Consultant - Public Policy

Icf; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is recruiting social researchers/public policy consultants to join a well-established practice across priority social policy domains in the UK. You will contribute to research projects for government departments and agencies with opportunities to engage in diverse studies across education, employment, communities, youth and families.

You will perform qualitative and quantitative analyses, conduct interviews and focus groups, and produce insightful findings with data visualisations.

Qualifications

• Qualifications relevant to social policy or research methods.
• 1-2 years’ employment experience in research projects for analyst roles; 3+ years for consultant roles.
• Excellent oral and written English.
• Excellent time management.
• Intermediate or advanced computer user skills related to research and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Perform research and analysis on public policy issues and programmes for public and third sector clients.
• Carrying out research and analysing / summarising academic and policy literature.
• Conducting face to face, telephone and video interviews, writing up interviews and focus groups, and carrying out qualitative analysis using a variety of tools and software.
• Analysing quantitative data using a variety of tools and software.
• Generating insightful findings, preparing descriptive and analytical texts and data visualisations.
• Providing research and administrative support to other team members.

Skills

English proficiency

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Research analysis

Education

Social policy or research methods degree

Tools

Qualitative analysis software

Quantitative data analysis tools

Job description

About the team

We are looking for social researchers/public policy consultants to join a well-established practice within ICF that develops, analyses and evaluates UK Government policies and programmes across priority social policy domains, including education/employment, communities, youth and families. ICF’s clients include government departments and agencies such as the Department for Education, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions - as well as local government and leading charities. From day one, you will have the opportunity to contribute to a varied range of influential research projects across the UK. We are particularly interested in hearing from people with a background or interest in sport and active leisure, as well as broader social policy topics such as youth inclusion and employment.

Your main responsibilities will be to:

• Perform research and analysis on public policy issues and programmes for public and third sector clients, by:
• Carrying out research and analysing / summarising academic and policy literature.
• Conducting face to face, telephone and video interviews, writing up interviews and focus groups, and carrying out qualitative analysis using a variety of tools and software.
• Analysing quantitative data using a variety of tools and software.
• Generating insightful findings, preparing descriptive and analytical texts and data visualisations.
• Providing research and administrative support to other team members.

Essential Requirements:

• Qualifications relevant to social policy or research methods (graduate or postgraduate, for example but not limited to social sciences, economics or health economics, applied statistics, geography, political science, service design, psychology or sociology, public policy research or public administration).
• 1-2 years’ employment experience of using a variety of methods (qualitative and/or quantitative) in research projects (either own project and/or as part of a team) for analyst roles, and 3+ years’ experience for consultant roles.
• Strong interest in UK policy, the improvement of public services and use of evidence in policy making.
• Excellent oral and written English.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Intermediate or advanced computer user skills related to carrying out research and data analysis.

Desirable:

• Skills in editing or proofreading other people’s written work.
• Experience in undertaking evaluations of projects or programmes.
• Knowledge of the work of UK government departments.

Personal Qualities:

• Ability to write skilfully and accurately summarise and synthesise information and evidence from a wide range of sources.
• Highly developed interpersonal / communication skills, and ability to work with a multidisciplinary team spread across the UK.
• Sound research and business ethics.
• Ability to manage own time and be flexible to handle multiple priorities, managing a varied workload to meet deadlines.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong, demonstrable commitment to helping us build an inclusive team that values diversity.

We are recruiting into our London, Birmingham and Plymouth offices. We have a hybrid working model that supports our employees to work from a base office and from home.

• Applicants may have to complete a written test at home as part of the recruitment process, to be scheduled at a convenient time for the candidate.
• Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments to take part in a written test or interview, following shortlisting.
• This is a full-time position, but we are very much welcoming of applications from candidates who would like to work part time.