English Language Research and Impact: Assessment Researcher in Dundonald

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Role Description/Purpose

Join the British Council English Language Research and Impact (BCELRI) team and play a key role in advancing research and innovation in English language teaching, learning and assessment.

As an Assessment Researcher within the Learning and Assessment Research (LAR) hub, you will provide expert, evidence-based advice and support across assessment development, validation and research projects within English & Exams (E&E).

This role will contribute to strengthening the British Council’s global research and development capability, with a particular focus on projects spanning the full range of British Council language assessments, including the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Working closely with the Head of Assessment Research and a broad network of internal and external stakeholders, you will help ensure that assessment research, product support and dissemination activities are delivered to the highest professional and academic standards.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced academic researcher with significant expertise in validation research and a strong publication record in the fields of language teaching, learning and assessment.

You will contribute to the British Council’s thought leadership agenda by conducting, commissioning, presenting and publishing high-quality research that supports strategic priorities across BCELRI.

The successful candidate will build strong collaborative relationships, balance the needs of diverse stakeholders and contribute to maintaining the British Council’s reputation as a world authority in language assessment.

In addition to leading assessment-focused initiatives, you will also support wider BCELRI programmes, conferences and research activities, offering the opportunity to broaden your professional experience while helping shape the future of English language assessment worldwide.

• Role Accountabilities
• Sector and subject expertise
• Maintains an authoritative and up-to-date knowledge of assessment design and validity theory and practice to enable BCELRI to demonstrate expertise in language assessment, learning and educational reform, providing expertise in assessment theory, practice, and research approaches and models.
• Conducts own research into test development and validation in teaching, learning and assessment and presents on test development and validation themes, contributing validation research to the ELRI content library and contributing to the dissemination work of the ELRI Learning and Assessment Research hub.
• Demonstrates a background in practical implementation of assessments at different levels across products and projects or programmes.
• Is familiar with the international high‑stakes assessment environment, including knowledge of IELTS test format, scoring and use.
• Is able to oversee and be accountable for all compliance requirements associated with assessment initiatives.
• Develops a body of work through research, publication and dissemination which builds the British Council’s position of international leadership and authority in monitoring and evaluation of language assessment and learning.
• Works collaboratively with other members of the ELRI under the direction of the Head of Learning and Assessment Research on a range of assessment‑related projects and supports the full range of activities, including dissemination activities, carried out by ELRI.
• Contributes to ELRI recommendations, based on an up‑to‑date understanding of the latest developments in language assessment research, for future innovation and change in the British Council examination portfolio.
• Supports other members of ELRI to provide assessment expertise to research projects related to IELTS.
• Supports the ELRI’s contribution to the management of British Council and IELTS funded research programmes and research grant schemes, including using an understanding of the latest developments in the field of assessment research to evaluate grant proposals and review research reports, etc.
• Takes an active role in presenting the research output from projects at peer‑reviewed, international research conferences in collaboration with ELRI and the IELTS partners to strengthen the status of the British Council as a world authority in language assessment.
• Authors and publishes papers in peer‑reviewed journals, monographs, book chapters, etc., on the output of research and development projects in order to strengthen the status of the British Council as a world authority in language assessment.
• Relationship and Stakeholder management
• Represents the British Council externally to enhance their reputation as leading authorities in the field of validation in language assessment, learning and educational reform, promoting and supporting new collaborative opportunities in the area.
• Takes responsibility for managing communications with both external and internal project partners to ensure that British Council operational and strategic goals are met, and that project outputs meet the highest international standards of best practice in the field of language assessment research.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with a wide range of internal colleagues within the ELRI, within English and Exams generally and across other teams who are engaged in assessment activities.
• Works with research teams within the ELRI to provide high‑level expertise to inform research on innovation in language assessment and learning products.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and leads on engagement internally and externally to oversee the internal and external academic research agenda.
• Through active engagement with international, regional and local assessment research communities develops networks and influences professional practice to enhance the reputation of the British Council for world‑leading assessment development and validation research in teaching, learning and assessment.
• Provides leadership and guidance on assessment principles and practice to the wider ELRI team, informing their work across products, projects and programmes.
• Participates in relevant internal and external working groups and other collaborative forums to enable innovation, knowledge advancement and implementation of cutting‑edge expertise in assessment to inform British Council products and reform projects.
• Participates actively in professional associations and related initiatives to contribute to the position of the British Council as a leader in assessment expertise.
• Consultancy, analysis and problem solving
• Contributes to BCELRI consultancy and supports the Learning and Assessment Research hub by providing expert advice and analysis to support the planning and delivery of British Council educational reform and assessment development initiatives.
• Collaborates with other British Council and IELTS teams to provide advice and respond to inquiries needing specific assessment expertise.
• Leadership & management
• Provides strategic leadership for assessment initiatives at different levels of operationalisation within language teaching, learning and assessment.
• Sets, implements and oversees delivery of a workplan for specialised areas of assessment activities within the BCELRI strategic portfolio.
• May provide formal line management to individuals or small groups within BCELRI, which might consist of geographically‑dispersed staff.
• Identifies requirements and recommends training and development provision to build improved expert knowledge and capability within BCELRI.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Ph D in language assessment or closely related field completed (or in‑progress) OR equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in undertaking research in areas of English language teaching, learning and assessment.
• Experience of communicating research and/or theory in international forums with external specialist audiences in both written and spoken modes.
• Experience using qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
• Further Information
• Language: English. Knowledge of other languages is preferred.
• Additional job requirements
• International and domestic travel for projects, conferences, and meetings as required.
• Participation in meetings across time zones as required.
• Working with dispersed teams or in face‑to‑face settings as required.
• Right to

Work: Please note that candidates must have the pre‑existing, legal right to work in the listed location/s at the time of application.

Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.

Country/Location: UK – (London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and Manchester).

Hybrid role.

This role is open to candidates based in all UK locations and on a permanent homeworking basis for staff already on permanent homeworking contracts.

• Pay Band: 8
• Annual Salary: £38,820 onwards plus London Market allowance of £3,300 if London based
• Department: English and Exams - Global ARG

Closing Date: Sunday, 02 August 2026 – 23:59 Philippine Time (GMT +8) / 16:59 UK time (BST)

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work.

The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer.

The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent.

We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements.

We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

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We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

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If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil. org

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