Principal Advisor, UK team

Are you an expert in research, evaluation and implementation science? Are you passionate about building and using evidence to create lasting and effective social change? Are you interested in joining a diverse, global team that values its people, nurtures professional growth and emphasises collaboration? If so, the CEI team would love to hear from you.

Location: London (with scope for hybrid working)

Remuneration: £50,000-£62,500 + pension contribution 

Who is the Centre for Evidence & Implementation (CEI)?

At CEI, we believe sound evidence and effective implementation have the power to solve our most pressing social problems. We work with policymakers, practitioners, organisational leaders and funders – motivated by our mission to close the gap between what we know (from research) and what we do (in practice).

An independent not-for-profit organisation with offices in London, Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, and Oslo, we are passionate about using our expertise to improve the lives of children, families and communities.

Our core areas of work encompass:

• Translating research into actionable insights.
• Implementing evidence into routine practice using implementation science.
• Rigorous evaluation of policies, practices, and programmes.
• Fostering cultures that value evidence for tangible change.

To find out more about CEI, please visit www.ceiglobal.org 

What will the Principal Advisor do?

As a Principal Advisor, you will lead a portfolio of CEI projects that span key strategic activities - including evaluation, evidence synthesis, and advancing implementation science.

Leading teams of research and evaluation specialists, you will:

• Lead research and evaluation initiatives to inform policy and practice designed to improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities facing adversity.
• Design and execute evaluation and evidence synthesis studies, including designing data collection and analysis protocols.
• Collaborate with multi-sectoral stakeholders including government agencies and individuals with lived experience.
• Work cross-disciplinarily with both internal and external teams across diverse geographies.
• Manage partnerships with academic and consultancy partners.
• Manage all facets of project governance, including team coordination, planning, budget oversight, ethical practice and data protection.
• Foster team development and cohesiveness, while aiding in the professional growth of team members.
• Contribute to the business development and strategic growth of CEI.
• Represent CEI externally, acting as an advocate and thought leader in the field. 

What makes me great for this role?

As a seasoned and highly motivated professional, your passion for impactful work shines through in your commitment to methodological rigour and to making evidence accessible and usable.

Your credentials Include:

• Post-graduate degree in psychology, health, social science or related discipline, or equivalent level of scholarship achieved through experience.
• Extensive experience in research and evaluation design and in evidence review and synthesis.
• Experience in supervising and mentoring junior staff or colleagues across various roles.
• A proven ability to show initiative and employ creative approaches in the conduct of research and evaluations.
• Outstanding communication skills, demonstrated by your history of crafting impactful reports for policy, service, and academic audiences, as well as delivering presentations tailored to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in project management, including the ability to establish priorities, meet deadlines, manage budgets effectively and ensure ethical research practice.
• Experience in successfully disseminating research findings and a portfolio that highlights policy-relevant, translational research or evaluations.
• A track record of successfully securing funding through grants or competitive tenders.
• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. 

Why work for CEI?

This is more than a job—it's an opportunity to lead groundbreaking research and evaluation that shapes public policy and fosters social change. Being part of the CEI family offers:

• Purposeful Impact: Drive transformative societal change with robust evidence.
• Diversity: Embrace a culture rich in diverse experiences and values.
• Development: Enjoy continuous opportunities for professional growth.
• Influence: Make tangible contributions in a dynamic setting.
• Global Reach: Collaborate with our international teams in Australia, Singapore and Norway and work on projects that span continents.
• Community & Collaboration: Thrive in a culture that balances challenging work with fun.
• Career Partnership: Build a lasting career in a supportive environment where we are invested in your journey.
• Work Benefits: Enjoy five weeks of leave, a competitive salary and package.
• Flexibility: Based in the Evidence Quarter in Westminster (a network of what works centres and other organisations committed to evidence), with hybrid working arrangements available.  

How do I apply?

Please submit your CV with a covering statement of no more than three pages of A4, which demonstrates how you meet the Key Selection Criteria and the Competencies set out in the Position Description.

Note - while you're not required to address each criterion and competence individually, we encourage you to illustrate how you satisfy as many as you can.

Applications must be submitted via the 'Apply' button above by Monday 4th December 17.00 GMT.

Please note: The Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI) is a subsidiary of Save the Children Australia, a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check and sign our Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct. 

CEI is committed to diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to CEI’s work. We are driven to improve outcomes for communities facing adversity through leveraging the best available evidence. We actively seek and welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, and with lived experience of the social issues our work addresses and in the communities we aim to serve.