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We are proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace and are committed to celebrating and supporting diversity. We know we will thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and services, and our community.  We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly welcome applications from people with experiences of homelessness.

IN A NUTSHELL

The Centre for Homelessness Impact is searching for an Evidence Lead who will help to continue growing our Evidence work. The ideal candidate will be adept at uncovering insights from data and evidence, skilfully translating insights into simple, yet meaningful messages for policy, service design and innovation. This person will be well-versed in impact evaluation methods, particularly Randomised Controlled Trials but also other methods including Quasi-experimental designs, Cost-Benefit Analyses, Systematic Reviews, Mixed Methods evaluations, and small-n evaluations such as process tracing. This person will have the skills to ensure research is robust, and remains adaptable to the restrictions of service delivery and relevant for decision-makers.  

The Evidence Lead will work in close collaboration with the Director of Evidence and Data to scope opportunities for our evidence and work and capitalise on opportunities for collaboration with other organisations in this space.  

We are a small and focused team with great ambitions. We are looking for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit - a self-starter who gets excited by uncovering insights and sees how they can be used to unlock new opportunities. 

We work with multiple partners on a variety of projects - so it is crucial that the Evidence Lead is capable to prioritise effectively and devote resources to the activities that are likely to generate the greatest impact. 

WHY IS THIS ROLE IMPORTANT FOR THE CENTRE’S WORK?

At the Centre, we help people harness the power of evidence and data to improve policies and interventions to support people experiencing homelessness. 

You will help shape the direction of our evidence work. This is a crucial stage of our journey as we prepare to substantially grow our portfolio of evidence generation. Working under the oversight of the Director of Evidence and Data, you will help scope, oversee and run studies using different methodological approaches,  guaranteeing methodological excellence and policy relevance, and pushing the boundaries for how we identify insights from research findings. 

Most importantly, you will ensure those lessons are captured and fed into all the other streams of our work. Your skillset is critical to our work because you have the ability to both cultivate relationships with stakeholders and support the development of world-class researchers.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN

• Manage the day-to-day development of our primary studies, particularly Randomised Controlled Trials providing technical quality assurance at every stage of the project, ensuring the policy relevance of any commissioned research, and managing stakeholders sensitively and effectively;

• Manage the day-to-day development of some of our Evidence Tools (Intervention Tool, Evidence and Gap Maps, Evidence Finder), providing technical quality assurance at every stage of the project and liaising with the Product Team to ensure the needs of the users are considered for all updates;

• Write concise and actionable summaries of insights for policymakers and practitioners that distil what we know works (Evidence Notes, blogs, and others); and take an active role in the dissemination of findings in multiple formats (presentations, social media, etc);

• Work in close collaboration with the Director of Evidence and Data to help develop and shape the Centre’s research agenda, contributing to scope, plan, and deliver new research ;

• Work closely with members of the Implementation Team to engage with homelessness practitioners to use evidence and data and with members of the Comms Team to support the dissemination of findings to our wider audience.

• Manage multiple projects and diverse stakeholders’ needs effectively and sensitively; with the capacity to build and nurture good relationships with diverse stakeholders.

• Flexibility to contribute to CHI’s other strands of work in a small, focused team; with openness to critique from other disciplines and curiosity to learn from the spectrum of perspectives represented by different members of the team and other stakeholders.

• A candidate with more extensive experience might have line management responsibilities over an Evidence & Data Assistant.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND BEHAVIOURS

We need a self-starter, capable of scoping and delivering data-led projects and articulating effectively how these are aligned with our strategic priorities and the needs of decision-makers.

Your experience includes:

• Mastery in a social science discipline, e.g. economics, statistics, social research methods, public policy or related discipline

• Experience in impact evaluation design particularly Randomised Controlled Trials but also other Quasi-experimental designs; as well as the practical challenges of implementing these in practice.

• Demonstrable experience in complex Project Management.

• Experience working in applied quantitative research, a What Works Centre or an organisation with a similar mission, with a track record of undertaking quantitative applied research using a variety of methodologies and experimenting with new research approaches.

• Experience writing and communicating: drawing insights from research findings and communicating them to decision-makers.

• An entrepreneurial approach and an ability to work effectively and flexibly in a lean, diverse and agile organisation with big ambitions. Keenness to stay abreast of data and statistical developments which may have implications for CHI’s evidence and data programme.

Nice to have:

• Experience in systematic reviews and rapid evidence assessments.

• Experience in cost-effectiveness methodologies.

• Nuanced understanding of homelessness policies across the UK.

• Previous line management responsibilities

You will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Ability to push the boundaries for how data and evidence can generate insights and contribute to designing intelligent services and systems to improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness or a risk.

• Ability to set clear priorities and work to tight deadlines

• Capacity to build and nurture good relationships with diverse stakeholders

• Commitment to both the aims and values of the Centre.

• Openness to critique from other disciplines and curiosity to learn from various perspectives.

Working here

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy

• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%

• 30 days’ annual leave which increases with service to 33 days

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay

• Employee assistance programme

• Flexible working

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

Permanent contract. Full and part-time considered.

Salary: £35,000 to £45,000 (pro rata if part-time) depending on experience, location and line management responsibilities. 

Location: Flexible, remote or hybrid for London-based staff.

Staff outside London work remotely from home, and we offer a hybrid working environment for staff based within commuting distance of our central London offices, usually with at least two office-based days in an average week.

This role will require some travel with overnight stays.

We reserve the right to close applications at any point, and thus encourage applications at your earliest convenience.