Turn2us is a national charity tackling poverty and the structural causes of financial insecurity. We work with co-producers and partners to provide people in financial crisis with the means and agency to get back on their feet, build resilience, move forward with their lives and thrive.

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to equity, inclusion and diversity and the value people from different backgrounds bring to a team. If, like us, you believe everyone has the right to have enough to live on, and you are ambitious about eradicating poverty, join us and build your career with a charity dedicated to ensuring dignity and equity for all.

In this pivotal role, you will enhance the Research & Learning function at Turn2us, ensuring robust Measurement, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) frameworks are developed and implemented across our work. You will lead collaborative research projects, manage a small team of three, and act as a deputy for the Head of Insight & Impact when required. You will bring organisation and rigour to our Research and Learning projects, to help drive impactful decision-making and foster a culture of learning throughout the organisation. This comes at an exciting time, as we are updating the way we understand and use insight and impact as a charity.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in research and impact evaluation, with proven project management skills. You will be confident at adapting and communicating complex information to diverse audiences and possess excellent analytical abilities. Experience in developing co-produced research and working thoughtfully alongside individuals with lived experience of financial hardship is highly valued. You will also demonstrate strong management abilities, fostering a positive team dynamic while guiding the Research & Learning team towards achieving our goals.

We offer flexible working patterns, both in terms of hours and remote working. Please note that all employees are required to work from the office a minimum of 4 days a month.

Some roles may be required to be in the office more often than others and this will be agreed with the hiring manager upon starting at Turn2us.

Please note that all job offers are subject to 2 – 3 satisfactory references and a disclosure satisfactory to Turn2us from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).

Job Description

Job Title: Research & Learning Manager

Department: Insight & Impact Team, Impact & Innovation Directorate

Reports to: Head of Insight & Impact

Direct reports: Senior Impact & Learning Officer, Research Officer  

Location: Hybrid: Turn2us London Hub (Farringdon) or Turn2us Edinburgh Hub & homeworking

Type of role: Full-time, permanent

Purpose of the role:

Bring greater planning, rigor and quality to the Research & Learning function of Turn2us ensuring appropriate Measurement Evaluation & Learning and research plans developed and all outputs are timely, effective and clearly communicated. To lead collaborative research projects and manage a small team and deputise for the Head of Insight & Impact as needed.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

1.     Oversee Turn2us’s Measurement, Evaluation & Learning plans and processes to ensure that impact evaluation and learning are successfully embedded across our programmatic activity.

2.     Lead Turn2us’s research function, including owning a roadmap for future research aligned to our operational plan objectives.

3.     Lead the impact component of the operational planning cycle, in partnership with the Senior Planning & Strategy Officer.

4.     Provide line management support and leadership to the small Research & Learning team within Insight & Impact, deputising for the Head of Insight & Impact as needed.

Duties:

1. Oversee Turn2us’s Measurement, Evaluation & Learning plans and processes to ensure that impact evaluation and learning are successfully embedded across our programmatic activity.

• Ensure that all MEL activity is scoped appropriately, delivered to agreed timelines and is of excellent quality. Work directly on larger scale or more complex MEL, while delegating thoughtfully to the Senior Impact & Learning Officer and the Impact & Learning Officer.

• Develop a systematic, organised and transparent approach to MEL whereby all teams and colleagues understand which impact and learning practices are appropriate for their work and the level of partnership working and support they can expect from the Insight & Impact team. Maintain a roadmap and clearly communicate it to all colleagues.

• Work with the Senior Impact & Learning Officer to embed and maintain the Impact Toolkit so that all staff understand how to incorporate learning into their work, even independent of the Insight & Impact team.

• Ensure learnings from programmatic work are captured, stored appropriately and used for the benefit of future work; supporting Turn2us’s ambition to become a ‘learning organisation’.

• Work with the Co-Production Officer to develop plans to embed impactful co-production in our MEL work.

2. Oversee Turn2us’s research function, including owning a roadmap for future research aligned to our annual operational plan objectives.

