Associate Director - Work and Welfare State (Maternity Cover)

IPPR is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, and from applicants with a range of professional and lived experiences. As an organisation engaging in critical debate about a wide range of progressive policy issues, we value the creativity and range of perspectives that a diverse team can provide

Associate Director, Work and Welfare State
Maternity Cover, start date late April 2023
£59,946 per annum pro-rata plus benefits
Fixed Term Contract - full time (37.5 hours)
The post will require regular attendance in the London office

Are you driven by a commitment to make the UK fairer, more sustainable and more prosperous? Are you an expert on public services and the welfare state? Are you passionate about how we deliver progressive change in the UK? If so, we have a job for you. IPPR is the UK’s leading progressive think tank and we are looking to recruit a cover for our Associate Director while on maternity leave. You will be heading up research and influencing on our Work and Welfare State programme.

The work of the team covers all of IPPR’s work on public services, the welfare state and labour market policy based in Westminster (working alongside staff at IPPR North and IPPR Scotland). The successful candidate will help oversee an ambitious new Commission on Health and Prosperity after the pandemic as well as ambitious work on childcare, schools and social security in the run up to the next general election.

You will be responsible for designing, leading and managing a significant programme of research. You will be expected to represent the team at the highest levels of government, politics, business, academia, the voluntary sector and the media, and will play a crucial role in developing and managing strategic relationships. This will include delivering the fundraising strategy for the team, with the support of the Director of Research and Engagement.

This is an ideal role for a creative, strategic senior practitioner, looking to make the case and craft policy for a prosperous and just society. You will combine intellectual flair, innovative thinking and political knowledge with the ability to manage and oversee a wide-ranging agenda and a team of expert researchers. You will have excellent project, budget and people management skills; you may have gained these in the private, public or voluntary sectors.

This will be a vital role at IPPR over the coming months. The current political climate has made more urgent, and more possible, an alternative social and economic strategy for the UK. Meanwhile, the upcoming general election provides the successful candidate with a real opportunity to shape this future, working closely with the major political parties in the UK.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant to fill the post, including secondment. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

Before applying, please click on the document to your left to read the information pack, job description and person specification or email [email protected] quoting the job title or REF: ADWWS/JAN.

Those seriously considering an application are also welcome and encouraged to find out more about the role by speaking with Harry Quilter-Pinner, Director of Research & Engagement. This can be arranged by emailing Harry at [email protected]

Please provide a CV with a 2-page personal statement. The statement should  address, under separate headings, each of the attributes in the person specification. 

The CV and statement should be combined into one PDF document and returned to [email protected]  In order to complete your application please also complete IPPR’s equal opportunities monitoring form

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is midnight, Sunday 5 February 2023.  Interviews will be held w/c 13 February 2023