Head of Research, Policy and Legal

Prospectus is delighted to be leading the search for the Head of Research Policy and Legal. This role leads the development of evidence-based, equity-driven research, policy and legal interventions that advance a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK.

Our client supports efforts to create a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK. We urgently need to phase out oil and gas drilling to stay within safe climate limits. Yet, despite having renewable resources in abundance, the UK remains Europe's second largest oil and gas producer.

We can and must be ambitious about moving past oil and gas production, while empowering and supporting workers and communities who rely on the industry for their livelihoods. Working with everyone from policy-makers and Parliamentarians, to academics and campaigners, the organisation undertakes research, analysis and campaigning to support a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK.

This role leads the development of evidence-based, equity-driven research, policy and legal interventions that advance a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK. Core responsibilities will include:

Team management and staff development

• Leading the organisation's RPL team, fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture and line-managing senior staff.
• Supporting Principal advisers and researchers to lead their respective sub-teams Implementing project management, commissioning, and prioritisation processes for smooth organisational integration, and overseeing monitoring, evaluation, learning, and the team budget to support fundraising.

Strategy, thought leadership and advocacy

• Defining and overseeing the organisation's research, policy, and legal agenda.
• Translating the mission into evidence-based proposals, providing thought leadership to the climate sector.
• Strengthening messaging, brand, advocacy, and partnerships with high-quality insights and quality assurance, and building high-level relationships with external stakeholders and overseeing commissioned work.

Organisational leadership and management

• Contributing actively to organisational strategy and culture as a Senior Management Team (SMT) member.
• Monitoring risks, implementing mitigations, and ensuring smooth cross-team collaboration.

General responsibilities and duties

• Fulfilling duties professionally in accordance with operational policies and wider objectives.
• Contributing to the ongoing evaluation and improvement of activities.
• Maintaining positive stakeholder relations and work outside usual hours if required.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Catherine Bunting at Prospectus.