—
Consultant / Senior Consultant
in Evaluation
Information for applicants
January 2015
OPM
CONSULTANT / SENIOR CONSULTANT IN EVALUATION
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OPM
252b Gray’s Inn Road
London
WC1X 8XG
CLASSIFICATION: OPEN
0845 055 3900
www.opm.co.uk
info@opm.co.uk
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OPM
CONSULTANT / SENIOR CONSULTANT IN EVALUATION
About the Role
OPM is expanding its evaluation team in response to growing demand for the evaluation of new
projects, initiatives and programmes of work in the public and third sectors, with a particular
emphasis on integrated health and social care initiatives and large scale transformation
programmes in the NHS.
We are looking for a candidate who is passionate about driving improvement and social value
through undertaking robust and timely evaluations that inform and shape delivery of initiatives
designed to improve health and wellbeing. These initiatives include those that seek to reduce
social isolation and loneliness, promote self-management by patients and improve outcomes and
patient experience for long term conditions, cancer care, end of life and a range of other care
pathways. We would also be interested to hear from candidates with wider experience of
evaluation in the public and third sectors, for example in education and early years.
Our evaluation team undertake a wide range of small and large scale evaluations, using a variety
of methods including qualitative research, capturing outcomes, analysis of existing data sets and
economic assessment. We work with a wide variety of clients, including CCGs, local authorities,
NHS bodies, charities and CVOs.
An overview of OPM’s work in Evaluation
We are currently evaluating integrated care initiatives in Sheffield, Nottingham, Coventry, the
Northwest and Fife, as well as the highly visible Staffordshire Transforming Cancer and End of Life
Care Programme, which is also one of the Pioneer Areas. We are also currently working with
Scope, the National Literacy Trust, Myscience, the NHS Leadership Academy and the Health
Foundation on a range of other evaluation projects.
More information is on our website: www.opm.co.uk.
Job description
We are looking for someone with a strong track record in project managing the delivery of
multi-method evaluations using a variety of study designs and working with qualitative and
quantitative data, ideally in the health and social care sector. However, we are willing to
consider strong candidates with evaluation experience in the public sector and or third sector. We
expect candidates to be educated to degree level or higher.
Consultants and Senior Consultants will be expected to undertake and manage others undertaking
interviews, focus groups, literature reviews and other desk-based research, data analysis and
economic evaluations. An understanding of health and social care outcomes and data sets would
be valuable.
CLASSIFICATION: OPEN
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OPM
CONSULTANT / SENIOR CONSULTANT IN EVALUATION
A key requirement for the role is the ability to write high quality reports and other written
outputs based on the research findings suitable for a variety of audiences.
The successful candidate will be a confident project manager with a track record in work
winning, project leadership of complex and challenging projects and client relationship
management.
The post requires excellent internal and external communication skills. The post-holder will
have experience of working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and experience in using
research, evaluation and engagement approaches to advise organisations.
We expect Consultants /Senior Consultant to lead on specific areas of business development and
work winning as well as direct major projects or programmes of work.
All members of OPM are expected to subscribe to OPM’s Charter and to our commitment to
clients. The Charter has been written and adopted, and is regularly reviewed and re-adopted, by
OPM members to promote equity within the workplace and to ensure that each member
contributes to a progressive and productive working life.
The post of Consultants /Senior Consultant in Evaluation at OPM is situated in the Evaluation
Team, although we expect the successful candidate to work across teams.
Responsibilities
Project Management
— To manage major research, evaluation or engagement projects covering project design and
planning, delivery and client-focused interpretation and communications.
— Interpreting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data in an insightful and robust way
and writing high quality reports on complex issues.
— To take responsibility for managing project teams including activity planning and review,
quality assurance and resource and budget management.
— To design and manage appropriate research, evaluation and engagement activities at all
stages of the process.
— To liaise regularly with clients on all aspects of project management.
Work Load
— Consultants and Senior Consultants are fee earning roles and as such are responsible for
delivering their target for billable work. This target will be agreed with their line manager.
Work Winning and Client Relationships
— To build up and maintain a network of client contacts to promote OPM’s expertise..
CLASSIFICATION: OPEN
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OPM
CONSULTANT / SENIOR CONSULTANT IN EVALUATION
— To lead the production of and write major proposals against personal and/or team annual
income targets.
— To lead client pitches and other business development activities.
Corporate Responsibilities
— To participate in groups within OPM working on particular social research topics, to
contribute to related discussions and take forward agreed actions.
