Jobs

New Local is a think tank and network of councils and other organisations working to energise local government and improve public services. At the heart of our work is ‘community power’ – the belief that people should be given the means to transform the places where they live and the services they use. We believe this is key to sustainable, fairer public services sustainable and a better society for all. 

We publish research on community power. We campaign for change. And we work directly with public and voluntary sector bodies to help them hand more power and resource over to communities.

To complement our expanding organisation, we are recruiting for a director of research, which is a full-time permanent position. This new role is an exciting opportunity to make a big impact and take our research programme to the next level. We are looking for a director of research who shares our values and our passion for practical and policy change.

It is essential to our mission that our research is accessible and inspirational to a wide range of audiences. Therefore, while we are seeking an individual with a strong track record of research skills and management, the successful candidate will also place an enormous value on seeking impact from the work we produce.

We don’t want to publish dense long texts that sit on the bookshelf, we aim to produce engaging materials that inspire people to make change happen. Translating complex issues into simple, captivating messages is a special craft, and we are seeking an individual with a brilliant understanding of how to write, edit and oversee extremely high-quality research to that end.

The role is a pivotal one within our team, working closely with colleagues responsible for practice, communications, events and our brilliant network of innovative councils. A big part of this role will be working collaboratively across the organisation to ensure our research builds on and benefits from the range of our assets as a thinktank and a network. In particular, the role will involve working closely with our director of practice as our research team works across both research and practice projects to ensure both areas complement each other.

We value creativity, collaboration and self-determination above all else and are looking for someone who can help us foster those values as well as being a friendly, kind and supportive colleague.

The job will include:

• Leading excellent research: Playing a key role overseeing the delivery of New Local’s flagship research programme, which is focussed on developing and embedding community power in policy and practice.

• Quality assuring publications: Playing an editorial oversight role over, and directly contributing to, an engaging and impactful research programme.

• Team management: Overseeing a team of five researchers, including ongoing coaching support, providing line management and coordinating project capacity where the research team works across the organisation.

• Producing high impact written work: Directly contributing to producing brilliant written content attuned to a range of policy, practitioner and public audiences, which conveys ideas clearly and engagingly.  

• External ambassador: Representing New Local’s research externally through publications, blogs, traditional/social media and on both our own and external events platforms.

• Partner engagement: Working closely with a wide range of partners to develop research and to ensure satisfaction with, and engagement throughout, projects. This includes wider stakeholder engagement and specific funder partner relationships.

• Innovation and development: Leading the continuous improvement of research work, including developing ideas for research themes, formats and presentation, in collaboration with the wider team. This includes developing and funding research project proposals.

• Identifying opportunities for influence: our research influences a range of stakeholders including central government, the public sector, local government and the wider public policy community. This role involves maintaining a strong network and relationships with stakeholders and being proactive about identifying opportunities for influence.

• Internal collaboration: Working closely with the network, practice, events and communications teams at New Local in the development of their work. This involves ensuring our research is informed by and reflects back into our brilliant assets as an organisation – in particular our relationships with people in local authorities, community groups and the wider public sector.

• Organisational leadership: Playing an active role as a member of the Senior Management Team to help deliver New Local’s mission of creating a community powered public sector and country. This involves contributing to organisational strategy, development and financial planning.

Our ideal candidate will be:  (E = Essential; D = Desirable)

• An outstanding writer and editor, with a demonstrable track record of brilliant writing for a range of audiences and a deep understanding of how to present complex research in engaging and accessible ways. (E)

• A supportive coach, with experience of managing and motivating high performing teams. (E)

• Able to demonstrate an excellent track record in research, including generating ideas, ensuring credibility of research and that outputs are accessible and engaging to a wide range of audiences. (E)

• A brilliant project manager, able to manage projects within a fast-paced and busy environment and to juggle competing deadlines. (E)

• An articulate and knowledgeable connector, who has the understanding and confidence to build relationships and work in an extremely networked way. (E)

• An imaginative communicator and facilitator who can speak to and draw out compelling ideas for change. (E)

• Strongly entrepreneurial and committed to business development. (E)

• Well versed in qualitative research skills, which are at the core of our research approach, including the willingness to experiment and apply different methodologies to different projects (E)

• Confident with quantitative research skills, which are a developing aspect of our research approach, and we welcome applicants with expertise in this area. (D)

• A champion for community power, who understands and is committed to its principles. (E)

• A friendly and supportive colleague able to work in a highly creative and collaborative environment that encourages autonomy and excellence from all members of the team. (E)

New Local was founded in 1996 as the New Local Government Network. It relaunched as New Local in October 2020. There is currently a team of 16 staff working on practice, research, communications, influencing and peer-learning with our network of over sixty councils and other partner organisations. 

The Director of Research role will sit in the senior management team with the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and Directors of Network, Communications and Practice. The Director of Research will report to the Deputy Chief Executive.

In addition to the advertised salary, we offer: 

A minimum of 27 days’ holiday a year and ten days holiday over Christmas/New Year

Highly flexible working and work location arrangements 

Regular training opportunities 

A number of other benefits listed in the job description.

Wellbeing: New Local is very strongly committed to staff wellbeing. Working long and late hours is actively discouraged and all staff at New Local are committed to creating a pleasant, friendly and supportive environment in which to work.

New Local is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We don’t just ‘value diversity’, we think it is central to what makes for a high impact, successful organisation. We positively encourage everyone to apply.

In order to monitor equal opportunities, we ask that the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form below is completed (this is entirely at the applicant’s discretion).  The collecting of this data is part of our diversity strategy, to understand how we can improve equal opportunities for external applicants to New Local. 

