Senior Researcher

Decker Jones, P.C.; United States; Remote; USD 34,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading not-for-profit organization seeks a Senior Researcher to manage and deliver impactful research projects that inspire social change. This position involves mixed methods research, collaboration with communities, and the responsibility to produce high-quality outputs that contribute to policy and practice transformations.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus three office closure days

Personalised wellbeing budget

Two wellbeing days per year

Pension scheme options

Qualifications

• Experience managing research projects.
• Proficient in qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Strong skills in data analysis and communication.

Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver high-quality social research projects.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative fieldwork.
• Produce high-quality research outputs for diverse audiences.

Skills

Research Methods

Data Analysis

Communication Skills

Project Management

Team Collaboration

Education

Relevant Social Research Qualification

Tools

SPSS

Excel

NVivo

Python

Job description

Salary: £34,000 – £39,000

Location: Remote – UK based. Our offices are in Toynbee Hall, East London, but we welcome applicants from across the UK who do not wish to relocate. You should be willing to travel to our London office for team and project meetings up to six times per year. Project related travel costs will be reimbursed.

Hours: Four to five days a week (flexible – minimum 28 hours / week).

The Young Foundation supports a 4.5 day working week and staff work this, wherever possible (pro rata for those working less than a 35-hour week).

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus three office closure days between Christmas and New Year. We also provide two wellbeing days per year. Staff are signed up to one of two pension schemes and a personalised wellbeing budget through Better Space.

About The Young Foundation

The Young Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation driving community research and social innovation. We bring communities, organisations and policymakers together to understand the issues people care about and support collective action to improve lives. We involve communities in research and innovate together to inspire positive change. We deliver distinctive initiatives and programmes to shape a fairer future. We also power our evidence institute, the Institute for Community Studies

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Researcher who has the experience and expertise to work across varied projects and programmes of work. We aim for the insight we generate through our research to inspire support for social change and to influence relevant policy and practice.

This role will a variety of evaluation and mixed methods research projects, including peer research with community members, survey design and delivery, insight projects with local communities and programme evaluation. It will also involve contributing to desk-based research across a range of topics. Some projects will be short-term, lasting a few months, whereas others may span several years.

While the majority of our research is qualitative, we also increasingly carry out innovative analyses of unusual data sets or combine data sets in new ways (eg, our research and engagement in Waltham Forest and our development of the Civic Impact Dashboard). Therefore, we particularly welcome applicants with skills in quantitative research and mixed social research methods.

The role would suit a motivated self-starter with a passion for the work we do, and an understanding of the issues we tackle. A strong conviction for the role that research and evaluation can play in influencing and shaping policy, practice and opportunities for change is essential. You will have been involved in producing high-quality, impactful research publications, with a creative flair for communication.

How to apply

Please send your answers to the application questions (below), your CV and a link (or attachments) to two to three publications or other research or evaluation outputs on which you have been the sole or lead author [e-mail] on or before 10am Monday 23 June 2025.

The selection process will consist of a first-stage virtual interview and second-stage in-person interview and task.

First stage interviews are currently scheduled to take w/c 30 June 2025 and second round interviews w/c 7 July 2025. The Young Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and as part of our commitment to increasing the diversity of our team we actively encourage people from Black and Ethnic Minority or other under-represented groups to apply for this role. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

You must have the right to live and work in the UK. Applicants who require a work permit in order to take up employment will not be considered.

Please complete our onlineEquality and Diversity Monitoring Form. This information will not be seen by the hiring manager or impact your application.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an automated response to say we have received your application.

Please note that we review applications after the closing date and we regret that we will only be able to reply, and give feedback, to short-listed applicants.

Job description

The Senior Researcher will manage, support and deliver high-quality research and community engagement projects working collaboratively across the organisation with colleagues and external partners to achieve this.

The Senior Researcher will have strong mixed methods skills as well as the confidence to explore new methods as required. They will play a key role in supporting and developing more junior researchers, and colleagues who are not research specialists. You will work closely with the Co-Directors of Research and Senior Research Managers to deliver a broad range of projects and raise our profile externally as producers of useful, innovative and creatively shared insights.

We acknowledge that applicants may hold greater strengths and experience in one of either qualitative or quantitative methods. Given this, dependent on your relevant skills and experience, your responsibilities will include:

Managing and delivery of a diverse portfolio of social research projects, including (but not limited to) research focused on place, communities, inequalities, and social innovation practice.
Conducting qualitative and quantitative fieldwork, including using participatory research methods with communities, in different UK locations and contexts.
Conducting quantitative fieldwork including using quantitative methods software/ platforms, questionnaire/survey design, and data analysis (using SPSS, R, Python etc.)
Conducting literature and evidence reviews, using a range of methods and sources of data, predominantly related to issues of place, communities, inequalities, and other welfare and social policy topics.
Delivery of specific research work strands, including taking personal responsibility for key elements of delivery as well as supporting others in the team.
Contributing to business development, identifying opportunities and contributing to bid-writing.
Working closely and collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to manage relationships.
Producing high-quality research outputs for a range of audiences, including report writing and presentations.
Making sure our work is participatory, including working with and training peer researchers and valuing the importance of communicating with different audiences.
Help development and application of creative methods of research and the communication of research findings – eg video, photography, visual design, infographics etc.
Taking responsibility for data and project management, administration and data protection in line with GDPR and ethical codes.
Any other duties as required by the line manager in line with the grade of the post.

About you

Prior experience – essential

Substantial experience in managing research projects.
Background in having achieved a level of training, or knowledge and practical experience, of applying a range of social research methods.
Substantial experience in using qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Experience of conducting data analysis using Excel and one other software (such as SPSS, NVivo)
Experience of having conducted robust literature and evidence reviews.
Ability to communicate effectively about research findings to a range of audiences including clear accessible and academic written and presentation skills.
Experience of collaborating effectively with stakeholders and partners on research projects, supporting input into relevant discussions, research development and regular updates.
Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to deliver results to challenging deadlines.
Curious and optimistic, bringing energy to the work we undertake often in challenging and complex environments.
Good team-working skills, including a willingness to work flexibly, take responsibility, proactively identify problems, and help colleagues deliver solutions.
Prior experience – desirable

Demonstrable knowledge of a subject area related to The Young Foundation’s work.
Experience of learning and evaluation methods.
Experience of participatory methods.
Experience of creative methods in research and the communication of research findings – eg video, photography, visual design, infographics etc.
Intermediate skills in using data analysis software (e.g. SPSS/ NVivo)
Previous experience of working on research-to-practice projects.
Evidence of having been involved in successful business development and bid- writing.
Strong skills in offering training/ coaching and support to colleagues.

Application questions

Please answer each of the three compulsory questions as directly and concisely as possible, being mindful of the word limit (300 words max per question).

Please send your answers to these questions, your CV and a link (or attachments) to two or three publications or other research or evaluation outputs on which you have been the sole or lead author. All documents should be sent to [e-mail] by 10am on Monday 23 June.

What excites you about this role and what core capabilities do you have that would make you a good fit for this role at The Young Foundation? (300 words)
Please give an example of when you have led a mixed methods or learning and evaluation research project or programme, identifying what factors made it a success and what, if anything, you would do differently in future? (300 words).
We have published a piece of research to create a data-rich and resident-led vision and framework for ‘15-Minute Neighbourhoods’. What approaches and strategies would you use to ensure that the findings have the greatest potential impact? (300 words)
Housekeeping questions:

Where did you hear about this vacancy (please specify which website etc.)?
When would you be able to start?