Research and Engagement Officer

Portsmouth City Council; Ringford; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the UK seeks an experienced Research and Engagement Officer to join their market research team. The role involves developing research plans, engaging stakeholders, and analyzing data to support evidence-based decision-making. Ideal candidates should have a degree in a research-related field and experience in market research. The position offers hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• Experience or professional qualification in a research related field.
• Understanding of market research tools, data sources and software.
• Ability to gather and analyse quantitative and qualitative data.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement research plans for projects and campaigns.
• Gather customer data from multiple sources and present findings.
• Support project teams in sharing research insights.

Skills

Market research tools

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Customer-focused approach

Education

Degree in a research related field

Tools

Survey software

Data analysis software

Job description

Portsmouth City Council is proud to be one of thirty authorities selected to host a Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). This exciting initiative aims to strengthen our research capabilities, tackle health inequalities, and improve outcomes for disadvantaged communities.

We are looking for an experienced and customer-focused Research and Engagement Officer to join our dynamic market research team and help drive evidence-based decision making across the council.

The role

You’ll be expected to maintain oversight of available research and data across the organisation and beyond, working closely in collaboration with relevant internal and external colleagues, such as the leads from our HDRC partners at the University of Portsmouth and HIVE Portsmouth. You will ensure that relevant information is shared with colleagues and partners to enhance the impact of insights gained across the organisation and city.

The post holder will be confident engaging a range of stakeholders, including internal staff, stakeholders from organisations and groups in the city and the general public, and will have a good grounding in the principles and practice of research methods including focus groups, interviews and surveys. You would also work closely with colleagues in other departments and be a key part of relevant project teams to fully contribute to the project and ensure a joined‑up approach to evidence‑based decision making.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement research plans to support a range of projects and campaigns, using a range of research tools including in‑person surveys, focus groups, depth interviews and digital channels – this will range from a hands‑on approach and working directly with customers, right through to commissioning and managing partner agencies
• Support large corporate consultations, and lead on smaller projects
• Liaise with client service across the council and the HDRC team to take research briefs and provide recommendations on how best to meet their needs
• Gather customer data from multiple sources, analyse, present findings and make clear recommendations through concise reports and/or effective presentations
• Have oversight of data and research within and outside of the organisation and support project teams in sharing this to enhance the organisational culture
• Work alongside teams to build research capacity through empowering and upskilling the workforce, and share learning externally such as with local partners and the national HDRC network

The Ideal candidate

If you are proactive, with a strong commitment to using your excellent research and insight skills to take the council forwards, and a real passion for making a difference to our customers, we want to hear from you.

• Sufficient experience or a professional qualification in a research related field and/or a degree with significant social research content (at least 30% social methods and coverage of research methods)
• Experience, knowledge and understanding of a wide range of market research tools, data sources and software
• Proven experience developing bespoke research plans for projects and campaigns (in the field of health inequalities and the wider determinants would be a bonus)
• Experience interpreting and evaluating existing data and customer research
• Proven ability to gather and analyse qualitative and quantitative data, make recommendations and present findings
• Is confident working with stakeholders and the public.
• Has excellent communication skills and a proactive, customer‑focused approach.
• Is passionate about making a difference through research and engagement.

Please ensure that you read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section ‘Who is the person’ as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement.

Hybrid Working – Attendance requirements to the designated workplace

You would be expected to spend a minimum of two days a week in person either working in an office or in the field, with the remainder working from home. In person time is likely to be higher when fieldwork and training will require in‑person attendance for events like focus groups, workshops and interviews.

Additional information

If you have any questions, or would like an informal discussion about the role, please email Emily Acton [e-mail]

Application process

We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.

As part of your application, we ask that you complete a Personal statement. This statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the ‘Who is the person’ points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal.

We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under our corporate commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

About Portsmouth City Council

What we can offer you

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our careers portal homepage: Careers Portal – Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact [e-mail] or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616800.