At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead impactful policies to enhance early years education and support disadvantaged children.
- Company: Join the Education Endowment Foundation, a charity transforming education through evidence-based practices.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, generous holiday, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative culture focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in early years education while developing your expertise in a mission-driven environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in education policy and a strong understanding of early years education landscape required.
The predicted salary is between 53050 - 53050 € per year.
Central London, SW1 (with hybrid working – a minimum of one day per week in the London office)
About Us
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement. We do this by supporting schools, colleges, and nurseries to improve teaching and learning through better use of evidence. We generate research evidence on effective practice in supporting learning outcomes and narrowing the socioeconomic attainment gap, and we work with education professionals to ensure this evidence is applied to achieve the maximum possible benefit for children and young people. The EEF’s reach and impact have been tremendous: the English education system is now one of the most evidence-informed in the world. Over half of state primary and secondary schools have taken part in an EEF-funded trial, and 70% of all school leaders use the Teaching and Learning Toolkit to inform their decision-making.
We are now looking for a Senior Early Years Policy Manager to join us on a full-time, permanent basis, working 40 hours per week.
The Benefits
- Salary of £53,050 per annum
- Flexible working opportunities
- 27 days’ holiday a year (plus 8 bank holidays, including 3 which can be taken flexibly)
- 6% employer pension contributions, minimum 3% employee contribution
- Life insurance cover
- Interest‑free season ticket loan and cycle scheme
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave pay (conditions apply)
- Confidential Employee Assistance Programme to help you deal with any personal and professional problems
This is a rewarding opportunity for an educational policy professional with expertise in the early years landscape to join our mission‑led organisation. You will have the chance to lead high‑impact initiatives that influence how early years education is delivered, helping to improve outcomes for young children and the professionals who support them. You will be enabled and supported to develop your expertise, gaining valuable insight and exposure to position yourself as an expert within the early years sector.
The Role
As a Senior Early Years Policy Manager, you will lead the development of policies to support our work in the early years education sector. Seeking to influence national education policy, you will play a vital role in the creation of a programme of support for educational policymakers. Your overall aim will be to ensure that focus is placed on disadvantaged children, quality of practice and the use of evidence in early years settings. You will work with our Early Years Lead and Head of Policy to identify our priorities, establish our policy position and build the relationships that will deliver them. Communicating our early years policy position to relevant and varied audiences, you will also support our data to improve evaluation and enable the end‑to‑end delivery of strategic projects. Additionally, you will:
- Support our work on professional development in early years education
- Lead projects to improve training and support for teachers and leaders
- Ensure our wider activity reflects our policies
- Maintain your understanding of early years policy developments
- Support and update our senior team on policy‑related work
About You
To be considered as a Senior Early Years Policy Manager, you will need:
- Experience working in education policy or a related field
- An excellent understanding of the early years English education landscape and relevant government policies
- The ability to analyse complex policy problems and identify opportunities for research to inform policy solutions
- The ability to build relationships with policymakers and other stakeholders
- Strong project management skills and the ability to work in complex and changing delivery environments
- Strong attention to detail and a curiosity to engage deeply with evidence and research
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- A collaborative and pragmatic approach, coupled with the ability to build relationships
- Strong advocacy for equity, diversity and inclusion
All EEF staff are subject to a check by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The level of this check will be “Basic”. The closing date for this role is 25th May 2026.
Webrecruit and the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.
Senior Early Years Policy Manager in London employer: Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises flexibility and employee well-being, with a minimum of one day per week in the vibrant heart of Central London. Employees benefit from generous holiday allowances, robust pension contributions, and comprehensive support for personal and professional development, all while contributing to meaningful initiatives that aim to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged children. Joining EEF means being part of a mission-driven organisation that values diversity and fosters a collaborative environment, empowering you to make a significant impact in the early years education sector.
Contact Detail:
Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Early Years Policy Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the education policy field, especially those connected to early years. Attend events, webinars, or even local meet-ups to make connections that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Prepare a portfolio or a presentation that highlights your experience and insights into early years education policy. This can be a great conversation starter during interviews or networking events.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out to organisations like EEF directly, expressing your interest in their work and how you can contribute. Sometimes, they might have roles that aren’t advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our mission to improve early years education.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Early Years Policy Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Early Years Policy Manager role. Highlight your experience in education policy and how it aligns with our mission at EEF. We want to see how you can contribute to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement!
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t forget to emphasise your project management skills and your ability to analyse complex policy problems. We’re looking for someone who can navigate the early years landscape with ease, so let us know how you've done this in the past!
Communicate Clearly:Your written communication skills are key for this role. Make sure your application is clear, concise, and free of jargon. We want to see your ability to communicate complex ideas simply, as this will be crucial when engaging with policymakers and stakeholders.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us without any hiccups. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our organisation there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the early years education landscape and relevant government policies. Brush up on recent developments and be ready to discuss how they impact disadvantaged children and educational outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to analyse complex policy problems and develop effective solutions. Highlight any projects where you've successfully influenced policy or improved training for educators.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you can demonstrate your relationship-building skills during the interview. Be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with policymakers and stakeholders in the past, and how you plan to do so in this role.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Since exceptional written and verbal communication skills are crucial for this role, consider preparing a brief presentation on a relevant topic to showcase your ability to convey complex information effectively.
