Director (UK)

Are you a seasoned professional with extensive knowledge in research, evaluation and implementation science? Are you an accomplished leader with significant expertise, stellar strategic management skills, and a proven track record in stakeholder engagement and business development? Does your professional history underscore your strategic acumen and a determined commitment to achieving high-impact, evidence-based results?
If so, then CEI is very keen to hear from you!

Location: London (hybrid)

Remuneration: £80,000-£90,000 per annum

Contract terms: Permanent, with 6-month probation

The Director is a key position in CEI’s Leadership Team. The Director is responsible for leading CEI’s work, with a primary focus on the UK and the broader European market, as well as leading the UK team. (There is a separate CEI Nordic team leading our work in Scandinavia.)

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Director role has a dotted reporting line to the Managing Director for aspects of the UK team's financial performance and operations.

Jane Lewis, who currently leads our UK team, will be stepping back from that role towards the end of 2024 to focus on leading some of our strategic projects. As a result, we are recruiting to a new Director role to lead our UK team and portfolio of work.

Specifically, the primary focus areas of the Director are:

1. Strategic direction of the UK team – Lead the strategic direction of CEI's team and work in the UK, and contribute to CEI’s overall strategic direction, working closely with the CEO, Managing Director, wider Leadership Team and the UK team's Associate Director
2. High-quality project delivery – Lead key projects and provide oversight of all UK work (and other projects as required), ensuring high standards of rigour in methods and high-quality project delivery
3. Business and client development and stakeholder management – Initiate, develop and maintain strategic relationships, build a portfolio of work in the UK aligned with CEI's vision and focus areas, and lead large-scale funding bids
4. Team management – Lead the UK team, ensuring we recruit, develop, engage and retain excellent staff working to high standards of rigour

The role will be responsible for the strategic direction of CEI's UK office – with primary focus on the UK and broader European market – leading delivery of our strategic priorities. Specifically, the postholder will lead:

Strategic direction of the UK team, including

• Lead CEI's strategy and work in the UK and Europe, expanding CEI's profile, presence and portfolio of work
• Drive top- and bottom-line business growth for the UK office, collaborating with the Managing Director
• Identify and cultivate relationships with key partners and stakeholders in the region
• As a member of the CEI Leadership Team, contribute to the strategic leadership of CEI globally

Rigour in methods and high-quality project delivery, including

• Lead the design and execution of a portfolio of methodologically rigorous, high-quality and impactful projects in the UK, and provide methodological and strategic input to other CEI projects as required
• Provide quality assurance across all the UK team's work and ensure excellent project delivery
• Manage key stakeholder relationships, including with high-profile clients, partners, collaborators and others
• Ensure the financial health and sustainability of the UK team and our wider business, through efficient project management and delivery, working closely with the Managing Director

Business and client development and stakeholder management, including

• Spearhead business development in the UK and more widely, ensuring a strong project pipeline and increased median project revenue
• Lead and oversee the development of high-quality, methodologically rigorous and successful competitive tenders and grant applications
• Build long-term, mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with key sector stakeholders and with national and international partners
• Use compelling, evidence-informed and engaging thought leadership to influence stakeholders and the sector
• Ensure CEI's strong presence in the UK and globally, and represent CEI at key forums, conferences and meetings

Team management, including

• Lead the UK team as a highly engaged, high-performing and diverse group, closely tracking staff wellbeing and cultivating CEI’s culture of staff growth and development, sharing of expertise and excellent teamwork and collaboration across the organisation
• Develop a senior management team and staff group with the right skills, capabilities, experiences and behaviours to support a sustainable business where diversity is valued and employees thrive
• Oversee the healthy and efficient functioning of the UK office, working closely with the Managing Director

As the Director, you will be responsible for the strategic direction of CEI’s UK work and team. You will lead our project portfolio, develop and expand our strategic partnerships and profile, and lead business development activities. 

Key selection criteria for the role are detailed below.

• Expertise and credibility in research and evaluation, and ideally also in evidence synthesis and implementation science
• High levels of expertise in the design and execution of rigorous research studies across a range of methodologies
• Expertise and credibility in at least two of our key content areas (e.g. mental health, social care and social welfare, parenting, education, youth justice) and a willingness to quickly develop expertise in other areas
• Advanced written and verbal communication, able to produce engaging outputs for a wide variety of audiences to support effective knowledge translation, and to chair meetings and present to diverse audiences
• Successful track record of building business through competitive tenders, grant applications and direct approaches
• Advanced client and stakeholder engagement skills and project management skills, including understanding client expectations, resolving conflicts, allocating resources and managing budgets, and motivating and leading teams
• Strong networks and established credibility within the UK social research sector
• Advanced team and people management skills, including coaching, mentoring and developing staff, and able to work effectively as a member as well as a leader of teams
• Successful track record in organisational leadership and of developing a positive organisational culture

• A highly collaborative and engaging person, committed to working closely with colleagues at all levels to sustain CEI's success
• Commitment to diversity, to high standards of professional ethics, and to evidence-informed practice and policy-making
• High levels of emotional intelligence, motivation
• A high level of personal productivity and work impact, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced dynamic environment
• Commitment to learning and to contributing to a learning environment

• Post-graduate degree in psychology, social science, health or related discipline, or equivalent level of scholarship achieved through work

This is more than a job – it's an opportunity to contribute to systemic change and embark on a mission driven career in a rapidly growing organisation. Being part of the CEI family offers:

• Purposeful impact: Join a team united by the belief that good evidence and effective implementation can transform society.
• Culture: Embrace our values-driven culture, celebrating diversity and championing lived experiences.
• Professional evolution: Take part in continuous learning, professional development, and opportunities to maximise your potential.
• Empowerment & ownership: Thrive in a dynamic environment where every role makes a tangible impact, ensuring your contributions matter.
• Global reach: Engage and collaborate with a network of global partners and work on projects that span continents.
• Community & collaboration: Grow in our supportive, progressive culture that balances challenging work with fun.
• Enduring partnership: With CEI, you're not just starting a job; you're building a future and legacy. We're invested in your journey, fostering a space where you can build a lasting career and make a difference.
• Work benefits: Enjoy an extra 5 days' paid annual leave during the Christmas shutdown period, a competitive salary, and extra benefits.
• Flexibility: Our flexible work policies enable you to work from home and compress your work week.

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.

Download the applicant pack HERE (which includes the role description)

Download the role description document HERE.

To express interest in the Director (UK) role, please email your CV via the 'Apply' button above.

We encourage you to indicate your interest as soon as possible. We will review candidates as received and suitable applicants will be contacted with further details.

If you would like to discuss the role before submitting your CV, please email us to arrange a discussion with Robyn Mildon (CEO) or Jane Lewis (Managing Director – UK).

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.

Only applicants with rights to work in the UK will be considered.