Head of Research and Evaluation

The role

As Head of Research and Evaluation, you will be responsible for the development and delivery of our research and evaluation strategies. This work will help us to understand and provide insight into the challenges and difficulties faced by families with disabled children, the quality of services we provide and the difference our support makes for the families we serve.

You will ensure that the voice of families is at the centre of our research and evaluation approach to help shape existing and new programmes and services, and our policy and public affairs work.

If you join us, you’ll be:

• Leading the development and implementation of Family Fund’s research and evaluation strategies.
• Developing and overseeing our evaluation and service quality frameworks, including our Theory of Change outcomes measurement framework.
• Championing the ‘voice of families’, embedding their lived experience at the heart of our research.
• Managing and delivering high-quality research and evaluation projects/initiatives.
• Producing accessible, engaging, and impactful research outputs for a variety of audiences.
• Promoting the use of innovative and participatory research methodologies.
• Presenting and disseminating research findings internally and externally, including at events, conferences, and through publications.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders and representing Family Fund in strategic research partnerships, networks, and advisory forums.
• Commissioning external research and evaluation where appropriate, ensuring quality, value for money.
• Maintaining oversight of the team’s input to government/ funder reporting, ensuring timely and accurate submissions aligned to contractual and organisational requirements.
• Providing visible, hands-on leadership and line management to the Research and Evaluation Team.

About you

For this role you will need to have experience in developing and managing research and evaluation strategies, frameworks, activities and production of subsequent products. You will also need to have experience of working in partnership with other organisations, and of resource and budget management.

To be successful in this role, you will need excellent analytical skills as well as sound knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methodology and best practice through the research cycle. You will need to have good writing skills and an ability to communicate effectively with different audiences. You will also need to have the ability to interpret and present research in an accessible and engaging way.

You will be a self and team motivator with excellent communication skills, and the ability to develop and sustain positive relationships with a range of stakeholders. You will be pro-active and driven to succeed.

About us

Family Fund is a great place to work for great people. We provide a challenging and rewarding working environment where every staff member can make their mark.

We are a values-based organisation, and we aim to show our values in all that we do. Read our staff stories here and see how our staff display our values every day.

We commit to inclusion, equality and diversity and we welcome applications from all parts of the community. Family Fund is a Disability Confident Employer. We will invite to interview all disabled applicants who meet the requirements for the role. If you have a disability, and are happy to let us know, please highlight this in your covering letter. We have also signed the Armed Forces Covenant and we welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community. Find out more about working at Family Fund.

How to apply

Please read and download the job description on our website.

When you’re ready to apply, complete the online form and submit a CV and a covering letter. Your letter will need to explain what skills and qualities you would bring to the team.

The successful candidate must complete pre-employment checks that meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard. This includes a requirement to undergo a basic level DBS criminal record check, right to work check and employment history verification for the last three years.

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 13 September 2026
Interview dates: 22 and 23 September 2026

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From £49,173.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• Sick pay
• Work from home

Work Location: Hybrid remote in York YO32 9WN