This role is an 18 month contract.
This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled engagement and communications professional to join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University ahead of a General Election in 2024. We are looking for a talented individual who shares our goal to tackle structural inequalities in the UK labour market, and has strong communication skills to engage internal and external stakeholders in our mission and research.
About you
Are you ambitious about the role digital communications can play in engaging employers, policy-makers, media, academics and other research organisations in vital social, economic and political challenges facing the UK right now?
We’re looking for someone who understands how digital communication can be used to engage different audiences in important but complex issues around the labour market. You will enjoy working with research colleagues to build narratives and visuals that have impact.
The work you’ll do
The External Engagement Officer co-ordinate the digital communication channels and content for Work Foundation activity, considering the needs of key stakeholder audiences including employers, policy-makers, media, academics and other research organisations. This will include undertaking planning, preparation and delivery of compelling and accessible content for social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube), email campaigns, research launches, website (including news articles and blogs), events and stakeholder networks
You will work with the team to identify engagement opportunities around our two key research themes:
- Our insecurity programme involves a flagship annual study, the UK Insecure Work Index, as well as in-depth analysis and influencing activity to understand the impacts of insecure work and drive long-term improvements in employment practices across the country. Following our recent work on the gender insecurity gap, we have work in the pipeline looking at insecure work across UK regions, and the distinct experiences of disabled people in insecure jobs.
- Our working lives programme is focused on tackling inequality within organisations. It has involved timely, responsive work focussed on topical themes, such as the shift to remote and hybrid work, or exploring how employers can best support workers as living costs rise.
This role would suit an individual who can take a methodical approach to external engagement activities and has an ability to measure impact, but also has the creativity and dynamism to create and trial new impactful approaches. With a General Election due in 2024, this is an exciting time join the team. As a politically independent organisation, we will engaging with policy-makers across the political spectrum and trying to ensure that conversations around the importance of secure and flexible work are at the heart of political and public debates.
Check out our blog and Twitter channels to find out more about our research, engagement and influencing work.
Being part of our team
We are a small, friendly and collaborative team focussed on building institutional expertise. Alongside formal training, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn from and support your research team colleagues through research workshops, presentations and peer learning.
Flexible working is important to us at the Work Foundation and we’re open to candidates who would like to work flexible hours or job share. Members of our team currently use a range of flexible working arrangements including part-time, flexible hours and compressed hours.
We have offices on Fetter Lane in central London and on campus at Lancaster University. Our team tend to work part of the week at home, and part of the week on site, but both offices are available five days a week.
The reward and benefits package for this role includes:
- a salary of £30,619 to £35,308 (+ £3,257 London Weighting), with annual increments. Please note, it is the normal expectation of Lancaster University that the chosen candidate will be appointed to minimum point of that grade.
- a defined benefit pension with the Local Government Pensions Scheme (employer contributions currently 15%, employee contributions 6.5%)
- a generous holiday entitlement (25 days plus five university closure days between Christmas and Easter), which increases with length of service
- a Cycle to Work Scheme
- a confidential Employee Assistance Programme and a range of other benefits and discounts.
How to apply
Check out our website and twitter feed for an overview of The Work Foundation’s mission, live projects and influencing priorities, and to learn more about our team.
Unfortunately we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, so please check you have the right to work in the UK before completing an application.
Complete the application form and supporting statements on the Lancaster University jobs site:
- Create an account
- Fill out the form detailing your work experience
- Provide four short personal statements outlining how your experience fits aspects of the person specification. These should be written in full sentences with detailed examples.
At the Work Foundation we are committed to being an inclusive organisation, and see that as central to our ambition to tackle inequalities in the labour market. We would welcome applications from all communities for this position, and if you would like to discuss this role before applying, please contact Jon Fitzmaurice, Head of Engagement at the Work Foundation, with any questions.
About the Work Foundation
We believe everyone should have access to secure, rewarding and high-quality work. By engaging directly with workers, employers, policymakers and leading academics, we deliver rigorous applied research to tackle structural inequalities in the labour market and improve working lives across the UK.
The Work Foundation is a unique think tank. We been an independent source of ideas and analysis on the labour market and the wider economy for over a hundred years, but are also part of the world leading Lancaster University Management School. We work with academics and colleagues across the University – and our expert advisory board – to deliver our research and influencing programme. We are regularly featured in the national media, and work closely with policy-makers and employers to turn research into impact.
About Lancaster University
Lancaster University is among the best in the UK. A top 15 university in the three major UK league tables, we are also highly ranked in international league tables such as the QS World Rankings. It has been recognised as a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident employer, and holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award for advancing the careers of women in higher education.
The university has several networks focussed on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, including a Race Equality Network, an LGBT+ staff network and a Parents and Carers’ network.
Visa sponsorship
Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.
