Senior Consultant - Evaluation and Research

We are seeking an individual for a 12 month contract to cover parental leave for the role of:

• Senior Consultant, Research and Evaluation – Parental Leave cover, 12 month contract from September 2026 – August 2027

About Inside Policy

Inside Policy is a privately-owned social and economic policy advisory firm. Established in 2014 by founder, Natalie Walker, Inside Policy is a trusted partner to governments in delivering social research, consultation, policy reform and evaluation projects in the policy areas of family/domestic violence, child and family services, justice, social impact investment and Indigenous economic development.

Insiders (i.e. Inside Policy team members) are committed to making our nation a better place for Australia’s most vulnerable populations by providing evidence-informed and credible policy advice.

Inside Policy is a dynamic, purpose-driven organisation which does high-quality work for our clients in a fast-paced environment. To enable this, we support all Insiders through our annual growth process – Inside Up, by having flexible work arrangements, by supporting financially and experientially a range of learning experiences to help team members achieve their goals, and by ensuring team members are applying their areas of strengths while building new expertise.

The Senior Consultant will play a key role in delivering projects, working closely with the Project Director, the internal team, and clients, to achieve high-quality outcomes required within tight deadlines.

The Senior Consultant, Research and Evaluation will achieve this by:

• Working closely with Senior Managers and Directors to draft proposals, and assist with the drafting components of proposals.
• Leading research and strategic policy project work within agreed project plans, including the development of findings, strategic insights and writing reports.
• Leading the production of project-related activities such as surveys, literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative data analysis. 
• Designing and implementing decolonised research methodologies.
• Proactively identifying opportunities to improve project outcomes.
• Provide line management to junior staff, as required.
• Other tasks as directed by supervisor as required from time-to-time.

Skills and Experience

• Minimum of three years’ experience working in a similar role.
• Policy, program or service delivery experience in family violence, child and family services, youth justice, collective impact, place-based initiatives, and policies and programs that affect First Nations Australians.
• Strong qualitative research skills, ideally with mixed methods capability (qualitative and quantitative).
• Evaluation experience.
• Consulting experience would be highly desirable, particularly working across multiple projects in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong writing skills, particularly the ability to synthesise evidence into clear, client-ready reports and presentations.
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in a culturally safe and respectful way.
• A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to mentor junior staff and contribute positively to the wider team.
• Organised and able to meet deadlines.
• Self-starting, independent thinker.
• Ability to work autonomously and in a team.
• Ability to apply a variety of analytical frameworks, models and techniques to projects when required.
• Understanding of and ability to apply decolonised research methodologies.
• Demonstrated capability to maintain professionalism and integrity.
• Ability to quickly acquire new knowledge across a range of policy areas.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or higher.

Other information

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

Why work with us?

We know that it’s an attractive jobs market right now, but for a small company, we believe we are competitive with the best when it comes to the benefits and the employee experience. We offer:

• Flexible – work from home, from anywhere but note some travel will be required to Inside Policy’s Sydney office when requested. We currently have team members in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and regional NSW.
• Competitive salary.

And more! We are a small yet growing band of committed researchers who truly want to make a difference. We are learning as we grow about how to not only change the world one policy at a time but how to create a future-focused organisation that looks after each other and those with whom we work.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Click "Apply Now". Apply with your CV and cover letter explaining why you want to change the world. Our interview process will involve meeting the team in two rounds of interviews plus our Founder Natalie Walker. And of course, thorough reference checks.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

This is a 12-month contract to cover parental leave.

Interviews will be virtual.

For further information regarding our Privacy Policy please visit insidepolicy.com.au.