At a Glance
- Tasks: Gather insights and translate evidence into actionable strategies for community development.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking local government team in County Durham.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace that values diversity and offers support throughout the recruitment process.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by connecting research with community needs and driving positive change.
- Qualifications: Degree in a related field or equivalent experience in research and data analysis.
The predicted salary is between 35412 - 39152 £ per year.
Contract Type: Temporary
Working Pattern: Part time
Advert Start Date: 30/07/2026
Advert End Date: 12/08/2026 23:59
Salary: £35,412 - £39,152 (pro rata) pay award pending
Hours per week: 15
Job Category: Youth / Community / Leisure Services
Vacancy ID: 300266
Employment Location: Your normal place of work is Spennymoor
Post Number: REG26-125
Number of posts: 1
Closing date: 12 Aug
Further Information: Temporary 15 hour post for 6 months
What Is Involved? The Research and Insight officer will play a key storytelling and sense-making role across the developing system in County Durham, gathering learning from different partners, surfacing patterns and shared understandings, and translating practice-based evidence into insight that can be understood locally and nationally. You will help connect what's happening on the ground with wider research, evidence and frameworks, including Sport England priorities and the National Evaluation and Learning Partnership (NELP). You will coach and support colleagues and partners to build their confidence and capability in evaluative thinking, helping them ask better questions, notice what's changing, make sense of complexity, and use evidence as part of everyday decision-making. Rather than owning all the evaluation, you will help embed learning and evaluation within the work itself, across places and themes.
What Will I Need?
- Educated to degree level in a related area or equivalent experience in research, data collection and analysis
- Significant previous experience of leading on the monitoring and evaluation of projects and conducting relevant research
- Experience of collating data, research and insight to support project/organisational objectives
- Experience of presenting insight and preparing reports for senior management and a range of partners/stakeholders
- Experience of creating Monitoring Evaluation and Learning frameworks for projects or programmes
- Experience of creating dashboards/databases of information, maintaining and analysing along with producing reports
- Experience of presenting data research and insight from numerous sources to help inform and influence decision making
Interviews will be held on 18 August 2026. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
Our Offer to You: We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years' continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
Research and Insight Officer employer: Instagram
Durham County Council is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment where your contributions directly impact local governance and community well-being. With a strong emphasis on employee development, flexible working arrangements, and a competitive rewards package, you will find ample opportunities for growth and collaboration in this supportive setting. Join us in making a meaningful difference in the community while enjoying a balanced work-life experience.
