role will develop and bring together our policy and public affairs work from across all four nations of the UK to drive better understanding and action on public mental health.

What does the role involve?​

• Working with our Head of Policy and Heads of Nations to design and help implement our UK policy and public affairs programme.
• Working collaboratively with teams across the UK to align our policy goals, taking into account different contexts in each of the nations.
• Influence and inform policy-makers, opinion-formers, professional bodies and politicians to support and promote public mental health.

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?​

• Strong intellectual, analysis and influencing skills.
• Experience of working in a UK organisation seeking to shape policy in all four nations of the UK.
• Good understanding of Westminster and at least one of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd or Northern Ireland Assembly.

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.

About us

Since 1949, the Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health.

Our vision is for a world with good mental health for all. With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

We will drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

The Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week.

How to apply

If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application form by clicking 'Redirect to recruiter'. Please note that all sections of the application form should be completed as CVs alone will not be accepted. Applications will close at 5pm on Monday 5th May and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned for week commencing 19th May.

We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme. Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.

If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview. Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 / Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing). We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home for full time staff, pro rata for part time staff.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Job Title: Policy and Research Officer 

Location: Liverpool/Hybrid (Remote working a possibility)

Salary: £33,000

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time. Monday to Friday, 8:45am-4:45pm

Join Us in Ending Furniture Poverty!

Are you passionate about social housing and making a difference in people’s lives? Do you want to use research to make a real difference in tackling furniture poverty across the UK?

We’re looking for a Policy & Research Officer to join End Furniture Poverty, the campaigning arm of FRC Group. This is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of impactful social research that shapes policy and drives change.

About End Furniture Poverty

End Furniture Poverty is the campaigning arm of FRC Group, a social enterprise with a mission to End Furniture Poverty. We are committed to making a tangible difference in our communities by providing quality, affordable furniture to those in need. Our values—Bravery, Creativity, Passion, and Professionalism—drive us to tackle social issues head-on, innovating to create sustainable solutions and inspiring positive change.

Operating for over 35 years, FRC Group includes a family of social businesses such as the Furniture Resource Centre and Buckingham Interiors. Our operations are not just about providing furniture; they’re about empowering lives, supporting the community, and ensuring everyone has access to the essential items that make a house a home.

Our team is our greatest asset, and we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and inclusive working environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally. We invest in our people through comprehensive training, development opportunities, and a culture that celebrates achievements and milestones.

The Role

As part of the End Furniture Poverty team, you’ll work closely with the Director of End Furniture Poverty to lead and deliver our research strategy. You’ll develop and deliver high-quality research, analyse complex data, and create publications that inform policy and influence real-world change.

This is a great opportunity for someone who thrives on juggling multiple projects, has a strong grasp of social research methods, and wants to see their work have a national impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading primary and secondary research into the causes, effects, and solutions to furniture poverty

• Designing qualitative and quantitative studies

• Handling large datasets and using tools like SPSS, Stata or R for analysis

• Writing publication-standard reports and policy briefings

• Mapping services and interventions in the sector

• Staying up to date with key policy developments

• Supporting our influencing work with powerful evidence and insight

Skills and Experience:

• Strong experience of both qualitative and quantitative social research

• Educated to degree level (ideally in a relevant field such as social or political science)

• Postgraduate social research qualification

• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal

• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g. SPSS, R, Stata)

• Confidence in managing complex datasets and distilling insights

• A creative and analytical mindset

• Knowledge of social justice, government policy, and socioeconomic issues

• A passion for ending furniture poverty and aligning with our values: Bravery, Creativity, Passion, and Professionalism

Benefits

• 27 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Christmas shutdown
• Up to 9% pension match
• Staff purchase schemes
• Medicash health insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Travel passes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Birthday celebrations and meals
• Values awards & vouchers
• 3 paid volunteering days per year
• Free parking
• Death in service
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Free tea, coffee, and fruit
• Wonderful Wednesdays – Free Toast and gatherings
• Training and Development opportunities
• A great place to work with a positive social impact

At End Furniture Poverty, you'll be part of a passionate team working to create lasting social change. This is a unique opportunity to lead meaningful research that directly informs national policy and helps end furniture poverty in the UK. We’re a values-driven organisation that champions innovation, creativity, and impact. With a flexible, supportive working environment and the chance to grow and develop your skills, you’ll be making a real difference—every single day.

