Evaluation and Learning Officer

Cumbria; England; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in the United Kingdom is seeking an Evaluation and Learning Officer to lead high-quality research and evaluation for Active Cumbria. This role involves building trusted relationships with communities, supporting impactful program evaluations, and producing comprehensive reports that drive continuous improvement. Ideal candidates should embody collaborative and innovative values, with a focus on turning insights into effective learning outcomes. The position offers a flexible working opportunity and a competitive salary.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading evaluations and research.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse communities.
• Skill in translating data into meaningful insights.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-quality evaluation and research for Active Cumbria.
• Build relationships with communities for service evaluation.
• Produce timely, high-quality reports to inform ongoing learning.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent communication skills

Relationship building

Data management

Job description

Overview

Location: Flexible (Cumbria)

Contract: Fixed Term until 31.03.27 (with in-principal funding to 31.03.28)

Purpose of the role: Aligned with the Council’s values and behaviours, the Evaluation and Learning Officer will lead high-quality evaluation and research for Active Cumbria, drawing on local insight and specialist expertise to strengthen the organisation’s evidence base and inform practice. The role will build trusted relationships with communities across Cumbria through robust service and programme evaluation, while supporting officers to design and deliver meaningful, impactful evaluations. A key focus of the post will be advancing the Let’s Move! programme by leading monitoring activity, capturing insight, and translating findings into compelling narratives that connect data with lived experience. Working closely with local communities, the post holder will listen to and amplify real voices, turning insight into learning that shapes future action, supports continuous improvement, and celebrates positive change. The role will also be responsible for producing timely, high-quality reports and facilitating sessions that gather meaningful data to inform ongoing learning and development.

Salary: £38,220 to £39,152 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Flexible (Cumbria)

Contract: Fixed Term until 31.03.27 (with in-principal funding to 31.03.28)

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of robust evaluation frameworks across Active Cumbria programmes, aligned to stakeholder and funder priorities.
• Embed evaluation and learning across teams and partners, strengthening skills and evaluation capability.
• Source, analyse, and synthesise evidence, data, and research into clear, engaging insights for diverse audiences.
• Champion a culture of continuous learning by creating opportunities to share practice, experience, and outcomes from whole‑system approaches.
• Coordinate activity across multiple workstreams, building and managing strong stakeholder relationships.
• Manage data collection tools and ensure secure data handling in line with data protection requirements.
• Lead the ongoing development of Active Cumbria’s Evaluation and Learning Framework.
• Support evaluation‑focused meetings, including agenda setting and minute taking.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities. We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.

Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.

Contact

For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Cameron Wilson by email at [e-mail]

Guaranteed Interviews

We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.

• Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
• Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
• Those who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).

If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.

Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments

We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing [e-mail]. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.

Application and Interview information

Easily apply by submitting your CV and answering a few short questions.

• Closing date: 22/02/2026
• Interview date: Week commencing Monday 2nd March

Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you’re interested in applying, you should apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.

Further information

Please Read The Supporting Information

• Post Specification

Please also refer to our Careers site to find out more:

• Our Staff Benefits
• Candidate Support
• About Cumberland Council