Research Assistant - Education, Employment and Skills

TN United Kingdom; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in public policy research is seeking a Research Assistant to join their dynamic team in Cambridge. This role offers the chance to engage in impactful research across education, employment, and workplace wellbeing. As a vital member of a multidisciplinary team, you'll conduct quantitative research, analyze complex data, and support project management efforts. With a commitment to equality and inclusion, this organization fosters a collaborative environment where your contributions will shape public policy and improve lives. If you possess strong analytical skills and a passion for research, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Pension - 8% Employer contribution

33 days holiday allowance

Annual salary review

BUPA medical insurance

Generous company sick pay

Flexible working arrangements

Learning and development opportunities

Employee wellbeing training

Free on-site parking

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in quantitative research and statistical analysis methods.
• Strong background in economics or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Conducting quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Supporting project teams with research and administrative tasks.

Skills

Quantitative research methods

Statistical analysis

Report writing

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Economics or related field

SRS Accredited Researcher status

Tools

R

STATA

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Research Assistant - Education, Employment and Skills, Cambridge

col-narrow-left

Client:

Rand Europe

Location:

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Education

-

EU work permit required:

Yes

col-narrow-right

Job Reference:

b513ea7e1fd9

Job Views:

3

Posted:

05.05.2025

Expiry Date:

19.06.2025

col-wide

Job Description:

RAND Europe is an independent, not-for-profit research organisation whose mission is to help improve policy and decision-making through rigorous and independent research and analysis. We benefit the public interest through the impact and wide dissemination of over 200 projects per year. Our work at its most impactful changes policy, practice and process to the benefit of the public good. That is also our organisational mission.

RAND Europe has approximately 180 staff across offices in Cambridge, Brussels, and the Netherlands. Our staff represents 22 nationalities, speaks over 20 languages and covers 31 academic disciplines. Our multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches to research generate unique perspectives and insights for our wide-ranging government, foundation and other NGO clients.

RAND Europe’s research is rigorously peer-reviewed, draws on extensive subject and methodological expertise, and is conducted in a professional, delivery-oriented environment.

The Employment, Education and Skills research group undertakes research across several public policy areas for a diverse client base in the UK, Europe and beyond.

Our work covers a broad range of public policy issues across:

• Employment (including skills, employability, labour migration, child and family policy);
• Education (including early childhood education and care, special educational needs, alternative provision, and edtech);
• Workplace Wellbeing (including productivity, culture, and occupational health and safety).

The Employment, Education, and Workplace Wellbeing workstreams address critical cross-cutting themes, with equality, diversity, and inclusion embedded as fundamental principles in all areas of our research.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with a truly multidisciplinary team in one of the world’s most respected public policy research organisations. We are looking for an exceptional candidate at Research Assistant level on a two year fixed term contract to grow our team of social policy researchers.

As a Research Assistant you will address complex policy questions by conducting research and analysis on behalf of our clients and support the team in submitting proposals and managing and delivering multiple projects in a timely and accurate manner.

We are particularly looking for a researcher with experience in conducting quantitative research and other statistical analysis methods and invite applications from individuals with strong quantitative skills or a background in economics. We also welcome interest from individuals with a background in mixed or qualitative methods in any of the following topics: employment, education, skills, workplace wellbeing.

The role is based in our Cambridge office. However, we are working flexibly as an organisation asking candidates to attend the office twice weekly.

Responsibilities

• Supports project teams in research by:
• undertaking analysis of quantitative and qualitative data
• conducting literature reviews
• supporting interviews and workshops
• preparing presentations and research briefs
• coordinating meetings and events, including taking minutes
• Supports the collation of administrative documents for proposals
• Drafts sections of reports under supervision
• Proof read and checks documents
• Makes corporate contributions through supporting RAND processes such as quality assurance and research ethics
• Provides occasional corporate support with administrative tasks
• Communicates with clients and partners with supervision
• Ad hoc duties as required
• For quantitative researchers: Works with large datasets, including data cleaning, data manipulation, linking multiple datasets using a number of relevant variables and other activities to prepare data for analysis; Implements research projects using inferential statistical and econometric methods (e.g. regression analysis, differences-in-differences, synthetic control)

Requirements

• Basic report writing
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Intermediate Word
• Intermediate Excel
• Intermediate PowerPoint
• Desirable: Quantitative research methods:
• Basic understanding of the principles underpinning randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs (e.g. randomisation, baseline equivalence, statistical power)
• A background in research with a focus on quantitative social research, statistical methods, econometrics and/or data science
• Comfortable working with large datasets, including data cleaning, data manipulation, linking multiple datasets and other activities to prepare data for analysis
• Knowledge of the principles underpinning econometric modelling techniques
• SRS Accredited Researcher status (or eligibility to apply) is desirable
• Intermediate or advanced statistical packages such as R or STATA

Qualifications

£27,500 per anum

• Pension - 8% Employer contribution;
• 33 days holiday allowance, including the Bank Holidays;
• Annual salary review;
• BUPA medical insurance;
• Generous company sick pay;
• Enhanced family friendly policies;
• Group life assurance;
• Flexible working arrangements;
• Learning and development opportunities;
• Employee wellbeing training and support;
• Free on-site parking;
• Cycle to work scheme;
• Access to company bikes;
• Service awards.

How to Apply

If you believe you are suited to the above role, please submit an application comprising of a CV and covering letter. The closing date for applications is Sunday 25 May 2025.

If you have not been contacted within 30 days of application deadline, please assume your application has not been successful.