Head of Research

Within commutable distance of Beckenham, Birmingham, Blackburn, Doncaster, Redcar, Bristol or Bradford

Temporary until 31 August 2031

Teach Lead Change is a new partnership between the NIoT and Teach First, delivering the High Potential Initial Teacher Training route. Teach First leads trainee attraction, selection and placement, while the NIoT delivers the PGCE and leads research and continuous improvement. This role offers the opportunity to build the research team that will help the partnership learn and improve.

Lead a research team. Turn evidence into practice. Help shape the future of teacher education.

How can we attract, develop and retain teachers and understand the difference they make to pupils? Join the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) as Head of Research and lead a dedicated team exploring these questions through rigorous research with practical purpose.

At the NIoT, we believe teaching is a fundamental societal good, a privilege and a responsibility. We bring researchers and programme teams together to tackle real challenges, strengthen teacher education and turn high-quality evidence into better practice.

Teach Lead Change is a new partnership between the NIoT and Teach First, delivering the High Potential Initial Teacher Training route. Teach First leads trainee attraction, selection and placement, while the NIoT delivers the PGCE and leads research and continuous improvement. This role offers the opportunity to build the research team that will help the partnership learn and improve.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Research and Best Practice, you will lead the TLC research team and develop and deliver its research plans within agreed partnership priorities and the NIoT’s research strategy. Across an anticipated six to eight projects in three research clusters, the programme will explore the journey from attraction and selection to training, retention and impact on pupils. You will be accountable for the team’s research quality, delivery and continuous improvement, working within approved resources and governance arrangements.

You will lead the research team’s contribution to the partnership’s continuous improvement activity, helping programme colleagues understand the evidence, identify opportunities and evaluate agreed changes. Working alongside those responsible for programme delivery, you will connect research with practical improvements while keeping operational decisions with the relevant programme leaders.

As part of the NIoT’s multidisciplinary research community, you will provide methodological leadership and uphold high standards across the team’s work. As Principal Investigator for the partnership’s theory of change and overarching synthesis, you will bring findings together into clear, useful insights for teacher education. You will also support colleagues to produce high-quality publications and resources that reach practitioners, policymakers and the wider sector.

Collaboration will be central to your success. As the principal research contact for the TLC programme, you will build effective relationships with colleagues at Teach First and the NIoT, coordinate research access, data-sharing and ethical approval arrangements through established processes, and provide specialist advice to partnership governance groups.

We are looking for an experienced research leader who combines methodological expertise with the ability to develop people, manage complex projects and communicate clearly about what evidence can and cannot tell us. You will bring doctoral-level expertise or an equivalent record of leading rigorous research, experience of supporting researchers and a collaborative, curious approach.

The role is hybrid, with the majority of your time spent working from home and the opportunity to connect with colleagues in person at one of our campuses around once a fortnight. There is also an annual all staff away day which involves travel and an overnight stay.

If you are excited by the opportunity to build a collaborative research team, deliver ambitious research and help turn evidence into meaningful improvements in teacher education, we would love to hear from you.

Key benefits:

• Flexible & Hybrid working
• At least 27 days’ holiday a year (plus 8 bank holidays)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Comprehensive employee benefits including enhanced parental leave

The National Institute of Teaching is committed to creating a diverse environment and ensuring that all qualified applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices and are open to job shares, secondments, part-time, and flexible working schedules.

We think a wide range of different work and educational experiences could support you to be successful in this role. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities.

How to apply

If you have any queries about this role, please email us at recruitment@niot.org.uk

Closing date: 20 November 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. 

Candidates must already have the right to work in the UK, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

This post requires a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with a Children’s Barred List Check and Occupational Health Check is required as a condition of employment.