Impact and Policy Lead
This is an exciting new role to help well-respected climate solutions charity Ashden improve its focus on impact, to drive significant change. We are looking for an ambitious person with experience in monitoring and evaluation to help focus, understand impact and track all Ashden’s work. You will also lead the development of calls for policy change in the UK and other countries where we work. You will play a key role in the development of Ashden’s overall strategy 2022-25 as we seek to increase our impact in response to the climate crisis.
Job purpose:
To build Ashden’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) frameworks, systems and processes, enabling a stronger focus on results with impact. Integrate the M&E into learning, programme design, fundraising and external communications so impact runs through all our work and informs our strategies and plans.
To develop Ashden’s policy positions and recommendations, ensuring that we are best able to influence external stakeholders with our learning and insights. Ensure that we draw out and share more widely the insights and policy recommendations from our awards discovery and programmes work, enabling wider shifts in positive climate action.
Reports to:
The Director of Communications and People while also working closely with the CEO
Duties and key responsibilities
Lead Ashden’s Monitoring and Evaluation capacity development:
- Design and implement new tools to advance outcome and impact reporting across the organisation to include current and future award processes, programmes and advocacy.
- Ensure that lessons learned through M&E activities shape Ashden’s own project and programme design and are embedded through the whole organisation.
- Provide high quality, technical input into concept notes and funding proposals, including fundraising for M&E and policy work in line with the agreed strategy.
- Help embed a culture of learning within Ashden and ensure a ruthless focus on impact.
Contribute to Ashden’s strategy:
- Working with the CEO, the team, stakeholders and the trustee board, assist in the development of Ashden’s 2022-25 strategy and plans which we will develop in the first half of 2021.
- Develop metrics and an impact framework for all Ashden’s work including for our awards and new ‘Award Plus’ model, linking awards to programmes to scale initiatives and share their stories.
- Work with fundraising team to develop materials to understand and communicate Ashden’s new strategies and results with networks and funders.
Contribute to building the networks to support Ashden’s awards and programmatic work including the selection and development of award themes. This includes collaborating with others on issues around sustainable UK cities and schools, energy access, fair cooling and clean cooking.
Play an external-facing role on impact, insight and policy:
- Work closely with Ashden programme teams, as well as with partner organisations and Ashden alumni to develop and implement strategies to further our policy priorities.
- Develop and deliver a targeted and deliberate strategy for advocacy and influencing.
- Produce meaningful insight and policy reports and recommendations for targeted audiences e.g. investors and policymakers, to drive change, designing and running seminars and webinars to share best practice, insights and research as appropriate.
- Be a spokesperson for Ashden, ready to engage decision-makers and to present our policies at public meetings, to the press, in blogs and podcasts.
- Develop Ashden’s policy positions and advocacy strategies on the key topics where we seek to influence. In particular, these would currently cover: our work with UK local authorities on their climate action plans; our campaign ‘Let’s Go Zero 2030’ for all UK schools to reach zero carbon; our call for finance for the energy access sector and to promote sustainable, fair cooling globally.
- Work with the Ashden alumni of previous winners and consider creating an ‘impact community’ that brings together M&E practitioners with partners, policy makers and funders.
General responsibilities
- Represent and be an ambassador for Ashden and the wider Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts (SFCT) of which we are a part.
- Be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting your work and maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development.
- Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position.
- Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.
- Support and promote the sustainability and carbon reduction actions within Ashden, SFCT and our wider work.
- Work collaboratively with others including in all aspects of SFCT’s work.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
EXPERIENCE
- Five to ten years’ experience developing and implementing M&E systems, and ensuring good take-up throughout an organisation, driving a focus on impact.
- Experience of contributing to an organisation’s strategy and turning that into plans.
- Experience of developing policy positions related to at least one area of Ashden’s work – for example on climate solutions in the UK or on energy access in developing countries.
- Experience of presenting policy positions in a compelling way to decision makers and influencers, leading such external relations.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- A critical and creative thinker.
- A highly motivated self-starter.
- Ability to work in a team and meet tight deadlines.
- Ability to collaborate with a wide range of different organisations at varying levels of seniority.
- Excellent communicator in writing and in person.
KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION/TRAINING
- Proven M&E and policy and advocacy experience or qualifications.
- Knowledge and experience working in the sustainability sector both in either the UK or developing world is essential.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Able to work some evenings, weekend and out-of-hours from time to time, and travel within UK as necessary.
- Active and self-led learner who keeps abreast of developments.
- Enjoys working in a complex environment.
- Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.
- Commitment to carbon reduction through working practices.
Salary
£43,000 – £48,000
Application Process:
To apply for this exciting opportunity, please send your CV with a one page covering note explaining why you are interested to anita.henderson@ashden.org. All applications should reach us by 4 December 2020. We expect to conduct interviews the week of 14 December 2020.
Please note that Ashden can only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK. We are unfortunately unable to sponsor working visa applications.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Privacy Policy
