Head of Research, Evaluation and Impact (5600)

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Permanent

35 hours per week

£48,714.18 per annum (National) / £51,666.06 per annum (London)

Location: Flexible within the UK

The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We run local services that support children when they are at their most vulnerable and in desperate need of help. We're there for children, every step of the way.

This role leads and manages the Research, Evaluation and Impact (REI) team and will set the strategic direction for research and evidence of impact at TCS. The REI team works alongside the Policy, Advocacy and Influencing knowledge group to form the Influence, Impact and Evidence area within the Youth Impact Domain. In this role you will lead the development of an evidence base which demonstrates impact in accordance with our strategic intent, theory of change and goal. Leading a small team of research, evaluation and impact specialists, you will provide expert and influential advice on research, evaluation and evidence of impact, and draw on a range of methodologies. You will also lead a proactive programme of evidence dissemination, supporting and sharing organisational learning.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an enthusiastic, collaborative and diligent manager who is passionate about driving impactful research and making a difference to the lives of children and young people, to develop an ambitious new future programme for our research, evaluation and impact portfolio.

Key priorities for the role will be:

• Setting the direction for TCS's research and evaluation portfolio, reviewing and developing the REI team plan to support strategic priorities, including management of the associated budget and line managing members of the REI team.
• Providing management, strategic oversight, insight and input as required to successfully deliver a programme of research and evaluation; including the delivery of research reports, annual impact report, and support for commissioning service evaluations.
• Strategic oversight of the annual Good Childhood report, including planning, management and dissemination.
• Leading the development of new research activities and programmes in key strategic areas and prioritising youth voice, working with colleagues across TCS to identify opportunities and partnerships to further build the evidence base and attract external funding.
• Owning and developing relationships with senior stakeholders across TCS and externally to build REI profile, actively sharing our learning internally and externally and building new relationships and partnerships.
• Overseeing and implementing good governance structures for REI that comply with TCS safeguarding policy and ethical research approach and consider EDI issues and anti-discriminatory practice.

Key skills and competencies

The required skills and competencies for this role are set out in the attached recruitment pack and role profile.

About the Children's Society

The Children's Society runs over 100 local services that help thousands of young people who desperately need our support, and we campaign to get laws and policies changed to make children's lives happier and safer.

Every day we're changing the lives of children in this country for the better - and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more.

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across our services.

Therefore, candidates applying for work in our Youth Impact Domain will be required to complete full employment history as part of the application process.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 24th November 2024.

Interviews will be held at our office in Old Street (London) on Tuesday 10th December.

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