Application Information: Director

Job Description

Summary

The Resolution Foundation is an award-winning and independent think-tank focused on improving living standards for those on low to middle incomes. Our reputation for analytical work that results in effective policy solutions places us at the forefront of the UK debate on economic and social policy.

We’re looking for an exceptional candidate with a track record of intellectual leadership and the senior management and public communication skills to lead our team and build on the Foundation’s growing influence.

The Director, working closely with our new Executive Chair, David Willetts, and our Board of Trustees, will create and oversee a work programme that builds on the strengths of the Foundation (on issues ranging from low pay, the future of the jobs market, welfare reform, housing and fiscal policy) at the same time as it expands into new areas.

Working closely with our new Executive Chair, David Willetts, the Director will develop and oversee a programme of research and policy development that builds on the strengths of the Foundation (on issues ranging from low pay, the future of the jobs market, welfare reform, housing and fiscal policy) at the same time as it expands into new areas.

As well as demonstrating intellectual rigour, analytical credibility, strong management skills and political sensitivity the post-holder will need the vision to lead the next phase of our development at an exciting time for the Foundation. They must also have a clear commitment to achieving effective change that improves the lives of those on low to middle incomes.

The Foundation has a consistently high public profile, runs a widely attended programme of cutting-edge events and has an extensive set of partnerships with leading economists and policy experts from the UK and abroad. A key requirement includes the ability to extend our influence through developing these relationships and communicating what we do to a broad range of audiences including senior ministers and civil servants, the business community, the third sector, media and other stakeholders.

Main duties and responsibilities

  1. Working with the Executive Chair and trustees to establish the overall strategic direction for the next phase of RF across all of its areas of activity.
  1. To lead and manage the delivery of the RF work programme, working closely with the Executive Chair and trustees, to agree a clear work plan and set of priorities for the development of the organisation consistent with its intellectual/policy mission and charitable objectives.
  1. Bring intellectual energy, analytical rigour and political sensitivity to the work of theorganisation, overseeing a new programme of research that builds on the strengths of RF while taking it into new areas.
  1. Manage, develop and recruit / retain the RF team, building on its existing strengths and ensuring that it has the appropriate skills and capacity needed to extend its areas of expertise as part of RF’s next phase of development.
  1. Continue to develop close working relations across Westminster parties / Whitehall / Bank of England and other key stakeholders to ensure that RF work continues to achieve cross-party influence and shape economic and social policy-thinking across the political spectrum over the next Parliament.
  1. Deepen RF’s relationships and partnerships with leading employers, the City, unions, universities, research institutes and other sector based organisations (housing, pay, childcare etc.)
  1. Successfully plan and managetheRF budget ensuring resources are spent wisely.
  1. Any other duties as deemed reasonable by the Executive Chair and Board of Trustees.

The Foundation is a small team and staff members are expected to support each other and share cross-organisational work in addition to fulfilling individual responsibilities.

Person Specification

This is a varied and fast-paced role and the post-holder will need to be a highly respected economics expert with proven ability to lead and manage the delivery of a varied work programme.

Essential characteristics include:

  • senior experience of leading major research and policy programmes and setting out a strategic direction for a high-profile organisation
  • a first rate understanding of both quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques and evidence-based policy development and a commitment to upholding and improving RF’s reputation for rigour
  • excellent influencing and communications skills operating at the very highest level across the media, politics and stakeholders
  • an ability to access policy and political circles at the highest level in Whitehall and Westminster and a track record of working across the political spectrum
  • a consummate networker with the ability to manage stakeholders
  • a strategic thinker with the ability to translate strategy into action for the benefit of those in low to middle income households
  • the ability to take the initiative and maintain the fast-paced momentum of the organisation
  • the ability to keep abreast of current policy discussion, generate timely new research ideas and maintain the quality and impact of Foundation reports
  • comfortable leading a small, flexible, entrepreneurial organisation
  • excellent organisational and management skills with the ability to motivate a high achieving staff team

The Foundation prides itself on the impact of its work, so experience of working with the media is desirable as is a demonstrable commitment to the Resolution Foundation’s core mission.

