Senior Research Fellow

The Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) invites applications for a Senior Research Fellow to take on a leadership role within the Centre, replacing the current Director of Policy and Practice (Public Services). The successful candidate will join the management group in the Centre and share responsibility for shaping its future direction.

Working closely with ministers and senior public service leaders, you will be responsible for leading and supporting research teams within the Centre, as well as commissioning and collaborating with leading external experts.  You will provide independent, high-quality evidence and expertise to address some of the most pressing economic, environmental and social challenges facing Wales. This is a distinctive opportunity to operate at the interface of research and policy, ensuring that robust evidence is translated into practical insights that inform decision making and improve public service outcomes.

This is a senior role within the Centre, offering the opportunity to lead programmes of research and engagement, manage teams and partnerships, and contribute to the strategic direction of WCPP’s work. You will work at the heart of current policy debates, building strong relationships with policymakers and practitioners, and shaping the development and delivery of impactful research and policy activity.

Co-funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and Welsh Government, the Wales Centre for Public Policy bridges the gap between academia and policy by generating, synthesising and mobilising evidence from research. We are a member of the What Works Network, have been recognised internationally for our pioneering demand-led approach to evidence use and knowledge mobilisation. Further details are available at www.wcpp.org.uk.

WCPP offers a stimulating, collaborative and supportive working environment. We provide flexible working arrangements, a generous pension scheme and benefits package, and access to a wide range of training and development opportunities. The role is based at SPARK, the world’s first Social Science Research Park, located within Cardiff University’s £300 million Innovation Campus.

The role is full time and is fixed term until the end of the current grant term on 31 March 2028. We are open to a job share and flexible working arrangements, such as compressed hours. 

Salary:  £61,823 - £67,468 per annum (Grade 8)

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the Centre’s Director, Dan Bristow at: dan.bristow@wcpp.org.uk

Cardiff Business School is a leading business and management school in the UK, holding AACSB and AMBA accreditations and ranked 1^st for its Research Environment and 2^nd on Research Power (REF2021). The School has a Public Value purpose and focuses on the co-creation of high quality, interdisciplinary education and knowledge that delivers economic, social and environmental value. The School’s activities are oriented towards five Grand Challenges: Decent work, fair and sustainable economies, future organisations, good governance, and responsible innovation.

Date advert posted: Tuesday, 4 August 2026

Closing date: Sunday, 6 September 2026

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