Evidence & Knowledge Manager

Zero Waste Scotland; Stirling; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Zero Waste Scotland as an Evidence and Knowledge Manager to lead a dynamic team focused on economic evidence creation. This pivotal role involves supporting impactful decision-making through research and collaboration with various stakeholders. You will champion excellence in evidence management while fostering a collaborative team culture dedicated to sustainability and circular economy principles.

Benefits

Contributory pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Generous holidays

Flexible working opportunities

Continuing professional development

Volunteering opportunities

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Economics.
• Demonstrable experience of excellent interdisciplinary staff and team management.
• Evidence of strong programme management including project and budget management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage an interdisciplinary team to deliver high-quality evidence-based insights.
• Oversee the development and delivery of evidence and knowledge projects aligned with strategic objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation aligned with evidence-based transformation.

Skills

Team Management

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Communication Skills

Programme Management

Trust Building

Analytical Skills

Education

Degree in Economics

Job description

Location We’re a digital first employer, located in Stirling, happy to be flexible if you’re based in the UK Application Deadline Wednesday, July 9, 2025 Vacancy Type Full Time Permanent Job Profile Job Profile document

Salary £57,873 - £64,301 Job Summary

The Evidence and Knowledge Manager will manage and lead an interdisciplinary team of analysts and economists to empower audiences with actionable knowledge for impactful decisions through evidence-based insights. The Manager will have a technical background in economics evidence creation that supports Zero Waste Scotland and its aim to rewire Scotland’s economic system to drive a reduction of our consumption of natural resources through increased circularity and zero waste. The Manager will be responsible for creating an inspiring team environment with an open communication culture and for setting and regularly reviewing team and individual objectives and deliverables.

The Manager will support the Head of Research and Evaluation to develop Zero Waste Scotland’s programme of evidence and knowledge built on research, monitoring, evaluation, and innovation insights, seeking to maximise circular economy impact through strong alignment with policy and through partnership opportunities across the public and private sector landscape in Scotland. The Manager will lead the team to deliver the evidence and knowledge programme, shaping team priorities to ensure that all work is planned, proportionate, and delivered on time to the agreed budget and quality.

As a member of the Research and Evaluation Management team, the Manager will collaborate with Executive Leadership Team, Heads of Department and other Managers in embedding organisation and team vision and purpose, will contribute to decision making and engagement, and lead and champion operational excellence transformation projects.

The Manager will role model Zero Waste Scotland’s core values, building and leading a high performing and motivated team, supporting and coaching team members, and encouraging collaborative working across Zero Waste Scotland.

It is anticipated that interviews for this role will be mid July 2025.

We want you if;

• Degree qualified in Economics

• Demonstrable experience of excellent interdisciplinary staff and team management, motivation and development.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Proven track record of delivery against strategy and plans

• Evidence of strong and commercially aware programme management, including setting budgets, resource and financial management and reporting.

• Demonstrable success in building trust and forging effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve results.

• Knowledge, understanding, and experience across a range of evidence and knowledge related areas, which must include economics and could also include statistics, research, information analysis and/or research techniques.

• Knowledge of evidence excellence standards, ethics and other relevant policies necessary for delivery of high-quality evidence and knowledge creation

• Experience of complex economic research including analysing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data and developing and implementing workable solutions and actionable insights

• Strong organisational and planning skills

• Demonstrable ability to develop convincing arguments to successfully secure research funding.

• Track record of leading evidence gathering proposals.

What you'll be doing;

• Lead, motivate, coach and develop your team to achieve quality outputs timeously and on budget in keeping with NDPB Best Value requirements

• Build a supportive team environment, ensuring that all team members have clear goals aligned to organisational and team objectives, and encouraging collaboration, trust and respect between team members, across Zero Waste Scotland, and with external partners.

• Drive continuous improvement and innovation within your team and across the organisation, ensuring alignment with evidence and knowledge transformation, and upholding and assuring relevant excellence standards.

• Oversee your team in developing, managing, and delivering a portfolio of evidence and knowledge projects, including creating and commissioning impactful evidence partnerships that support organisational outcomes.

• Deliver strategic advice and guidance on interpreting evidence findings to Zero Waste Scotland leadership, delivery teams, funders, partners, and external stakeholders.

• Identify funding opportunities, engage with senior leaders across the public, private, and third sectors, and build external partnerships to leverage evidence and insights, driving Zero Waste Scotland's strategic outcomes and assist the Head of Research and Evaluation

• Champion excellence, effectiveness and efficiency in the embedding of transformation projects across Zero Waste Scotland’s evidence and knowledge activities.

About Zero Waste Scotland

Zero Waste Scotland is Scotland's circular economy public body. Since 2014, our work has helped more people understand that the answer to the climate emergency is to consume less. Through an expansive range of projects and programmes, our innovative work has shown that embedding circular practices is as possible as it is essential. Through sharing this knowledge, nurturing relationships, and fostering bold collaboration, we’re in a truly unique position to influence this vital change.

Here at Zero Waste Scotland, we value our people and are committed to nurturing and supporting them to learn, grow and develop so we can focus our efforts and be a collective force of unique colleagues creating positive change. As an accredited Investors in Diversity organisation, we are committed to embedding FREDIE principles (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) across all that we do at Zero Waste Scotland.

Why work for us

Here at Zero Waste Scotland we value our people. Colleagues are supported and encouraged to grow and develop so we can all focus our efforts and be a collective force for positive change. We want to offer the best experience to all our colleagues, ensuring everyone is supported and empowered to be their best self at work and thrive.

We champion our diverse and inclusive culture, fostering a positive working environment where we all feel safe to be our true professional selves; where we are treated fairly; where there is space to ask questions, to respectfully challenge one another and to share our thoughts and ideas.

To find out more, clickhere to visit our ‘Why work for us’ page.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates and encourage you to talk to us about your preferred hours of work. We'll do our best to accommodate.

We offer competitive pay and benefits to support you and your family, including a contributory pension scheme,life assurance, wellbeing support, flexible working, generous holidays, enhanced family leave entitlements, continuing professional development (CPD) and volunteering opportunities.

For us, work isn’t a place we go, but a thing we do so we fully embrace flexibility and encourage you to choose home working where the role allows. There'll be times when you're required to attend our Stirling office or a client location (normally within the Central Belt of Scotland) therefore applicants should live within a comfortable distance to commute easily to Stirling. The office is located next to the railway station and is conveniently accessed from across central Scotland.

No agencies thank you.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS23:45 ON THE CLOSING DATE SHOWN.