Research, Evaluation and Impact (REI) Director

About The Role

Job Description
Job Title: Research, Evaluation \& Impact (REI) Director
Department: Etio – National Centre for Arts Education
Hours: 0\.5 FTE \- 18\.75 hours per week (Flexible)
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: UK, England \- Remote (Must have the right to work in the UK without restrictions)
Salary: £65,000 – 75,000 GBP pa
Travel Requirements: 40% travel within the UK may be requested

Overview of the Role
The Research, Evaluation \& Impact (REI) Director is a senior leadership role within the National Centre for Arts Education (NCfAE), a flagship Etio programme delivered on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE).
The NCfAE works collaboratively with national, regional, and local partners across England to strengthen arts education, support sector development, and improve access to high\-quality creative and cultural learning opportunities for children and young people. Through leadership, evidence, partnership working, and sector engagement, the NCfAE seeks to drive excellence, equity, and innovation across arts education.
The Research, Evaluation \& Impact Director plays a pivotal role in providing strategic leadership and nationally recognised expertise in research, evaluation, evidence generation, and impact measurement. This role ensures that robust evidence informs programme development, strategic decision\-making, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement across the NCfAE.
You will lead the design and implementation of a coherent research, evaluation, and impact strategy across the NCfAE, overseeing evaluation activities, managing specialist research and evaluation teams, and working closely with internal and external stakeholders to deliver credible, high\-quality evidence and insights that demonstrate programme effectiveness and inform future development.
This is perfect for someone who is passionate to help us fulfil our mission to "Elevate Education, Everywhere."

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Research, Evaluation \& Impact strategy for the NCfAE, ensuring robust methodologies underpin all evaluation, research, and impact activities.


• Maintain a detailed understanding of NCfAE programmes, initiatives, partnerships, and strategic objectives, ensuring research and evaluation approaches align with programme priorities.


• Liaise effectively with the Department for Education, providing credible evidence, impact reporting, and strategic insight to inform programme development and future direction.


• Lead the development and refinement of monitoring, evaluation, and impact frameworks that measure progress against strategic goals and funding requirements.


• Oversee the design and implementation of data collection methodologies, reporting systems, and impact measurement processes in collaboration with programme and technology teams.


• Communicate research findings, evaluation methodologies, and impact evidence clearly and effectively to diverse stakeholders across the education, arts, and cultural sectors.


• Lead and support a team of research, evaluation, and analytical professionals, fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous professional development.


• Produce high\-quality research reports, evaluation outputs, impact assessments, and strategic recommendations for internal and external audiences.


• Support NCfAE partners and stakeholders in developing evidence\-informed approaches to self\-evaluation, impact assessment, and continuous improvement.


• Commission and manage external research and evaluation activities, ensuring effective collaboration between external evaluators, programme teams, funders, and stakeholders.


• Provide strategic leadership on evidence generation, learning, and knowledge\-sharing activities across the NCfAE.


• Ensure regular communication of research findings, programme impact, and emerging insights across the NCfAE and wider arts education sector.


• Please note: You may be asked to undertake other reasonable duties in line with business needs.

Expected Behaviours and Working Style

• Make every day count – Delivers with focus and purpose, using evidence and insight to maximise programme impact and ensure high\-quality outcomes for children and young people.


• Lead the way – Provides strategic leadership through expertise, credibility, and influence, setting direction for research, evaluation, and impact activity across the arts education sector.


• Deliver with empathy – Builds trusted relationships with stakeholders, valuing diverse perspectives and ensuring that evidence and learning support meaningful improvement across the system.

Role Deliverables

• Produce timely, robust, and credible research and evaluation outputs that inform strategic decisions and demonstrate programme impact.


• Lead and coordinate internal and external evaluation activities, ensuring methodological rigour, stakeholder engagement, and high\-quality delivery.


• Build research and evaluation capability across NCfAE teams and partner organisations through guidance, support, and professional development.


• Ensure continuous improvement of evaluation frameworks, data quality, impact measurement processes, and evidence communication.


• Provide strategic insight and thought leadership that supports the advancement of arts education policy, practice, and programme effectiveness.

Skills, Experience, and Qualifications
Essential

• Degree\-level qualification in Education, Social Research, Arts Education, Cultural Studies, Public Policy, Psychology, Statistics, Data Science, or a related discipline.


• Significant experience leading research, evaluation, impact, or evidence functions within education, arts, cultural, public sector, charity, or government\-funded programmes.


• Strong understanding of effective professional development, organisational learning, and evidence\-informed practice.


• Proven ability to design and lead large\-scale evaluation and impact frameworks that influence programme development and policy.


• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.


• Experience in strategic planning, programme development, organisational improvement, and managing change.


• Strong understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and impact measurement approaches.


• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver high\-quality outputs to tight deadlines.


• Confidence in using data analysis tools, reporting systems, and digital collaboration platforms.


• Experience commissioning and managing external evaluators, researchers, or specialist consultancy partners.


• Willingness and ability to travel across England as required.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification (Master's, Doctorate, or equivalent) in Education, Research Methods, Social Sciences, Arts Education, Public Policy, or a related field.


• Management or leadership qualification.


• Membership of relevant professional research, evaluation, education, or arts sector organisations.


• Recent practitioner experience within arts education, cultural learning, or the wider education sector.


• Strong knowledge of the education policy landscape and developments affecting arts and cultural education.


• Experience working on Department for Education\-funded programmes or other large\-scale national initiatives.


• Advanced understanding of evaluation methodologies, impact assessment frameworks, and educational research practice.


• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex stakeholder environments.


• Experience contributing to published research, national reports, or sector\-wide evidence reviews.

What We Offer
At Etio, we believe our people are fundamental to our success.
In return, we offer:

• 25 days \+ BH annual leave (with the option buy more leave)


• Flexible Working culture


• Health and Wellbeing perks (Healthcare Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance, Employee Assistance Programme, Life Assurance)


• 3% employer, 5% employee contribution pension


• Enhanced family friendly policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, or shared parental leave)


• Work from anywhere globally (up to 8weeks)


• Paid volunteer day


• Electric Car Scheme and Cycle to work scheme

Our Values
Make Every day Count: We focus on delivering meaningful outcomes, taking ownership and making a positive impact.
Lead the Way: We share expertise, embrace continuous learning and help each other succeed.
Deliver with Empathy: We collaborate openly, communicate clearly and place people at the heart of everything we do.
Diversity and Inclusion
Etio is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and actively encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
Interested?
If you're looking for a role where you can develop your digital skills, support colleagues and contribute to improving education around the world, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and help us 'Elevate Education, Everywhere'.
Note to all applicants \- Etio reserves the right to close an advertisement to applications ahead of the advertised closure date. For this reason, shortlisting may take place prior to the closing date on some occasions. Therefore, please do not hesitate to apply early.

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