If you're ready to use your skills to drive change and help shape a fairer society, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and be part of ending furniture poverty.

The Sentencing Academy is a charitable incorporated organisation created in 2019 to promote more effective sentencing practices and to further professional and public understanding of sentencing across England and Wales. Our mission is to inform decision making and improve awareness and understanding of sentencing through evidence led research, working in collaboration with experts in the field.

We are looking for a Research and Policy Officer on an initial one year fixed-term contract. The primary responsibility for this role will be to create content for our forthcoming Sentencing Hub, which will draw together an array of resources on sentencing in England and Wales, including research summaries and data trends. The Sentencing Hub is currently in the early stages of development and will become a key research and statistical resource for those seeking the latest evidence on the effectiveness of the sentencing process. It will be of interest to sentencers, the Judicial College, the Sentencing Council, those involved in the policymaking process, Members of Parliament, journalists, and other stakeholders. We anticipate that the Hub will become the Sentencing Academy’s primary research and dissemination vehicle.

This role is a mostly remote working one but with regular meetings in London (approximately four times a month). Attendance at other locations may sometimes be required. This is a full-time role (37.5 hours per week) but with flexibility to work reduced hours of no less than 0.8 FTE (30 hours per week). Occasional work outside of normal working hours may be required.

Job description

• Working with Sentencing Academy staff and a network of academics to develop content for the forthcoming Sentencing Hub, including research syntheses and literature reviews and presentation of data on sentencing trends.
• Assist with the Sentencing Academy’s response to sentencing policy and practice developments, such as legislation and consultations on draft guidelines.
• Support the drafting of funding applications.
• Other ad hoc research, policy and administrative tasks to support the organisation’s activities.

Person specification

Essential

• Advanced research skills as demonstrated by a postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Excellent written and communication skills.
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills, able to interpret data.
• Interest in sentencing and justice policy.
• Strong interpersonal skills and track record as a team player.
• Excellent organisational skills, ability to deliver on time and attention to detail.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision as part of a small team which works remotely.
• Excellent IT skills including Word and Excel.

Desirable

• Demonstrable knowledge of sentencing policy and practice.
• Understanding of the importance of working collaboratively and building and maintaining partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge and experience of identifying and securing funding for research.

Policy Officer

Bristol, home or hybrid working available

Full time, £31,500 - £34,999 dependent on experience

2-year fixed-term contract

*CV & cover letter required to apply*

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.

The Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) is our worldwide network of people and groups who are driven by a shared purpose to defeat meningitis. By coming together to share their diverse experience and expertise, they are a formidable global force against this life-threatening condition.

Role purpose

The Policy Officer will play a key role in using health insights to shape our policy positions and make a meaningful difference to the lives of people affected by meningitis. This position involves a combination of research, analysis, strategic foresight, and policy development to enable evidence-based decision making.

This role reports to the Head of Health Policy and Insights

Responsibilities

Strategic Foresight & Horizon Scanning

• Monitor UK and global meningitis policy and provide analysis to identify trends and priorities.
• Help maintain the policy foresight dashboard, organize quarterly scanning sessions, and present findings to senior leadership and trustees

Policy Analysis & Development

• Analyse UK meningitis policies, focusing on immunization and support for affected individuals.
• Track UK immunization developments, vaccine policies, and public health initiatives related to meningitis prevention.
• Provide global meningitis policy analysis, including WHO’s Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis and brain health initiatives.
• Draft briefings, position papers, and reports on key meningitis-related topics for internal and external use.
• Support responses to health-related consultations in the UK and globally.

Collaboration & Engagement

• Build relationships with UK policy stakeholders, including government bodies, NHS England, and advocacy groups.
• Work with Advocacy, CoMO, and Support teams to ensure the insights reflect the experiences of those affected by meningitis
• Collaborate with Research colleagues to align research findings with policy development.
• Partner with the Communications team to share policy positions externally.
• Represent MRF at events, conferences, and network meetings.

