SAMARITANS

Help us achieve our vision that fewer people die by suicide. We're looking for a Senior Impact and Evaluation Lead to drive the development and implementation of Samaritans' Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework for our Listening Services. This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen the organisation's ability to generate actionable insights, improve service delivery and inform our policy and influencing work. In this important role you'll ensure the organisation develops a robust and sustainable approach to understanding service delivery, user experience and impact of our Listening Services, including the helpline and online chat service. You'll develop, test and refine a MEL framework to generate evidence to support service design, organisational improvement and decision making. Stakeholder engagement and communication is key to this role. You'll be working with colleagues across the organisation to test and refine the framework. You'll support teams to introduce new measures and data collection approaches and to embed a culture of continuous learning. You'll also manage relationships with external suppliers where research is commissioned. This role is integral to helping Samaritans build a stronger evidence base for our Listening Services, ensuring that our work continues to evolve and deliver the greatest possible impact for those who need us most. Contract terms: £45,000 - £50,000 per annum, plus benefits 18-month fixed term contract 35 hours per week (full-time) We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences Hybrid, linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office We value meeting in person and working collaboratively. We work in person around 2 days or more per month 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays What you'll be doing: Lead the design and development of a monitoring, learning and evaluation framework Facilitate workshops and engagement to test and refine the framework Develop and monitor an implementation plan for the MEL framework Design innovative approaches to data collection Establish processes for reviewing data and evidence Commission and manage external research, evaluation, data collection or expertise Manage relationships with external suppliers and partners What you'll bring: Significant experience of designing and implementing organisational measurement frameworks Experience of evaluating complex services or programmes Experience of reviewing and improving data collection approaches Excellent qualitative and quantitative primary research and analytical skills Experience of using analytical software to generate actionable insights Demonstrable experience of translating research and evaluation findings into practical recommendations Great project management skills with experience in the delivery of transformational projects Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly Experience of co-designing research, evaluation or service improvement work with people with lived experience is desirable For full details, please see the Job Description and Person Specification Why Samaritans? At Samaritans, you'll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission. You'll be part of a collaborative and supportive team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives. We offer flexible hybrid working, great benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland. To find out more about Samaritans, please read our recruitment brochure. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the people we support and who support us. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels seen, heard and supported, at all levels of the organisation. Apply now If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we'd love for you to apply. You will be asked to answer some short application questions and to upload your CV. If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know. Tell us about a time when you designed a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework for a service or programme. What approach did you take, what methodological choices did you make, and what was the result? (max 300 words) Describe a time when you had to develop or improve data collection for a service or programme. How did you balance the need for robust and meaningful evidence with practical, ethical or operational considerations, including the burden on service users, staff and/or volunteers? (max 300 words) Please give an example of when you led a complex evaluation or MEL project involving multiple stakeholders, including people with lived experience. How did you involve different stakeholders meaningfully, navigate competing perspectives and ensure that the evidence generated informed service improvement or organisational decision-making? (max 300 words) Applications close: 09:00am on Monday 26th October 2026 Interviews: w/c 2nd November At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do. We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team. We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through. We recognise that some candidates may use assistive technology or tools to help with accessibility, structure or grammar.