At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage social research projects and deliver impactful data analysis.
- Company: Join a leading organisation focused on sustainability and social research.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Make a difference in energy research while mentoring junior staff and innovating methodologies.
- Qualifications: Degree in a relevant field and experience in managing research projects required.
- Other info: Apply by 12pm on Friday 13 June 2025; CVs not accepted.
The predicted salary is between 30060 - 36000 £ per year.
Location: Bristol
Salary: £36075 - £43211 per annum
Job Type: Permanent/ Full time
About the role:
To manage social research work packages or projects within the Research and Analysis (R & A) team and contribute research skills to a range of CSE projects across all teams and work programmes. The role requires knowledge of social science research methods and research administration skills including time management, contributing to funding proposals and bid developments, and supporting outreach and impact work. Some knowledge of energy is required.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Delivery of projects and activities: Effectively manage work packages and small projects within the Research and Analysis portfolio. Oversee the timely delivery of data analysis outputs across multiple projects. Explore innovative outputs to enhance the impact of the work and make best use of your own specialist skills, knowledge and experience in project design, delivery and dissemination. Have expertise in a particular research method or approach (e.g. qualitative analysis, survey analysis, statistics), and develop new approaches to advance CSE's research.
- Operation and development of the team: Participate in relevant meetings and processes to enable good internal communication and effective workload planning. Provide effective line management that supports staff in line with CSE policies. Mentor junior staff and support them to develop research or analytical skills and subject matter knowledge. Input to team development & strategy, supporting recruitment when appropriate. Explore new uses for datasets created by CSE that build our reputation and demonstrate CSE's commitment to open access principles.
- Income generation, partnerships, and generating opportunities: Lead method development for new research work and proactively seek new opportunities for funding and partnerships. Work with CSE's development team to develop new research proposals aligned with CSE's strategy and work programme priorities. Support the development of social research at CSE. Actively seek out and assign work to junior staff that matches their specialist skills and interests.
- Communications and impact: Communicate outputs effectively to internal team members, CSE staff wide, and external stakeholders. Create impact & recognition of research outputs, liaise with CSE's Comms team about disseminating outputs to key audiences and author CSE website pages and blog posts where relevant.
- Professional development: Continuously improve research and analytical skills and expand knowledge of research areas relevant to CSE's work programmes. Stay current with relevant trends in energy social sciences to help foster innovation within CSE's work.
About you:
- Degree level qualification or equivalent in a relevant topic
- Relevant formal research methods training - as part of degree course or continuing professional development
- Experience in management/coordination of small-scale research or evaluation projects or significant work packages with demonstrable success in delivering work on budget and on time.
- Track record of delivering research, with evidence of conducting primary data collection and analysis, inputting to study design and managing diverse and complex project data
- Project management skills including excellent time management, organisation of self and others, budgeting and record-keeping, priority setting and problem-solving
- Advanced understanding of social research methods and associated software (e.g. SPSS, Nvivo, Excel)
Benefits: Please click the APPLY button to complete the application form. Your application should demonstrate your suitability for the role against the criteria outlined in the person specification. CV's will not be accepted, please complete the application form and send to our Centre for Sustainability jobs inbox.
The closing date for applications is 12pm on Friday 13 June 2025.
Senior Researcher employer: Centre for Sustainable Energy
Contact Detail:
Centre for Sustainable Energy Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Researcher
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in energy social sciences. This knowledge will not only enhance your understanding of the field but also demonstrate your commitment to staying current, which is crucial for a Senior Researcher role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the research and analysis community, especially those involved in energy projects. Attend relevant conferences or webinars to make connections that could lead to potential collaborations or insights into upcoming opportunities.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your project management skills by discussing specific examples where you successfully managed research projects. Highlight your ability to deliver on time and within budget, as this is a key requirement for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss innovative approaches you've used in past research projects. The role requires exploring new methods, so being able to articulate your creative problem-solving skills will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Researcher
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Thoroughly read the job description for the Senior Researcher position. Make sure you understand the key responsibilities and required skills, particularly in social research methods and project management.
Tailor Your Application: When filling out the application form, ensure that your responses directly address the criteria outlined in the person specification. Highlight your relevant experience in managing research projects and your knowledge of energy-related topics.
Showcase Your Skills: Use specific examples to demonstrate your expertise in social research methods and any relevant software tools like SPSS or Nvivo. Mention any successful projects you've managed, focusing on your role in delivering them on time and within budget.
Follow Application Instructions: Remember that CVs will not be accepted. Complete the application form as instructed and ensure all sections are filled out accurately. Double-check for any errors before submitting to the Centre for Sustainability jobs inbox.
How to prepare for a job interview at Centre for Sustainable Energy
✨Showcase Your Research Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your experience with various social research methods. Highlight specific projects where you successfully applied these methods, and be ready to explain how they contributed to the project's success.
✨Demonstrate Project Management Skills
Since the role involves managing work packages and projects, share examples of how you've effectively managed timelines, budgets, and team dynamics in previous roles. Use specific metrics to illustrate your success.
✨Communicate Impact Effectively
Think about how you can articulate the impact of your research. Prepare to discuss how you've communicated research findings to different audiences and the strategies you used to enhance visibility and recognition.
✨Stay Current with Trends
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in energy social sciences. Be ready to discuss how these trends could influence CSE's work and how you can contribute to fostering innovation within the team.