— To contribute to the continuing development of OPM's influence by, for example, publishing
papers, speaking at conferences.
— To understand and actively support our policies on Equality and Diversity.
— Ensure the consistent application of corporate policies to OPM work and practices, in
particular, compliance with ISO 9001, 14001 and 27001 standards.
Membership Responsibilities
— To attend and contribute to monthly Members Days.
— To contribute to the development of the business plan and actively contribute to at least one
corporate project per year.
Location and Travel
While OPM is based in London, our clients are in all parts of the UK. We therefore expect a
reasonable willingness and ability to travel, and to work in the early morning, evenings and at
weekends.
This job description is intended as a general guide. It may be reviewed according to future
requirements and business needs. Our preference is to fill this role with a full-time permanent
employee, but we will consider requests to work part-time.
Key internal relationships
This post reports to the Head of Evaluation, within OPM’s Evaluation team. Our client work often
requires teams made up of different specialisms, and we work closely with colleagues in our other
delivery division – People, Organisation and Systems, and with our sister company, Dialogue by
Design.
Senior Consultant
In addition to the responsibilities identified above, all Senior Consultants need to demonstrate the
following:
— Consistency in meeting utilisation targets
CLASSIFICATION: OPEN
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OPM
CONSULTANT / SENIOR CONSULTANT IN EVALUATION
— Outstanding work winning through leading proposal writing, and winning work for teams
— Ability to develop and lead marketable business ideas
— Skills in building and sustaining partnerships that provide opportunities for work winning and
/ or access funding, markets and clients.
— Excellent project, budget and team management skills across a range of projects
— Ability to support and nurture more junior colleagues
— Being a corporate player, acting in the interest of the company and work constructively to
advance the company's interest and success
— Supporting senior leaders
CLASSIFICATION: OPEN
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OPM
CONSULTANT / SENIOR CONSULTANT IN EVALUATION
Person Specification
Experience
Required
Desirable
Work as an evaluator, designing,
implementing and managing evaluation
projects.
Evidence of commercial skills:
business development; work
winning; contract management.
Use of qualitative and quantitative methods
and a range of evaluation methodologies,
tools and techniques.
Previous consultancy
experience.
Work with charities and CVOs.
Production of high quality project plans,
reports and presentations
Knowledge and experience of the health and
social care sector.
Educational
Qualifications
Degree or equivalent
Master’s degree, other
professional, clinical or
management qualification.
Professional
Skills and
knowledge
Understanding of healthcare organisations
and systems, and a good working knowledge
of current NHS reforms and their implications
for the health service and local government.
Understanding of health and
wellbeing outcome measures
and the challenges associated
with implementation.
Strong project management skills:
— Manage projects and client
relationships.
— Manage project teams.
— Manage contracts and project
budgets.
Strong interpersonal, verbal and written
communication skills.
Credibility with senior managers and
clinicians.
Confident, resilient and able to deliver high
quality outputs working to tight timescales
and with demanding clients.
CLASSIFICATION: OPEN
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OPM
Personal Skills
CONSULTANT / SENIOR CONSULTANT IN EVALUATION
Excellence in:
— Analysis of qualitative and quantitative
data.
— Writing for different audiences.
— Engagement through presentations
and other media
Strong drive to win business and
expand the evaluation work of
OPM.
Good network of relevant
contacts.
— Interpersonal communication including
negotiation.
— Coping with pressure – meeting
deadlines and managing competing
demands while maintaining high
quality.
— Team working.
— Self-motivation.
General
A commitment to improving outcomes and to
the OPM charter
Behaviour consistent with the principles of
fairness and equality; supporting the
implementation of our Equality and Diversity
policies
Willingness to travel and work with clients
across the UK
Engagement with OPM’s processes as a
member-owned company
Selection Process
You will need to complete an application form. Please note that CVs will not be accepted. If your
application is taken forward, you will be invited to attend a preliminary interview and to complete
some assessment tasks. If you are successful at this stage, you will be invited to a panel interview.
If you are successful in your application, we will conduct verbal and/or written reference checks
with your approval. We will need to see your original birth certificate and/or passport as well as
your educational certificates. We will also request your completion of an occupational health
questionnaire. When the enquiries are completed satisfactorily, OPM will make a formal offer of
appointment.
