Research Assistants/ Analysts - Social Policy in Plymouth

Overview

We are looking for Researchers to join our UK policy research and evaluation teams.

The Researcher role is an entry-level role for social researchers who are new to the profession. The role will give you experience of working across a wide range of projects and topics, coupled with research training that will enable you to grow your career at ICF.

We welcome applications from people with a demonstrable interest in working across varied topics relevant to our UK public and third sector clients. Our work includes research, evaluation and consultancy working with people and clients in policy areas including health, education, employment, social care, children and young people, environment and biodiversity, food and agriculture, regulation, crime and justice, and housing.

We are also interested in recruiting people with experience of one or more applied research methods, and the analysis of primary and secondary data, including: qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; statistics; economic analysis; literature reviews; evaluation of programmes and projects; service design / user experience research; data science and data visualisation.

People who have experience of working in front line services with an interest in pursuing a career in research are very much welcome to apply.

What you’ll get to do:

From day one, you will have the opportunity to contribute to a varied range of influential research projects across the UK. Our work is multidisciplinary, and by becoming part of a growing team, you will gain experience of different policy areas and research methods. You will be working across multiple projects. We will support you to develop your own career as you grow your skills, through excellent training and development opportunities.

ICF’s clients include government departments and agencies such as DEFRA, Natural England, the Department for Education, NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Food Standards Agency, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Environment Agency – as well as local government and leading charities. Many of our researchers also support wider ICF teams with a range of social and economic policy research projects for the European Commission.

Examples of some of our recent projects include the impact evaluation of the Transforming UK Food systems research programme for UKRI; the evaluation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in London for the GLA; the evaluation of the Sustainable Farming Initiative; the evaluation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies; the evaluation of SEND and AP reforms for DfE; the process evaluation of Drug Recovery Wings in prisons for the Ministry of Justice; and the evaluation of the Independent Prescribing programme for pharmacists for NHS England.

Your main responsibilities will be to:

Perform research and analysis on public policy issues and programmes for public and third sector clients, by:

• Carrying out open source research, and analysing / summarising academic and policy literature.
• Conducting face to face, telephone and video interviews, writing up interviews and focus groups, and carrying out qualitative analysis using a variety of tools and software.
• Managing surveys, and analysing quantitative data using a variety of tools and software.
• Generating insightful findings, preparing descriptive and analytical texts and data visualisations.
• Providing research and administrative support to other team members.

Essential Requirements:

• Excellent oral and written English.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Qualifications relevant to social or environmental policy or research methods (graduate or postgraduate, for example but not limited to social sciences, economics or health economics, applied statistics, geography, environmental policy or management, political science, service design, psychology or sociology, public policy research or public administration).
• Experience of using a variety of methods (qualitative and/or quantitative) in research projects (either own project and/or as part of a team).
• Strong interest in UK policy, the improvement of public services and use of evidence in policy making.
• Intermediate or advanced computer user skills related to carrying out research and data analysis.

Desirable:

• Skills in editing or proofreading other people’s written work.
• Experience in undertaking evaluations of projects or programmes.
• Knowledge of the work of UK government departments.

Personal Qualities:

• Ability to write skilfully and accurately summarise and synthesise information and evidence from a wide range of sources.
• Highly developed interpersonal / communication skills, and ability to work with a multidisciplinary team spread across the UK and Europe.
• Sound research and business ethics.
• Ability to manage own time and be flexible to handle multiple priorities, managing a varied workload to meet deadlines.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong, demonstrable commitment to helping us build an inclusive team that values diversity.

Ready to apply?

The base location for the role will be either London or Leeds. Please state your preference in your covering letter. We have a hybrid working model that supports our employees to work from a base office and from home.

• Interested candidates are invited to follow the link and submit a one-page cover letter and a two-page CV.
• Applications without a cover letter will not be selected.
• You must upload your cover letter and CV as two separate files (Word or pdf).
• Applicants may have to complete a written test at home as part of the recruitment process, to be scheduled at a convenient time for the candidate.
• Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments to take part in a written test or interview, following shortlisting.
• This is a full-time position, but we are very much welcoming of applications from candidates who would like to work part time.
• ICF is a privacy conscious organisation and your trust is paramount to us. Find out here how we use and protect your data.

About us

Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. Smart, compassionate, innovative, committed, ICF employees tackle unprecedented challenges to benefit people, businesses, and governments around the globe. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth.

We can only solve the world\\\'s toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are committed to creating a culture where we embrace our differences in ideas and identities. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals.

Learn more about what we do and our commitment to inclusion.

The benefits of joining ICF

Our people at ICF are our most important asset, so we invest in them from the moment they arrive. When you join our team, you’ll have access to a vast array of benefits to help you live your life well.

We offer a hybrid working policy, which will provide you with the flexibility to collaborate in the office, as well as in the comfort of your own home, ensuring you are able to successfully deliver the requirements of your role.

To support you, our employee wellbeing hub is designed to provide highly personalised support across a comprehensive range of wellbeing issues, such as mind, body, finances, community, career programs and HR support.

We enjoy celebrating success, which is why we have a competitive recognition program called ‘You Matter’, which awards points as a ‘thank you’ for your work achievements. These can be spent on a large variety of high-quality items, as well as online or high-street vouchers, all with zero tax payable by the employee.

ICF also offers a range of competitive benefits, which include:

• Single Private Medical Insurance cover with no restrictions on existing conditions.
• Dental insurance and an online GP service.
• 25 days annual leave, plus UK bank holidays (annual leave increases with years of service).
• Pension scheme with 5% of salary employer contribution
• Life assurance paying 4x annual salary and Group Income Protection paying 66% of salary for up to 5 years if you are off work on long-term sick.
• Enhanced parental leave policies, enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental pay.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair and equitable interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process.

However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodations that involve the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance at candidateaccommodation@icf.com. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.

London (GB80)