Impact Design and Innovation Time to Shine Leader

MCR Pathways is delighted to be recruiting for the exciting new role of Impact Design and Innovation Time to Shine Leader.  The role is funded by The Rank Foundation’s Time to Shine development programme, a leadership programme for under- or unemployed people to give them the opportunity to develop their leadership potential, skills and talent within a charity or social enterprise.  Click on the button above to read the 2026 Rank Foundation Time to Shine Candidate Guide.

About the role

The Impact Design and Innovation Time to Shine Leader will work alongside, and be supported by, the Systems, Evidence and Impact team.  They will focus on the measurement and reporting of the effectiveness of MCR mentoring – including developing new pilot models. We aim to measure not just long-term success but also ways of evidencing the early impact of mentoring relationships as they form, capturing the subtle but powerful changes that happen in the first stages of a relationship.  By generating clear evidence of early relational impact, this role will make a significant contribution to sustainable growth and learning across MCR Pathways.

As well as the team you will be supported by Colin Adam, our Head of Systems, Evidence and Impact and there will be opportunities for learning and development throughout the year.  These will include:

• Access to training and workshops on GDPR, advanced data tools, safeguarding and outcomes.
• Opportunities to network with industry professionals.
• Hands on experience in framework design and implementation, data mapping and analysis, system integration, qualitative research and project management, developing a strong foundation for a career in the non-profit sector.

Areas of work:

Strategic Measurement and Framework Development

• Help build a simple, holistic outcomes framework capturing early progress in establishing mentoring relationships.
• Map the logic basis of pilot models, KPIs and qualitative sources.
• Use light-touch, ethical AI to improve data quality and build analysis capacity.
• Set up secure data flows, quality assurance checks and establish a simple protocol for storytelling consent.
• Maintain a data dictionary and theme structure.

Impact Evaluation and Insight Generation

• Choose and run effective evaluations, using comparison groups where available.
• Analyse who benefits most (and why) by focussing on key groups and comparing common themes to guide next steps.
• Compare mentoring models to identify what works best.
• Turn quantitative and qualitative data into clear, actionable insights.
• Support research and data sharing with partners.

Reporting & Advocacy

• Publish dashboards and monthly “voice of participants” updates.
• Produce short, engaging briefs with anonymised quotes and early impact stories.
• Assist in the creation of case studies and videos linking soft outcomes (like punctuality and confidence) to emerging KPIs.
• Share insights across MCR teams to inform ongoing mentoring practice and demonstrate how early relationship quality predicts longer-term outcomes.
• Contribute to annual reports for schools, local authorities, funders and MCR’s annual report

About you (Person Specification)

• Currently unemployed or underemployed (you’re working below your skill set and/or potential)
• Keen to work in the not for profit sector in Programme Design and Evaluation.
• Some experience or an understanding of Data Analysis and Project Management.
• Strong IT skills/Technical  skills with the ability to use a range of software.
• Familiarity with Evaluation Models and the not for profit sector. 
• Basic understanding of  statistics and the power of mentoring. 
• Well organised and confident working on a number of projects simultaneously either with other team members or independently.
• Creative, positive, motivated and committed to achieving results with a ‘can do’ approach.
• Passionate about youth development and committed to MCR Pathways’ mission and values.

About MCR Pathways:
MCR Pathways is an award-winning charity established in Glasgow in 2007. Our mentoring programme is now delivered in schools across the whole of Scotland as well as South East and North East England. We are committed to helping young people gain self-confidence, identify their skills and recognise and fulfil their potential. Our vision is for all young people to experience equality of education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances. Our mentoring programme has profound impacts on school pupils in their confidence, wellbeing and post-school progression. MCR Mentors are volunteers who make and experience a life-changing difference.

You will be joining a friendly and supportive team who love what they do and enjoy working with each other. MCR Pathways’ values are Respect, Communication, Trust and Growth and they inform everything we do.

Benefits of working for MCR Pathways include: 33 days annual leave in first year, additional day off for your birthday, Living Pensions Employer, Life Assurance – 4 x salary.

MCR Pathways guarantees an interview to all candidates who are care experienced, by which we mean if you are or have ever been in foster care, residential care, kinship care or been looked after at home, and meet the minimum criteria outlined within the person specification.  Please let us know in your letter if you wish to participate in the Care Experienced Interview Guarantee.