In partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the New Horizons: Driving Social Change for People and Places to Prosper Fund focuses on major challenges facing our local communities, advancing knowledge, and strengthening partnerships with people and places we are connected to. We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Manager to establish and manage the Fund.

Role

Based within the internationally recognised Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU) in the School for Business and Society (SBS) and delivered in partnership with The York Policy Engine (TYPE). The Fund aims to support innovative, participatory projects that address major challenges facing local communities and strengthen connections between research, policy, and practice.

As Project Manager, you will play a pivotal leadership role in shaping and delivering the Fund's strategic vision. You will lead the development, coordination and delivery of impactful, community-focused research, foster collaboration between communities, policymakers and stakeholders and support evidence-informed policy development.

You will also contribute to the wider strategic priorities of SPRU and the University's Cost of Living Research Group, enhancing policy engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.

This is a collaborative role between the Social Policy Research Unit and The York Policy Engine - the Policy Engine is the University's specialist policy engagement unit, connecting research with policy to enable evidence to inform real-world decision-making. The post is formally hosted by TYPE within the Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange Directorate (RIKE), providing access to a wide network of professional services expertise, while working closely with leading academic colleagues in SPRU. This joint role offers a unique opportunity to operate at the intersection of research, policy and impact. You will be line managed by the Head of TYPE, Anthonia James, with a dotted reporting line to the Head of SPRU, Dr Aniela Wenham.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

Some of the essential requirements for the role are listed below, please see the job description for the full list of essential criteria.

• Substantial project management experience with an understanding of developing and implementing systems and processes within a complex research programme/project
• Experience of organising events (online, hybrid and in person), including meetings, workshops, conferences and webinars
• A track record of managing budgets, ideally involving the distribution of funding to multiple sub-projects
• Experience of working with stakeholders from different institutions
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills that support engagement with staff, external stakeholders, and funding bodies
• Strong and highly-effective problem solving skills
• Highly organised and efficient, with the ability to work well under pressure

Interview date: To be confirmed

For informal enquiries: please contact type@york.ac.uk