CLASSIFICATION: OPEN
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OPM
CONSULTANT / SENIOR CONSULTANT IN EVALUATION
Our provisional recruitment schedule is:
— Deadline for receipt of applications
10am on 26 January 2014
— Numerical and verbal assessments
w/c 26 January 2014
— Preliminary interviews
4 February 2014
— Panel Interviews
11 February 2014
Disabled applicants
Disabled applicants who satisfy the minimum standards of the role will be asked to take a number
of ability tests before being progressed to the next stage of the recruitment process. These include
online numerical and verbal reasoning assessments supplied by a psychometric test provider. If an
ability test has a feature that, in the opinion of the applicant, places a disabled person at a
substantial disadvantage to other candidates, OPM agrees to take such steps as is reasonable to
mitigate the disadvantage.
Should an applicant be able to demonstrate their ability for the role as laid out in the job description
(able to meet the minimum standards of the role as outlined in the necessary column in the person
specification), by any alternative method, this will be given due consideration by OPM.
OPM agrees that should disabled applicants meet the minimum requirements of the job and are
able to demonstrate their competency through ability tests or any other comparable method; they
will be given an automatic right to interview.
Terms and Conditions
A full copy of the terms and conditions of employment at OPM is distributed upon appointment.
CLASSIFICATION: OPEN
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OPM
CONSULTANT / SENIOR CONSULTANT IN EVALUATION
About OPM
OPM is an employee-owned public interest company dedicated to improving social results. We
help organisations make a greater social impact and respond positively to change.
The OPM Group includes Dialogue by Design – specialists in public engagement and online
consultation.
Our clients
We work with organisations in health, social care, local and central government, children’s
services, education, the police and community safety, the voluntary sector, research, regulation
and utilities. All the people we work with share a common commitment: a determination to improve
the well-being of the communities they serve.
Our skills
We have a wide experience in partnerships, innovation, improvement and efficiency, leadership
and management development, research and evaluation, setting up employee-owned mutuals,
commissioning, public service futures, coaching, deliberation and dialogue.
Our knowledge of social policy and public services is unrivalled. We are leading thinkers about the
future of public services and we speak with authority about challenging issues.
Our strengths
We are experts in dealing with complexity and in working across organisational boundaries. When
clients tell us about their needs, we listen intently, identify the most efficient approach, then build
teams with the best fit of skills and experience. It is important to us to equip people with the tools
and skills they need to perform with confidence and excellence. Strong project management, user
engagement methods and the use of evidence underpin all our work.
Quality
We are consistent in our application of corporate policies and guidelines to OPM work and
practices to ensure the highest quality of our work, in particular, operate the ISO 9001 and 27001
standards.
Our values
OPM is made up of enthusiastic members who care about people and public services and work
within a strong ethical framework.
CLASSIFICATION: OPEN
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OPM
CONSULTANT / SENIOR CONSULTANT IN EVALUATION
We invest in public interest activities, research and seminars, to improve social outcomes. We are
also involved in our local community: volunteering to help a local community association.
Founded in 1989, we became fully employee-owned in 2006. We belong to the Employee
Ownership Association, ‘the voice of co-owned business in the UK'.
Environmental commitment
We operate to the ISO 14001 environmental system. OPM is accredited by Carbon Smart. This
means that we are ‘implementing practical actions to actively reduce our environmental impact and
carbon footprint’. In 2011, we earned the Carbon Smart Gold Award for the fourth year running.
Equality and diversity
OPM has made a commitment to promoting equality and diversity in all our work. We have a full
programme of activities to support continuous improvement, including regular briefings for all
members, training for managers and practice exchange sessions.
The OPM Charter
Working with you to improve social results
OPM is committed to improving the quality of life for all communities by working with clients and
the public to help them achieve the social results they desire.
As a member of OPM:
— I am committed to delivering high quality work and to helping to achieve social results.
— I am committed to my own development to sustain and increase my contribution to OPM,
and expect others to provide appropriate support and opportunities.
— I will behave with integrity, honesty and courtesy at all times, and expect the same from
others.
— I will contribute to providing a productive and supportive working environment, and will ask
for and offer support when it is needed, and expect others to do the same.
— I will be fair and open in my expectations of others, and expect the same from them.
— I will take responsibility for reflecting and demonstrating the values of OPM outside the
organisation.
All members of OPM are expected to uphold the charter in the organisation, and be active in
ensuring its principles and values underpin all our behaviours, work and the continued success of
the organisation.
CLASSIFICATION: OPEN
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