Policy Strategy & Operational Plans

• Assist in delivering operational objectives for Health Insights & Policy.
• Support other international and national policy activities as needed.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in health policy in the UK and internationally, especially infectious diseases.
• Conducted policy research, written reports and briefs, and evaluated their impact.
• Understanding of UK government, healthcare system, health policy landscape, and parliamentary processes.
• Experience in international development or global health is desirable.
• Able to build strong relationships quickly.
• Can translate complex arguments for varied audiences.
• Experience presenting to stakeholders in various forums.
• Strong analytical, writing, and proofreading skills.
• Proficiency in a second European language, ideally French or Spanish.

What we offer you

• £31,500 to £34,999 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience.
• 2% employee pension contribution + 6% employer pension contribution.
• Flexible working arrangements between work and home. Fully remote working is also available.
• 25 days' holiday.
• This position is a 2-year fixed-term contract. This post is currently funded from reserves. If funding allows, the post could be made permanent following the end of this contract

Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and cover letter detailing their relevant experience and interest in the position. CVs sent through without a covering letter will not be considered.

Applications should be submitted by 5 pm on Friday, 25th April 2025.

Equal Opportunities

Applications are particularly encouraged from candidates who may previously have, or feel like they have, experienced being excluded from generally advertised roles due to their gender, ethnicity, disability status or sexual orientation.

Safeguarding

Meningitis Research Foundation is committed to safeguarding, and any advertised role will require references, confirmation of your identity and your right to work in the UK. Following receipt of satisfactory references, the successful candidate will be able to start work soon after receiving their offer of employment.

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is seeking an experienced Trusts, Corporate and HNW Prospect Research, to assist our Philanthropy and Partnerships team, to grow our income and paly an important part in securing funding for our vision to find a cure for all brain tumours.

Do you have the experience, drive and determination to thrive in this role?

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain a prospect pipeline providing Trusts and Corporate fundraisers and the Major Donor programme with the required number and level of prospects to meet the team's objectives and financial targets by using different tools to support you, including gift table.
• Carry out due diligence on donors and prospects to ensure donations are accepted in accordance with our Ethical and Major Giving Policy.
• Ensure the database is kept up to date with accurate and current information on prospects, contacts and ensure it is stored and archived accurately and in accordance with GDPR and Brain Tumour Research policies. Support the team’s up to date understanding of GDPR and consent recording on the database and associated processes.
• Proactively collaborate across teams to identify opportunities for prospecting, for example with Corporate, Trusts, Individual Giving and Events.

Requirements:

• Experience of researching high net worth individuals, company Directors, and/or family Trust and Foundations Boards identifying capacity, propensity and affinity to the cause. 
• Ability to gather information from the public domain in accordance with GDPR, Data protection regulation, IoF and charity law. 
• Experience of producing accurate, unbiased, concise snapshot research as well as more in-depth research profiles detailed reports, network mapping and analysis on donors and prospects. 
• Knowledge and commitment to our aims, mission and values is desired. 
• Strong understanding of due diligence, data protection and the latest GDPR and ICO updates is desired.

If you are looking for a fulfilling and impactful role and have the level of experience and skill we are looking for, we welcome your application.

​We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

Prostate Cancer Research (PCR) is a research and information provision charity that is dedicated to improving and saving the lives of people with prostate cancer. Patients are central to everything we do and drive our work. Our work covers four key areas:   

• Academic and social research – We fund novel and innovative research projects at world-leading institutions that are working towards breakthroughs in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of advanced prostate cancer, and better quality of life outcomes for patients. We ensure that our research is targeted to address patient need and research gaps to maximise our impact and reach better treatments for patients sooner.   

• Translational research – We set up Proven Connect, the translational research arm of PCR, to focus on ensuring more promising treatments get from lab to patient through bridging the gap between industry, investors, health providers and patients.   

• Patient information and empowerment – We acknowledge that research alone is not enough to achieve our vision. We involve, educate, and empower people affected by prostate cancer to enable them to play a more active role in driving forward changes in research, treatment and care.   

• Influencing – We seek to ensure greater equity of treatment and parity of care, and are working towards a world where no man is left behind, where prostate cancer is caught early and can be cured.  

Our vision for the future is clear: to be an integral part of creating one of the healthiest ecosystems for any disease type. An ecosystem that is connected, collaborative, equitable, and effective. Over the next 3 years we are setting ambitious targets to double our research funding, accelerate twelve biotech ventures, engage at least 100,000 people in influencing change, initiate three novel projects to enhance equity, and grow our income to more than £7 million.

