Research and Evaluation Lead

Job Summary

This role focuses on leading the evaluation of Sport England’s Local Delivery Pilots work and other place (location) based investments, supporting and responding to their system change and learning objectives.  As part of this role you will lead the contract management of our national evaluation supplier as well as leading the development of a national evaluation community of learning.  Bringing key stakeholders together to inform the ongoing development of the approach to demonstrating progress and value within the pilots will be critical. 

You will take learning from this work and use it to contribute to refining and developing the wider approach to evaluation within Sport England.

Sport England recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly where we are under-represented, currently, this includes disabled people and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups.  

Role Purpose

To lead the evaluation of Sport England’s sport and activity pilot programmes and wider place-based investments, supporting and responding to the system change and learning objectives.

To lead the development of a national evaluation community of learning bringing placed-based pilots, their evaluation partners, and the national evaluation supplier together to inform the ongoing development of our approach to demonstrating progress and value within the pilots’ work.

To take learning from place-based investments and use this to contribute to refining and developing the approach to evaluation within Sport England and wider partners.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Experience developing, managing and/or carrying out large, complex project or programme evaluation studies
• Experience of designing and implementing appropriate research and evaluation methodologies
• Some familiarity with the evaluation of complex system change interventions
• Proven ability to lead and coordinate substantial programmes of work
• Experience identifying and building effective relationships with key stakeholders
• Proven ability to analyse research and/or evaluation evidence, identify the operational and strategic implications, and deliver actionable insight
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including proven ability to present evidence and insight clearly and accessibly to influence decision makers
• Successful supplier/contract management experience

Desirable

• Degree in a related discipline (e.g. a social science or research methods) or equivalent experience
• Experience managing and/or carrying out complex systems evaluation
• Experience promoting and supporting a learning culture within an organisation and wider sector

For more information please visit our website: https://www.sportengland.org/