Build and coordinate a network of community-based organisations and coalitions of individuals committed to accelerating an end to homelessness with evidence. Ensure that the lived experiences of people who have been impacted by homelessness are shared more widely and are embedded in all of the Centre for Homelessness Impact’s work, from strategy to evaluation.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and are committed to celebrating and supporting diversity. We know we will thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and services, and our community. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and particularly welcome applications from people with experiences of homelessness.

IN A NUTSHELL

As a community organiser you will set up, support and coordinate groups of individuals and organisations who share our vision of ending homelessness with new ways of working, including better use of evidence and data to accelerate an end to homelessness. You will make sure people who have experienced homelessness have new and exciting opportunities to share their insights and are central to all of our work. You will work with our team and partners and use your network to ensure a range of voices are represented in what we do.

WHY IS THIS ROLE IMPORTANT FOR THE CENTRE’S WORK?

We want to create a national movement to use research evidence and data to end homelessness. This means mobilising individuals and voluntary groups to work alongside or independently of homelessness services delivered through local authorities. The Centre for Homelessness Impact is the UK’s What Works Centre for Homelessness. We want evidence to become the new normal in the homelessness sector, just as it is in education and public health. Lived experiences form a core piece of evidence that is crucial to shape the overall picture, so having people who can develop networks to ensure we can reach individuals with a range of experiences is crucial to helping us in our mission.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN:

• Take the initiative to set up alliances of individuals and community groups in local areas or national networks to explore new ways to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
• Coordinate the work and growth of these local or interest-based coalitions of people and organisations committed to ending homelessness, using the insights and resources developed by the Centre
• Use your network and initiative to work with people affected by homelessness to capture their stories and insights for digital audiences and build a strong network of advocates and experts by experience
• Support staff who plan our events, including helping to identify people with lived experiences who would be willing to speak at the Centre’s scheduled events throughout the year
• Inform our practices and contribute to the evaluation on our activities
• Contribute to the Centre’s network of local authorities and other partner organisations working in homelessness

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND BEHAVIOURS

You will:

• Have personal experience of homelessness
• Bring together individuals and organisations in education, faith groups, primary care, businesses and people working in homelessness services, or with previous experience of these, to adopt a shared approach to ending homelessness
• Have access to networks of people who will help to inform our work
• Have project management and people skills to coordinate networks of grassroots coalitions and share the work that they do with others
• Be comfortable and creative working in a digital environment
• Be creative and self-motivated and open to new ways of working and comfortable with a culture of experimentation
• Be willing to learn and contribute to different parts of the Centre’s work across all teams

Nice to Have:

• Good writing and communication skills
• Some experience of, or interest in, speaking at or taking part in events
• Ability to work in Google Workplace online tools

You will be able to demonstrate the following

• The capacity to build and nurture good relationships with diverse stakeholders and deliver tangible results.
• Encouraging and supporting a range of different organisations at different stages of development
• Willingness to try new things in a considered and structured way and learning from experiences to improve processes.
• A commitment to both the aims and values of the Centre and ensuring that the voices of people with experiences of homelessness inform all elements of our work.

Lead the Centre’s engagement in Scotland and support its public affairs work across the United Kingdom.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and are committed to celebrating and supporting diversity. We know we will thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and services, and our community. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and particularly welcome applications from people with experiences of homelessness.

IN A NUTSHELL:

We’re looking for a talented, creative and experienced Public Affairs Lead, to maintain and develop strong relationships with the Scottish Government, politicians and decision-makers in Scotland, and support theCentre’s wider public engagement work.

WHY IS THIS ROLE IMPORTANT FOR THE CENTRE’S WORK?

The Centre for Homelessness Impact is the UK’s What Works Centre for Homelessness. We want evidence to become the new normal in the homelessness sector, just as it is in public health and education and. After the successful launch of our book, Using Evidence to End Homelessness, we are on the precipice of a new and decisive movement to end homelessness with evidence. We need an experienced public affairs professional to work with the team to engage key audiences in Scotland.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN:

● Bring a deep understanding of politics and public affairs in Scotland

● Develop relationships across the United Kingdom including in Wales and Northern Ireland

● Understand policies that impact on homelessness in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK and

engage with decision-makers who influence these

● Write briefing papers summarising research evidence into clear, concise prose

● Generate political support and engagement with our End It With Evidence campaign to use

evidence and data to end homelessness for good

THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS LEAD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

● Developing and delivering effective public affairs and engagement strategies for the Scottish

Government, elected representatives and local authorities in Scotland

● Supporting our public affairs work across the United Kingdom including in Wales and Northern

Ireland to advance our mission

● Working closely with our research and practice teams to get insights to inform our public affairs

work

● Ensuring that the Centre is fully informed of and engaged with policy developments in Scotland

and elsewhere in the UK that impact on homelessness

● Coordinating our End It With Evidence campaign, working with our Ambassadors to build support

for using evidence to end homelessness and identifying and building relationships with new

supporters

● Identifying grassroots organisations in Scotland and elsewhere that are committed to working with

the Centre and others to bring an end homelessness

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND BEHAVIOURS

You will:

● Have a proven track record of public affairs engagement in Scotland

● Be willing to support our engagement work across the United Kingdom

● Have excellent in-person and written presentation skills to engage with a variety of audiences

● Be able to manage competing priorities and be comfortable working within a self-directed culture

and navigating ambiguity

● Be committed to the aims of the Centre and understand the importance of an evidence-led culture

and the requirements of representing a charity

Nice to Have:

● In-depth knowledge of homelessness and related policy areas

● Knowledge or insights into politics or public affairs in Wales, Northern Ireland or Westminster

● Relationships with organisations we work with to support our public affairs strategy

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

Permanent. Full or part time. Location: Edinburgh or Glasgow preferred. Some travel required including to

London, Cardiff and Belfast.

Start date: Immediately.