Prostate Cancer Research (PCR) is seeking an experienced and insightful Senior Policy Adviser to lead the development of our policy work and help drive meaningful change for people affected by prostate cancer.

Reporting to the Head of Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs, you will be responsible for shaping evidence-based policy positions, producing high-impact consultation responses, and identifying strategic opportunities to influence health and research policy. This is an exciting opportunity for a policy professional with strong analytical and writing skills, a solid understanding of the health policy landscape, and a desire to make a difference. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Policy Leadership: Lead the development of PCR’s policy positions across a range of health and research issues through in-depth research, evidence analysis and horizon scanning, identifying key issues affecting prostate cancer patients and developing robust solutions for systemic change. 

• Consultation and Inquiry Responses: Draft high-quality, persuasive responses to government consultations, select committee inquiries, and regulatory reviews, ensuring PCR’s positions are well-evidenced, compelling and grounded in insight from those with lived experience. 

• Health Technology Appraisals: Lead or contribute to PCR’s submissions to NICE and SMC technology appraisals, ensuring that our input is evidence-based, reflects the lived experience of patients, and aligns with our policy positions. 

• Stakeholder Insight and Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, healthcare professionals, government bodies, think tanks, sector bodies such as the AMRC, and other key stakeholders to inform PCR’s positions and stay at the front of policy thinking. 

• Political and Policy Monitoring: Track key policy developments and legislative changes relevant to prostate cancer, assessing their implications and identifying opportunities for PCR to engage.

• Internal Collaboration: Work closely with colleagues across PCR, including research, communications, patient engagement and fundraising teams, to ensure a unified approach across policy and organisational priorities. 

• Briefings and Written Outputs: Deliver succinct, compelling, and well-evidenced policy briefings on key issues to a range of stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, and partners.

• Public Representation: Represent PCR at external meetings, external policy networks, working groups, events, and conferences, ensuring our position is effectively communicated and influencing policy discussions in line with our strategic objectives. 

• Support for Public Affairs and Campaigns: Provide policy advice and support the development of policy-facing materials to support the delivery of public affairs and campaign activity led by the wider Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs team. 

Person Specification: 

• Education and Experience: 

• Significant experience (typically 3–5 years) in a policy role, ideally within the health, research, or voluntary sector. 

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, health sciences, social sciences, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience). 

• Demonstrable experience of developing evidence-based policy positions and delivering consultation or inquiry responses in a relevant context. 

• Skills and Competencies: 

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex policy issues and data to inform clear and strategic positions. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting consultation responses, policy briefings, and position statements. 

• Demonstrable ability to build and maintain relationships with high-level stakeholders, including policymakers, public officials, and healthcare leaders. 

• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and contribute to cross-organisational goals in a fast-paced environment. 

• Strong collaborative skills, with experience working across teams and functions. 

• Essential Attributes: 

• Good understanding of the UK healthcare system, NHS structures, and health policy environment. 

• Desirable Attributes: 

• Working knowledge of NICE and SMC health technology appraisal processes, including understanding of evidence submission, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making pathways. 

Why Join Us? 

• Impactful Work: Make a significant impact in the fight against prostate cancer, contributing to initiatives that save lives and improve patient outcomes.  

• Career Growth: This role offers the opportunity to be at the forefront of new, exciting unit in an organisation that is already making its presence felt.  

• Collaborative Environment: Join a dynamic team of professionals dedicated to making a difference, in an environment that fosters collaboration, creativity, and professional growth.  

• Benefits: Enjoy a range of staff benefits, including Bike 2 Work scheme, Mental Health Support Services, Perkbox, BUPA Health Insurance offer, pension scheme, birthday gift, ongoing L&D opportunities, generous annual leave, hybrid working options and a positive and supportive culture.    

Application Process 

To apply, please submit your CV and a 1-2 page cover letter outlining your suitability for the role, your experience in project development and management, and how you align with PCR’s mission 

PCR is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.  

Other Details 

• Working type: Hybrid with occasional travel to meetings required.  

• Hours: The position is full time at 35 hours per week.  

• Salary: £37,500-£40,600, commensurate with experience.  

• Reports to: Head of Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs 

Applications close on 20th April 2025.   

Participants will be invited to interview on a rolling basis.  

For enquiries about the role, please contact our Head of Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs, Joe Clift (Contact details available in the attached job description). 

