Associate Research Director

Working hours: 35 hours per week, open to flexible working.

Location: SW1P 3HE. Staff will have the option of working three days from the office and two days a week from home as standard, with other requests considered on a case-by-case basis.

Benefits: 30 days holiday, USS pension

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research is Britain’s oldest, and one of its most prestigious, independent research institutes. We specialise in applied social and economic research, combining high academic standards with relevance to policy making. Our reputation for quality and independence, outstanding networks and unrivalled location at the heart of Westminster makes us the ideal base to build a national profile for academic or policy research that makes real impact.

We are seeking someone who will drive several concurrent research projects using qualitative methodologies. Leads a team of four qualitative researchers (3.8 FTE) who work in areas such as education and skills, inclusion in employment, and migration. Mentors and supervises less experienced researchers. Supports in cultivating external networks and future sources of funding. Leads and collaborates in developing research proposals so that funding targets are achieved for own role, other team members and NIESR. Takes the lead with the support of the Deputy Director in ensuring that the team is properly resourced and capacity is suitably utilised. The team is currently working on a range of projects, involving qualitative research and evidence reviews. They have a wide range of research interests across different policy areas. In the last five years, our work has included research on: experiences of workers over 50, wellbeing of refugee and asylum-seeking young people, employer pay-setting in relation to the National Living Wage to name but a few.

Please see the attached job description for full details of the role and more detail on what we have been researching.

The essential requirements we are looking for in the successful candidate are:

Experience

1. Designing and delivering multiple research projects and achieving high-quality results in own projects while meeting tight deadlines and managing multiple competing priorities.
2. Leading and managing projects and teams.
3. Analysing and interpreting complex information to generate evidence-based conclusions.
4. Communicating findings in a clear and coherent way to a range of audiences and able to demonstrate impact through the dissemination of findings.
5. Writing proposals and bringing in funding for self and others, and able to demonstrate a high success rate.
6. Collaborating with a range of stakeholders and working across teams/organisations to achieve specific outcomes.
7. Constructively challenging the accepted ways of thinking/doing things, and thinking critically to develop new ideas, approaches, and ways of working.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

1. PhD in in qualitative social science, or equivalent experience. We welcome applicants from any relevant discipline (e.g. sociology, political science, anthropology, psychology, economics, etc), with expertise in any public and social policy areas (e.g. employment, welfare, education, skills, migration, health, inequality, ageing, etc.). We want to hear from a wide variety of candidates. We are open to appointing someone with expertise in areas we are already working in and who can complement our existing interests, or someone with expertise in a new important area for us and who can build that area of research within NIESR.
2. High level research capability with extensive knowledge of a range of research techniques and qualitative methodologies, for instance interviews, focus groups, observation, ethnography, participatory methods, content analysis, case studies, evaluation, and surveys.
3. High level written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information in an audience appropriate way, adapting your communication style to engage with a variety of audiences (including academic peers, funders, the media etc).
4. High level of attention to detail, with the ability to ensure the accuracy of complex reports and data sets without the need for oversight or checking.
5. Ability to develop senior external contacts to promote NIESR and influence/engage with potential funders.
6. Demonstrable reputation for research expertise within a subject area with evidence of recognition of achievement for high quality research output.

To apply

To apply for this role, please send full CV and a supporting statement of no more than 1500 words setting how you meet the essential requirements outlined above. Please number each  point and address these one at a time to ensure that we are able to fully consider how your experience, skills and abilities meet the needs of the post. Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of the role.

Applications should be sent to Louise Hodgson via email: hr@niesr.ac.uk.

Closing date for applications is midday Sunday 19^th February 2023.

Interviews TBC