Lead Analyst - Housing and Planning in Manchester

Salary: £35,570 - £44,253 (dependent on experience)

Hours: Full-time role (36.25 hours over a five-day period, flexible arrangements available)

Job type: Fixed term 12 months

Location: Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Tootal Building, 54 Oxford Road, Manchester (with a hybrid approach to working location).

Advert closing date: 4th October 2026 at 23:59

Interviews: 15th and 16th October 2026 (in person)

Your role: Would you like to support Greater Manchester’s Housing First ambitions? Are you interested in housing or the built environment policy and evidence, with a passion for research and analysis? We are looking for a Lead Analyst to join the GMCA Research Team, working on our housing research programme to cover a period of maternity leave. Key areas of responsibility will be supporting the Housing First programme developing the evidence base for the three pillars: supply, support and standards. The right person will be confident with mixed methods analysis and have experience of evaluation. A keen interest or experience of housing either through working in the housing sector or research relating to housing would be a bonus.

As a member of the housing and planning research team, you will also work closely with the Place Directorate at the GMCA on broader projects that look to support the delivery of Housing First, including the Good Landlord Charter, housing growth ambitions and the delivery of net zero homes. Alongside the housing-specific focus of this role, as a member of the wider GMCA Research Team, you will join a team of other Analysts, Lead Analysts and Principals with opportunities to collaborate on cross-sector projects.

About you:

• Have experience of undertaking research and analysis, including delivering research projects.
• Are confident in sourcing, analysing and presenting complex information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Have strong analytical capabilities, with evidence of working with qualitative and quantitative data, including data visualisation skills (potentially including experience using dashboards, and coding).
• May have knowledge of, or experience, of evaluation.
• Possess excellent writing and presentation abilities (to present technical material to non-technical audiences).
• Understand how data and evidence can be used to inform policy and delivery, and how to maximise insight and intelligence from your research.
• Have a good knowledge and understanding of housing policy priorities and challenges.
• Have strong interpersonal skills to work with various stakeholders, internally and externally.
• Have, or are interested in developing, an awareness of the political landscape of Greater Manchester both locally and nationally.
• Are eager to learn new techniques and approaches – you are self-motivated and able to use your own initiative to take work forward.
• Are committed to equality and diversity, both within your work, and the wider workplace.

This experience may come from previous work experience, lived experience, or academic study. Candidates are likely to have prior experience working in a related field, such as (but not limited to) housing, economic development, planning, or the built environment.

For more information about the recruitment process, or to discuss the role, please contact Lucy Woodbine (Hiring manager for this role), via lucy.woodbine@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk

About us: As an employer, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is made up of a number of key Greater Manchester strategic functions and service providers. We value the diversity of our employees, and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, Trans status and Non-binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

To find out more about working for us please click here: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/

Our offer: In return for your hard work, we offer our employees a competitive package as part of our offer that you can find out more about here: Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Home | greater.jobs

Mandatory Information: Privacy Notice Employees on the redeployment register will be given priority for any vacancies in the first instance. If employees are identified as a match from the register then the vacancy may be withdrawn or put on hold pending an outcome. For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK.

Please note we are not a licensed sponsor.

Hybrid working: This role is part of GMCA’s hybrid working scheme. As part of our commitment to ‘Build Back Fairer’ in Greater Manchester following the Covid-19 pandemic, we have evolved our management methods by trusting and empowering staff to deliver their work in the best way that suits the business and their individual needs, and supports health and wellbeing.

Our hybrid working policy sets out a flexible approach, combining attendance at our Manchester city centre office with remote working, typically from home; the location of work is primarily dictated by the needs of the business.