Job Title: Reporting to: Location: Salary: Contracted Hours: Contract: Research Officer Assistant Director of Development Leicester Circa 22,000 per annum (subject to experience) Full Time Permanent Contract Role Summary Young people are facing huge challenges today. Youth workers offer them the support they need, equipping them with the practical skills to be resilient and contributors to the economy and society. The NYA is the national body for youth work in England. We believe investing in young people s personal and social development helps them overcome challenges and reach their potential. We want to ensure young people get access to the youth workers they need, so we seek to secure youth work through policy and advocacy; supporting youth workers to do their jobs better and; securing new resources. The National Youth Agency is at a very exciting point in its development. You will join a committed, lively team working together to transform the lives of young people through the power of youth work. We are looking for a talented Research Officer who can help us demonstrate the impact of the amazing work we do, and has knowledge and experience of evaluation and research to support NYA insights, positioning and income generation. The post-holder will provide high-level analysis needed to help us understand a range of issues affecting young people. You will be using data and your quantitative and qualitative research background to identify appropriate sources of funding and evaluate evidence to provide up to date, accurate and evidence based information to inform our work. You are able to gather and interpret the latest findings of research, analysing the implications of current policy developments and translating complex papers for a lay audience. You will be exceptionally organised and task focussed with exceptional communication skills. Role Purpose To identify emerging priorities for young people and the youth sector. To research and establish the evidence required to support the NYA to bid successfully for funding and resources. Support robust needs based applications to trusts and funders. To manage the internal and external flow of information to ensure the NYA Network adds value to members and NYA. To build and maintain partnerships with youth sector research partners to ensure a network of collaborative practice and shared insight and learning. To support the wider Development team to proactively identify funding sources to further the work of NYA. To write NYA reports and research pieces as required. To ensure that NYA holds a leadership voice within the youth sector.
Specific Duties 1. Research and Policy Proactively identify youth work sector policy developments and interpret for NYA purposes. Develop communications for the different sector members of the NYA Network. Support the CEO and Leadership Team by creating briefings to prepare for sector events, consultations and key strategic meetings. Scope research across the UK relating to young people and youth work and capture key insights to support NYA development and income generation activity. Lead feasibility case studies as required to build compelling cases for funders. Build and maintain links with higher education institutions and other research partners to facilitate the sharing of insights and knowledge and facilitate collaborative working as appropriate. Lead on the active participation of young people, establishing appropriate mechanisms to engage them in co-production to inform NYA work. Write NYA reports as required. Annually lead the creation of the NYA Youth Work Sector Report with partners. 2. NYA Network With the NYA team, working alongside the Digital Marketing Coordinator to scope an engagement and content plan and co-ordinate the delivery of this ensuring a flow or relevant and timely information to NYA Network members. Manage the engagement work and daily activity of the network, facilitating a two-way content flow from NYA and network members. Contribute policy and research findings into the Network plan and coordinate the contributions of the wider NYA team. Work with NYA public relations contractors to support and provide regular reporting on NYA/programmes, messages, progress and achievements. 3. Business Development Work with the bid writer to ensure the capture of evidence of NYA impact and related external research to build a compelling context to frame future NYA offers. Work with the bid writer to populate and maintain a strong library of evidence and NYA positioning narrative to support efficiency in developing tenders for work and applications to trusts and funders. Work with the development team to maintain a strong pipeline of opportunities, scoping tenders, identifying key focus areas and where energies should be directed to support income generation aligned to NYA vision, purpose and values. 4. General Any other duties which may reasonably be required of the post. All staff are required to support events and general administration of the NYA. Confidentiality The post holder will have access to confidential information and is expected to ensure that the highest level of confidentiality is maintained at all times. Office base Based at the NYA head office in Leicester with periodic meetings in London as required.
This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the practice of The NYA to examine job descriptions from time to time and to update them to ensure they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. This will be conducted in consultation with you. It is the organisation s aim to reach agreement on changes, but if agreement is not possible, the organisation reserves the right to insist on changes to your job description, after consultation with you. The National Youth Agency (NYA) 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 practice across the organisation. If you are interested in this post please go to http://www.nya.org.uk/about-us/jobs/ and complete the application form. Completed application forms should be returned to jaedet@nya.org.uk no later than Friday 9 th February 2018 (12 noon). Closing date: Friday 9 th February 2018 (12 noon). Provisional Interview date: Tuesday 20 th February 2018 (Leicester).
Person Specification: Research Officer Requirement Description Essential Desirable Optional Education/ Experience Educated to degree level or equivalent with evidence of CPD Experience of undertaking social research within a work or academic environment Experience of analysing complex information and data Experience of working in a team and providing support to a range of different staff members Experience with/ supporting young people Experience of building lasting relationships with key stakeholders, sector colleagues and potential and existing customers. Experience in measuring, evaluating and reporting on performance of social impact activities Skills & Abilities Excellent IT skills including MS Office packages Excellent written and spoken communication skills with a strong attention to detail Ability to write in an engaging, yet concise manner for both external and internal communications Ability to work co-operatively and constructively in a team environment Well organised with good time management and the ability to prioritise a busy and demanding workload and reprioritise when necessary Solution focussed and pro-active Able to work with minimum supervision and to make decisions independently Demonstrable ability to receive, input and analyse data; producing accurate and informative reports and written feedback Experience of networking and building relationships with a wide variety of stakeholder groups and individuals at senior and strategic levels Positive attitude to working with young people; especially those who may be disadvantaged and or with special needs and barriers to participation Strong project management and organisational skills Ability to travel within the UK Knowledge & Excellent understanding of Microsoft Office, with an effective use of Outlook, Excel, and Word
Requirement Description Essential Desirable Optional understanding Experience of undertaking social research within a work or academic environment Personal attributes Has strong quantitative and qualitative research skills Excellent understanding of current youth policy and practice Comfortable with using digital technology such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. Able to collate information and data and present results for the purposes of reporting, monitoring and evaluation Understanding of the issues facing young people and commitment to develop solutions An understanding of safeguarding and young people, and the commitment to ensuring practices which promote safeguarding An interest in young people's personal development and participation An interest in corporate social responsibility and sustainability programmes Confident with public speaking Attention to detail and a commitment to quality Enthusiastic self-starter Cheerful disposition and diplomatic manner