The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute is working for a world in which the vicious cycle of money and mental health problems is broken, so that we all have an equal chance of financial security, regardless of our mental health; and everyone’s mental health can flourish, regardless of their financial circumstances. We aim to be a world-class centre of expertise, but we don’t produce research to just sit on shelves. We develop practical policy and solutions, working in partnership with those providing services, those who shape them, and those using them, to find out what really works. We campaign, build, test and innovate until our research leads to real change. That’s where this role comes in.

About the role

Our Head of Gambling Action Lab is a new role that will lead a ground-breaking programme of work. All too often, people experiencing harm as a result of gambling can struggle in silence. But financial services firms have a unique insight into their customers, with data on spending and withdrawals. As part of a multi-year programme funded by the Gambling Commission, Money and Mental Health will bring together a handful of representatives from current account providers to form a group that will work as an Action Learning Set (ALS). The successful applicant will guide the ALS, helping them to explore and address the challenges they face in tackling gambling harms. 

The role-holder will oversee a programme of research and consultancy, to inform the ALS members’ efforts within their firms and help them problem-solve. Sharing lessons learned will be another key part of this role, spreading best practice and showing senior decision-makers in banks, regulators and beyond what really makes a difference in protecting people from gambling-related harms.

Lived experience will be at heart of the Gambling Action Lab’s work. The successful candidate will help to develop a Gambling Research Community, modelled on Money and Mental Health’s existing 5,000-strong mental health Research Community. It will also build on previous work we have done on gambling, and relationships developed in the financial services industry.

With momentum building around action to address gambling-related harm, this is an exciting time to be working on this issue. The successful candidate will join the Senior Management Team of a dynamic and growing organisation with a reputation for impact. But creating the Gambling Action Lab from scratch will allow them to make their mark on the charity and help drive change. You’ll be able to recruit your own team of two Senior Officers. In recognition of the variety of experiences and abilities that could be an asset on this project, we are open to potential candidates from a research, communications or consultancy background or other career paths that you feel have equipped you for this role. The successful candidate will be able to recruit their team to complement their skills and fill in any gaps. 

The person we’re looking for will be:

• a self-starter, able to build and manage their own plans. We are looking for someone who is ambitious about shaping the programme, and full of creative ideas about how to do it.

• collaborative and a relationship builder, to bring the best out of stakeholders in financial services firms, our lived experience Research Community and colleagues at Money and Mental Health

• driven by impact, with a commitment to reducing gambling-related harms

• a great listener and communicator, who can understand challenges and get across the need for and the route to change to a range of different stakeholders.

Job description

• Lead the establishment of the Gambling Action Lab, including developing its branding and setting out timelines

• Hire and line manage two new members of staff, helping them bed in and offering ongoing support 

• Develop and implement a framework for evaluating the success of the programme

• Recruit relevant stakeholders from financial services firms to join the ALS, securing their trust and buy-in

• Facilitate productive discussions in the ALS, listening and asking the right questions to identify and act on key challenges faced by firms

• Oversee the timely delivery of insightful research and consultancy support, to help guide ALS members as they explore ways to reduce gambling-related harms

• Ensure that people with lived experience are at the heart of the Gambling Action Lab, helping to grow the Gambling Research Community, developing new ways to involve people directly in the development and delivery of the programme

• Gain a working knowledge of relevant regulation and policy

• Keep the Chief Executive and Board of Trustees updated on the programme’s risks and progress 

• Build and maintain an effective network of relationships across financial services, research and policy and a strong personal profile - including acting as a spokesperson for the charity as necessary

• Work closely with colleagues on the dissemination of findings from the programme, including through the development of an online Gambling Hub, workshops and other events and publications

• Effectively manage a budget, demonstrating sound judgement and risk management

• Work with the Senior Management Team to maintain a positive culture where staff wellbeing is cared for, their voice is valued and they are enabled to deliver work to a high standard.

Person specification

Below are the sorts of experiences, skills and abilities we’re looking for in applicants. If you are excited about this role but you don’t exactly match every bullet point, we still encourage you to apply. The successful candidate will be able to recruit their team to complement their skills and fill in any gaps.

• An entrepreneurial spirit with the ability to think, plan, act and lead strategically

• Excellent relationship management skills

• Strong listening and communication skills, with the ability to understand, influence, engage and inspire a range of stakeholders

• Highly organised, with a proven ability to successfully plan and manage complex projects within deadlines

• Knowledge of: 

  • mental health problems

  • addiction

  • gambling research and/or policy

  • financial services firms

  • financial services regulation 

• The ability to recruit, manage and develop the potential of high-performing teams

• The empathy and ability to work effectively with people who may be in vulnerable circumstances.

Ultimately, we’re looking for a quick learner who is ambitious, creative and motivated by changing lives.

Details

• Reporting to: Chief Executive

• Staff supervised: Two Senior Officers, that the successful applicant will take the lead in recruiting. 

• Location: We welcome applicants from across the UK. We are based in central London, but this post can be offered on a remote-working basis with two days a month in the office. London-based employees work in the office two days per week.

• The role may require some travel for meetings.

• Hours: Both full-time and part-time applicants will be considered, at a minimum of four days per week.

• Contract type: Three-year fixed-term contract

• Holidays: 28 days p.a. (including 3 days of annual leave between Christmas and New Year when the office is closed) plus bank holidays 

• Pension: Opportunity to be enrolled in the work pension scheme (subject to meeting standard auto-enrollment qualifying criteria). After auto-enrollment the charity will make a monthly contribution to the scheme equivalent to 5.5% of the monthly gross salary you receive, subject to you making a minimum contribution of 2.5% of the monthly gross salary you receive.

• Other benefits: 

  • Every member of the team has a personal training budget with many internal training opportunities too. 

  • We offer cycle to work and season ticket loan schemes. 

  • The charity provides enhanced maternity/paternity/parental leave terms at an equal rate. All employees eligible for Statutory Maternity/Paternity/Shared Parental Pay receive 90% of their earnings for up to 12 weeks. 

  • We operate a flexible working culture. Our core working hours are 10am-3pm and outside of this, and upon agreement from management, employees are free to distribute their working hours across the week as they see fit.

We are a member of the Mindful Employer programme and are an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from all, including those with lived experience of mental health problems. We are committed to improving employment opportunities in the charity sector for people from under-represented communities and are particularly keen to receive applications from people from minoritised ethnic groups. Job shares will be considered, and we are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments individuals may require in the recruitment process or once in post.

Recruitment process

Closing date: 9am Wednesday 27 September

Interviews: Weeks commencing Monday 2 October and Monday 9 October
Second round interviews, if required, will be discussed with the final candidates.