EAVES HOUSING FOR WOMEN LIMITED JOB DESCRIPTION
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Job Title: Research & Development Manager, Lilith Responsible To: Chief Executive Responsible For: Research staff, research consultants and volunteers as necessary
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Job Purpose
Eaves recognises the value of high-quality research to inform and shape its work. Research at Eaves has a key role to play in strengthening the evidence base for our campaigning, influencing and practice-based activities on VAWG. This is often a reciprocal relationship in that our practice and policy work can also inform the research that we do and the key areas of concern that we choose to explore/investigate.
The Research Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating all of the organisation’s major external-facing research projects. This role includes research management and governance, the management of research staff, the identification of key questions and areas that require new/further research, and the development and design of discrete research projects.
The Research Manager plays a central role in ensuring that all research conducted at Eaves achieves and maintains high ethical standards, with appropriate feminist methodologies at its core.
In partnership with the Fundraising Team and other relevant colleagues, the Research Manager also seeks to identify new opportunities for research funding.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
1. Research management
1.1 To plan, manage, coordinate and oversee all major external-facing research projects at Eaves.
1.2 To identify/formulate key research questions, and design, in collaboration with relevant colleagues, Eaves’ research projects, ensuring that the project as a whole and the specific methodology/ies to be used are fit for purpose. 1.3 To develop research project plans and timelines to ensure that all research is achievable to deadline and within budget parameters.
1.4 To put in place relevant safeguards, protocols and commitments to ensure that all Eaves’ research reaches high ethical standards, and that involvement in the research is a safe and positive experience for participants and staff alike, in particular ensuring that research ‘does no further harm’ to already vulnerable women.
1.5 To plan and oversee the governance of all Eaves’ research, and build and manage relationships with steering/advisory group members, peer reviewers, ‘critical friends’ etc.
1.6 To plan and oversee the dissemination of Eaves’ research in relevant fora to ensure that it receives maximum profile and impact, including communicating research findings to a variety of audiences via papers, conferences, strategic meetings, media, online etc.
2. Management of research staff
2.1 To recruit high quality research staff, as required.
2.2 To supervise, support and up-skill research staff at Eaves, ensuring their ongoing professional development.
2.3 To manage staff workloads and monitor the quality of staff members’ work, ensuring that all staff have clear objectives and structured work programmes.
2.4 To conduct probationary assessments and annual performance appraisals of staff, ensuring that training needs are identified and met.
2.5 With the Campaign Manager, to organise and oversee regular staff meetings.
2.6 With the Campaign Manager, to monitor and approve staff leave and other absences and oversee the completion of timesheets and all other administrative requirements of the organisation.
2.7 To oversee the work of research volunteers, as required.
3. Strengthening research capacity and impact
3.1 To identify new/niche areas where research is required and to work with Fundraising and other relevant colleagues to seek out new and sustainable funding opportunities for research, developing and writing key research funding bids, as required. 3.2 To develop and maintain positive working relationships with current and potential research partners, research experts, commissioners and funders.
3.3 To ensure that Eaves’ research influences and helps to shape policy, campaigning and practice as appropriate, both internally to Eaves as well as in the external world.
3.4 To advise other colleagues within the organisation on the use/application of research in their work, and provide guidance on internal research exercises (e.g. service user and staff surveys), as required.
4. Strategy and development
4.1 To work with the Campaign Manager to provide support and advice to senior management and the Board regarding the overall strategic direction and priorities of the organisation, as required.
4.2 To work with the Campaign Manager to provide intelligence to senior management regarding the external political and economic climate, external partnerships/relationships/alliances etc., as required.
4.3 To contribute to Eaves’ business planning processes, as required.
4.4 To work with the Campaign Manager to identify/recommend new/niche work areas that contribute to the delivery of Eaves’ mission, develop a project specification for this work and/or incubate the work within Lilith with a view to wider roll-out.
5. Core Criteria for all Staff
5.1 To promote the aims and objectives of the organisation and ensure that all contacts with external people and organisation fully reflect the professional approach of the organisation.
5.2 To develop and maintain effective working relationship with all relevant statutory and other agencies.
5.3 To achieve personal and team performance targets identified on an annual basis.
5.4 To work flexibly as a member of a team and the organisation. To ensure all contacts both within the team and with other teams assist the smooth running of the organisation.
5.5 To share relevant information and expertise within the organisation. 5.6 To keep all records, statistic and qualitative information in accordance with Eaves Policy and Practice.
5.7 To be self servicing and contribute towards the development of information technology within Eaves.
5.8 To attend and make best use of regular supervision sessions and participate in relevant training.
5.9 To work within Eaves statement of intent on Equal Opportunities. To promote the equal opportunities policy and anti-discrimination practice in all areas of Eaves' work.
5.10 To work within Eaves Health & Safety and all other policies and procedures.
5.11 To work with volunteers as required.
5.12 To work evenings and occasional weekends.
5.13 To carry out any other duties that may reasonably be requested. EAVES HOUSING FOR WOMEN PERSON SPECIFICATION: RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Criteria App Int Essential Knowledge and Experience 1 Excellent proven research and analytical skills and in-depth √ √ knowledge of research ethics 2 Extensive experience of designing and delivering large research √ √ projects, selecting and using a wide array of research methodologies 3 Knowledge and familiarity with key research software and other √ relevant IT 4 Experience of developing policy positions and influencing √ √ government policy 5 Some staff management experience √ √ 6 Experience of working within the women’s sector √ √ Knowledge of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) √ √ 7 agenda, and how central and local government legislation and policy development impact on agencies working in this field 8 Knowledge of trafficking, prostitution and related law and policy √ √ considerations Experience of contributing to fundraising for research, including the √ 9 development of ideas and proposals for targeted funding applications Skills and Abilities 10 Ability to oversee, manage and advise on a variety of research and √ dissemination methods 11 Ability to take a lead in raising Eaves’ profile, establishing and √ maintaining relationships with key organisations and individuals 12 Ability to monitor, direct, support and motivate staff to achieve √ agreed performance levels 13 Ability to ensure equalities issues are integrated into all aspects of √ Lilith’s work 14 Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to √ √ write and present precise and accurate reports 15 Ability to self-service, work independently and organise own √ workload to achieve results 16 Ability to work as part of a team √ √ Values 17 Commitment to social justice and feminist principles including the √ √ empowerment of women 18 Proven understanding of and empathy with the needs and rights of √ √ women who have been affected by violence 19 Commitment to delivering high quality, robust and ethical research √ √ Other 20 Good attendance record and the ability to cope with pressure √ Willing to work flexibly, to work outside core office hours (evenings √ √ 21 and weekends), to travel and take overnight stays, as required