Senior Research Adviser in London

The British Medical Association (BMA) is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK. We represent, support and negotiate on behalf of all UK doctors and medical students. Join the BMA at a crucial time for doctors and the NHS and be part of a team working for better pay and conditions for the profession.

About the Role

We’re recruiting for a Senior Research Adviser to join our Research, Economics and Analysis team in the National Negotiations and Policy directorate on a permanent basis. In this role the successful candidate will support pay and contract negotiations, and policy development analysis, for doctors in all four nations of the UK, and provide research advice and support to the individual BMA committees who represent those doctors. In particular, the role has lead responsibility for supporting the work of the General Practice Committee and the Sessional GPs Committee, though the postholder will be expected to undertake some work for other committees and policy areas, and to contribute to wider research team objectives of improving the quality of research and analysis through training and supporting non-research colleagues.

We’re looking for a candidate with skills and experience in both quantitative and qualitative research. The work will include spreadsheet modelling and other analytical support for GP contract negotiations across the UK, contributing to national pay evidence, and creation and analysis of surveys to our doctor members. The role will also involve providing analysis and supporting research to help committees develop their policy positions and respond effectively to government policy initiatives and consultations. You will work with senior elected representatives, senior staff, and policy and research colleagues on the issues that matter to doctors, particularly but not exclusively in the areas of general practice and primary care. You need to have the ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner to our members and your colleagues.

This is a hybrid role and will involve working a minimum of 1 day a week from BMA House in central London. The role may include line management of a Research Analyst.

To be successful as a Senior Research Adviser you’ll have:

• Practical experience in developing and delivering quantitative and qualitative research projects, within timescale, including ideally occasional management of outsourced projects.
• Experience of designing and managing small-scale surveys. Experience of other qualitative methods such as focus groups would be beneficial.
• Excellent level of skills in MS Excel or other spreadsheet software, with ability to construct simple economic and financial models.
• Critical analysis skills to be able to assess and challenge data, research findings, and spreadsheet models produced by others.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other research and especially non-technical policy colleagues, as well as with elected officials and external stakeholders at differing levels of seniority.
• Ability to present research findings to a variety of internal and external audiences of different levels of seniority and technical ability.
• Ability to influence, using expertise, tact and diplomacy.
• Knowledge of NHS primary care and relevant wider health policy, GP pay and contracts issues, and appropriate data sources is highly desirable, or if not evidence of enthusiasm to rapidly develop a level of subject matter expertise in specific areas, and an interest in the specific area of primary care.

Why work for us?

We offer a wide range of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday entitlement plus bank holidays and a BMA company day.
• Double matching pension contributions up to 12% of salary.
• Additional leave entitlement for volunteering, moving house or wedding leave (after completion of probationary period).
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• Group Income protection & life assurance that is seven times your annual salary.
• Annual salary reviews & incremental salary increases from year one to year three.
• Onsite gym and subsidised café (at BMA House in London).
• Electric Vehicle and Cycle to work salary sacrifice schemes (available after completion of probationary period).
• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with free confidential counselling, a helpline and specialist support available.
• Long service recognition every 5 years.
• Professional subscription cover where membership of a professional institution is required for your role.
• BMA Law - discounted rates for employees requiring legal services such as will writing/conveyancing.
• Multiple flexible benefits and discounts through our employee benefits platform.
• Lots of Learning and Development/training opportunities via our internal learning hub.
• Season ticket loan (up to £10,000) (after completion of probationary period).
• Additional annual leave - buy up to 5 additional holiday days per year.

The BMA endeavours to be an inclusive employer, ensuring fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for roles. To support our aims, we use specific software to remove all personal identifying information from CVs and applications. Personal information such as name, date of birth, age and gender are anonymised and will only become visible to hiring managers if you are selected for interview.

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date. The role profile outlines the current key responsibilities and expectations for the position. However, the British Medical Association (BMA) is presently engaged in an organisation design process, which aims to ensure that our structure, roles, and ways of working best support our strategic objectives and the needs of our members. As a result, the responsibilities and scope of this role may be subject to change as the association evolves. The BMA is committed to communicating any such changes transparently and supporting colleagues through any transitions that arise as part of this process.

Our ambition is to work together to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts everybody with the right skills and experience and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity. BMA is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge as we recognise that diversity makes us stronger.

Please note, we are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK points-based immigration system, as we do not hold a sponsorship licence.