Research Manager

TASO; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Pension scheme

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Team days

Training fund

Volunteering day

Wellbeing programme

Sick pay

Staff discounts

Job summary

TASO is seeking a Research Manager to lead a portfolio of research and evaluation projects within its research and evaluation team in Central London. The role focuses on scoping, designing and delivering studies, including experimental or quasi-experimental designs, with external partners and funders.

The position requires a strong background in research methods, project leadership, and the ability to translate evidence into practical guidance for higher education providers.

Qualifications

• Degree and postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. social sciences) or equivalent experience.
• PhD in a relevant discipline or demonstrable track record publishing policy research and evaluations.
• Managing research projects from scoping to reporting.
• Ability to design and conduct impact evaluations using experimental or quasi-experimental methods.
• Proficient with software to analyse findings (MS Office, R/Stata/SPSS).
• Strong written and verbal communication, including report-writing.
• Knowledge of widening participation and student success policy.

Responsibilities

• Scoping and designing new research projects and impact evaluations.
• Developing theory of change models and evaluation plans.
• Managing research projects with external partners.
• Reviewing evaluation protocols and study plans.
• Commissioning external research and collaborating with partners.
• Overseeing funded projects, ensuring timely delivery and value for TASO.
• Conducting desk-based literature reviews and synthesising evidence.
• Maintaining knowledge of cutting-edge research and disseminating findings.
• Developing evaluation guidance and tools for universities.
• Planning and delivering external training on evaluation.
• Managing relationships with stakeholders and advisory panels.
• Managing junior colleagues and in-role development.

Skills

Project management

Impact evaluation design

Theory of change

MS Office

R

Stata

SPSS

Written & verbal comms

Widening participation

Education

Degree in social sciences

PhD (relevant discipline)

Tools

R

Stata

SPSS

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Research Manager will join our research and evaluation team and will be responsible for managing multiple research projects and evaluation initiatives and contributing to team and project development

About TASO

Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) is an affiliate What Works Centre, and part of the UK government’s What Works Network .Our aim is to help eliminate equality gaps in higher education through evidence-informed practice.

TASO was set up in 2019 and became an independent charity in April 2021. Our work focuses on the generation, synthesis and dissemination of high-quality evidence about effective practice in widening participation and improving student outcomes. We primarily focus on developing and disseminating causal evidence and we encourage the higher education sector to do the same by providing higher education professionals access to research, toolkits, evaluation guidance, networks, evaluation training and more.

The role

The Research Manager will join our research and evaluation team. The post-holder will be responsible for managing multiple research projects and evaluation initiatives and contribute to team and project development.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Scoping and designing new research projects and impact evaluations in collaboration with higher education providers. This may include projects which incorporaterandomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental evaluation designs.
• Developing theory of change models and evaluation plans for interventions run by higher education providers.
• Managing research and evaluation projects in collaboration with multiple external organisations.
• Reviewing evaluation protocols, study plans, statistical analysis plans and research and evaluation reports.
• Commissioning of external research and evaluation projects and collaborating with external partners e.g. research agencies, evaluation consultancies, or specialist academic advisors.
• Overseeing funded projects, ensuring delivery to timelines, value for money for TASO, and timely and proactive risk assessment and mitigation.
• Conducting desk-based research, reviewing existing literature to synthesise the quality of evidence on a given topic, and collating examples of sector good practice.
• Developing/maintaining knowledge of cutting-edge research and methodological developments that is relevant to TASO’s work. Using this knowledge to contribute to the delivery of blog posts and research briefings.
• Contributing to practical evaluation guidance and tools to support practitioners within universities and colleges to better evaluate the activities and programmes they deliver.
• Planning and delivering external training courses on evaluation and presenting research during workshops and other stakeholder engagement events.
• Developing TASO’s relationships with key stakeholders in the higher education sector and contributing to the running and administration of advisory panels formed of external stakeholders.
• Managing junior colleagues to help deliver research projects, providing in-role development of appropriate research skills and other competencies.

The attributes we are looking for in a Research Manager

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate their skills and experience against the following criteria in their written application and at interview.

That said, we welcome applications from candidates with a range of skills and experience and encourage you to apply even if you do not meet each and every criterion specified below.

Criteria

Education/qualification and training

Degree and postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g.social science disciplines or other subjects with a strong quantitative/qualitative research methods component) or equivalent experience X

PhD in a relevant discipline or demonstrable track record publishing policy research and evaluations X

Knowledge and skills

Managing research projects, including scoping, planning, delivering and reporting X

Ability to design and conduct impact evaluation studies
Note: we will consider applicants with experience of a range of different methods including experimental and/or quasi-experimental methods, but also ‘theory-based’ evaluation methods and those relating to ‘systems change’ X

Confident using software (such as Microsoft Office suite and R/Stata/SPSS) to analyse and present research findings X

Confident and clear written and verbal communication, including report-writing and presentation skills X

Understanding of widening participation and student success policy agendas X

Experience

A minimum of 3–5 years experience working in a research or evaluation role (PhD research included) X

Collaboration and coordination of project stakeholders, communicating persuasively to ensure smooth implementation of research and evaluation projects X

Working on multiple projects and managing competing demands and timescales X

Line management experience X

Developing and delivering presentations and training courses for professional audiences on a variety of topics e.g. theory of change and impact evaluation approaches. Related experience – e.g. teaching quantitative or qualitative research methods – will also be considered X

Commissioning of research or evaluations or contract and grant management X

Experience of research and evaluation relating to widening participation and student success X

Personal characteristics/other requirements

Ability to both use your own initiative and follow instructions and recognise when a problem should be referred to others. X

Ability to work collaboratively in small teams. X

Values

Commitment to eliminating equality gaps in higher education; a passion for the agenda of What Works Centres and the broader agenda around evidence-based policy and practice in public services. X

Initial terms and conditions of appointment

• Remuneration: Starting salary of £44,287 per annum
• Location: Central London. This post will be hybrid with the expectation that the post holder will be in the office two days a week in addition to attending office-based project meetings. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.
• Term: Permanent. Full-time, 35 hours per week.

Other benefits

• Annual holiday – 27 days per year, plus public/bank holidays and a day off for your birthday.
• Pension scheme – TASO will contribute 8% to your pension.
• Flexible working – We are committed to flexible working where possible, with core hours of 10am–4pm.
• Hybrid working – Currently, a two-day requirement to work from our London office.
• Team days – Regular team days in the office and team-building days.
• Training and development – Systematic performance reviews, personalised learning and development objectives and access to a training and development fund plus team training days.
• Volunteering – One day a year off to volunteer for an organisation of your choice.
• Wellbeing – Free employee assistance programme which offers webinars, courses and counselling sessions. A yearly personal wellbeing budget.
• Sick pay scheme – Three months full pay and three months half pay after probation has been passed.
• Staff discounts – Discounts available via Perks At Work from a wide range of retailers for shopping, dining, experiences, car maintenance, study, etc.