High Trees Community Development Trust
Head of Community Research & Impact
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
High Trees Community Development Trust
High Trees Community Development Trust is seeking an ambitious Head of Community Research & Impact to join our senior management team and lead one of our core service areas.
Community-led research sits at the heart of how High Trees works
Our approach aims to rebalance the role and power that communities have in deciding how research is informed, delivered and used to improve lives for Lambeth residents. Over recent years we have built a strong foundation for this work and developed two flagship community research partnerships — the Lambeth Peer Action Collective and the Lambeth Community Research Network. We are now looking for someone to significantly expand this work: building local evidence of community need, working with communities to identify solutions and appropriate responses to local challenges, and advocating for change to policy and practice where needed.
This is a broad and varied leadership role
Alongside our direct research programmes, you will lead the development of infrastructure around community-led research in Lambeth, so that voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations can access the training, resources and networks they need to design and deliver their own research. You will also lead our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Communications functions, ensuring the impact of everything we do is understood, evidenced and communicated well.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
As part of High Trees’ senior management team, the Head of Community Research & Impact will not only oversee delivery in their service area, but also help shape organisational strategy, grow partnerships and income, and ensure we work as one High Trees — keeping our practice responsive, collaborative and always led by community need.
About High Trees
Based in Tulse Hill, High Trees has been rooted in the local community for nearly 30 years. We deliver community action, employment, education, youth services and community research, working in partnership with local people and local organisations to build stronger communities and create meaningful change. We are recognised for our collaborative, long-term approach and our ability to adapt and respond to the issues that matter most to local people.
About the role
As Head of Community Research & Impact, you will:
- Lead and inspire our Research & Impact team to deliver high-quality, community-led research that drives change.
- Shape and deliver High Trees’ strategic vision for community-led research, championing collaborative research practice across Lambeth.
- Take the lead on designing new research programmes, support with sourcing the funding to run them, and ensuring projects are completed to a high standard with high-quality outputs.
- Grow the infrastructure for community-led research locally, including through the Lambeth Community Research Network and the Lambeth Peer Action Collective.
- Support VCS organisations with community research training, resources and capacity building support.
- Lead and embed Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Communications across High Trees and our partnership work.
- Contribute as a member of High Trees’ senior management team, ensuring a joined-up approach across all our services.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
About you
We are looking for someone who brings:
- Significant professional experience in research and/or community settings, with a track record of leading research projects.
- Experience of qualitative and mixed methods research and a working knowledge of participatory research approaches.
- A proven track record of leading teams and managing multiple projects and programmes at once.
- The ability to build trust and long-lasting relationships across community, academic, public sector and voluntary sector organisations.
- A strategic mindset, balancing day-to-day delivery with long-term vision.
- A solid understanding of the context in which High Trees delivers its work
Why join us?
This is a rare opportunity to take a senior leadership role in a values-led organisation at a time of growth and ambition. You will help set the standard for community-led research and system change, creating tools, resources and practices that benefit the wider sector — and be part of a collaborative team dedicated to creating lasting change.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location