SafeDeposits is Scotland’s leading tenancy deposit protection scheme and dispute resolution provider. As a not-for-profit, SafeDeposits donates surpluses generated to its charity, the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust (“the Trust”). The Trust aims to improve standards in Scotland’s private rented sector by promoting education, training and best practice.

In addition to its grant-giving, the Trust is developing an ambitious research programme designed to inform future policy making and debate. This includes two new national representative surveys: “The Voice of the Tenant (Scotland)” and “The Voice of the Landlord (Scotland)”.

SafeDeposits and the Trust are part of the TDS [The Dispute Service Ltd] Group; a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee that operates equivalent deposit protection services across the UK and delivers a range of initiatives to raise standards in the private rented sector. 

We have a new opportunity within our Policy, Research and Strategy team to join them as a Research and Programme Officer.

This is a full-time, permanent position ideally based within commuting distance of our Glasgow office. However, we are open to considering home-based candidates from other areas of Scotland, depending on their skills and experience.

The purpose of this role is to deliver and support the expansion of SafeDeposits research programme. The successful candidate will work on qualitative and quantitative research projects and ensure findings are disseminated effectively. Our priority is to recruit an individual with the requisite research skills and experience. Where required, appropriate training and support will be provided for the aspects of the role involving coordination of the grant-giving programme. The role offers a unique opportunity for a researcher to not only contribute to the evidence base, but to also work with TDS and SafeDeposits colleagues to commission evidence-based solutions for positive change.

Some of the key responsibilities include:

• Working with external contractors to deliver the Voice of the Tenant (Scotland) and Voice of the Landlord (Scotland) surveys.
• Conduct, analyse, and report on qualitative and quantitative research projects.
• Lead research collaborations with other organizations and stakeholders.
• Develop content, including blogs and social media posts, to share research findings in collaboration with marketing.
• Represent SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust at internal and external events, including presentations and public speaking.
• Assess and monitor grant applications in collaboration with an external contractor.

To be considered for this opportunity you must:

• Have a degree in a relevant field
• Have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in research, social policy, or a similar role (or equivalent postgraduate study).
• Be proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Have strong working knowledge of Excel for statistical analysis and reporting.
• Demonstrate an understanding of data validity and credibility.
• Be able to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences.

TDS offers a plethora of benefits inclusive of:

• 33 days holiday inc bank holidays
• BUPA Private healthcare
• BUPA Wellbeing cash plan
• Pension Scheme
• Additional day off for your birthday
• Plus many more!

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letting outlining how your skills and experience match the person specification.

TDS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in our workforce and to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers.

Research Associate - National Youth Agency

Contract: 12-month Fixed Term Contract (with potential to extend)
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week 
Salary: £30,000 – £35,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Remote: This role is 100% homebased with occasional travel for staff residentials and other events.

What we do

As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.

We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Knowledge Team, working alongside two existing Research Associates and a Data Analyst. 

You will be integral in delivering research, data, and insights that support organisational development and programme delivery across NYA.

We are looking for an experienced mixed-methods researcher with a strong understanding of social research and evaluation approaches. Ideally, you will have experience working in or alongside the youth sector and be confident using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

You’ll need to be flexible, proactive, and a strong communicator, able to explain complex ideas to varied audiences. 

This role is ideal for someone looking to make a tangible difference through evidence-led approaches that shape policy, practice, and impact in youth work.

Key responsibilities for this role will include:

• Designing and delivering research projects using a range of methods including surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
• Supporting the development of the NYA research and data hub, including external research collation and data visualisation.
• Leading on evaluations to meet funder requirements and contribute to NYA’s growing evidence base.
• Analysing data from NYA programmes to support impact measurement.
• Promoting evidence-based practice across NYA and the wider youth sector.
• Communicating findings clearly through reports, briefings, and presentations.
• Managing research projects and collaborating with internal and external partners to deliver on time and to quality.
• Responding to internal and external research enquiries.

The ideal candidate will have experience in social research, familiarity with various research methodologies, and the ability to communicate complex findings to diverse audiences. 

Please refer to our Candidate Pack for more information on the role and the requirements.

Why Work for NYA?

NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.

NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.

A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.

NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.

