Details: 0.8 FTE (spread across the working week) or full time. Home-based, with occasional travel. Fixed term: 12 months with a review at six months, and with the potential for extension. Reporting to the Director.
Salary: £40-45,000
- ABOUT THE ROLE
Unchecked UK is seeking a candidate to lead an exciting programme of research and influencing. We are looking for someone who is experienced in conducting research and analysis on public attitudes and/or values, or who has demonstrable background running impactful campaigns and/or movement building. A familiarity with and interest in thinking about the role which narrative development and framing plays in delivering social change will be a significant advantage. You will also have an understanding of how these techniques can apply to UK politics and the role they can play in helping engage target audiences with Unchecked’s cause. You will be a creative thinker, an innovator and a strong communicator with experience of writing media articles, and of presenting research to a variety of audiences.
- ABOUT US
Unchecked UK is a civil society counter movement against the erosion of the regulations – and regulators – which protect us.
Most of us value common-sense rules – they provide a guarantee that the food we eat is safe, the things we buy are of decent quality, that our homes and workplaces are secure. They protect our natural spaces from the damaging activities of some businesses and safeguard our rights at work.
But many of our most important rules are being eroded, and the enforcement teams which defend them have been cut to the bone. When things are left unchecked, people and the environment suffer.
Unchecked UK exists to counter the narrative – deployed by certain actors within politics, think-tanks and the media – which portrays social protections as ‘burdens’ and ‘red tape’. We want to tell a new story, one which activates the values that we think most people hold – values of fairness, common-sense, balance, love of family and of natural spaces. And then we want to show decision-makers that most people oppose the continued erosion of important regulations and regulators.
We focus on issues that really matter to people, such as environmental protection, health, food safety, consumer protection, workers’ rights and local spaces. Through public campaigning and political advocacy, we work alongside our civil society partners to show that strong protections underpin the things that matter most to British people.
- KEY TASKS
Key tasks are likely to include:
Strategy: Work with Unchecked UK’s Director to devise and develop the organisation’s research and campaigning strategy. Advise on research methodologies, drawing on best practice in the field of campaigning, public opinion, framing and narrative development. Working closely with Unchecked UK’s communications team, ensure that our research can reach key audiences in civil society, politics and the media.
Research: Our research aims to deliver the kinds of insights that inform to impactful campaigns aimed at broad sections of the public (for example, we are currently developing research to explore attitudes to workers’ rights in so-called ‘Red Wall’ seats and environmental protections among voters in ‘safe’ Conservative seats). We aim to use robust and innovative methodologies which yield insights for campaigners, as well as policymakers and opinion formers.
Asset creation: Lead on the design and drafting Unchecked UK’s research and campaigning outputs. These will range from slide decks to briefings aimed at supporters, journalists and political audiences. Work with head of digital communications to produce online content, including videos and infographics targeted at specific audiences.
Knowledge development: Keep abreast of the latest UK and international developments in the field of narrative development, framing, and campaigning. Build strong working relationships with the growing number of experts in this field with a view to establishing Unchecked UK as a leading actor.
Other activities are likely to include:
- Supervision of partners, agencies and freelancers
- Delegated management of research budgets
- Attendance at meetings with partners or funders
- PERSON SPECIFICATION
- Proven success in managing impactful research projects.
- Direct experience of qualitative techniques such as focus groups or vox pops would be desirable.
- Experience of working in one of the following desirable: movement-building, campaigning and/or political influencing
- Familiarity with the field of strategic communications desirable
- Track record of producing research and campaigning outputs that are both rigorous and compelling
- Background of working in politics or civil society (ideally in a field related to Unchecked UK’s thematic priority areas), or in a related industry
- Excellent communications skills, with the ability to tailor content to different audiences
- Strong organisational and project management skills.
- Commitment to Unchecked UK’s purpose and values.
- Capacity to work independently and be an active member of a virtual team.
To apply
Please email your CV and a short covering letter to info@unchecked.uk by 5pm on 17/09/21.
Unchecked UK is a project of The Ecology Trust, a charitable grant-making trust that supports environmental initiatives. The successful candidate will be employed by The Ecology Trust.