Evaluation Manager

Job Summary

Fixed term Maternity Cover

£56,209 – £58,820 pa

Bristol

The Office for Students (OfS) is seeking an experienced Evaluation Manager to join the central Evaluation team at OfS. This is a maternity cover position, expected to last from February 2026 to March 2027, with the possibility of extension. Secondments from other organisations are encouraged.

You will be at the forefront of shaping the future of higher education, using evidence to influence policy-makers and senior leaders. You will lead evaluation activity and drive evaluative thinking across the organisation to support OfS to learn and improve the way we regulate.

We are looking for someone with substantial policy and programme evaluation experience, who is passionate about and committed to using evaluation to further impact.

About us

The Office for Students (OfS) exists to ensure that English higher education offers the best experience and value for students, taxpayers, the economy and the public good. It is the independent regulator of higher education in England. Our vision is that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers.

The evaluation team is small and friendly, with big ambitions and diverse expertise. We work across OfS to ensure that work is supported by robust evidence.

The role

The Evaluation Manager will help OfS work more effectively by leading impactful evaluation activity and evaluative thinking across the organisation. In this role you will:

• Scope, run, and commission evaluations of OfS activity.
• Manage commissioned suppliers to conduct evaluations.
• Conduct data collection, with opportunities for both quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Manage junior team colleagues and projects.
• Provide expert support, advice and quality assurance to evaluations led by other teams.
• Support teams and senior decision-makers across OfS to learn from and improve their regulatory interventions through evaluations and facilitating learning/reflection exercises.
• Engage stakeholders and ensure evaluation findings are translated into actions.
• Drive organisational culture change to celebrate evaluation and embed a learning mindset (e.g., delivering internal training sessions and presentations, writing blogs, building evaluation into organisational processes).
• Develop your own knowledge of relevant research and evaluation and share this to build knowledge of the team and wider colleagues.

We typically conduct impact and/or process evaluations with a strong focus on theories of change and theory-based approaches, using mixed-methods designs. We are developing expertise in quasi-experimental approaches. The role is part of a new phase evaluating core areas of OfS regulation, as OfS embarks on a new five-year strategy. The team also works to build evaluation culture and capability across the organisation. The Evaluation Team sits within the Strategy, Delivery and Communications Directorate and is a priority for ensuring our regulatory model is underpinned by rigorous evaluation and a commitment to learning, improvement, and impact.

Initial projects are subject to change, but it is anticipated that the Evaluation Manager will lead on the impact evaluation of our approach to Access and Participation Plans. The role holder may also lead evaluations of regulatory work relating to free speech, harassment and sexual misconduct, governance, or regulating quality at universities and colleges.

The role is one of two Evaluation Managers, working closely with two Evaluation Officers, reporting to the Head of Evaluation. The role involves collaboration across the organisation. The Evaluation Team works in a hybrid way, with regular in-person team meetings and an expectation of two days in the office each week.

About you

We are looking for someone with substantial evaluation experience who is committed to using evidence to improve practices and further impact. This role values collaborative working, and a strong emphasis on learning, development and sharing knowledge and expertise.

Essential

• Experience of leading the scoping and delivery of practical evaluation activity in social policy fields.
• Advanced knowledge of research design approaches and the use of data in evaluating social policy, including qualitative and quantitative methods, quasi-experimental and theory-based approaches, and understanding their limitations and strengths.
• Experience analyzing qualitative and/or quantitative data using appropriate software (e.g., R, Python, SPSS, NVivo, MaxQDA).
• Experience with theories of change.
• Excellent project and time management skills, with the ability to work independently, prioritise and balance multiple workstreams and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Skilled in delivering high-quality outputs, including well-written communications and reports.
• Ability to communicate clearly and influence specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Skilled in collaborating, managing relationships and supporting others, including managing project teams and developing junior staff.
• Holds a postgraduate degree (or equivalent experience) in a subject with a relevant research component.
• A passion for evaluation, evidence, and learning and the ability to demonstrate leadership and champion evaluation.

Desirable

• Experience working in regulation, higher education or the public sector.
• Experience commissioning and managing evaluation and social research contracts.
• A working knowledge of access and participation in the higher education sector.

Working for us

We value diversity and strive for equality of opportunity. We recruit based on fair and open competition and welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We love flexible working and have guided approaches to flexible and hybrid working. Typically this means two to three days in the office each week.

We welcome requests for flexible working, including job share and part-time options. Find out more about working for us in the Why work here section of our website: Why work here? – Office for Students.

Benefits

Our Total Reward Framework offers a range of benefits to suit your life:

• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Comprehensive learning and development opportunities
• Generous Civil Service pension
• Health benefits

We support professional development and will work with the successful candidate to develop skills, knowledge and experience in the role.

Location

This role is based in Bristol. Our main office is in Bristol, with a smaller office in central London.

Application process

To apply, upload a copy of your CV (no more than 2 pages) outlining relevant qualifications and experience and how they relate to the role. There are two online application questions to complete. We don’t think AI is suitable for answering these questions as they rely on your experience. If used, consider how it may affect accuracy and clarity. The closing date is noon on Monday 10 November 2025. Shortlisted candidates will complete a short online task (14–20 November) and interviews will take place the week of 1 December.

If you have any queries, please contact RecruitmentTeam@officeforstudents.org.uk