Job Description

Research and Campaigns Officer

Context of the role:

Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth has two aims: to provide the advice people need for the problems that they face, and to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. This role leads our work in the second of these, working across the organisation to deliver our local Research and Campaigns strategy and ensure our involvement in national initiatives.

Reporting to:Head of People

Reporting to the post:Research and Campaigns Volunteers and Micro-Volunteers

Salary: £25,000 per annum pro rata (£12500 per annum actual)

Hours: 18.75 per week

Duration: to 31st March 2018

Purpose of post

Working within the aims, policies and principles of the Citizens Advices service and the policies and practices of CAML,lead our work in Research and Campaigns. The post-holder works with others across CAML and the Citizens Advice network to understand social issues affecting our clients nationally and locally, and use this understanding to influence and improve policies and practices which affect the lives of our clients. This will involve staying up to date, engaging and motivating CAML’s People, ensuring quality and developing micro-volunteering as our main tool to utilise the skills, experience and enthusiasm of local people.

Main duties and responsibilities

  • Deliver projects in support of CAML Research and Campaigns strategy – 70%
  • CoordinateCAML’s involvement in national Research and Campaigns– 15%
  • Engage CAML People in Research and Campaigns – 15%

Deliver projects in support of CAML Research and Campaigns strategy:

  • Deliver projects relating to CAML Research and Campaigns Strategy, involving staff and volunteers in activities such as research projects, reports, data analysis, awareness raising, engaging stakeholders and influencing decision-makers.
  • Lead the development of micro-volunteering opportunities, recruit micro-volunteers and establish micro-volunteering as CAML’s principle method of delivering research and campaigns activity.
  • Regularly review and improve CAML’s research and campaigns strategy and activity, monitoring performance with Key Performance Indicators.
  • Recruit and coordinate a team of Research and Campaigns volunteers, who support the delivery of projects and strategy
  • Stay up to-date with local issues relevant to research and campaigns, monitoring trends in Merton and Lambeth and in particular amongst CAML clients.
  • Network locally, regionally and nationally to understand issues and trends
  • Use what we know about local issues and work with others across the organisation to support the development of CAML Research and Campaigns strategy – find out what matters locally and collaboratively design activity to meet the needs of the community.
  • Source and respond to relevant funding opportunities linked to strategy.
  • Provide required reports for projects

Coordinate CAML’s involvement in national Research and Campaigns:

  • Stay up to-date with national issues relevant to research and campaigns, monitoring trends.
  • Monitor the Research and Campaigns round-up and other Citizens Advice publications, plans and activity
  • Ensure CAML is actively participating in national Research and Campaigns, according to strategy
  • Ensure CAML’s clients and community is represented in national Research and Campaigns
  • Monitor the quantity and quality of Bureau evidence forms, provide appropriate feedback and ensure BEFs are submitted to national Citizens Advice, and report on progress including to the senior management team and trustees.

Engage CAML People in Research and Campaigns

Develop and maintain systems for gathering and analyzing data and monitoringresearch and campaigns work in CAML

  • Ensure that CAML’s People are actively engaged in local and national Research and Campaigns through effective internal communication.
  • Work with line managers to provide support, guidance and feedback to CAML People relating to their work in research and campaigns
  • Run group learning sessions for research and campaigns
  • Report on strategy and project delivery, progress, development and challenges to the senior management team, trustee board and organisation.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

  • Attend meetings and comply with internal procedures as defined in the staff handbook/office manual
  • Carry out any other relevant tasks as required to contribute to the effective development of the Service and the delivery of its services.

Person Specification

CAML is committed to recruiting good paid staff. As such we interview based on a clear personal statement which evidences how the competencies below are met. Please address each point below when applying for this post.

Competency / Essential or Desirable / Assessment Method
(AF = Application
I = Interview
A = Assessment tasks)
Demonstrable experience and understanding of project management / E / AF, I and A
The ability to manage a complex workload with competing priorities and deadlines / E / AF, I and A
The ability to work productively across a wide range of stakeholders internally and externally to deliver work to strategy / E / AF, I and A
Good communication skills, the ability to enthuse, inspire and gather support amongst people / E / AF, I and A
Demonstrable understanding of social issues relevant to CAML clients, and a commitment to tackling social problems. / E / AF, I and A
The ability to gather information from a range of sources, stay on top of trends and use this to keep activity relevant / E / AF, I and A
Experience developing and reviewing strategy / D / AF, I and A
Demonstrable volunteer management or coordination experience / D / I and A
A good understanding of data analysis and/or research methodology / D / I and A