Jobs

We put our people at the heart of everything we do. Fuelled by the passion of the co-op values, principles and culture, we are thriving. Our 150 year legacy drives innovation and collaboration.

Current vacancies

• Local Policy Analyst 
• Operational Support Co-ordinator
• Research Officer

Read on for details of these roles and how to apply.

Local Policy Analyst

• Contract: Fixed Term, 2 years
• Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week
• Salary: £33,570 
• Location: Holyoake House, Manchester 

We are delighted to share this new and exciting opportunity for a Local Policy Analyst to join our dynamic organisation. 

As the voice of the UK’s co-operative movement, we empower and support co-operative enterprise with specialised knowledge and expertise, to grow the co-operative economy and create a fairer society. From football clubs and farms to convenience stores and pubs, there are more than 7,000 co-operatives in the UK, each owned and controlled by their members and based on a set of shared principles and values. By promoting shared wealth through member ownership, we are committed to enable anyone in the UK to form, or join, thriving and sustainable co-ops.

As a Local Policy Analyst, you will produce evidence-based policy analysis to support local co-operative growth, ensuring that local co-operatives and national stakeholders are actively involved in the policymaking process. You will assist local policymakers in transforming policy ambitions into impactful interventions, develop business cases, and design local programmes for co-operative development. You will be working within the Reclaiming Our Regional Economies (RORE) programme, which brings together communities and leaders to reform regional economies. Your role will involve collaborating with the RORE partnership and Co-operatives UK Policy Team to apply your expertise in developing effective policies and programmes.

As an organisation we are led by our unwavering values of solidarity, self-responsibility, equity, and honesty, therefore if you share these core values, we would be delighted to receive your application.

Core responsibilities

We invite all interested parties to learn more about the role and our organisation within the recruitment pack, which can be downloaded from the recruitment documents section. 

Produce evidence-based policy analysis of effective ways to support local co-operative growth, including:

• Produce analysis of how co-operative growth could align with and contribute to the achievement of local priorities and strategies across different partners
• Produce research and analysis on best practice and ‘what works’ in supporting local co-operative growth
• Horizon scan for best practice, emerging issues and policy/legislative changes which are relevant to co-operative development and growth

Ensure local co-operatives and national co-operative stakeholders are involved and empowered in the policymaking process, including:

• Facilitate co-productive policy design and development processes
• Engage stakeholders in the policymaking process

Support local policymakers in partner areas to turn policy ambition to support co-operative growth into impactful interventions and practice, including:

• Provide advice and guidance to local policy makers and practitioners on best practice approaches for developing interventions which support co-operative growth
• Support partners to identify creative ways to overcome blocks and barriers to translating policy which supports co-operative growth into practice

Help develop business cases and design local programmes and interventions for co-operative growth, including:

• Produce engaging and clear written resources including workshop materials, reports, presentations and guidance materials, as needed
• Conduct thematic or other analysis of data to inform the development of an evidence base

Essential criteria 

• Experience of working at a place-based level, such as within local government, local infrastructure or the community/VCSE sector
• Experience of evidence-based policy analysis, research and development, including analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and presenting insights
• Able to understand, communicate, review and synthesize information generated from quantitative research, data and evidence
• Knowledge of local economic development and diverse business forms such as co-operatives, social enterprise and third sector
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal to a wide range of audiences, including local government and project partners
• Strong relationship, partnership and client management skills.  Able to adapt style to influence and generate credibility across a diverse range of audiences and situations
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise work to meet deadlines, including management of projects
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure, trouble-shoot, and to meet short- and long-term deadlines 

How to apply

• Download the recruitment pack
• Download the job description
• Complete our application form – CVs cannot be accepted

Application deadline: Midnight, Sunday 29 September 2024
Interviews: Week commencing 7 October 2024, in Manchester

Operational Support Co-ordinator 

• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Part time, 3 days a week (21 hours)
• Salary: £33,570 (pro-rated to 21 hours - £20,142)
• Location: Holyoake House, Manchester 

We are delighted to share this new and exciting opportunity for an Operational Support Co-ordinator to join our dynamic organisation. 

As the voice of the UK’s co-operative movement, we empower and support co-operative enterprise with specialised knowledge and expertise, to grow the co-operative economy and create a fairer society. From football clubs and farms to convenience stores and pubs, there are more than 7,000 co-operatives in the UK, each owned and controlled by their members and based on a set of shared principles and values. By promoting shared wealth through member ownership, we are committed to enable anyone in the UK to form, or join, thriving and sustainable co-ops.

As Operational Support Co-ordinator you will play a crucial role in the Operational Support Unit, ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of Co-operatives UK’s various processes. This role involves working closely with various teams to promote cross-functional collaboration and supporting the delivery of our operational plan through digital coordination, project management and process improvement.

As an organisation we are led by our unwavering values of solidarity, self-responsibility, equity, and honesty, therefore if you share these core values, we would be delighted to receive your application.

Core responsibilities

We invite all interested parties to learn more about the role and our organisation within the recruitment pack, which can be downloaded from the recruitment documents section. 

