Associate Director - Public Services

Are you driven by a commitment to make the UK fairer, more sustainable and more prosperous? Are you an expert on public services in health, education or childcare and/or social care? Are you passionate about delivering bold progressive change in the UK? If so, we have a job for you.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is the UK’s leading independent thinktank. Our research and ideas have shaped progressive policy making for more than three decades. At this exciting moment in British politics, we are looking to recruit a new Associate Director to lead IPPR’s work on public services and help build on our ambitious Commission on Health and Prosperity and work on childcare and schools.

You will be responsible for designing, leading and managing a significant programme of research and influencing our public services programme. A proficient communicator with a wide-ranging media-record, you’ll represent the team at the highest levels of government, politics, business, academia, the voluntary sector and the media and play a crucial role in developing and managing strategic relationships and influencing public policy. This will include delivering the fundraising strategy for the team, with the support of the Director of Research and Policy and Director of Policy and Politics.

This is an ideal role for a creative, strategic senior practitioner with a track record of high-quality published research, looking to make the case and craft policy for a prosperous and just society. You will combine intellectual flair, innovative thinking and political knowledge with the ability to manage and oversee a wide-ranging agenda and a team of expert researchers. Responsibilities will be broad, and excellent project, budget, corporate planning, fundraising for research and people management skills are essential.

This is a vital role at IPPR over the coming months. The current political climate has made more urgent, and more possible, an alternative social and economic strategy for the UK. The change of government provides the successful candidate with a real opportunity to shape this future, working closely with the major political parties in the UK.

This post will be based in our London office, right at the heart of Westminster, with staff expected to be in the office at least two days a week. As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant to fill the post. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

Before applying, please go to our vacancy page to read the information pack and job description, or email recruitment@ippr.org quoting the job title or REF: ADPS/SEPT.

Please provide a CV with a personal statement of no more than two pages. The statement should address, under separate headings, why you want the role and the attributes in the person specification.

The CV and statement should be combined into one PDF document and returned to applications@ippr.org In order to complete your application please also complete IPPR’s equal opportunities monitoring form.

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 16 October 2024. Interviews will be held on 25 October.