Hello, and thanks for your interest in becoming the New Economics Foundation’s next Director of Policy and Research.
Since 1986, NEF has been leading progressive thought and action, bringing together economic, social, and environmental policy. Three overlapping missions guide our work – a new social settlement, a Green New Deal, and the democratic economy. Across each, we are building power and influencing the debate to win policy change, sitting at the heart of the progressive ecosystem, whether that’s in the corridors of Westminster or a community hall in Glossop.
The political and economic turbulence of the past few years has opened the space for new ideas, with the environmental and cost of living crises increasing awareness that the old way of thinking is simply unsustainable. The rules and institutions that shape our failing economy are not forces of nature beyond our control, but have been designed by people – and, crucially, can be re-designed by people. We know that if ideas are to achieve traction across the political, social, and cultural spectrums, they need power behind them, and our brilliant, dedicated team works daily alongside people at the sharp end of the economy, other NGOs, unions, small businesses, and politicians to drive change.
From co-founding the Jubilee 2000 Debt campaign to incubating the original Green New Deal, we have long spearheaded fundamental change to the neoliberal economic system alongside helping people in the here and now. Our Living Income campaign is currently transforming the debate around social security fit for the 21st century, making sure nobody falls below a decent standard of living. Working with our partners, we have had influence from across the political spectrum, such as winning reforms to Universal Credit from the Conservative Government, the Labour Party embracing our £28bn green investment package, and our Great Homes Upgrade programme to retrofit 19 million homes this decade. At the regional level we are collaborating with Metro Mayors and communities to transform economies in their combined authorities to truly deliver wellbeing for local people.
As we conduct and finalise the process to appoint our new Chief Executive Officer, we are now looking for a Director of Policy and Research to oversee the development of NEF’s research and policy to deliver change at national and local level.
The spread of our work is broad: whether we are organising with communities, conducting economic research, developing progressive policy or influencing parliamentarians, we need to ensure that we are connecting people with systems change and with impact. In simple terms, our Director will join the dots across a significant portion of our activities, ensuring that we are always on the front foot of policy, research, and positive social change.