Job Details

This post – Equity and Systems Change Lead – will work across and beyond Young Lives vs Cancer to deepen our understanding of the system and to translate knowledge into practical action, in order to shape a more equitable future for young cancer patients. An understanding of systemic oppression and the drivers of inequity, as well as a mind-set that embraces systems thinking and complexity, are crucial to this role.  

This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application a basic criminal record check will be completed.

Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description and job pack.

• Work with people from across our system to understand how inequity presents, and the drivers for this
• Share this knowledge to deepen organisational and system wide understanding
• Make strategic use of data, research and learning to explore opportunities for a more equitable system
• Take active steps to ensure that our work centres progress toward equity, and support others to do the same
• Building networks and convening people from across the system
• Work with children and young people who have experienced cancer, and their families, to learn what equity means to them (for example, our Voice Board). 
• Take active steps to build and nurture relationships with communities that we need to hear from.  
• Facilitate and enable accessible convening spaces that value diverse experiences
• Use research, learning and feedback to co-design solutions with people from across the system.   
• Design new ways of working and programmes of work that maximise opportunities for system change, for example improved feedback loops, resource flows and mind-set shifts.
• Guide the testing and evaluation of change initiatives, starting small and learning from results
• Support others to use research, learning, and feedback to prioritise equity

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

Experience in:

• Equity, diversity, and inclusion work (it is helpful if this experience is within a healthcare or non-profit setting). 
• Community engagement and network building. 
• Working with diverse populations or children and young people.
• Working across and beyond organisations to bring about change. 
• Knowledge of oppression and the barriers faced by some communities.
• Facilitation skills, with the ability to:
  • Convene accessible, safe, and inclusive spaces
  • Seek and value diverse experiences, opinions and backgrounds 
• Knowledge of systems thinking practice and approaches to system change, for example:
  • understanding of system dynamics, feedback loops, system/network analysis, root cause analysis, complexity and interconnectedness 
• Curiosity and critical thinking skills 
• Our values reflect our commitment to young cancer patients and their families. We are Curious, Creative, Collaborative, Change-making, and Courageous. These values are at the heart of Team Young Lives, and we are looking for someone who embodies them.