Head of Policy (7 month sabbatical cover, secondment considered)

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Head of Policy (7 month sabbatical cover, secondment considered)
7 month sabbatical cover, full-time
Central London, hybrid (a minimum of one day per week in the office)

The Role

EEF is recruiting a Head of Policy to lead the organisation’s work to promote evidence-informed education policy. The role will also manage the organisation’s relationship with the Department for Education. The role is of pivotal importance to EEF and involves working closely with policy makers to ensure that national education policy across the early years, schools and post-16 sectors is underpinned by robust evidence. This critical activity is a core pillar of EEF’s impact strategy to ensure the education profession has access to the resources, training and support they need to challenge the socio-economic gap for educational attainment.

The role is a 7-month fixed term sabbatical cover. As an alternative to a fixed term contract, we also welcome applications on secondment and would consider part time, flexible and remote working patterns. Candidates must be able to start by summer 2025.

Your main responsibilities include:
Lead EEF’s policy development work supporting national policy actors to adopt evidence-informed approaches to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students
• Proactively create opportunities to influence emerging policy and policy delivery to achieve EEF’s strategic aims, including by engaging with the Department for Education and other stakeholders to identify opportunities for policy influence
• Lead policy development within EEF, working with teams across the organisation to identify policy positions in priority policy areas based on robust research evidence across Early Years, Schools and 16-19 activity
• Effectively communicate EEF’s policy positions to a range of audiences through mechanisms including policy papers, blogs and reports, and presentations
• Acting as an ambassador for the EEF, representing the EEF at external functions, events and with senior stakeholders

Lead EEF’s work to ensure that national professional development reforms for teachers are grounded in high-quality evidence
• Manage the team responsible for EEF’s policy engagement on professional development policy, with a particular focus on supporting ITTECF and NPQ policy
• Oversee EEF’s work quality assuring updates to NPQ frameworks and supporting policy development, working with teams across the organisation to ensure any changes to frameworks align with EEF’s evidence standards
• Inform the design and delivery of national policy around training and support for teachers and leaders, drawing on research evidence on the content and design of professional development

Lead EEF’s strategic relationship with the Department for Education
• Act as a representative and ambassador of the EEF in key meetings with DfE policy officials and oversee and prioritise EEF support for DfE policy activity
• Lead and co-ordinate requests for EEF input or advice from DfE, taking account of EEF’s priorities and potential opportunities for impact towards EEF’s mission
• Lead the EEF’s day-to-day relationship with the Department for Education, including EEF’s monthly Keeping in Touch meetings with the DfE, EEF’s annual review and other standing meetings with senior officials and ministers

Ensure that EEF’s research and mobilisation activity reflects policy priorities
• Keep abreast of change to policy and research developments in media, politics, regulation and legislation
• Maintain strong relationships with key policy stakeholders to ensure EEF remains up to date with relevant policy developments
• Lead policy team activity to ensure that EEF staff are up to date on policy changes relevant to their work
• Work with colleagues across the organisation to ensure that EEF’s wider activities, including EEF’s research and impact activity, reflect policy priorities
• Support the executive team and CEO with briefings for public engagements and stakeholder meetings

The role is a leadership position within EEF, and as such you will also be expected to play an active role in contributing to the culture and strategy of the organisation.

About you

You must be able to demonstrate:
• Deep, up-to-date knowledge of the education policy landscape;
• A demonstrated commitment to the aims and mission of the EEF;
• A minimum of three years’ experience working in a senior education policy or research related role;
• Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills and an ability to articulate complex ideas in a way that is readily understandable both to specialists and non-specialists;
• A curiosity to engage deeply with research evidence and an understanding of how to interrogate research;
• A track record of delivery on collaborative projects requiring multi-disciplinary teams to deliver against tight timelines;
• Ability to lead, motivate and manage the performance and development of a high-performing team, encouraging and developing others;
• The ability and credibility to act as an effective ambassador for the EEF at the highest level and to inspire the confidence, enthusiasm and support of colleagues and decision makers;
• The capacity to prioritise and work across multiple projects, delivering a high volume of quality work to meet deadlines.
• A pro-active, strategic and entrepreneurial approach, with an ability to balance a commitment to rigour with accessibility and impact
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail;
• Proficiency in all standard office IT programs (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams);
• Strong advocacy for equity, diversity and inclusion, ensuring these principles are upheld in all aspects of their work.

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please submit your application via our online recruitment portal.

Key Dates
Applications open: 23rd May 2025
Applications close: 8th June 2025 (23:59 GMT or BST)
First stage interviews: w/c 16th June 2025
Second stage interviews: w/c 23rd June 2025

The EEF is committed to create a workforce that is diverse, promotes inclusion and supports everyone to progress and achieve, regardless of background characteristics.