We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

How to Apply:

Please download our applicant pack to find out more about the role and requirements

To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Monday 12th May 2025:

A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section. 

A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the

About You section. 

We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.

Please note: the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 30% AI generated content with be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer. 

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission. 

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Youth Work changes lives

Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it. As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power.  We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.

We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.

REF-221126

Amnesty International UK (AIUK) has a simple aim: an end to human rights abuses. Independent, international and influential, we campaign for justice, fairness, freedom and truth wherever they are denied. If you want to use your skills, knowledge, and experience to help fight for human rights, you could be our new Racial Justice Lead.

About the role

The Policy & Research Team contribute to achieving our goal of winning human rights victories by producing research, policy development and responding to emerging issues in their individual policy areas. The Racial Justice Lead is accountable for research and policy development in line with our racial justice and organisational theory of change and workplan. They will work alongside colleagues in the Policy & Research Team who lead on various policy areas including Refugee and Migrant Rights, Military, Security and Police, Economic Affairs, Gender Justice, Foreign Policy and more. As part of campaigning on areas relating to racial justice this role also responds to emerging issues by developing our reactive policy lines. The day to day of this role involves overseeing research projects with freelance researchers and consultants, responding to policy consultations and parliamentary processes and advising on strategic campaigning decisions. The role also engages with International Mechanisms such as the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and other related Special Procedures. The role works with our Racial Justice Campaign Manager and Campaigner, our Media and Communications Teams and colleagues supporting our Anti-Racism Activist Network. The role has a human rights impact by working with colleagues and academics in the racial justice sector in the UK, alongside impacted rights holders and rights holder organisations to work collaboratively on policy and campaign asks.

More details can be found by downloading the job description from our careers portal.

The role may be for you if:

• You're skilled in conducting and supervising research and policy development with expertise in racial justice.
• You can work with researchers and rights holders in delivering research and policy outputs to influence policy change.
• You also have a good knowledge of current racial justice analysis particularly relating to Prevent, Predictive Policing methods, Joint Enterprise or related policy areas.
• You have experience working in coalitions with other NGOs, grassroots activists and organisations led by those with lived experience.
• You collaborate and positively contribute to an inclusive culture.

Our Commitment to you

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism (IDEA) are at the core of our values. We want to be an organisation that tackles structural inequality and prejudice as well as be an actively anti-racist organisation. This means taking a meaningful and equitable approach to supporting and developing you and others during your time with us.

New colleagues receive 27 days leave annually (29 after five years), as well as bank holidays (pro rated for part time) and 3 wellbeing days. 2-5% employee pension contributions are matched at 6-9% and we offer 6 months full pay for family leave. We offer flexible working such as compressed work patterns and job shares.

Apply for this role

This vacancy advert may be taken down from job boards earlier than the stated deadline if a high standard of applications is received (if you have started an application in our portal, you will still have opportunity to complete it by the original deadline).

We welcome applications from everyone and particularly encourage applications from people from an ethnic minority background, and people with a disability to help us achieve a balanced representation in our workforce, especially at senior grades.

To reduce bias in our shortlisting process, AIUK operates an anonymised application process. If for any reason you prefer to apply in a different format, or require adjustments in the process, please get in touch. To support all candidates to perform their best at interview, we send questions 24 hours in advance. We are a disability confident organisation.

Visit amnesty.org.uk/jobs for application guidance and information on benefits, recruitment inclusion and hybrid working.

About Equally Ours:

We’re the UK charity that brings together people and organisations working across equality, human rights and social justice to make a reality of these in everyone’s lives. Our vision is a just and compassionate society, where we are free from harm and can all contribute and flourish, whoever we are, whatever we believe in, and whatever we do and don’t have. A society that is equally ours.

About the role:

We’re on the lookout for a new Director of Policy and Public Affairs, to protect and advance equality and human rights in the UK, by increasing our policy impact and working collaboratively to harness the power of our network.

The Director of Policy and Public Affairs will play an important role in protecting and advancing equality and human rights in the UK. This role will focus on growing our policy and public affairs capacity so that we can achieve the goals set out in Together for Social Justice, our 10-year strategy. 

You’ll develop and deliver high-impact policy influencing strategies on our three big issues of law, climate and investment. This will mean working on vital public policy issues such as embedding equality and human rights in the government’s mission-driven approach, ensuring a strong legal framework of rights protections, improving public awareness of the value of human rights, and creating a work programme to ensure that people’s whose rights are most at risk can lead policy development on climate breakdown.

