- Salary £23,000 - £26,000 per year
- Location Remote
- Job Type Contract, Part-time, Full-time
- Category Policy/Research
- Sectors Social Welfare
- Job Reference :
Job Description
Responsible to: Director of Higher Education and Impact
Responsible for: Associate Researcher(s) on a project basis
The Bridge Group is a non-profit consultancy that uses research to promote social equality. We do this by supporting organisations of all kinds with independent expertise, research and practical know-how to enable them to make real and lasting impact on socio-economic diversity and social equality.
Our objective is to make real and meaningful change, now. And our vision is a higher education system and labour market where outcomes are determined by competence and hard work, and not by socio-economic background. We do this through research, consultancy, convening and advocacy.
Over the last decade, we have worked with many of the UK’s leading employers, government bodies, charities and educational institutions and our impact features regularly in the media and in national publications.
THE ROLE
We are seeking to appoint a Research Officer who can undertake robust qualitative and quantitative research, supported by a more senior researcher; and understand the context in which this analysis takes place. Research projects usually focus on access to, and success and progression within the higher education and employment sectors for people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Much of the work is commissioned by universities, employers, charities or other similar stakeholders and involves the evaluation of programmes or other practices aimed at promoting socio-economic diversity and social mobility.
This role is available on a full-time or part-time basis. The location is flexible: Bridge Group staff normally work remotely and are currently dispersed across the UK and beyond. We want our Team to be more diverse, because having a range of perspectives and experience benefits our work, and we particularly encourage people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and/or other groups traditionally underrepresented in research to apply.
We provide in-house training on our research methods and encourage ongoing professional development, including through external training.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Research Officer will be responsible for undertaking routine research analysis, typically as a discrete part of a broader piece of research, and with the methodology and outputs agreed in advance. They will also provide practical research assistance. This could include, for example, entering or mapping data in an accurate and timely manner or extracting relevant information from programme monitoring reports and highlighting trends. It could also include administrative tasks such as organising interviews and focus groups; and liaising with external stakeholders about data formatting and transfer.
The Research Officer will be expected to develop a wider understanding of each project in which they are involved. This will include engaging productively with the wider research team, for example through attending and contributing to discussions; and relating the findings of their own work to the wider research questions.
The Research Officer will present research findings coherently, accurately and precisely. This may be verbally and/or in writing, for example through writing short reports and/or presenting findings to an audience (for example, a client).
There will also be other more operational tasks associated with the role, working in collaboration with colleagues in the Charity. These are likely to include administrative tasks for meetings and events; communications with stakeholders, including by phone and email; copywriting; and website contributions. Colleagues with relevant experience and interests may have the opportunity to lead small projects and events relating to research and its dissemination, or the development of the Charity.
SKILLS, UNDERSTANDING & EXPERIENCE
The successful candidate will:
- Be committed to the Bridge Group's vision of a higher education system and labour market where outcomes are determined by competence and hard work, and not by socio-economic background
- Understand the key issues relating to social equality in the UK
- Understand and have experience of using qualitative social science research methods (e.g. designing interview discussion guides, running interviews and focus groups) and analysis (for example, thematic analysis)
- Understand and have experience of statistical techniques (e.g. correlation, ANOVA and basic tests of statistical significance), and the tools used for these (e.g. SPSS and Excel)
- Understand deprivation/disadvantage metrics (e.g. Index of Multiple Deprivation and HESA measures) used in education-related research
- Pay uncompromising attention to detail and accuracy
- Be able to demonstrate excellent organisational and administrative skills, as required e.g. to arrange and run interviews and focus groups
- Have experience of communicating complex information clearly and accessibly to a range of audiences, including those with limited familiarity with social science research methods
- Have excellent written English skills, allowing you to write clear, concise reports presenting your research findings
- Have excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage interviewees from a range of backgrounds sensitively and productively
- Experience of handling sensitive information, and adhering to strict confidentiality and data security protocols
- Be highly numerate and computer literate, with excellent Excel skills and competent in SPSS
- Be able to work both independently and collaboratively, plan and manage own workload, and meet strict deadlines
- Understand how to meet safeguarding requirements in social sciences research.
We anticipate that the successful candidate will have a postgraduate research degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant discipline (e.g. social sciences, education) or be working towards such a qualification.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
We offer flexible and remote working and are open to considering applicants who prefer to work part-time. The role includes 28 days annual leave, plus eight statutory Bank and public holidays (pro rata for part-time appointments).
Contract type
We are offering a one-year contract in the first instance, with a three-month probationary period.
Location
The Research Officer will work remotely. In normal circumstances, you will be encouraged to attend face-to-face meetings and other events in London or other locations (for example, Bridge Group team meetings). We are open to varying levels of face-to-face attendance, to accommodate an individual's location and circumstances, as well as Covid 19 restrictions. Most meetings currently take place by video or telephone call.
Interviews
We will invite shortlisted applicants to an interview by video call.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.