Can you put impact at the heart of our work supporting trailblazing climate solutions? 

Ashden in seeking an Impact Lead to deepen our culture of learning, and make sure impact is a relentless focus within our strategy and activities. Ashden’s support creates sustainable homes and schools in the UK, electrifies off-grid villages in the Global South, and empowers indigenous rainforest communities. Understanding our impact is a vital to growing and strengthening our work for a fairer, better zero carbon world.  

The Impact Lead will draw on our theory of change and manage the design, development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, systems and processes. 

Collaborating across Ashden, they will need to give technical input into concept notes and funding proposals, and manage and refine monitoring and evaluation tools. The role holder will also need to work with the communications and programmes team to create high quality case studies and impact reports. 

Applicants will need proven monitoring and evaluation experience within a project delivery environment, and an understanding of how monitoring and evaluation can drive better policy and advocacy outcomes. Knowledge and experience working in the sustainability sector in either the UK or Global South is essential. 

Our Impact Lead must commit to support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace, as well as sustainability and carbon reductions across the organisation. 

Interviews will take place online Tuesday 12 September and in person Friday 15 September 2023. 

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Job title: Impact Lead 

Job purpose: To ensure that Ashden has a culture of learning and maintains a ruthless focus on impact through its strategy. Manage the design, development and implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) frameworks, systems and processes to enable a stronger focus on results with impact. Continue to integrate the M&E into learning, programme design, fundraising and external communications so impact runs through all our work and informs our strategies and plans.  

Reports to: CEO 

Terms and conditions:  

Permanent employee. 

Three days per week.

Based in Ashden office in London Victoria and working from home as appropriate/agreed.  

 Duties and key responsibilities 

Lead Ashden’s Monitoring and Evaluation capacity development:  

• Help embed a culture of learning within Ashden and ensure a ruthless focus on impact.  

• Work with the fundraising, communications, awards and programme teams to design robust programmes that lead to outcomes connected to Ashden’s theory of change. 

• Manage and refine tools to advance outcome and impact reporting across the organisation. 

• Develop and manage M&E for the rapidly expanding Let’s Go Zero work to ensure that progress is monitored and reporting is accurate.  

• Ensure that lessons learned through M&E activities shape and improve Ashden’s programme design.  

• Ensure that lessons learned through M&E activities shape Ashden’s policy and communication strategy to progress our theory of change.  

• Provide high quality, technical input into concept notes and funding proposals, ensuring monitoring and evaluation is built into programme design in line with the agreed strategy.  

• Work with the communications and programmes team to create high quality case studies and impact reports. 

 General responsibilities 

• Represent and be an ambassador for Ashden. 

• Be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting your work and maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development. 

• Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position. 

• Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace. 

• Support and promote the sustainability and carbon reduction actions within Ashden, SFCT and our wider work. 

Scope and accountability  

Decision making and limits of authority  

Leading development of M&E framework for Ashden 

Financial resources 
None. 

Information resources 
Ensure that all records are kept in accordance with GDPR regulations.  

People management
 None 

Legal, regulatory and compliance  

Ensure compliance with Ashden’s GDPR and safeguarding policies.   

Ensure compliance with SFCT financial policies and procedures.    

Ensure compliance with data protection.   

Personal compliance with SFCT health and safety procedures, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Procedures.   

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

EXPERIENCE 

• At least five years' experience developing and implementing M&E systems, and ensuring good take-up throughout an organisation, driving a focus on impact. 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• A critical and creative thinker. 

• A highly motivated self-starter. 

• Ability to work in a team and meet tight deadlines. 

• Ability to collaborate with a wide range of different organisations at varying levels of seniority. 

• Excellent communicator in writing and in person. 

KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION/TRAINING 

• Proven M&E experience within a project delivery environment.   

• An understanding of how M&E can drive better policy and advocacy outcomes. 

• Knowledge and experience working in the sustainability sector in either the UK or developing world is essential. 

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS  

• Flexible. Able to work some evenings, weekends and out-of-hours from time to time, and travel within UK as necessary. 

• Active and self-led learner who keeps abreast of developments. 

• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work. 

• Commitment to carbon reduction through working practices.