Policy Research Manager job at Motability Foundation in Harlow, ESX, United Kingdom

Policy Research Manager based in Harlow, England. 37.5 hours per week. Salary £45,000 to £49,000 p.a DOE. Reports to Senior Insight Manager. There is potential for line management responsibility for an Insight Officer to support development, oversee elements of their work, and help ensure high standards of research quality and delivery. Location: Harlow, Essex. Easily commutable from London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale Station. Free minibus service to/from Harlow Town Train Station, free parking and on-site EV charging. Open to conversation on hybrid, flexible and compressed working arrangements; team works a minimum of two days a week from the office.

At the Motability Foundation we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.

This role will support the Senior Insight Manager in delivering policy research and insight as part of the new insight function. This role sits at the intersection of research and policy, ensuring that evidence is not only generated, but interpreted and mobilised effectively to inform forward-looking organisational positioning.

Responsibilities

• Developing clear and persuasive evidence narratives that demonstrate the social value and impact of the Foundation’s work, drawing on research, evaluation findings and wider policy evidence.
• Scoping, developing and oversight of rapid evidence reviews and insight summaries to inform policy positions, responses to consultations and support external engagement.
• Delivering forward-looking policy analyses using futures and foresight approaches (including horizon scanning and trend synthesis), assessing potential implications for disabled people and organisational positioning.
• Acting as the lead for policy-relevant research on welfare reform and related priority areas, synthesising internal and external evidence to inform organisational responses.
• Supporting coordination with Motability Operations on shared policy and research priorities.
• Supporting relationships with external partners including Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), think tanks and public research bodies, including representing the Foundation to contribute an evidence-informed perspective.
• Supporting dissemination and engagement activity, including roundtables, briefings, thought pieces and events that help shape debate and explore innovative policy solutions.
• Working collaboratively across the organisation to move our evidence and insight from reactive to proactive, strengthening our influence over time.

Experience and fit

You’re curious, motivated and motivated by public impact. You enjoy turning complex evidence into clear messages that resonate with different audiences, and you’re keen to see research used to influence real-world decisions. You understand what makes for good enough evidence to influence policy making.

You’re comfortable working across organisational boundaries and with external partners, and you bring energy, judgement and confidence to conversations about policy, evidence and social value.

You’re likely to thrive in this role if you:

• Enjoy synthesising research and data into compelling, accessible insight.
• Are motivated by social purpose and improving outcomes for disabled people.
• Have a strong interest in public policy.
• Have a strong understanding of how evidence can be used to influence decision-making.
• Are proactive, organised and able to respond quickly to emerging issues.
• Are confident representing an organisation externally and contributing to policy discussions.
• Like working collaboratively and building trusted relationships across teams and sectors.

Requirements

Must haves:

• Experience conducting or coordinating research, evidence reviews or analysis in a policy, public affairs, research or related setting.
• Familiarity with government policy-making processes, consultations and/or parliamentary engagement.
• Ability to synthesise complex information into clear, concise written outputs.
• Understanding of how research and evidence can be packaged and used effectively to inform or influence public policy.
• Experience working with or alongside external organisations such as think tanks, charities, DPOs, academic or public research bodies.
• Strong written communication skills and confidence contributing to external briefings, reports or events.
• A relevant degree or postgraduate qualification in a social science, public policy or related discipline, or equivalent work experience.

Nice to haves:

• Experience working on disability, welfare, transport or social policy issues.
• Experience supporting advocacy or public affairs activity using evidence.
• Experience designing or managing rapid evidence reviews or insight products.
• A recognised professional research qualification such as the MRS Advanced Certificate, or equivalent professional research training.

Benefits

We are building a future where all disabled people have the transport options to make the journeys they choose. We pride ourselves in offering some fantastic benefits. Some of these include:

• 26 days annual leave, plus the option to buy/sell up to five days.
• One wellbeing day for extra flexibility.
• Pension scheme - Up to 20%, including a 10% non-contributory contribution and matched contributions up to 5%.
• Life Assurance of four times your salary.
• Private healthcare through BUPA for you and your family, along with a Medicash Health Plan.
• Employee assistance programme: GP appointments, eye tests, flu vaccinations, sick pay and free gym and yoga sessions.
• Enhanced Parental Leave, including Adoption Pay.
• Free parking, EV charge points and a minibus service to/from the town centre and train station.
• Fresh fruit, breakfast snacks, and a Dress for Your Day dress code.
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, and we aim to be an employer of choice for candidates with disabilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know so that we can support you.