Closing date for applications: Tuesday 30 March (18h00).

ESN is the European network of directors of social services which is supported by the European Commission through DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. We contribute to European policy-making and support our members to improve the quality of social services through mutual learning.

We are recruiting a Policy & Research Officer to join the policy team at our secretariat in Brighton (UK). The right candidate should have enthusiasm, professional experience and be knowledgeable about European Union policy and institutions. They should have a sensitivity for and willingness to learn about social work and care sector. Knowledge of local government, public services or wider social/health policy would be an advantage.

Our secretariat is a dynamic, international environment where a number of languages are spoken. Members of the team support each other in their work through open discussion and shared working. Besides working with colleagues in the secretariat, you would also meet regularly with senior professionals and managers of social services at seminars or working groups. You would represent ESN at European events and meet colleagues from other organisations working in European social and health policy. There is a good deal of European travel involved in working for ESN.

The office is in central Brighton, a city with a large population of students and young professionals and a vibrant cultural and music scene. At 50 min. from London (with the Eurostar to Brussels and Paris) and 30 min. from Gatwick airport, we’re well-placed for travel connections.

If you think your personality, educational and professional background combine sensitivity to social work values, the ability to identify and articulate policy messages and the ability to work with quantitative data, then we look forward to hearing from you. Your initiative, ideas and growing expertise would be highly valued and we try to ensure that every member of staff has space to make the job their own.

Pay would be on a scale of £24-30,000 which equates to approximately £1,540-1,900 net per month. Salary on appointment would depend on experience and would rise in line with performance. There is a portable stakeholder pension scheme. Holiday allowance is 24 days and immediately accessible on a pro-rata basis and would rise with experience.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We support staff in their professional development and provide opportunities for further training in line with responsibilities.

Recruitment process: The closing date for applications is Tuesday 30 March (18h00) after which shortlisted applicants would be invited for interview on 14 and 15th April in Brighton.

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To know more about the town where ESN is based have a look at VisitBrighton and Brighton festival.