At a Glance
- Tasks: Support social research projects and contribute to impactful evaluations.
- Company: Join the UK's largest independent social research organisation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a supportive team and excellent growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives through meaningful research.
- Qualifications: Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
The predicted salary is between 28725 - 32500 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 27 August 2026
Department: Policy Research Centre
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: London (Hybrid)
Compensation: £28,725 - £32,500 / year
Instant Impact in partnership with NatCen (The National Centre for Social Research) are hiring Researchers to join their Policy Research Centre. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build their career in social research and evaluation, while contributing to work that helps shape policy and improve people's lives.
The Policy Research Centre works as one integrated unit across a broad range of policy areas, including health and health inequalities, health services, work and wellbeing, children and families, income, community, and crime and justice. You will be placed within a team based on your experience and interests, while also having opportunities to work across different areas and projects.
You’ll work alongside experienced researchers, supporting the delivery of high-quality research and evaluation projects for clients and stakeholders. You will gain early exposure to both qualitative and quantitative research methods, build your project delivery skills, and contribute to evaluations of services and policy measures that help inform decisions and drive positive change.
Key Responsibilities- Support the design and delivery of social research and evaluation projects.
- Contribute to literature reviews, evidence reviews and systematic reviews, with support from more experienced colleagues.
- Undertake qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, depending on your background and project needs.
- Support data collection activities, including one-to-one interviews, workshops and stakeholder engagement activity.
- Support the development of research tools, including questionnaires, discussion guides and evaluation frameworks.
- Contribute to high-quality reports, presentations and research outputs.
- Assist with project management activities to help ensure delivery against agreed timelines and quality standards.
- Work across multiple projects at the same time, managing priorities effectively and communicating clearly with project teams.
- Contribute to proposal writing and business development activity where required.
- Manage research data in line with organisational policies, ethical standards and data protection requirements.
- Take part in communities of practice, learning activities and wider organisational initiatives.
- An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.
- A degree or experience with a strong research element, such as a dissertation, research project or applied research component.
- Research methods training, coursework or practical research experience.
- An understanding of social research methods and experience in one or more of the following areas: quantitative research and analysis, qualitative research, survey research, evaluation, or impact evaluation.
- Experience contributing to research, evaluation or evidence review projects through employment, consultancy, internships, placements, postgraduate study or university research projects.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate work.
- Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities across more than one project.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
- The ability to work collaboratively within project teams and build positive working relationships.
- A proactive, reliable and accountable approach, with the confidence to take ownership of tasks and follow through on commitments.
- A willingness to work on unfamiliar research tasks with appropriate support and training.
- A genuine interest in the relationship between research, policy and practice.
- A commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
- A postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline.
- Around two years of post‑graduate research experience, although this is not essential.
- Experience working in academia, a research organisation, consultancy or research agency.
- Experience working on commissioned social research or evaluation projects.
- Experience using qualitative or quantitative analysis software, such as NVivo, SPSS, R or Stata.
- Practical experience of quantitative social research, including analysing survey or administrative data using statistical software and applying methods beyond basic descriptive analysis.
- Qualitative research experience, including interviews, coding or analysis.
- A health sciences background, or experience in health, wellbeing, children and families, income, community, or crime and justice research.
As well as a competitive salary and excellent working environment, including a home/office hybrid working environment, you will be working for the largest independent social research organisation in the UK. We are proud of the benefits we offer our employees which include:
- 25 days holiday, plus 8 bank holidays, and flexible working
- Generous company pension scheme
- Life insurance and health cash plan
- Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loan
- Career development, professional subscriptions support and mentoring support from industry‑leading experts
- Access to internal training in research methods, project management and analysis to support your development early in your research career
At The National Centre for Social Research, we believe that social research has the power to make life better. By really understanding the complexity of people's lives and what they think about the issues that affect them, we give the public a powerful and influential role in shaping services that can make a difference to everyone. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, we’re able to focus our time and energy on meeting our clients’ needs and delivering social research that works for society.
Our Values & Behaviours- We Are Curious: Applies curiosity and rigour to research questions, evidence and data. Uses insight to understand complex social policy issues and contribute to high-quality research.
- We Move with Purpose: Works collaboratively to deliver research projects, outputs and proposals to a high standard. Manages priorities effectively across multiple projects and contributes to work that informs policy and practice.
- We Act with Integrity: Handles research data ethically and in line with data protection requirements. Produces accurate, independent and transparent research outputs.
We are proud to say we are a Disability Confident Committed Employer, so if you require any reasonable adjustments during the interview process please make us aware and we will endeavour to support you to help showcase your best self during our hiring process.
Researcher in London employer: National Centre for Social Research
The National Centre for Social Research is an excellent employer, offering a flexible part-time role that allows you to make a meaningful impact in the community through vital research. With competitive pay, performance bonuses, and a supportive work culture that values communication and employee growth, you'll find a rewarding environment in Bournemouth that encourages your professional development while contributing to important social issues.
Contact Details:
National Centre for Social Research Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Researcher in London
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at National Centre for Social Research.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from National Centre for Social Research!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like National Centre for Social Research, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at National Centre for Social Research or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Researcher in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to National Centre for Social Research:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to National Centre for Social Research! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at National Centre for Social Research
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
