Assistant Research Associate

Contract – 12-months fixed term

Work pattern - Full time or 0.8 FTE (for flexible working, including term time working)

Location - Flexible, with an expectation of working at Coram’s campus in London on average at least once a week and homeworking

We are looking for someone who is passionate about using their research and evaluation skills to join our growing Research Impact and Evaluation team as a Research Assistant to help improve support for vulnerable children and young people, and ultimately make a positive difference in their lives.

Coram is the UK’s first and longest continuing children’s charity established in 1739 as The Foundling Hospital. Today we are a group of specialist organisations, working in the UK and around the world to support vulnerable children and young people from infancy to independence, creating positive change that lasts a lifetime. Coram helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

This role will be based in Coram’s Research Impact and Evaluation team within Coram’s Institute for Children and will focus on delivering research projects and evaluations, both externally commissioned or within the Coram group. The role offers exciting opportunities to build links with economists, statisticians, academics, and researchers to pursue research dedicated to improving the life chances for children and young people.

Coram’s Research Impact and Evaluation Team includes 12 researchers and a network of research associates, pro bono analysts and peer researchers. We carry out qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research with children and young people which often includes their parents/carers and the professionals who support them. We work in-house to support colleagues in the Coram group of children’s charities to evaluate their effectiveness and include the voice of children and young people. We are also commissioned to carry out evaluations for the What Works Centres, the public sector including local authorities, central government, and the NHS, as well as other third sector organisations.

As a team we aspire to be child-centred, rigorous, grounded in experience, embedded in practice, collaborative and impactful. We are dedicated to delivering child-centred research to ensure their voice is at the forefront of our work. We use co-design and participatory research methods to challenge power imbalances within research and work with marginalized groups.

Coram’s Research Impact & Evaluation Team is seeking a dedicated and hard-working individual with an interest in research and evaluation to join our team to work on a range of quantitative and qualitative projects. You will need to be flexible, pro-active, well-organised and willing to learn.

The role also comes with a range of personal and professional benefits including dedicated time for continuous professional development, 25 plus days of annual leave, regular team reflective practice sessions and flexible working arrangements.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to work in applied research and evaluation, and has a passion for designing and delivering high-quality evidence which improves policy and practice for vulnerable children, young people and their families.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we are very committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community. This includes those from global majority groups, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented in research roles.