WOMEN’S AID JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

POLICY AND RESEARCH OFFICER (PART TIME – 2.5 DAYS PER WEEK)

Reports to Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager

Location London (with travel to Bristol)

Salary Scale 35-39, £29,636 to £33,200 (plus Inner London Weighting of £3,332) and benefits pro rata for 2.5 days per week.

MAIN PURPOSE OF POST To identify and provide information and resources to support

Women’s Aid’s policy work both internally and externally To provide a specialist research role within Women’s Aid including

managing and carrying out research, data collection, monitoring and evaluation and other related activities

To take responsibility for the management and delivery of specific short or long term projects as required.

To provide research and policy support for Women’s Aid’s model of responding to domestic abuse Change that Lasts.

DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Policy support: Identify and lead on analysis of policy and legislation (recent and

historical) that will impact on survivors of domestic abuse, Women’s Aid member services and Women’s Aid nationally.

Identify opportunities to respond to policy consultations and coordinate responses to consultations on legislation, policy or practice addressing the impact on survivors of domestic abuse, Women’s Aid member services and Women’s Aid nationally.

Attend key policy focussed meeting with Government Departments, statutory agencies and other key professional stakeholders to contribute a Women’s Aid policy perspective.

Provide policy briefings to line manger, EMT and CEO as needed and keep up-to-date internal briefing on key policy issues as they are evolving.

Ensure effective strategies for information management on gender-based violence policy within Women’s Aid.

Identify and provide relevant policy information for a range of resources including the Women’s Aid newsletter, Safe (quarterly journal), and support the content development of Women’s Aid websites and other relevant resources

Research and data collection: Co-ordinate and carry out surveys, research, and literature reviews

to support the work of Women’s Aid in collaboration with the counterpart job share post.

Have a clear understanding of the range and types of data collected by Women’s Aid and assist in the analysis and use of Women’s Aid data, ensuring this reflects the concerns and voices of survivors and Women’s Aid’s members.

Support the development and undertaking of the Women’s Aid Annual Survey in liaison with relevant managers and key staff.

Provide consultancy on internal and external survey questionnaires, research methodology, and project monitoring and evaluation, as required.

Identify and support opportunities for Women’s Aid to undertake research into key areas of domestic violence including collaboration with researchers.

Maintain an overview of current and past research in the field of

violence against women and provide statistical data to support the policy work of Women’s Aid, its service users and its member services.

Produce reports, briefings, articles, good practice models and other materials on domestic and sexual violence research and policy issues, to support the delivery of Women’s Aid projects and services and the information needs of Women’s Aid as they relate to membership and services.

General responsibilities To maintain clear and adequate records of work done and to

produce reports on work programmes and activities as required by management.

To contribute to team meetings and organisational priorities, and to participate in supervision and appraisal meetings.

To take direction on projects and priorities from your line manager, this may vary from time to time.

To carry out administrative tasks necessary to comply with the job description.

To assist in the organisation of conferences or events organised by Women’s Aid, if required.

To abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

To be flexible within the broad remit of the post.

Other

Based in London, this job requires regular travel between Bristol and London and across England and other occasional travel and unsocial hours.

PERSON SPECIFICATION: Policy and Research OfficerEXPERIENCE Essenti

alDesirable

Extensive experience of analysis of policy and legislation.

Experience of meeting with key external stakeholder to communicate policy messages, such as politicians or civil servants.

Experience of research and data collection.

A track record in effective management of research projects, including designing and conducting surveys and analysing data.

Experience of writing and producing briefings, reports or other information resources on policy issues.

Experience of collecting, managing and disseminating policy information for a variety of audiences.

Experience of managing projects within a set timeframe and with clear outputs/outcomes

KNOWLEDGEKnowledge of a range of research tools and databases and how to use them effectively to collect and analyse information

Sound knowledge of policy issues relating to domestic and sexual violence

A clear understanding of the work of Women’s Aid and its partners.

Knowledge of the issues facing women and children affected by domestic and abuse.

SKILLSExcellent verbal communication skills at a variety of levels to a wide range of audiences.

A high standard of writing skills including producing reports and briefing papers.

Ability to analyse complex policy and legislative information and identify the implications for women and children affected by domestic abuse.

Good research skills including qualitative and quantitative based research

Ability to draft reports and briefings Ability to work under pressure in a busy team Demonstrate commitment to the aims of Women’s Aid, it’s member organisations and its partners

Good IT skills and ability to be administratively self-serving

Ability to work as part of a team and be self-motivated

EDUCATION/TRAINING Evidence of Continuous Professional Development Degree or equivalent OTHERAble to demonstrate a commitment to, and understanding of, the aims and objectives of Women’s Aid.

Ability to demonstrate a good understanding of equality and diversity issues in the UK

Willingness to travel regularly and work occasional weekends and evenings as required.