This is a broad and varied job spanning research, policy development, delivery, advocacy, fundraising, and systems change. We are not expecting you to have heavyweight experience in every area, especially as NEF’s work spans a variety of core and peripheral thematic areas and we are open to someone taking a step up to a Senior Leadership role, but it will be important that over time you succeed in all aspects of the role. Experience in at least one of our core policy areas would be advantageous (economic, environment and social policy), though we are also interested in hearing from candidates with transferable experience; nonetheless, it will be important to clearly demonstrate your understanding of an area that is new for you and how you’d look to get up to speed.
We are looking for a passionate, detailed, strategic Director of Policy and Research with high levels of emotional intelligence and a particular appreciation of NEF being a hybrid thinktank and campaigning organisation whose routes into influence – at local and national levels, across a wide variety of stakeholders – are broad and varied. It is essential for us as an outwardly progressive organisation not just to produce policy or campaign on lived experience but that we genuinely ground our values in a culture where diversity, inclusion, and equity are enshrined and modelled.
Essential Abilities, Experience, and Characteristics:
- Excellent research skills, particularly using quantitative and/or qualitative methodologies.
- Experience translating research into policy.
- A track record of impact through policy development.
- Experience of putting lived experience at the heart of research and policy development.
- A keen understanding of the balance of research, policy development, campaigning and influence.
- At least a demonstrable interest in new economy thinking and the thematic areas we deal with.
- Excellent people management skills, grounded in collaboration and participation, with the ability to create the conditions for colleagues to excel and develop to their full potential.
- A keen understanding of stakeholder engagement to deliver strategic, policy, and/or funding outcomes. Similarly, a natural ability to cross institutional boundaries, with adept stakeholder skills across audiences including people experiencing issues with deal with (e.g. debt, poor housing etc.), funders, and high-level politicians.
- A demonstrable commitment to staff wellbeing.
- A clear understanding of campaigning organisations and their role in creating positive change in society.
Valuable Experience, Abilities and Characteristics:
- Experience in at least one of our core policy areas (economic, environment and social policy).
- Experience building an organisation’s profile, working with the media as a compelling spokesperson and championing a joined-up approach to external awareness of NEF.
- Experience working with a unionised workforce.
- Experience dealing with local and/or central government.
- Experience of contributing or leading to strategic change.
- Experience working effectively with a Board of Trustees.