Head of Research and Policy, Youth Affairs Division

Reference: 131200500
Location: London, UK
Closing Date: 24 Jan 2014

Job Summary

The Head of Research & Policy, as a member of the leadership team of the YAD, will contribute substantively to the development of the YAD strategic direction, especially as it pertains to research and policy. He/she will have responsibility for driving the thought leadership aspect of the YAD work; design, implementation and management of pan-Commonwealth youth research and policy development; YAD strategic partnerships; and knowledge management of Commonwealth good practice in diverse areas of youth development work.

The Head of Research & Policy will supervise of a team of three staff, as well as external consultants and academics engaged on occasion to deliver key aspects of the research and communications work. He/she will also liaise and collaborate with the Head of Programmes, four YAD Regional Focal Points, the YAD Operations Officer, and key staff from other Commonwealth Secretariat divisions including the Strategic Partnerships cell, the Communications & Public Affairs Division, and the Strategic Planning and Evaluation Division.

Research and policy work includes:

Connecting and convening experts and key stakeholders to collaborate and share knowledge on youth development;
Advocacy, facilitation and support of Member Governments (and others) to build strong youth-centred policies, programmes and environments;
Building the capacity and profile of Youth Ministries, Youth Workers & Youth Leaders, and supporting networks and platforms for their engagement;
Developing and demonstrating innovative youth development products and thinking, including through commissioning and managing cutting edge research.
Providing support and oversight for monitoring and evaluation of programmes.

The Head of Youth Research & Policy is also required to oversee the administrative aspects of the Youth Research & Policy Section, including budgets and finance.

Qualifications and Experience required

A post-graduate degree in a relevant discipline, such as social sciences, youth development, international development, or the humanities.
Professional qualifications in a field such as youth work, community or international development, or social or public administration.
10+ years’ experience of working in a government or non-government organisation in a senior programme and/or research capacity, including management of research projects, and fiscal management.
10+ years’ experience of stakeholder engagement; experience partnering with Governments and international NGOs highly desirable.
5+ years’ experience in a field related to research or policy development.
Significant report and proposal writing experience.
Experience of working in developing countries highly desirable.
High personal standards of excellence
Strong knowledge of and interest in international affairs, and international and/or youth development theory and practice
Strong:
Numerically literate
Technologically savvy
Ability to work autonomously and in teams
Can-do attitude

About the Youth Affairs Division

Young people constitute more than 60 per cent of the population of the Commonwealth. The wellbeing and development of this 1.2 billion youth cohort are essential to the success of the Commonwealth and its 53 member states. The Youth Affairs Division (YAD) of the Commonwealth Secretariat, established in 1973 and known internationally as the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), works with Commonwealth member governments, youth leaders and youth professionals on the development and implementation of policy and programmes for the empowerment of young people aged 15–29.

The Youth Affairs Division operates from a pan-Commonwealth international office at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London, aiming to support member governments, youth leaders and youth professionals to create the optimum enabling environment for young people to participate as equal partners in development and democracy. As well as stand-alone initiatives, YAD partners with other Commonwealth Secretariat divisions to integrate a youth perspective across all key facets of the Commonwealth (economic, political, human rights etc). YAD also facilitates and supports representative youth leaders to build networks and have a voice in the Commonwealth.