•  Ensure that all research activity is scoped appropriately, delivered to agreed timelines and is of excellent quality. Work directly on research projects (with or without an external consultant), with support from the Research Officer.

• Work with the Head of Insight & Impact and Heads within Programmes and External Affairs to prioritise research initiatives, giving precedence to work that connects to our systems change agenda. Maintain a roadmap of research activity that aligns to our operational plan objectives and clearly communicate it to all colleagues.

• Elevate the profile of our research within and outside of Turn2us, ensuring that colleagues understand the benefits of incorporating research into their work and the resulting research is shared externally through work with External Affairs.

• Work with the Co-Production Officer to develop plans to embed impactful co-production in our research work.

3. Lead the impact component of the operational planning cycle, in partnership with the Senior Planning & Strategy Officer.

• Understand, identify and facilitate the collection and collation of data metrics for Key Results, working with the Data Analytics Lead as required.

• Facilitate workshop sessions within the quarterly OKR review meetings with the Organisational Management Team (OMT) to review and track delivery against our objectives and key results.

• Maintain and evolve the operational plan’s Health Metrics dashboard, working with the Data Analyst as required.

• Work with OMT colleagues and the Senior Planning & Strategy Officer to draft the Operational Report to the Turn2us Board of Trustees ahead of each Board Meeting.

• Work with Directors and the Head of Insight & Impact to prepare content for Impact & Influence Committee meetings.

4. Provide line management support and leadership to the small Research & Learning team within Insight & Impact, deputising for the Head of Insight & Impact as needed.

• Providing ongoing management and development to the Senior Impact & Learning Officer and Research Officer through direct line management; working with them and the Impact & Learning Officer to form a collective team identity and team contract.

• Establish relationships and responsibilities between the team and the wider organisation, including ways of working.

• Deputise for the Head of Insight and Impact as required.

These are the normal duties, which the Charity requires from the position. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and all employees will be required from time to time to perform other duties as may be required by the Charity for the efficient running of the charity.  This Job Description is non-contractual. It will be reviewed from time to time and may be subject to change.

At Turn2us, we are committed to protecting personnel, children, adults, and service users from any harm arising from each other, themselves, our activities, or organisational failings whilst in contact with us. The post holder will be required to follow the safeguarding policy and will be responsible for integrating safeguarding into all aspects of their work.

The post holder will be expected to ensure that their work complies with contractual terms and conditions, the Charity’s policies and procedures and key legislation, such as data protection and charity law.

 Personal Specification

Skills:  

• Excellent influencing skills including ability to frame information to resonate with a variety of audiences.

• Excellent analytical skills to interpret complex information, identify and address contradictions or gaps, and to make sound decisions with confidence.

• Proven project management skills across research and evaluation projects, using business systems and tools to manage efficiently.

• Ability to synthesise information, for example through literature reviews.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to communicate and present with confidence to a wide range of individuals and organisations.

• Facilitation skills including how to design facilitation plans and keep meetings/workshops on track.

• Partnership management skills, to build positive and effective working relationships and adapt approaches for different partners.                                                                     

Knowledge:

• Relevant knowledge of UK poverty and financial hardship, including current policy, practice and trends.

• A clear understanding of, and commitment to, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, and the commitment to promote EDIB through their work.

Experience:  

• Experience of research and impact evaluation in a complex environment, managing multiple large projects.

• Training/experience in supporting planning activities including setting OKRs and/or KPIs.

• Experience of working in partnership with people that access Turn2us services and/or have personal lived experience of financial hardship.

• Developing research in a co-produced manner which hands over power to co-production partners.

• Experience of line management.

Personal Attributes:            

• Demonstrable track record of personal integrity, honesty and humility.

• Ability to build strategic relationships and to negotiate and influence a wide range of stakeholders, establishing positive relationships that generate confidence and trust.

Turn2us is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our sector. We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us and we are particularly interested in applications from people from all backgrounds.

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