Senior researcher

Centre for London Senior Researcher
Location London, United Kingdom
Application deadline 5 November 2018
Contract type Permanent
Hours Full-time
Salary GBP25,000 to GBP30,000
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Centre for London is a think tank and charity focused on London’s critical challenges. As a senior researcher, you will develop and deliver research projects that make a difference to policy and practice – tackling issues such as employment and skills, transport and public realm, neighbourhood resilience, affordable housing, and London’s place in the UK and the world.

The role

Are you a creative and thoughtful researcher, with a passion for cities, and superlative skill at developing and communicating ideas with impact?

Working within a six-person research team, you will help to come up with new ideas, to deliver existing projects, and to support events and fundraising. Reporting to a research manager, you will be responsible for developing, delivering and managing research projects, from data analysis and literature reviews, to interviews with practitioners and stakeholders.

The role will include preparing proposals and fundraising, undertaking research and writing reports for publication, and raising the profile of the Centre’s work through writing and public appearances. The successful candidate will join a growing team at the Centre’s airy open-plan offices in Clerkenwell.

Key roles and responsibilities

Development and delivery of Centre for London research projects:

  • Develop research project proposals for consideration by the research team and the senior management team.
  • Assist with fundraising – including proactive research and identification of suitable individuals and organisations, working with others to prepare written materials for funding prospects and stewardship of relationships with relevant donors.
  • Deliver approved projects through conducting and writing research, and project management and co-ordination.
  • With research colleagues, contribute ideas, analysis and narrative to the
  • Centre’s events programme and other projects.

Partnerships, and external promotion of Centre for London and its ideas:

  • Promote Centre for London, its analysis and ideas, through participation in external events, public speaking, writing and media activity as required.
  • Represent and promote Centre for London in public and in private to relevant audiences (business, government and civil society), extending the organisation’s reach and influence.
  • Help to maintain, enhance and extend of the organisation’s networks of funders, supporters and stakeholders.
  • Present the organisation in an appropriate and professional manner to its stakeholders

General responsibilities and duties:

  • Conduct the duties of the job description in accordance with the operational policies of Centre for London, including but not limited to the diversity policy and code of conduct.
  • Maintain good working relations with Trustees, staff, volunteers and other stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the development and growth of the organisation through working in accordance with its wider objectives, corporate philosophy and values.
  • Assist at Centre for London events outside of normal working hours as necessary.
  • Undertake any other reasonable duties as may be required.

Experience and skills

Applicants must show commitment to the values and ethos of Centre for London and be passionate about London.

We think this role would best suit someone who is looking to develop their research leadership skills, perhaps after working in a think tank, research institution, public policy or advisory role. We don’t ask that you are an expert in London policy issues – though understanding of housing and/or skills policy would be helpful – but you will need to be able to learn quickly, think creatively and communicate compellingly.

Here at Centre for London, we celebrate London’s rich and diverse culture and we want our trustee board and team to reflect the city we serve. We especially welcome applications from people often under-represented in our sector.

Qualification criteria :

  • Qualified to degree level or equivalent, with excellent academic credentials or experience.
  • Ideally a postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
  • Right to work in the UK.

Skills and experience:

  • Two or more years’ experience working in high quality research, policy or public affairs roles.
  • Understanding of research methods, ideally including experience of quantitative analysis, and a track record of high-quality work.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to present and write on a wide range of issues and in a variety of contexts.
  • The ability to network effectively with policy advisers, politicians, civil servants and academics as well as business and third sector organisations.
  • Awareness of London policy, networks and government, and how to effect change in policy making and practice.
  • Specialised understanding of housing, or skills and labour force policy would be an advantage.

Competencies:

  • Analytical capacity, curiosity, the ability to think strategically, and to generate fresh insight and analysis.
  • Personal credibility when working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
  • Flexible, highly organised, and able to multi-task and prioritise work to meet deadlines.
  • Excellent team player.

Other useful information

To apply: To apply please follow the link below. Then email a CV and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Senior Researcher’.Your application should show how your experience and achievements to date would make you a suitable candidate for this role (no more than three pages total). Your application should be saved as a single PDF with your name as the title.
Please note, applications will only be submitted when the form has been completed and your PDF has been received via email.

Deadline: 9am on Monday 5th November 2018. We may close applications earlier than the deadline. Previous applicants need not apply. We do not want any contact from recruitment agencies regarding this vacancy.

About our culture: We’re a small charity with 18 members of staff. Everyone is passionate about London and committed to making it a better city. We have a friendly, fun and collaborative team culture. We invest in our team to help them succeed; offering on the job support and opportunities for development of your skills, both formally through training (learning lunches, whole team and individual training) and informally through experience and shadowing.

We celebrate London’s rich and diverse culture and we want our team to reflect the city we serve. We’re a London Living Wage and an equal opportunities employer – an ethos which also informs our work. We value the ideas and input of every team member and we regularly hold team-wide sessions to give everyone the opportunity to shape our future work.

We also know that there’s much more to life than work. Our flexible hours policy allows staff to make sure work fits around their personal lives. Benefits include 25 days holiday per year (plus extra days during office closure between Christmas and New Year), a contributory pension, a cycle scheme, childcare and eye care vouchers. We are committed to supporting working parents and those with caring responsibilities; we offer enhanced maternity pay (12 weeks at full pay) and enhanced “paternity” pay (3 weeks at 90% of pay), and we encourage shared parental leave.

People who have worked with us for more than two years are also able to take career breaks of up to six months, giving them time for personal or professional development, or to simply take an extended holiday!