Head of Research & Editorial — Data-Driven Policy & AI Publishing

Firstwork; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Firstwork is seeking a seasoned writer and research leader to drive the agenda for high impact reports and white papers. You will own editorial standards across all Firstwork outputs and guide a Content Producer team turning research into video, graphics, podcasts and reports.

You will collaborate with data and engineering teams to build compelling data stories, lead policy engagement on European labour and employment regulation, and contribute CEO-level writing and speaking material.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in research, journalism, think tanks, policy, or a strategy function producing original published work.
• Portfolio with at least one piece that changed how someone thought about a subject.
• Quantitative comfort. You can interrogate a dataset and recognise when it won't support the claim you want to make.
• Real interest in labour markets, migration, regulation or the economics of work.
• The spine to hold a line on accuracy when there is commercial pressure not to
• Editorial judgement. You can commission, edit and improve other people's work.
• Use of AI across the research process, on the understanding that it raises the verification bar rather than lowering it

Responsibilities

• Set the research agenda
• Write and publish flagship reports and white papers
• Own editorial standards across everything Firstwork publishes
• Build data stories with our data and engineering teams
• Lead policy engagement on European labour and employment regulation
• Produce the CEO's long-form writing and speaking material
• Build partnerships with academics, institutions and industry bodies
• Manage a Content Producer who turns the research into video, graphics, podcasts and report design

Skills

Research experience

Journalism background

Policy analysis

Editorial judgement

Data interpretation

AI in research

Job description

Firstwork is seeking a seasoned writer and research leader to drive the agenda for high impact reports and white papers. You will own editorial standards across all Firstwork outputs and guide a Content Producer team turning research into video, graphics, podcasts and reports.

You will collaborate with data and engineering teams to build compelling data stories, lead policy engagement on European labour and employment regulation, and contribute CEO-level writing and speaking material.