Social Researcher

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Hybrid working

Flexible Hours Scheme

Training on the job

Professional Membership Fees

Job summary

Social Researcher at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority in Sheffield (hybrid) leads the end-to-end delivery of the South Yorkshire Resident Survey, shaping policy and priorities through robust social research. You will design, deliver and improve the survey, manage external suppliers, analyse data and communicate insights to senior leaders.

You will collaborate with Local Authorities and internal teams to ensure findings inform strategy and service development, with a focus on rigorous

Qualifications

• Experienced researcher with strong understanding of survey design and quantitative analysis.
• Ability to turn complex information into insights for policy and decision-making.
• Comfortable with partnership working and managing contracts.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of the South Yorkshire Resident Survey programme.
• Plan and implement the survey content and methodology with internal and Local Authority stakeholders.
• Manage external research supplier, oversee fieldwork, analysis, QA and reporting.
• Communicate insights effectively to senior leaders and varied audiences.
• Contribute to ongoing methodology improvements and ensure survey relevance.

Skills

Survey design

Quantitative analysis

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Project management

Job description

Social Researcher

Application Deadline: 22 November 2026

Department: Insight

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Reporting To: Grace Clark (Simmonds)

Compensation: £47,181 - £50,269 / year

Description

• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Contract: Fixed Term (24 months)
• Salary: Grade 10 £47,181 - £50,269
• Location: Sheffield (hybrid working)

This is an exciting opportunity to join SYMCA's Insight Team and play a key role in helping shape policy, services and decision-making through high-quality social research and evidence.

As a Social Researcher, you will lead the design, delivery and continuous development of the region’s first South Yorkshire Resident Survey, providing valuable insight into the priorities and perceptions of local residents. Your work will directly inform strategic decision-making, support mayoral priorities and help shape policies and services that improve outcomes for residents across the region.

Working within SYMCA's Insight function, you will collaborate with internal stakeholders, Local Authorities and external partners to ensure the resident survey provides robust insight into the issues that matter most to South Yorkshire communities.

About the role

As a Social Researcher, you will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of the South Yorkshire Resident Survey programme, ensuring high-quality, reliable and representative insight is available to decision makers across SYMCA and its partner Local Authority organisations.

You will lead the planning and implementation of the survey, working with internal and Local Authority stakeholders to identify priority research questions, develop survey content and ensure the survey captures meaningful information about residents' perceptions. You will commission and manage the successful external research supplier, including overseeing fieldwork delivery, data analysis, quality assurance and reporting. You will also lead on communicating insight effectively to varied audiences, including senior leaders.

You will contribute to the ongoing development of the resident survey, identifying opportunities to improve methodology, representation, accessibility and impact, ensuring the survey continues to meet the evolving needs of SYMCA and its partners.

Between survey waves, you will lead and support complementary research projects to strengthen our understanding of communities in South Yorkshire as part of a wider package of insight.

About you

You are an experienced researcher with a strong understanding of survey design and quantitative analysis, with a passion for understanding people’s experiences and using evidence to influence policy and decision-making. You are comfortable with partnership working and managing contracts and have the skills to turn complex information into meaningful insights and recommendations.

You will bring:

• Experience designing, commissioning and managing large-scale survey programmes from development through to analysis and reporting, working with external research suppliers.
• Strong quantitative analysis and statistical skills.
• Knowledge of social research methods, research ethics and data protection requirements
• Experience using evidence and insight to inform policy, strategy or service development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex findings to non-technical and senior audiences.
• Experience building effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality.

You will be analytical, curious and collaborative, with a commitment to producing high-quality research that helps improve outcomes for residents. Most importantly, you will be motivated by using evidence and insight to support better decision-making and help shape the future of South Yorkshire.

Benefits

All colleagues have access to a Local Government Pension Scheme and the chance to be part of an organisation where you can really make a difference. Located in Sheffield City Centre, we are well-placed for transport links and encourage employees to take advantage of the active travel facilities. Work/life balance is extremely important to us here at SYMCA with our recognised family/friendly policies, genuine work flexibility, recognition, and shared success.

Diversity at South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority

• Holiday Entitlement – From 28 to 36 days annual leave entitlement (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays. Pro-rata for part time colleagues.
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme – The ability to purchase up to a further 15 days per year in addition to your normal annual leave.
• Hybrid working – Our offices are a space where we come together and collaborate. Most of our roles are offered on a hybrid basis with the exception of some support roles being onsite full time. Please note, unless specified within the job advert, we cannot accommodate remote working contracts.
• Flexible Hours Scheme – Most roles within SYMCA work under the Flexi-Scheme which allows office-based employees’ flexibility and discretion over their working hours. Under the scheme employees can accrue a defined amount of credit or debit of working hours, and to take time-off in the form of Flexi-Leave or banked Annual Leave.
• Rewarding You - Reducing everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more with Reward Gateway and Cycle-to-Work schemes.
• Training on the job - Support with upskilling skills through on-the-job training and qualifications
• Professional Membership Fees – Where membership to Professional bodies is applicable to your role, SYMCA will reimburse your membership fees where applicable and following approval by Line Management.

Our workforce is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

All employees are eligible to request Flexible Working arrangements from day one of employment as such all requests will be considered subject to operation requirements.

Where candidates share disabilities within the application process, if they demonstrate that they meet all essential criteria from the Role Profile within their application, they will automatically be invited to interview.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the process, please contact [e-mail] or include within your application form detailing the adjustment and how it will assist in managing any barriers.