All information gathered for equal opportunities monitoring is anonymous and then destroyed after 6 months, after which only aggregate data will be held.  Information collected for monitoring purposes will be treated as confidential and will not be used for any other purpose.

In order to apply, email recruitment@newlocal.org.uk the following:

Your CV*

A cover letter*

Three examples of published writing that you have authored solely yourself (this could include blogs, articles or longer research reports)*

Completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (if you wish) N.B. all equal opportunities forms will be separated from the application.

Please note that we will not consider applications complete unless you include the documents marked * above.

If you require any help applying for this role or taking part in the recruitment process, then do not hesitate to contact Katy Evans, our Operations Manager, at recruitment@newlocal.org.uk.

Data Protection: New Local will process and store and your personal information (this means any information that identifies or could identify you) for the purposes of recruitment, for a period of up to six months after the closing date, after which it will be securely disposed. For more information, please refer to our Job Applicant Privacy Notice.

If you are unable to attend interview(s) on this / these date(s), please let us know when you apply. 

Probation and Notice: This role is subject to a six-month probationary period and a three-month notice period.

New Local is a think tank and network of councils and other organisations working to energise local government and improve public services. At the heart of our work is ‘community power’ – the belief that people should be given the means to transform the places where they live and the services they use. We believe this is key to sustainable, fairer public services and a better society for all. 

We publish research on community power. We campaign for change. And we work directly with public and voluntary sector bodies to help them hand more power and resource over to communities.

In recent months, New Local’s direct work with councils and other bodies to turn the principle of community power into reality has grown considerably. We have also grown our membership and expanded the range of events we offer to members. We have created the new role of Practice and Events Co-ordinator to support our teams in delivering this work.

The role will require someone with the ability to support the complex logistical and administration tasks associated with our programmes to ensure they are run efficiently and to the very highest standards.

Your job will include: 

• Projects administration: liaising with internal and external contacts to schedule meetings, interviews, workshops and other activities.
• Events administration: sending invitations and managing registrations for events, including working with New Local team members to ensure speakers and facilitators are briefed in advance.
• Events management: being the on-the-day ‘producer’ for events, both digital and in-person, to ensure a seamless experience for those attending.
• Working with stakeholders: working proactively and positively with practice and event partners, sponsors, and other team members.
• Record keeping: ensuring that the administrative records for our practice and events activities are clear and up to date.
• Overseeing invoicing: Working with our finance team, ensuring that invoices are issued and paid on time.
• And more… As part of a small, friendly and informal organisation you’ll have the opportunity to participate in other activities and support the delivery of New Local’s vision, ensuring that the organisation’s profile and reputation are maintained and enhanced.

Our ideal candidate will be: 

• A keen planner, someone who loves administration and whose attention-to-detail is proven to keep projects and events running smoothly and to time.
• A good communicator, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A warm connector, with experience of building strong, supportive relationships inside and outside the organisation.
• Someone with the ability to prioritise, who is comfortable with an environment of autonomous working and competing demands.
• Flexible and collaborative, generous in offering expertise and keen to work adaptably and openly with other members of New Local’s staff.
• Driven by achieving change, both in terms of improving our own work and achieving New Local’s broader political and societal goals.
• Above all… we’re looking for someone with an excellent work ethic, full of curiosity and diligence. Someone who will be optimistic, supportive and fun to work with, and never be afraid to pitch in with the rest of the team.

New Local was founded in 1996 as the New Local Government Network. It relaunched as New Local in October 2020.

There is currently a team of 16 staff working on practice, research, communications, influencing and peer-learning with our network of over sixty councils and other partner organisations. 

The Practice and Events Co-ordinator role will sit in the Practice team but will work closely with other teams, in particular the Network and Events team. The Practice and Events Co-ordinator will report to the Director of Practice.

In addition to the advertised salary, we offer: 

• A minimum of 27 days’ holiday a year and ten days holiday over Christmas/New Year
• Highly flexible working and work location arrangements 
• Regular training opportunities 
• A number of other benefits listed in the job description.

Wellbeing: New Local is very strongly committed to staff wellbeing. Working long and late hours is actively discouraged and all staff at New Local are committed to creating a pleasant, friendly and supportive environment in which to work.

Diversity: New Local is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We don’t just ‘value diversity’, we think it is central to what makes for a high impact, successful organisation. We positively encourage everyone to apply. In order to monitor equal opportunities, we ask that the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form below is completed (this is entirely at the applicant’s discretion). 

The collecting of this data is part of our diversity strategy, to understand how we can improve equal opportunities for external applicants to New Local.  All information gathered for equal opportunities monitoring is anonymous and then destroyed after 6 months, after which only aggregate data will be held.  Information collected for monitoring purposes will be treated as confidential and will not be used for any other purpose.

Please email to recruitment@newlocal.org.uk your: 

• CV
• A cover letter of no more than 500 words explaining what attracts you to the role and why you feel you would make a great Practice and Events Co-ordinator.
• Completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (if you wish) N.B. all equal opportunities forms will be separated from the application.

If you require any help applying for this role or taking part in the recruitment process, then do not hesitate to contact Katy Evans, our Operations Manager, at recruitment@newlocal.org.uk.

Probation and Notice: This role is subject to a six-month probationary period and a two-month notice period.

Data Protection: New Local will process and store and your personal information (this means any information that identifies or could identify you) for the purposes of recruitment, for a period of up to six months after the closing date, after which it will be securely disposed.  For more information, please refer to our Job Applicant Privacy Notice.

If you are unable to attend interview(s) on this / these date(s), please let us know when you apply.