Senior Expert / Director - Nature Policy Research & Evaluation

If directing research on ‘what works’ in nature policy is what gets you up in the morning, and you want to make an impact, we may have the new role you’ve been looking for. Given the scale and pace of change needed to achieve the nature recovery we all need, there is a key role for evaluators and researchers to provide:

• Timely, robust evidence on whether programmes are working as intended, their impacts, and their value for money.
• Data from monitoring the state of the natural environment and from social research with stakeholders.
• Research on innovations, potential reforms and experience elsewhere.

This is where ICF delivers. We are the principal provider of evaluation expertise to government on policies and programmes for the natural environment in England. We manage Defra’s main monitoring, evaluation and analytical support service, and are a leading supplier of policy‑focused research and consultancy advice on environmental issues.

We are looking for an experienced, senior practitioner to help lead our growing volume of nature policy work for Defra, Natural England, the Office of Environmental Protection and other public bodies. The successful candidate will:

• Have experience of designing and directing high quality programme and policy evaluations relevant to nature policy.
• Have an appreciation of the UK institutional context and the process of environmental policy development.
• Enjoy leading on a portfolio of projects in a fast‑paced, professional environment.
• Have proven technical evaluation, research, communication, team management and commercial skills.

The role is positioned in an ICF team dedicated to provision of policy‑relevant research, analytical and evaluation services to the UK public sector. The core responsibilities of the role will be to:

• Design and lead policy research and evaluation projects relating to nature policy in the UK.
• Work with colleagues to support the quality and growth of our environmental policy services for the Defra group and other UK clients.
• Be an active member of the senior management team of this area of our business, working with colleagues to ensure its effective management and achievement of agreed business goals.
• Provide line management and technical support to team members and contribute to the efforts to enhance the capability of the team and ICF.

We are keen to talk to candidates that have:

• A strong academic background in economics, natural sciences, public policy or a related discipline.
• A strong commitment to, and interest in, environmental policy.
• At least 15 years of professional experience in policy and programme research and evaluation relating to the policies that support biodiversity and nature recovery, ideally in a consultancy context.
• Experience of conducting high quality research, monitoring and evaluation assignments using recognised process, impact and VfM methods, at least some of which will be in the UK.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to develop sound conclusions and policy‑relevant recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience with presenting key concepts to clients.
• Experience in leading multi‑disciplinary project teams.
• Commitment to employee progression and development.
• Demonstrable experience in winning and successfully delivering research and evaluation projects and contracts.
• Sound research and business ethics, including the protection of proprietary and confidential information.
• Commercial acumen and an understanding of the policy consulting business model.

We are open to applications from candidates looking for a role that is primarily technical in focus, and from those seeking a position that also involves team and business leadership responsibilities. While we welcome applications from candidates internationally, this role is located in the United Kingdom, and successful candidates must:

• Have the legal right to work in the UK (or be eligible for sponsorship where applicable on a case‑by‑case basis).
• Be physically located in the UK on Day 1 of employment (or shortly before your start date).

About us: Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. Smart, compassionate, innovative, committed, ICF employees tackle unprecedented challenges to benefit people, businesses, and governments around the globe. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth. We can only solve the world’s toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are committed to creating a culture where we embrace our differences in ideas and identities. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals.

The benefits of joining ICF: Our people at ICF are our most important asset, so we invest in them from the moment they arrive. When you join our team, you’ll have access to a vast array of benefits to help you live your life well. We offer a hybrid working policy, which will provide you with the flexibility to collaborate in the office, as well as in the comfort of your own home, ensuring you are able to successfully deliver the requirements of your role. To support you, our employee wellbeing hub is designed to provide highly personalised support across a comprehensive range of wellbeing issues, such as mind, body, finances, community, career programs and HR support. We enjoy celebrating success, which is why we have a competitive recognition program called ‘You Matter’, which awards points as a ‘thank you’ for your work achievements. These can be spent on a large variety of high‑quality items, as well as online or high‑street vouchers, all with zero tax payable by the employee. ICF also offers a range of competitive benefits, which include:

• Single Private Medical Insurance cover with no restrictions on existing conditions.
• Dental insurance and an online GP service.
• 25 days annual leave, plus UK bank holidays (annual leave increases with years of service).
• Pension scheme with 5% of salary employer contribution.
• Life assurance paying 4x annual salary and Group Income Protection paying 66% of salary for up to 5 years if you are off work on long‑term sick.
• Enhanced parental leave policies, enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental pay.

Candidate AI Usage Policy: At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair and equitable interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process. However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodations that involve the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance at candidateaccommodation@icf.com. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.