Senior Research Manager (SRM)- Youth Justice in City of London

The Youth Endowment Fund is here to prevent children and people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice. Violence continues to shape the lives of too many teenage children. In the past year, nearly one in five said they had been a victim, one in eight admitted to carrying out violence themselves, and half told us they had witnessed violence being committed against someone else. This violence takes many forms—from physical assault to robbery and threats with weapons. The consequences are often severe, with nearly three in ten victims needing medical treatment.

To prevent this violence, we aim to build the evidence base on what works and then use this to change policy and practice. This role is a hugely exciting opportunity to change practice and policy in the Youth Justice sector. The Senior Research Manager (SRM) for Youth Justice will spend the year writing two reports:

• A Practice Guidance Report (publishing in May 2027).
• A System Guidance Report (publishing in September 2027).

The Practice Guidance Report will provide 5-8 evidence-based recommendations on how individual Youth Justice Services can prevent children’s involvement in violence. It will likely recommend a range of evidence-based strategies including:

• The importance of commissioning evidence-based interventions.
• How to meet the health needs of children in the Youth Justice System.
• How to respond to serious violence and weapons carrying.
• How to support the sentencing process.
• How to support children in and after custody.
• How to ensure effective diversion takes place.

The System Guidance Report will target policy makers and system leaders, making 5-8 policy recommendations on how the Youth Justice sector can be reformed to better protect children from involvement in violence. It will likely recommend a range of evidence-based reforms, including:

• How to use funding, training and inspection to improve the provision of evidence-based interventions in the Youth Justice System.
• How to ensure that other agencies and sectors effectively collaborate with Youth Justice Services.
• How to improve responses to the most vulnerable children and people, and how to improve sentencing, custody and resettlement.

Both guidance reports will include recommendations that will reduce the racial disproportionality currently evident in the Youth Justice System. You will work closely with a Race Equity Advisor and be supported by the internal YEF Youth Justice Change Team, as well as external expert input.

Key responsibilities include:

• Writing a practice guidance report for the Youth Justice Sector using the best available evidence.
• Writing a system guidance report for the Youth Justice Sector.
• Becoming the YEF’s expert on Youth Justice.
• Reading, commenting on, and supporting the publication of four research projects focused on the Youth Justice system.
• Developing great relationships with experts and representing YEF in external meetings and events.
• Working with our Change Team to produce resources and accessible summaries for Youth Justice colleagues.

About you: You want to play a significant part in reducing the level of violence affecting children and people. You care about having an impact. You share our belief that an evidence-based approach is our best hope of preventing violence. You’re fascinated by research and want to achieve actual changes in outcomes for children. You know a lot about Youth Justice and are comfortable discussing it with experts. You take ownership of your work and can deliver a concrete workplan. You have at least three years’ experience working in a role that required you to think about research. You write in a way that people easily understand and have excellent project and time management skills. You’re good with people and care more that good things happen than who gets the credit.

While it’s not a criterion, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence. Applications are welcome from all regardless of disability, marriage or civil partnership, maternity, belief, race, transgender status or socio-economic background.

Additional benefits include a £1,000 professional development budget annually, 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, and four half days for volunteering activities.

To apply, please send a CV, cover letter and the monitoring form via our application page by 9:00 pm Monday 6th July.