Field Allocation Manager

the National Centre for Social Research; London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent social research organization in London is looking for a Field Allocation Manager to oversee the allocation of fieldwork to interviewers, ensuring projects meet quality and budget targets. The ideal candidate will have proven Excel skills, excellent communication, and strong analytical abilities. This role offers a competitive salary and a hybrid working environment with generous benefits.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays

Generous company pension scheme

Life insurance and health cash plan

Cycle to Work scheme

Career development support

Qualifications

• Proven experience with Excel is essential for the role.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required.
• Excellent communication skills are necessary for successful stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Allocate work efficiently to fieldworkers to meet project KPIs.
• Collaborate with Field Performance Managers to ensure effective allocations.
• Identify future field interviewer requirements based on project allocations.

Skills

Proven experience with Excel

Excellent Communication Skills

Resource Deployment/redeployment

Stakeholder engagement and cooperation

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Job description

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Field Allocation Manager

Application Deadline: 21 August 2025

Department: Data Collection Delivery, External Field

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Harold Wood

Compensation: GBP 30,000 - GBP 35,000 / year

Description

Role: Field Allocation Manager
Location: Harold Wood, (Hybrid Working, 2 days per week in office)
Salary: Up to GBP 35,000
Department: Data Collection
Contract: Permanent

We are looking for a dedicated and professional candidate to join our team of Field Allocation Managers (FAMs). This position is responsible for achieving an optimal allocation of all fieldwork to our remote based field interviewers who work across Great Britain. This is a key step in how our field projects are delivered on time, on budget, whilst meeting the exceptional quality that NatCen's data collection is known for.

To be successful, you will need to work closely with our team of Field Performance Managers (FPMs) who line manage the field interviewers. You will engage with our field interviewers when allocating their work, ensuring they have an optimum package of live cases to produce the best survey outcomes whilst retaining their services. Through the allocation of work, you will identify areas for recruitment, resourcing and Field Interviewer development.

Key Responsibilities

Fieldwork allocation:

• Using corporate systems, undertake efficient and timely allocations of work to fieldworkers, enabling project KPIs to be met.
• Reallocate work in a timely manner, minimising the length of fieldwork days lost due to work not being appropriately covered.
• Ensure a fair allocation that supports fieldworker retention whilst also ensuring value for money.
• Work collaboratively with Field Performance Managers and field interviewers, to ensure that allocations are made with the fullest information, minimising the need for corrections.
• Ensure new starters have workloads that optimise their retention.
• Identify briefing requirements (include updating systems and passing outcomes to relevant stakeholders as appropriate), confirm briefing and training requirements have been completed.
• Follow and update project planned tasks (Teamwork).
• Escalate issues with Head of Field Management as appropriate; consult effectively to handle and resolve issues.

Fieldworker resource:

• Identify future field interviewer requirements in collaboration with Field Performance Managers, based on future project allocations and existing capacity, making recommendations to Head of Field Management on recruitment needs
• Work with the team responsible for delivering field interviewer recruits, ensuring they have the most up to date information on recruitment needs

Service delivery:

• Provide excellent service, resolve issues promptly and accurately
• Provide expertise on matters relating to fieldwork allocation
• Build and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Process Improvement:

• Identify opportunities for process improvement and implement best practices.
• Develop and update standard operating procedures.
• Support the implementation of new systems and technologies.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Proven experience with Excel.
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Resource Deployment/redeployment
• Stakeholder engagement and cooperation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

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.