• Lead on the end-to-end project management for cross-functional initiatives, ensuring clear communication and tracking timelines; Utilise digital co-ordination tools like Asana to manage resource planning, evaluate team capacity, and monitor progress
• Facilitate communication channels across departments to stay informed about progress and potential roadblocks of our operational plan
• Develop and manage a centralised reporting system that consolidates key metrics, performance indicators, and resourcing plans from across Co-operatives UK; Provide Leadership Team and managers with comprehensive data on organisational performance and trends for informed decision-making
• Collaborate with the Research Officer and Digital Team to identify and implement technological solutions that enhance efficiencies for Co-operatives UK and its members in line with the tech and digital strategy
• Identify, develop and implement process improvement initiatives that span multiple departments, with the goal of streamlining operations and promoting cross-functional collaboration
• Assist in the business development programmes, supporting the trial of new products
• Participate in the AI squad, contributing to technology and efficiency initiatives
• Co-ordinate and chair monthly operational meetings; record accurate minutes of meetings and ensure all matters arising and actions are dealt with by the appropriate person within agreed timescales; Provide administrative support at other relevant meetings as appropriate
• Establish and manage feedback mechanisms, such as surveys or suggestion boxes, for managers to provide input on processes, policies, and initiatives, encouraging innovation and fostering a culture of continuous improvement 
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project documentation for easier access and retrieval
• Work with the business solutions team to optimise operational efficiency and address any support needs 

Essential skills:

• Experience in process improvement, operational support or project management 
• A positive and proactive attitude with the ability to identify operational challenges and issues, take initiative to develop and implement effective solutions 
• Strong interest in technology and methods for efficiency improvement 
• Demonstrate an agile approach to project management and adapt to changing priorities 
• Attention to detail, good organisational and administrative skills 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams 
• Highly developed IT skills with the ability to use a variety of computer systems, and proficient in Microsoft Office applications

How to apply

• Download the recruitment pack
• Download the job description
• Complete our application form – CVs cannot be accepted

Application deadline: Midnight, Sunday 22 September 2024
Interviews: Week commencing 30 September 2024, in Manchester

Research Officer

Contract: Permanent 
Hours: Part time, 3 days a week (21 hours)
Salary: £33,570 (pro-rated to 21 hours - £20,142)
Location: Holyoake House, Manchester 

We are delighted to share this new and exciting opportunity for a Research Officer to join our dynamic organisation. 

As the voice of the UK’s co-operative movement, we empower and support co-operative enterprise with specialised knowledge and expertise, to grow the co-operative economy and create a fairer society. From football clubs and farms to convenience stores and pubs, there are more than 7,000 co-operatives in the UK, each owned and controlled by their members and based on a set of shared principles and values. By promoting shared wealth through member ownership, we are committed to enable anyone in the UK to form, or join, thriving and sustainable co-ops.

As Research Officer you will support the development and implementation of Co-operatives UK's strategies through research, surveys, and feedback. In conjunction with the Leadership Team, you will set the strategic research priorities for Co-operatives UK. 

As an organisation we are led by our unwavering values of solidarity, self-responsibility, equity, and honesty, therefore if you share these core values, we would be delighted to receive your application.

Core responsibilities

We invite all interested parties to learn more about the role and our organisation within the recruitment pack, which can be downloaded from the recruitment documents section. 

• Align research efforts with Co-operatives UK’s goals and priorities to support policy and strategy formulation
• Plan and conduct market research to understand public perceptions of co-operatives; Undertake survey and questionnaire-based research with co-operatives to identify trends, opportunities and challenges within the co-operative sector
• Maintain awareness of ongoing initiatives across Co-operatives UK and actively collaborate with other departments to identify emerging research needs
• Conduct analysis of members’ purchasing behaviour, assess the business impact of various membership types to enhance member engagement and evaluate the effectiveness of Co-operatives UK's programs and initiatives
• Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to gather and utilise data effectively, ensuring maximising the use of existing data
• Manage research projects, including the design, execution, and analysis of surveys and feedback mechanisms
• Work with partners and other research and academic organisations to commission research projects 
• Maintain data sources, analyse business data to identify key trends, and translate research findings to provide evidence-based recommendations
• Prepare reports and insights that demonstrate the value and impact of co-operatives, including their social, economic, and local impacts
• Develop comprehensive reporting mechanisms to communicate business analysis insights effectively to the Leadership Team
• Stay updated on relevant research trends and methodologies to continually enhance the research function 

Essential skills:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Experience of commissioning, designing and delivering quantitative and qualitative research projects 
• Project management skills including experience in managing data analysis projects 
• Ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and communicate them effectively to various stakeholders
• A proactive approach to identifying and addressing research needs
• Strong organisational and analytical skills with proficiency in database management and manipulation
• Good understanding of research processes and methodologies, data analysis techniques, and data protection regulations
• Proficiency in using data analysis tools and statistical software
• Ability to work with attention to detail, accuracy, and within specified deadlines 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to interact with diverse stakeholders, and convey information clearly and effectively

How to apply

• Download the recruitment pack
• Download the job description
• Complete our application form – CVs cannot be accepted

Application deadline: Midnight, Sunday 22 September 2024
Interviews: Week commencing 30 September 2024, in Manchester

Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to be the first to hear about future opportunities.