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Location: London

Other locations: Primary Location Only

Date: 15 Aug 2025

Requisition ID: 1635328

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Role Profile:

The EY Foundation is growing the capacity of its influence function by recruiting a new position- Policy and Research Officer, as it takes bold steps towards its ambition. This new role will play a pivotal role in this journey, providing expert insight, shaping the evidence base behind our work, and supporting our external voice in policy and public affairs.

This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role for someone who is confident in their research and policy skills and thrives on turning evidence into action. You will lead the design and coordination of mixed-methods research projects, working closely with internal colleagues and external partners to generate robust, actionable insights. You will contribute to the creation of policy briefings and consultation responses, helping us engage effectively with decisionmakers, and support the organisation of events including roundtables, party conference activities and key sector moments to raise the Foundation’s profile.

Job Title: Policy and Research Officer

Application Deadline: 10/10/2025

Job Type: Permanent

Location: London, Birmingham, Manchester or Glasgow

Introduction to EY Foundation

The EY Foundation is a charity established in 2014 to help young people from a low-income background to develop the skills needed to succeed in the workplace. We were founded by EY, the professional services firm, who continue to be our primary funder.

Our ambition is that all young people eligible for Free School Meals have an employment and earnings potential equitable to other young people in the UK. We do this through a deep understanding of both sides of the labour market, bringing together employers and young people.We work in collaboration with a wide range of organisations to deliver employability skills programmes, scalable digital interventions, and by leveraging our convening power to influence systemic change.

We work in regions across the country, with team members based in four hubs in London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham. We operate a hybrid working model, where staff work in the office at least one day per week, however, depending on the nature of your role or specific business needs, you may be required to attend the office or events more than once a week.

As an independent charity we raise income through corporate partners, traditional fundraising, and grants.

EY Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will need to undertake an Enhanced DBS check via the Disclosure and Barring service, where appropriate.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

At the EY Foundation, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in the transformative power of embracing differences and creating a culture where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to be their authentic selves.

We are committed to fostering an environment that celebrates diversity in all its forms, ensuring that everyone – regardless of background, identity, or experience – feels safe, accepted and that they truly belong. Our dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging means continuously learning, improving, and challenging ourselves to build a workplace where every individual can thrive.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. If you share our commitment to creating a culture of belonging and inclusion, we encourage you to join us and help to make a difference.

Your role as Policy and Research Officer

We’re excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Policy and Research Officer to join the Influence Team at the EY Foundation. This national role is central to our ambition to help young people from low-income backgrounds access meaningful employment. Based in London, Birmingham, Manchester or Glasgow, the successful candidate will report to the Policy and Public Affairs Manager.

As Policy and Research Officer, you’ll play a key role in delivering our influence strategy. You’ll lead the design and coordination of impactful research projects, ensuring they are robust, relevant, and rooted in the lived experiences of the young people we support. You’ll also help shape our policy agenda by producing briefings, responding to consultations, and building relationships with external stakeholders to drive change at a systems level.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic, purpose-led environment and is passionate about using evidence to advance equity and opportunity.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to social mobility, diversity, and inclusion.

Within the Foundation we adopt flexible roles that reflect the dynamic nature of our charity and enable our people to learn, develop and grow their skills and open up career opportunities. This is part of our investment in you. This role profile provides an outline of what will be involved in your role rather than an exhaustive list of duties. Both you and this role will naturally evolve.

The role will include several key responsibilities but are not limited to:

Research

• Conduct comprehensive landscape reviews to identify gaps in existing research and inform the development of new projects.
• Maintain and update a PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Environmental) analysis on a quarterly basis to inform research priorities, policy positioning, and stakeholder engagement.
• Develop research briefs and invitations to tender, advising on appropriate methodologies and approaches.

Project Management

• Lead the delivery of internal and external research projects, ensuring work is delivered on time, in scope, and aligned with strategic goals.
• Plan and deliver stakeholder engagement events, gathering insights and collaborating with the communications team for effective dissemination.

Policy and Stakeholder Engagement

• Produce timely briefings in response to policy developments, research reports, and sector trends to inform internal and external audiences.
• Draft consultation responses and policy submissions that align with the Foundation’s focus areas and reflect its policy positions and public affairs strategy
• Prepare briefing materials and presentations for meetings, conferences, and high-profile events.
• Identify and engage relevant stakeholders to share research insights and advance the Foundation’s influence.
• Track engagement activity and follow-up actions in our CRM system to maintain accountability and monitor the impact of stakeholder relationships.

Your skills, knowledge, experience and qualification

What you will bring to the Foundation is your demonstrable skills, experience and knowledge in the following areas:

Required:

Skills

• Demonstrated expertise in advanced analytical methodologies, with a proven track record of interpreting and synthesizing complex data from diverse sources to inform strategic decision-making
• Exceptional written communication skills, evidenced by the production of high-impact research reports, strategic briefings, and policy documents that effectively influence stakeholders and drive policy initiatives
• Strong project management skills, adept at overseeing all phases of research projects from initiation to completion with minimal supervision, ensuring alignment with strategic aims
• Robust organisational acumen and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring seamless coordination of projects and the delivery of high-quality outputs
• Proven ability to engage and cultivate strategic relationships with a wide range of external stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and funders, thereby enhancing organisational credibility and influence within the sector

Knowledge

• Extensive professional or technical knowledge and experience in your specialist area.
• Comprehensive understanding of research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) and ethical research practices.
• Thorough knowledge of the policy landscape in England and Scotland, particularly relating to young people, education, skills, and employment.
• Strong awareness of the challenges and barriers faced by young people eligible for Free School Meals or from low-income backgrounds
• Understanding of how to create and deliver impactful stakeholder mapping and engagement strategies in a policy or public affairs context.

Experience

• Proven experience coordinating or delivering research and evaluation projects.
• Extensive experience using evidence to inform and shape policy, programme design, and organisational strategy, driving impactful outcomes.
• Proven track record in coordinating the planning and delivery of external-facing events, briefings, and consultations, facilitating meaningful stakeholder engagement.
• Adept at presenting findings to a range of audiences, both internally and externally, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and persuaively
• Experience working with or within think tanks, charities, and research consultancies

Qualification

Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline (e.g. social sciences, education, economics, public policy, research).

Skills

• Data visualisation or statistical analysis using tools like Excel, Power BI, SPSS, or R
• Facilitation skills for running workshops or gathering insights from young people and other stakeholders

Knowledge

• Experience with participatory research methods, particularly involving young people
• Knowledge of parliamentary processes and public affairs engagement strategies

Experience

• Experience supporting events or contributing to cross-sector partnerships
• Experience working collaboratively across functions to translate programme insights into policy recommendations and using research evidence to inform and iterate programme design and delivery

Qualification

• Postgraduate qualification in research methods, public policy, or a related discipline

Recruitment process

Our recruitment process is designed to identify the best candidates through a comprehensive evaluation of their skills, motivation, and potential. The process includes:

The first stage interview will be based on:

• Competency-Based Interview Questions:We will assess your technical and professional competencies relevant to the role.
• Motivational Interview Questions:We aim to understand your drive, passion, and alignment with our organisation's values and mission.
• Scenario-Based Questions:You will be asked to respond to hypothetical situations to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills.

The second stage interview will be based on:

• Presentation Development:Candidates will be required to develop and present a topic related to the role, showcasing their communication and presentation skills.
• Understanding of Our Organisation:We value candidates who have a strong understanding of our organisation, including our mission, values, and the sector we operate in.

Our organisation is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates. If you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment, selection, or onboarding process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Key dates

• First round interviews: 20/10/2025
• Second round interviews: 27/10/2025

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