Specialist [Development & Innovation]

The Specialist for Development & Innovation supports the design, implementation, and evaluation of innovation and service development initiatives across RC. The role contributes to the operational delivery of the innovation lifecycle—from concept development and prototyping to pilot implementation, evaluation, and integration into core services.

Working closely with service teams, corporate units, research partners, and funders, the Specialist helps ensure that development initiatives are well-designed, ethically implemented, evidence-informed, and aligned with RC’s strategic priorities and Good Life outcomes.

The role combines analytical, project management, and collaborative capabilities, helping translate ideas into structured pilots, capturing learning from innovation projects, and strengthening RC’s organisational capacity for disciplined experimentation and continuous improvement.

Critical Work Functions

Innovation Development & Pilot Implementation

1. Support the design and development of innovation concepts, prototypes, and pilot initiatives aligned with RC’s mission, Good Life Framework, and strategic priorities.

2. Work with service teams, practitioners, and partners to translate ideas into structured pilots, including defining objectives, target populations, implementation plans, and evaluation approaches.

3. Coordinate the implementation of innovation pilots and development initiatives across services, ensuring activities are organised, documented, and aligned with agreed project plans.

4. Facilitate collaboration between multidisciplinary stakeholders - including educators, therapists, social workers, digital teams, and external partners- to support the successful delivery of pilot projects.

5. Document pilot processes, operational insights, and emerging challenges to support organisational learning and decision-making.

Evaluation, Data & Organisational Learning

1. Support the development of evaluation frameworks for innovation initiatives, including defining outcomes, indicators, and learning objectives.

2. Collect, organise, and analyse qualitative and quantitative data from pilots and development initiatives to support evaluation and reporting.

3. Prepare clear summaries of pilot outcomes, implementation lessons, and cost-effectiveness considerations to inform stage-gate decisions (e.g., continuation, scaling, integration, or discontinuation).

4. Contribute to the development of innovation dashboards, reports, and knowledge resources that support organisation-wide learning and improvement.

5. Support the documentation and dissemination of learning from innovation initiatives across RC teams and programmes.

Governance, Risk & Compliance Support

1. Support the implementation of RC’s innovation governance processes, including documentation of proposals, pilot plans, evaluation reports, and stage-gate reviews.

2. Ensure development initiatives comply with relevant organisational policies and external requirements, including safeguarding standards, PDPA, research ethics considerations, and grant conditions where applicable.

3. Assist in maintaining documentation related to innovation initiatives, including partnership agreements, pilot protocols, reporting requirements, and internal approval processes.

4. Support the identification and escalation of operational risks, ethical considerations, or implementation challenges arising from innovation pilots

Project Management & Operational Coordination

1. Coordinate project timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder engagement across innovation initiatives and pilot projects.

2. Support grant-funded or externally funded innovation projects by assisting with reporting, documentation, and compliance with funder requirements.

3. Facilitate meetings, working groups, and project discussions related to development initiatives, ensuring clear documentation of decisions and actions.

4. Track implementation progress and support the preparation of progress updates for internal leadership, funders, and partners.

Partnerships & Collaboration

1. Work collaboratively with RC service teams to support the design and testing of new service approaches.

2. Support engagement with external partners such as research institutions, social innovators, technology providers, and sector collaborators involved in innovation initiatives.

3. Assist in coordinating partnership activities, pilot engagements, and collaborative projects, ensuring clear communication and documentation.

4. Contribute to knowledge-sharing with sector partners where appropriate to support responsible innovation and collective learning.

Job Holder Requirements

• A recognised good Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline such as Social Work, Psychology, Special Education, Allied Health, Public Health, Social Sciences, Innovation, Design, or related fields
• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in roles involving service development, programme evaluation, research, project management, or innovation initiatives within social services, education, healthcare, public sector, or non-profit environments.
• Training or exposure in areas such as service design, project management, programme evaluation, data analysis, or innovation methodologies would be advantageous.
• Candidates with strong direct practice experience (e.g. educators, therapists, social workers, or allied professionals)

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