Summary of Main Terms and Conditions

Some of the main terms and conditions for this post are summarised below for information. This summary does not form part of any subsequent employment contract.

The Foundation has a defined contribution pension scheme, supports flexible working and offers a range of family-friendly policies.

Job title:Director

Accountable to:Executive Chair and Board of Trustees

Accountable for:Oversight of all RF staff and direct line management of Chief Economist, Director of Communications and Head of Resources.

Location:London SW1H

Salary:Competitive benefits package, dependent on experience

Contract:Permanent

Working hours:37.5 hours a week, 9.00am to 5.30pm Mon to Fri, although exact timings are flexible as due to the nature of the post you will often be expected to work outside these hours.

Annual leave:30 days annual leave per annum plus bank/public holidays.

Probation period:Appointments are subject to a three month probation period, during which time the contract may be terminated with one week’s notice.

Notice period:Three months.

Organisational Background

The Resolution Foundation is an award-winning and independent think-tank focused on improving living standards for those on low to middle incomes. Our reputation for analytical work that results in effective policy solutions places us at the forefront of the UK debate on economic and social policy.

Drawing on a core team of experts as well as established external relationships with top national and international economists, academics and policy experts, we continue to inform public debate and influence key decision makers in government, the private sector, and civil society. We hold a regular programme of events, hosting diverse speakers from academia, the voluntary sector and the City and we regularly engage with politicians from across the political spectrum.

The organisation was founded by Clive Cowdery (Chair of Trustees) in 2005 and is primarily funded by the Resolution Trust. The Foundation is led by David Willetts (Executive Chair), governed by a Board of Trustees and draws on an external Advisory Board to help steer our work. We are currently a small team of 11 people who support each other and share cross-organisational work, and are based in a friendly and informal central London office. In June 2015, we will move into a permanent new home in Westminster.

Living Standards and Low to Middle Income Households

The Foundation conducts authoritative analytical research on living standards in the UK, working across a wide range of issues such as low pay and the minimum wage, the future of thelabour market, social mobility, reforming the tax and benefit system, household debt, childcare and housing policy. Wealso have a specific focus on the plight of low to middle income households. Typically these are considered to be those of working age relying primarily on earned resources but with incomes below the median in the UK. This excludes the poorest 10 per cent of households and those who receive more than one fifth of their gross household income from means-tested benefits, excluding tax credits.The group is overwhelmingly in work and around half of the households in the group have dependent children. In total, 5.8 million households, including 10.4 million adults and 5.1 million children – roughly a third of the UK working-age population – live on low to middle incomes.

Work Programme

The Foundation’s work programme currently includes the following projects:

  • Wages and Incomes
  • Housing
  • Work and Security
  • Debt and Savings
  • Welfare and Tax Reform
  • Childcare and Families
  • Fiscal Choices
  • Shared Growth

For further information, please visit:

Application Process

Applications for the role of Director should be made using the Foundation’s application form (we do not accept CVs).

In addition, all applicants need to submita concise one page summary of what they consider to be the key challenges facing low to middle income Britain over the next decade along with some suggestions about areas of work that RF might undertake in response.

Completed applications (and equal opportunities monitoring forms) should be emailed to: r sent by post to: Recruitment, Resolution Foundation, 25 Sackville Street, London W1S 3AX.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 31st May 2015.

All applications received are sent an acknowledgement of receipt by email within 48 hours.

Shortlisted applicants will be contactedas soon as possible after the closing date.

  • First round interviews are scheduled for Monday 8 June and Wednesday 10 June 2015.
  • Second round interviews are scheduled for Thursday 18 June 2015.

Please indicate your availability and let us know if you have any specific requirements so we can make any necessary reasonable adjustments in advance.

The Resolution Foundation welcomes applications from under-represented communities and groups. We also welcome applicants on secondment and candidates from overseas as well as the UK.

If you would like to speak to someone informally about your application before applying, please contact .