Research Manager

The Research Manager will join our research and evaluation team and will be responsible for managing multiple research projects and evaluation initiatives and contributing to team and project development.

About TASO

Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) is an affiliate What Works Centre, and part of the UK government’s What Works Network. Our aim is to help eliminate equality gaps in higher education through evidence-informed practice. TASO was set up in 2019 and became an independent charity in April 2021. Our work focuses on the generation, synthesis and dissemination of high-quality evidence about effective practice in widening participation and improving student outcomes.

The role involves:

• Scoping and designing new research projects and impact evaluations in collaboration with higher education providers.
• Developing theory of change models and evaluation plans for interventions run by higher education providers.
• Managing research and evaluation projects in collaboration with multiple external organisations.
• Reviewing evaluation protocols, study plans, statistical analysis plans and research and evaluation reports.
• Commissioning external research and evaluation projects and collaborating with external partners.
• Overseeing funded projects, ensuring delivery to timelines, value for money for TASO, and timely and proactive risk assessment and mitigation.
• Conducting desk-based research, reviewing existing literature to synthesise the quality of evidence on a given topic, and collating examples of sector good practice.
• Developing/maintaining knowledge of cutting-edge research and methodological developments relevant to TASO’s work.
• Using this knowledge to contribute to the delivery of blog posts and research briefings.
• Contributing to practical evaluation guidance and tools to support practitioners within universities and colleges.
• Planning and delivering external training courses on evaluation and presenting research during workshops and other stakeholder engagement events.
• Developing TASO’s relationships with key stakeholders in the higher education sector.
• Managing junior colleagues to help deliver research projects, providing in-role development of appropriate research skills and other competencies.

The attributes we are looking for in a Research Manager include:

• Degree and postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience.
• PhD in a relevant discipline or demonstrable track record publishing policy research and evaluations.
• Managing research projects, including scoping, planning, delivering and reporting.
• Ability to design and conduct impact evaluation studies.
• Confident using software to analyse and present research findings.
• Confident and clear written and verbal communication, including report-writing and presentation skills.
• Understanding of widening participation and student success policy agendas.
• A minimum of 3–5 years experience working in a research or evaluation role.
• Collaboration and coordination of project stakeholders.
• Working on multiple projects and managing competing demands and timescales.
• Line management experience.
• Developing and delivering presentations and training courses for professional audiences.
• Commissioning of research or evaluations or contract and grant management.
• Experience of research and evaluation relating to widening participation and student success.
• Ability to both use your own initiative and follow instructions.
• Ability to work collaboratively in small teams.
• Commitment to eliminating equality gaps in higher education.

Initial terms and conditions of appointment:

• Starting salary of £44,287 per annum.
• Location: Central London, hybrid working with the expectation of being in the office two days a week.
• Permanent, full-time, 35 hours per week.

Other benefits include:

• Annual holiday – 27 days per year, plus public/bank holidays and a day off for your birthday.
• Pension scheme – TASO will contribute 8% to your pension.
• Flexible working – commitment to flexible working where possible.
• Team days – regular team days in the office and team-building days.
• Training and development – systematic performance reviews and access to a training and development fund.
• Volunteering – one day a year off to volunteer for an organisation of your choice.
• Wellbeing – free employee assistance programme and a yearly personal wellbeing budget.
• Sick pay scheme – three months full pay and three months half pay after probation has been passed.
• Staff discounts – discounts available via Perks At Work.