Senior Researcher - Centre for Deliberation

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Senior Researcher - Centre for Deliberation

Application Deadline: 7 May 2024

Department: Public Policy & Global

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: London, UK

Compensation: GBP 30,000 - GBP 43,109 / year

Description

Job Role: Senior Researcher - Centre for Deliberation
Department: Public Policy & Global - Centre for Deliberation
Location: London - Hybrid Working
Salary: GBP 30,000-GBP 43,109
Contract: Full Time

At the Centre for Deliberation we are imaginative about the forms, uses and impact deliberation can have on big societal questions now and in the future, those on which we need to involve the public in decision making and relating to the future of our democracies.

We focus on creating a range of research on public attitudes and policy making; bringing diverse perspectives into conversation with evidence, to explore complex or contentious social issues that impact policy, support the articulation of the public's voice and make a difference to society. By delivering projects, building methodology and capability, our approaches produce robust evidence that supports policy-facing work and the Centre's role as a national leader in the development of this field. We also have a reputation for partnership and collaboration to maximise the reach of the work we can do and the difference it can make.

We tread the line between theory and practice, making for an exciting and engaged working environment that allows us to apply a spectrum of deliberative and participatory methods in our research - working flexibly to apply the strongest designs to different policy problems and questions, and not just using traditional formats that use representative processes. Our portfolio ranges from large multi-year deliberative research programmes to fast-turnaround qualitative projects. This includes recent work for Shelter on the Housing Emergency to inform their general election manifesto and experimental work such as our participation in the Rethinking Public Dialogue programme to explore how deliberation might be scaled through creating rapid and accessible formats.

The Role:This is the time to join an ambitious and innovative team alongside committed researchers from a range of different backgrounds delivering on our plans and priorities. We are now looking for a candidate with relevant skills and expertise to help continue the development of the Centre's work, offering you a role that will give you a varied profile to develop your skills, expertise and networks in all things deliberation and contribute to contemporary research with real world impact.

As a Senior Researcher you will take a lead role in the day-to-day management of projects, including project design, managing and facilitating fieldwork and contributing to analysis and reporting. You will also need to communicate effectively and professionally with clients and external collaborators, as well as with other NatCen staff. You will be involved in planning and coordinating the work of others and supervising more junior staff. You will also have a role in supporting the development of the Centre and working with colleagues to develop training opportunities and new business, contributing to writing tenders and grant applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Significantly contribute to the overall design and implementation of research projects requiring project management capabilities and high attention to detail;
• Be the main contact for projects and liaise effectively and professionally with NatCen staff, as well as external clients and collaborators;
• Develop a range of qualitative research tools and approaches including creative workshop exercises, facilitation guides and session plans and conduct fieldwork including the facilitation of deliberative research;
• Carry out quantitative and qualitative analysis;
• Write proposals, presentations and reports to a standard appropriate for external audiences;
• Develop a good knowledge of relevant methodological standards relating to deliberation and public participation in the UK and internationally;
• Support the development of briefing and training materials that build capacity with NatCen staff to deliver deliberative research;
• Contribute to promoting NatCen's work externally;
• Maintain and promote high ethical and information security standards.

To perform any other reasonable duties that NatCen may require that are consistent with the broad nature of the job.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• A relevant undergraduate degree;
• Experience delivering social research or engagement projects and programmes using deliberative or dialogue based research methods or citizen engagement approaches;
• Excellent project management and team-working skills, including working to timelines and budgets and managing competing priorities and multiple stakeholders;
• Experience analysing qualitative data including using Nvivo
• Ability to communicate clearly, in different styles and for different audiences with evidence of excellent report writing skills;
• Experience of contributing to new business generation, ideally for deliberative or engagement projects;
• Comfortable working toward ambiguous research objectives and using creative approaches to engage the public in complex and controversial issues
• Commitment to building and maintaining good relationships internally and with partners and customers;
• Commitment to continuous improvement.

Benefits

As well as a competitive salary, an excellent working environment (including a home/office hybrid working environment), you will be working for the largest independent social research organisation in the UK. We are proud of the benefits we offer our employees which include:

• 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays) and flexible working
• Generous company pension scheme
• Life insurance and health cash plan
• Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loan
• Career development, professional subscriptions support and mentoring support from industry-leading experts.