You’ll have a strong track record of creating innovative policy solutions that influence public policy and secure social change; the ability to forge and nurture constructive dialogue and working relationships across the political spectrum and within civil society, and a deep understanding of how to increase racial justice at systemic level. You’ll be confident communicating complex legal and technical issues in an engaging way that brings their practical impacts to life for a wide range of audiences, including the media. You’ll be skilled at bringing people together and working collaboratively. 

We’re a small team whose strength comes from combining our own lived and professional expertise with that of the leading thinkers and organisations who make up our network. We offer flexible working and lots of autonomy within a collaborative and supportive environment where it’s your job to make things happen. 

Why Equally Ours?

• Generous benefits including enhanced pension, 26 days of annual leave, health and wellbeing support, and more. 

• Flexible working arrangements to help you balance your professional and personal life. 

• A collaborative culture that values lived experience alongside professional expertise. 

If you are looking for an opportunity to use your skills to drive meaningful social change, we would love to hear from you. 

How to Apply: 

Please read through the full job pack and then submit your CV and cover letter (max 2 pages) outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the criteria. Please ensure that you address all the criteria, providing sufficient relevant evidence, including examples, to show how your skills and experience match those required in the person specification. Applications without cover letters will not be accepted.

Closing date for applications: 6th May, 12 noon

Job Purpose

The Specialist Policy Officer plays a vital role within Clinks’ National Influencing & Networks team, delivering high-quality policy work that supports systemic change in the criminal justice system. The postholder will contribute to shaping evidence-based policy and influencing decision-makers, working closely with colleagues across Clinks and external stakeholders. More information about our policy work please visit our website.

Duties and key responsibilities

1. Policy Intelligence and Research

· Lead horizon scanning of central, local and devolved government policy developments (with the Senior Engagement & Development Officer – Wales) to assess implications for the voluntary sector.

· Conduct member-focused research to inform Clinks’ consultation responses and policy publications, including blogs, briefings, and outputs from the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3).

· Lead the design, delivery, and publication of Clinks’ annual State of the Sector research.

2. Policy Development and Influence

· Draft clear, evidence-based policy materials for engagement with political stakeholders, including Ministers and officials.

· Develop mechanisms and opportunities for voluntary sector organisations to engage in policy development with statutory agencies.

· Provide policy support and analysis for Clinks’ Chief Executive and Director of National Influencing & Networks in high-level meetings.

3. Internal Collaboration and Support

· Work closely with Clinks' Area Engagement & Partnerships team to ensure member experiences and regional insights inform national policy work.

· Support colleagues across Clinks to understand policy contexts and improve their influencing work—including restricted specialist projects.

· Share policy updates and emerging trends during internal staff meetings.

4. External Representation and Stakeholder Engagement

· Represent Clinks at external meetings and events, including with senior political stakeholders and at Clinks-facilitated regional forums.

· Contribute to the development and operation of policy-focused groups, networks, and advisory structures.

· Work with the communications and admin team to maintain Clinks’ stakeholder database and ensure the distribution of policy content.

5. Content and Communications

· Collaborate with the Specialist Communications Officer to produce accessible and engaging social media and website content related to policy.

· Contribute written materials that engage audiences, influence decision-makers, and promote understanding of key issues.

General responsibilities

· Act as a positive ambassador for Clinks and uphold its mission and values.

· Work flexibly, supporting other duties as required in line with the role.

· Champion equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of work.

· Work collaboratively and constructively across teams.

This job description does not form part of your contract of employment and can be amended from time to time as the needs of the organisation require.

Person specification

· Working well in a team with a flexible approach to work

· Ability to manage multiple and sometimes competing priorities

· Personal resilience and ability to stay focused in a rapidly changing environment

· Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities, including for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system

· Ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work

· Commitment to upholding the rights of people facing disadvantage and discrimination in the criminal justice system

Education and experience

· Experience in a criminal justice-related policy role

· Demonstrated experience of drafting policy positions for use with political stakeholders.

· Experience of developing evidence-based policy positions

· Experience of utilising different research methods in order to support the case for systemic change of the criminal justice system

Skills and abilities

· Written communication skills which engage audiences, persuade, and encourages understanding and participation

· Strong critical thinking and analytical skills; confident summarising complex policy.

