HEAD OF RESEARCH, POLICY AND INSIGHTS

Job Title: Head of Research, Policy and Insights

Reports to: Director, OKRE

Location: London, Euston or hybrid

Working Pattern: Full-time (Mon-Fri, 35 hours per week) 3 days per week in the office

Salary: 60,000

Contract: 24-month Fixed Term Contract (with potential for extension)

INTRODUCING OKRE

At OKRE, we believe entertainment is one of the most powerful ways in which people come to understand the world. A great film, TV show or game can spark new conversations and shift public perceptions.OKRE exists to unlock that potential. Operating as a centre of excellence for organisations seeking to understand and engage with the entertainment industries, we work at the intersection of entertainment, research, lived experience and social impact sector helping stories rooted in real-world issues reach and resonate with wider audiences.

We support:

• Creatives, Commissioners and Producers providing funding, access to insight, expertise and lived experience to inform compelling, socially-conscious storytelling that appeals to their audiences
• Academic Researchers, Charity and People w. Lived Experience helping them collaborate with the entertainment industry to bring complex ideas and underrepresented stories to life.
• Entertainment Industry and Change Makers by generating thought leadership, sharing best practice, and measuring the impact of storytelling on attitudes, beliefs and behaviours.

ROLE PURPOSE

OKRE has a small team with a wide remit. This is a new and exciting leadership position, at a pivotal moment in our growth. As the Head of Research, Policy and Insights you will be working alongside the senior leadership team including Director, Head of Operations, Head of Programmes and Engagement, and Head of Marketing and Communications to define OKREs strategic direction. You will establish an ambitious and credible research, policy and insights function, developing an impactful programme of work that deepens our understanding of how entertainment shapes the world. A cornerstone of this work will be the creation of the Entertainment Impact Index, a pioneering framework that explores how TV, film, video games and digital content influence public attitudes, perceptions and behaviours across a range of social and policy issues. Its a key recommendation from OKREs report Delivering social impact in entertainment content priorities, approaches & challenges. , and builds upon the work from our Entertainment Industries Taskforce .

You will work collaboratively across sectors - spanning the screen-based entertainment industry, academia, and the charitable sector - to generate thought leadership that drives meaningful change.

Youll build upon existing projects including an econometric study looking at the social and cultural value of the UK games sector ; and our report on creative strategies for bringing climate topics into wider audiences while setting a forward-thinking agenda that embraces new technologies, trends and evolving entertainment formats.

This role is about more than just understanding the world outside OKRE. It's about connecting the dots between cultural trends and the work happening across our organisation bringing together external research and internal learning to surface powerful insights. Youll play a key role in demonstrating the difference OKRE is making, helping us understand and articulate our impact in ways that inform our programmes and strategy.

Were looking for a strategic, methodical thinker who brings intellectual curiosity, analytical rigour, and a passion for turning evidence into real world influence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The following provides a summary of the main responsibilities of the Head of Research, Policy and Insights role. It is not exhaustive. The role is designed to evolve with the postholder and the organisations needs. You will be expected to exercise initiative and may need to take on other responsibilities, provided they are reasonable and in line with the purpose and level of the role.
Strategic Leadership and Organisational Influence

• Lead the development and delivery of OKREs research, policy and insight strategy, ensuring it aligns with and drives the organisations mission and growth ambitions.
• Collaborate closely with the Senior Leadership Team to embed a culture where evidence and insight actively shape decision-making and strategic planning across all teams.
• Develop and implement approaches to using research and insight- both from external trends and internal learning- to inform programmes design and organisational priorities.
• Guide and coordinate OKREs relationships with research partners and policy experts, supporting both internal and external teams engaged in evidence and insight work.
• Stay ahead of emerging developments across entertainment (TV, film, games, creator content) and social impact (behaviour and narrative change), ensuring OKREs research agenda is relevant, innovative, and influential.

Research and Policy Development

• Lead high-quality, rigorous research projects that deepen understanding of how entertainment shapes attitudes, behaviours and social outcomes, including flagship initiatives like the Entertainment Impact Index.
• Translate complex research findings into clear, actionable insights, policy narratives, and tools that inform decision-making internally and influence key external audiences.
• Ensure research activities meet the highest standards of intellectual rigour, ethics and transparency.
• Shape and advance a learning agenda that reflects the needs of OKREs key stakeholders and supports the OKREs ongoing development.

Evidence, Insight and Organisational Impact

• Connect internal insights with external evidence and cultural trends to build a clear picture of OKREs influence in the world.
• Work with colleagues to ensure that strategic decisions are informed by meaningful data and evidence. Develop smart, adaptive approaches to gathering insight from across OKREs workidentifying whats working, where were having impact, and how that learning can shape future direction.
• Provide insight and recommendations that support the development of programmes such as the OKRE Summit and OKRE Fund.
• Design practical tools and approaches that help colleagues make sense of the work and communicate impact in compelling, accessible ways.

External Engagement and Partnership

• Act as a public representative of OKRE, contributing to external events as a trusted thought leader
• Identify opportunities for new collaborations, funding and research projects that advance OKREs mission and visibility.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with partners and stakeholders across the entertainment, charity and academia.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Were looking for a strategic thinker with a researchers mindset. You dont need to have followed a traditional path into research or policy, and you dont need to have done everything listed. If youre excited by big questions, eager to learn, and comfortable navigating complexity, we encourage you to apply. What matters most is your drive to turn insight into impact.

You must already have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Ideally, youll be/have:

• A keen interest in entertainment and its role in shaping perceptions, narratives and social change.
• Experience leading or shaping research, insight or policy initiatives that have informed real-world changewhether in government, think tanks, industry, academia or the cultural sector.
• Experience producing high-quality research outputs, from reports to strategic briefingseven if not the primary writer.
• Understanding of a range of research methodologies (qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods), and confidence in commissioning or overseeing evidence-led work.
• Strategic thinker with experience applying insight to shape direction, drive decisions or influence stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to lead complex projects from planning to deliverytracking progress, adapting when needed, and keeping others aligned.
• Resourceful and solution-focused, able to think laterally, manage competing demands, and keep things moving in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Excellent communicatorconfident turning complex information into clear, compelling narratives or reports, whether as a writer, editor or strategic lead.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across sectors and work collaboratively with a wide range of people.
• Comfortable taking ownership of work, managing your own time and communicating clearly when deliverables are interdependent.
• Enthusiastic about working in a hybrid, collaborative environment as part of a small and growing team.

Desirable (but not essential)

• Experience working within or alongside the entertainment, media or creative industries (e.g. TV, film, gaming, digital content).
• Understanding of policy influence and advocacy, and how research contributes to public or policy conversations.
• Networks within research, culture, academia, tech or public policy sectors.
• Experience working in start-up, cross-disciplinary or experimental environme]]>