Charity and Voluntary Jobs in Northern Ireland

Your new company
As a Policy and Research Staff Officer you will be joining a non-departmental government body that is committed to helping those affected by conflict.

Your new role
Key responsibilities include:

1. To contribute to the planning, management, coordination and delivery of the work of Policy Development and Research team in order to ensure the provision of high-quality, dynamic, innovative and timely policy advice.
2. To Contribute to the development, implementation and accomplishment of the Policy Development and Research strategies
3. To contribute to the identification of Policy Development and Research shortcomings and define and implement effective corrective measures, ensuring control mechanisms are in place in order to safeguard the integrity of the organisation's systems;
4. To ensure continuous improvement in service provisions to maximise efficiency and value for money.
5. To advise the Head of Policy Development and Research on continuous development of the team and organisation in order to support the strategic objectives.
6. To represent the Head of Policy Development and Research, the Chief Executive and Commissioner at internal and external meetings as required.

Policy Development

• Contribute in conjunction with the Commissioner, Chief Executive and Head of Policy Development and Research to the development of an appropriate policy development strategy and contribute to the management and support of the delivery of this strategy to ensure that policy advice concerning victims and survivors can be delivered to government on a timely basis.
• Draft policy advice for the Commissioner based on robust and evidence-based research and effective engagement with stakeholders.
• Monitor policy, legislative and other developments relevant to the organisation and identify implications for victims and survivors.
• Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of policy advice activity to identify outcomes and impacts for victims and survivors.

Be a point of contact for internal and external requests for information and advice about the organisation's position on policy issues affecting victims and survivors.

Research

• Contribute in conjunction with the Commissioner, Chief Executive and Head of Policy Development and Research to the development of an appropriate research policy, strategy and procedures framework to ensure effective research management and to guide the organisation's research decision making and advise on the likely consequences of proposed courses of action. This will involve Identifying key research areas which addresses policy challenges relevant to victims and survivors of the trouble/conflict in Northern Ireland.
• Scope, conduct, undertake, manage and support individual research projects contributing to the organisation's research strategy.
• Apply cutting-edge techniques to the analysis of primary and secondary datasets in order to provide evidence to policymakers; undertaking this research in an objective and independent way conducted to the highest possible standard.
• Prepare applications to secure research funding from government, EU and other funders, as appropriate, and to help establish and maintain good relationships with these funders.
• Manage the contractual and financial aspects of research projects and contracts. To ensure that allocated budgets are handled in a fully auditable manner, compliant with the Commission's procedures, and to supply appropriate financial data to project funders when required.
• Foster, establish and maintain linkages with other research groups in the UK, Ireland and internationally to ensure that, where possible, research is carried out collaboratively and that the Commission's research is internationally recognised.
• Facilitate the accurate collation of research data, appropriate analyses, interpretation and publication of results in high impact peer reviewed journals.
• Contribute to the delivery of reports (e.g. press articles and other material) as required to ensure effective communication of relevant research results.
• Communicate the outcomes of research projects to stakeholders and to the wider community, and to provide insight to policymakers on issues arising from research projects.

What you'll need to succeed

Qualifications and criteria

• A relevant Third Level qualification in a social science-related subject area i.e. Law, Public/Social Policy, Politics, Sociology.

Personnel Experience

• 3 years experience of working in a research and/or policy development environment producing research-informed reports and concise policy documents often to tight deadlines
• Experience of analysing a range of qualitative and quantitative data including reviewing legislation and governmental policy
• 2 years experience of working in a public sector environment
• A good working knowledge of IT and using MS Office
• Experience and ability of working effectively as part of a team
• Experience of undertaking research either individually, as part of a team or commissioning external research projects
• Effective oral and written communication skills in speaking and presenting to a range of audiences
• Project management experience - working individually and as part of a team
• Experience of responding to public consultation exercises
• Experience of managing the organisation of meetings including drafting papers and recording minute

• Post graduate qualification
• Practical experience of sensitive and complex areas of work

What you'll get in return

Contract initially until March 2022
Staff Officer graded salary

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.

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