National Centre for Social Research
Researcher
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Researcher
£28,725- £32,500 depending on experience
Location: London | Hybrid
Position Type: Full time | Permanent
Role details
- Location: London (Hybrid - minimum 3 days per week in the office)
- Reporting to: Senior Researcher or above
- Team: Social Surveys Department (vacancies expected to be predominantly within the longitudinal surveys team)
Instant Impact, in partnership with NatCen, the National Centre for Social Research, is hiring a Researcher to contribute to the delivery of high-quality quantitative social survey research within the Social Surveys Department.
You’ll work across the research process, supporting the design and delivery of surveys, managing fieldwork activity and working confidently with quantitative data. The role is expected to have a particular focus on longitudinal surveys, where people are revisited over time to understand how their lives and circumstances change.
What you’ll do
- Contribute across the survey research process: support the design, implementation and delivery of high-quality quantitative social research projects, working to agreed timelines and quality standards.
- Design and test survey materials: develop and check questionnaires, quantitative data collection instruments, interviewer briefings and other materials needed to deliver effective surveys.
- Help manage fieldwork and survey delivery: support data collection activities and helping ensure surveys are delivered smoothly and to a high standard, including checking and managing samples, monitoring fieldwork progress, and contributing to interviewer briefings.
- Work confidently with quantitative data: manage data in line with NatCen’s policies and procedures and carry out high-quality quantitative analysis with appropriate supervision.
- Produce clear research outputs: prepare reports, presentations and other materials that communicate information effectively to different audiences.
- Manage your work effectively: take ownership of assigned activities, monitor progress, meet deadlines and raise risks or issues promptly when support is required.
- Build positive working relationships: collaborate with colleagues across multidisciplinary project teams and communicate professionally with clients, stakeholders and external partners.
- Maintain high professional standards: follow robust ethical, confidentiality, data protection, information security and data governance requirements throughout your work.
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What we’re looking for
- An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.
- At least one to two years’ experience of conducting surveys, analysing the resulting data and contributing to the delivery of high-quality research studies.
- A sound understanding of survey research theory and practice, alongside practical experience of delivering surveys and working across the research process.
- Experience of questionnaire design, survey document development and supporting or managing fieldwork activity.
- Strong quantitative research skills and experience of using quantitative analysis software.
- Confidence working with data and numerical information, with strong analytical and logical reasoning skills.
- A proactive approach to solving problems, taking ownership of tasks and seeing work through to completion.
- Excellent attention to detail, including the ability to identify inconsistencies, check information accurately and produce high-quality outputs.
- Good project management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise your workload, work under pressure and manage deadlines effectively.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly for different audiences.
- A collaborative working style and a commitment to learning, professional development and continuously improving how work is delivered.
- A postgraduate qualification with significant social research or quantitative methods content, knowledge of a relevant public policy area, or experience in social or commercial market research would be advantageous.
If you’re a survey researcher who enjoys working across the full research process, from questionnaire design and fieldwork through to data analysis and reporting, we’d love to hear from you.
As part of the initial selection process, applicants will be asked to complete an online assessment designed to evaluate numeracy and logical reasoning.
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Benefits
As well as a competitive salary and excellent working environment, including home and office hybrid working, 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, support with professional subscriptions and mentoring from industry-leading experts
About the National Centre for Social Research
At the National Centre for Social Research, we believe that social research has the power to make life better. By understanding the complexity of people’s lives and what they think about the issues that affect them, we give the public a powerful and influential role in shaping services that can make a difference to everyone. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, we are able to focus our time and energy on meeting our clients’ needs and delivering social research that works for society.
SPARK Values & Behaviour Expectations
The role holder must demonstrate:
We Are Curious
- Develops their knowledge of policy areas and research methodologies
- Uses evidence and data to inform decisions and challenge thinking
- Demonstrates openness to learning and feedback
We Move with Purpose
- Delivers high-quality work to agreed timelines
- Takes ownership of assigned tasks and responsibilities
- Demonstrates initiative and problem-solving skills
We Act with Integrity
- Maintains ethical research practice and confidentiality
- Communicates openly and professionally
- Supports an inclusive and respectful working environment
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the interview process, please make us aware and we will endeavour to support you in showcasing your best self throughout our hiring process.
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