Qualitative Researcher (Government Outcomes Lab) – Public Sector Reform

Location: Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG

Grade and salary: Grade 7 Researcher: £38,674 - £46,913 (with a discretionary range to £49,649) p.a., dependent on experience

About the Blavatnik School of Government

Our vision is of a world better led, a world better served and a world better governed. We are a global school committed to improving the quality of government and public policymaking worldwide, through three routes: teaching current and future leaders; generating research with impact; and engaging with governments and practitioners. 

What we offer 

The School is a collaborative, friendly, and dynamic department based in an award-winning building in Oxford. We host regular events and talks with well-known guest speakers – all of which are open to staff. 

As an employer, we care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days’ annual leave
• Family leave schemes and a comprehensive range of childcare services
• Cycle loan scheme and discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
• Opportunities for hybrid working (typically 60% of working hours on-site and 40% remotely)

More information about working at the School can be found on our jobs page. 

About the role

The Blavatnik School of Government is looking to recruit an ambitious early career researcher with strong experience in innovative qualitative methods, a commitment to academic rigour, and a passion for driving public impact. This role offers a unique opportunity to join an interdisciplinary team working at the forefront of public service reform, in close collaboration with academic, government, and civil society partners.

The successful candidate will contribute to a programme exploring how experimentation and innovation unfold in public services, using immersive qualitative research methods such as fieldwork, interviews, and facilitated learning sessions.

Working closely with local areas across the UK, you will help uncover how ideas are tested, how learning occurs in real time, and how systems evolve. You will also play a key role in advancing real-time, embedded evaluation methods, collaborating across disciplines including policy analysis, data science, and user-centred design.

The role includes opportunities to pursue and publish independent research, co-produce outputs for academic and policy audiences, and help convene events and working groups. We are looking for someone who brings strong methodological expertise, curiosity, and a collaborative mindset, with a deep interest in contributing to public value.

About you

You will bring demonstrated expertise in qualitative research design and methods, such as conducting interviews, thematic analysis, and case study development.

With experience undertaking in-depth fieldwork, ideally in complex, multi-actor or public sector environments, you will have the ability to synthesise insights across cases and effectively communicate findings to a range of audiences—including policymakers, practitioners, and academics.

You will possess excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, show a strong interest in public service reform and evidence-informed policymaking, and be willing to travel regularly for fieldwork and events across the UK.

Application process

Please upload a supporting statement that outlines how you meet the selection criteria in your own words, along with your CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon (UK time) on Monday 8 September 2025.

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