· Sound knowledge of parliamentary processes and policy levers.

· Skilled at balancing competing priorities and managing stakeholder relationships.

· Confident working both independently and in a team.

· Organisational, administrative and IT skills at a level that supports notetaking, producing timely and accurate minutes and managing email correspondence

· Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

· Ability to balance and prioritise competing tasks in order to meet tight deadlines

· Adaptability and flexibility in being able to take on new roles and manage a range of internal and external relationships.

Knowledge

A good and critical understanding of issues related to:

· The role of the voluntary sector in addressing social exclusion and inequalities

· The criminal justice system, in particular prisons and probation.

· A thorough understanding of the policy development process

Other requirements

· Able to travel nationally across England and Wales.

· Able to work evenings and weekends and stay away from home overnight where necessary.

· Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.

· Commitment to the values and ethos of supporting people in the criminal justice system.

Do you have strong experience managing strategic research or healthcare grant programmes? Do you want to use this experience and broaden your horizons beyond more ‘traditional’ research funding management? If so, then we have a fantastic opportunity for you!

We are looking to fill two Research Programme Manager roles who will be responsible for delivering against and developing our Research and Cancer Research Strategies and looking after a large, diverse portfolio of grants.

Salary
The salary for this position is £47,674 per annum and we operate a hybrid working policy of 2 days in the office per week. 

In line with our EDI strategy and Total Reward policy, we calculate our salaries based on benchmarking data across the charity sector. To ensure fairness for existing staff and new joiners, we do not offer salaries above the advertised rate. 

Key Responsibilities

The role will include a mixture of fast-paced and impactful response-mode funding, and working closely with applicants to shape large-scale strategic research initiatives.  Each role will be responsible for a different area of our research portfolio, as follows:

• Role 1: Delivering discovery and translational research funding, including a national large-scale programmatic research funding scheme. 
• Role 2: Delivering clinical research funding, including a new national paediatric cancer clinical trial funding scheme. Specific expertise in clinical trial funding is desirable for this role. 

As we are hiring for two positions, we will assess your suitability for both the above roles throughout the hiring process. 

• The post holders will need to be team players with excellent attention to detail, strong organisational skills, and a willingness to go above and beyond. 
• The successful candidates will be able to work independently and confidently to take projects forward and develop important relationships with both external and internal senior stakeholders across the hospital, Great Ormond Street Institute for Child Health (GOS ICH), the Charity, our scientific and clinical advisors, and other external organisations nationally.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

You will have extensive healthcare, scientific and/or research management experience and be able to operate independently to develop and take projects forward. You will be confident developing excellent working relationships with senior external and internal stakeholders at the hospital, UCL Institute of Child Health and across the Charity.

Specifically, you will have:

• Strong research grants management experience with experience leading on the planning and delivery of grant funding initiatives
• Experience of supporting high level decision-making committees including writing papers and briefs, presenting to committees, and minute writing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to establish good working relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• An advanced research degree in a relevant scientific discipline or equivalent work experience

The Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS) is a human rights, feminist organisation led by and for Latin American migrant women in the UK. Our work is dedicated to supporting the immediate and long-term needs of Latin American migrant women exposed to violations of their fundamental human rights; facing violence against women and girls, exploitation or trafficking; enduring difficult living and working conditions in low paid jobs and facing barriers to social protection. Around 2,000 women use our services every year, benefitting from practical and emotional support, learning new skills and improving their own opportunities. We strive to provide essential tools for women to empower themselves in their pursuit of personal and social change.

The Research and Engagement Policy Officer will be responsible for supporting the development of LAWRS’ policy, advocacy, and campaigning work through research co-development with a group of migrant survivors of domestic abuse.  This research will highlight the barriers experienced by migrant survivors in accessing healthcare and provide opportunities for co-production and participation in policy, advocacy and campaigning spaces for women facing severe disadvantage due to intersectional inequalities.

This post is open to Latin American women only* in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and LGBTQ+ candidates as they are currently underrepresented within the team.

*women who identify as Latin Americans (1st and 2nd generation) and speak Spanish and/or Brazilian Portuguese.

Please note that only applicants with the right to work in the UK covering the duration of the contract will be considered for this position.