Regional Research & Insight Lead

WMJobs; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Discounted gym membership

Eye Care Scheme

Healthcare plans

Bicycle purchase scheme

Volunteering leave

Costco membership through WMCA

Job summary

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is seeking an experienced Senior Research Officer to join the Research, Intelligence and Inclusive Growth team. You will lead the ARI programme, build partnerships with universities and policy networks, and coordinate research activities to support evidence-informed policymaking across the region.

You will translate policy challenges into actionable research questions, influence senior stakeholders, and drive knowledge exchange to deliver practical impact.

Qualifications

• Experience working with universities, research institutes or research funders.
• Experience building strategic partnerships and collaborative programmes.
• Strong understanding of research methods and evidence generation.
• Ability to translate policy challenges into researchable questions and practical evidence needs.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and building relationships across complex organisations.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• A commitment to improving outcomes for communities through evidence-informed decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the West Midlands Areas of Research Interest (ARI) programme.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with universities, research organisations and policy networks.
• Coordinate research and insight activities that support evidence-informed policymaking.
• Lead knowledge exchange activities that translate research into practical action and impact.
• Develop collaboration agreements and support research funding opportunities that align with regional priorities.
• Strengthen research capability across WMCA through communities of practice, training and professional support.
• Oversee research governance, ethics and quality assurance processes.
• Support production of strategic intelligence, evidence reviews and commissioned research.
• Represent WMCA within regional and national research networks and partnerships.

Skills

Partnership building

Research methods

Communication and facilitation

Project management

Policy-to-research translation

Stakeholder influence

Evidence-informed decision making

Job description

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is seeking an experienced Senior Research Officer to join the Research, Intelligence and Inclusive Growth team. You will lead the ARI programme, build partnerships with universities and policy networks, and coordinate research activities to support evidence-informed policymaking across the region.

You will translate policy challenges into actionable research questions, influence senior stakeholders, and drive knowledge exchange to deliver practical impact.