Head of Research and Grants

We are looking for a highly motivated proven team player to join our ambitious and fast-growing international charity with a mission to build a better world for babies where governments prioritise the 1,001 critical days as the foundation for a healthy society. The 1,001 critical days – from pregnancy to age two – is the time when the building blocks for lifelong emotional and physical wellbeing are laid down.

Final date to receive applications

7/24/2026

Job Description

This is an exciting time to join us. As we grow our international efforts and sharpen our strategic focus, we are creating a new Head of Research & Grants role to lead our combined research andgrant-making function. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will be our senior operational and strategic leader for how we identify, fund and learn from the work that gives babies the best startin life.

The grants and research effort of the Foundation is focussed on the ‘So What?’. You will makesure every piece of ground breaking research and every charity grant adds to our global advocacyfor babies, informing and educating policy makers across the world about the 1001 Critical Daysand how they can help parents and carers give their babies the best start in life.

You will line manage our Grants Manager and our Research & Impact Manager, joining up ouropen-call grant-making, strategic partnerships, commissioned research and evaluation into onecoherent programme. You will translate our strategy into delivery: setting priorities, shaping our1international approach, ensuring evidence drives every funding decision, and growing thecredibility and reach of the Foundation with charities, researchers, policymakers and fundersworldwide. Crucially, you will maintain a sharp focus on delivering impact from every project.

You will also be the public face of our research and grants work - building the Foundation'sprofile through external communications, thought leadership and engagement with the earlyyears sector.