Simon Lewis Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

Greenwich, London, Gb

London, Greater London, Gb

Winner of the 2020 Higher Education Strategic Planners Association (HESPA) Data Award for cutting-edge research and insight into commuter students. Shortlisted for 'outstanding strategic planning team of the year' at the 2018 Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards for our sector leading approach to measuring performance and corporate reporting. Responsible for the organisation's approach to business intelligence, strategy development and review, and in-depth analysis.

London, United Kingdom, Gb

• Managing complex projects and research investigations, including the work of analytical staff, to improve the quality and use of evidence underpinning the organisation’s operations.• Strategically facilitating the development of cross-organisational theories of change to drive future improvements in programming, ensure consistency in decision-making, and structure organisational learning.• Providing global leadership and matrix managing on issues relating to gender and social inclusion, research methodology, project design and how volunteers are supported from recruitment to life post-placement.• Undertaking and commissioning primary research and designing new frameworks for official reporting to funders.• Representing the team to senior leadership and presenting research at national and international conferences.

London, United Kingdom, Gb

• Worked cross-functionally to develop the evidence base on the unique added value of volunteering and embedded it within working practices. • Facilitated successful workshops with senior-level participants, reaching consensus on key programmatic and policy areas, and developed theories of change owned by the organisation. • Presenting complex arguments and issues in simple to understand formats to a range of internal and external audiences.

Brighton, East Sussex, Gb

• Led key parts of the review into VSO’s participation and governance portfolio, making informed recommendations and bringing clarity to policy areas.• Led the systematic review of existing evidence including performance reporting, project documentation and evaluations.• Managed all project milestones and deliverables to targets and received excellent feedback from the client for the service provided.

Brighton, East Sussex, Gb

• Led and managed the global Valuing Volunteering research project in Kenya using a Systemic Action Research approach which has produced influential findings on the unique contribution of volunteerism.• Established 3 concurrent research investigations and recruited, trained and managed over 100 local volunteer researchers to extend the project’s reach into communities.• Developed a multi-stakeholder platform and reference group to share and test findings which were used to shape Kenya’s first national volunteering policy. • Provided expert mediation in facilitating a learning process between VSO staff and volunteers that has led to significant improvements in how volunteers are supported in-placement.• Authored and co-authored academically peer-reviewed journal articles for a special edition of the IDS Bulletin as well as a book chapter that is due to be published shortly.• Provided strategic guidance and policy advice to international and local charities in developing their strategic plans, programming, implementation plans and funding applications.• Managed the entire in-country research process including meeting all set deliverables and deadlines and achieved a 40% saving on the anticipated research cost by using resources efficiently.

London, Gb

• Led the department’s public sector innovation function, successfully building consensus and partnerships across departments and public sector agencies to design and implement new initiatives such as the Family Recovery Programme, cross-council shared services and payment-by-results.• Line managed two policy officers working across a broad range of policy areas.• Managed the successful council bid to central government to be a whole-place Community Budget pilot, one of only four local authority areas to be awarded such status. • Provided expert policy advice to elected politicians and senior officials on strategic vision, advocacy objectives, communications and campaigns.

London, Gb

• The council’s designated lead scrutiny officer with accountability for managing the function and driving forward improvements in transparency, impact and public engagement.• Established and managed the council’s first Young People’s Scrutiny Panel to improve the council’s engagement with young people which was nominated for national awards.• Directly managed 2 members of staff and horizontally managed a further 5 in other departments in running 7 scrutiny committees to tight deadlines.• Transformed reporting arrangements to improve the tracking and impact of recommendations and achieved substantial efficiency savings.

Durham, England, Gb

• Facilitated tutorials, seminars and lectures on a range of sociology modules, receiving excellent feedback from students.

• Supported the All Party Parliamentary Group on Balanced and Sustainable Communities.• Provided expert policy advice on planning, licensing, environmental and housing issues.

• Coordinated a multi-stakeholder panel of regional experts in holding public bodies to account.• Led and commissioned research investigations into key regional policy areas.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Sociology And Social Policy

Three Supplementary Masters Modules, Sociology And Social Policy

Bachelor'S Degree, Geography

High School