Strategy and Transformation Associate (KTP Associate)

DUTIES OF THE POST

• Plan and carry out an evaluation of the impact of FORWARD’s services, including designing the methodology and tools for the evaluation and obtaining ethics approval.
• Evaluate FORWARD’s training services; schools work; support service, and psychosocial assessments.
• Write and deliver evaluation reports, blogposts, presentations and similar outputs from the project.
• Develop FORWARD’s capability to evaluate services to better demonstrate impact to funders, leading to increased revenue from grants and contracts, and to improve the efficacy of services.
• Audit skills and capabilities at FORWARD, which could be commercialised, investigate markets, and develop market-access strategies.
• Diversify revenue towards unrestricted fund generation, by commercialising activities (beginning with training offering) to facilitate rapid scaling of the organisation.
• Support integration of evaluation outcomes into fundraising and advocacy efforts.
• Develop (at least) two novel commercial tools/services: a post-support evaluation system, and a community engagement toolkit, both of which could be marketed.
• Embed knowledge through toolkits, documentation, and training to ensure long-term adoption of innovations for FORWARD staff.
• Identify and adopt appropriate technologies and systems to facilitate growth in key areas of FORWARD’s work.
• Develop sustainability plans, operational models, and financial projections to support FORWARD’s growth.
• Conduct SWOT analysis and co-develop strategic positioning, pricing, and promotional plans with FORWARD.
• Manage the KTP project, maintaining documents and delivering presentations periodically on progress to the working group.
• Identify training opportunities to develop personal skills and knowledge (and attending these).
• Meet weekly with academic supervisors to discuss progress and develop skills.
• Organise and lead monthly project team meetings.
• Attend staff meetings and events where necessary.
• Adhere to the ethos and spirit of FORWARD and endorse an organisational culture that embraces diversity, transparency and participation as a core.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• A first/undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Excellent research, analytical and problem-solving skills to generate insights and support evidence-based decision making.
• Understanding of the charity sector and understanding of how and with what metrics support activities are evaluated.
• Knowledge and experience of qualitative and quantitative data analysis and proficiency with data analysis tools and methodologies.
• Experience of producing written reports and presentations in an academic or professional context.
• Proficiency in strategic planning, business development and consultancy.
• Ability to formulate and implement robust and well-informed marketing, operational and financial plans.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully around intersectional experiences and trauma.
• Skills and ability, or experience in facilitating training sessions.
• Experience in, or willingness to learn, budget and project management skills.

BENEFITS

• A personal development budget of £4,160 (exclusive of salary).
• Management training and mentoring by an Innovate UK KTP Adviser.
• An interesting and challenging role, with exposure to a variety of stakeholders.
• Full access to university resources to complete the project.
• World-leading Academic and Company project supervision, with project support by a dedicated, sector leading KTP Office.

THE PROJECT

The University of Essex in partnership with The Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD UK) offers an exciting opportunity to a graduate with the relevant skills and knowledge to develop impact evaluation capabilities, and novel systems and processes, to maximise unrestricted income generation opportunities within a women’s health charity. This post is fixed term for 25 months and is based at FORWARD UK’s offices in London. Hybrid working applications will be considered, but an average of 14 hours a week will need to be spent at FORWARD UK to fulfil the needs of the project and the advertised role.

IMPORTANT – This post is open to female applicants only in line with FORWARD’s commitment to providing women-centred, trauma informed services. The role involves direct engagement with women and young women who may be survivors of violence against women and girls, where there is a genuine need for a female staff member to ensure service users feel safe.

Please see the attached job pack, which contains a full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role plus more information relating to the post. We recommend you read this information carefully before making an application. Applications should be made on-line, but if you would like advice or help in making an application, or need information in a different format, please contact resourcing@essex.ac.uk.

About the business

The Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (hereafter FORWARD) is a leading African women-led organisation working to end violence against women and girls, focusing on issues such as child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and domestic and sexual violence. The organisation, founded in 1985, provides support services, advocacy, and research-driven programmes to improve the health, wellbeing, and empowerment of African women and girls. FORWARD supports affected women and girls on the ground – bringing together communities, developing skills and knowledge, and nurturing young women leaders of tomorrow. They work strategically to challenge and support decision-makers and practitioners, conducting community research, building partnerships and creating opportunities to transform lives.