At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire remote teams to achieve high performance in field operations.
- Company: Join the largest independent social research organisation in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on society through innovative social research.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership skills and experience in data-driven decision making.
- Other info: Hybrid working environment with excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 19 April 2026
Department: Social Surveys
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Romford - Ashton Gate (Hybrid)
Reporting To: Steve Woodland
Compensation: GBP 60,000 / year
Role: Head of Field
Location: Ashton Gate (Romford) - Hybrid (3 days)
Salary: GBP 60,000+
Department: Social Surveys - Data Collection
Contract: Full Time
Key Responsibilities- Be a visible leader across field, inspiring and engaging teams for the purpose of motivating them to achieve high performance, driving a culture of engagement, excellence, innovation & accountability.
- Responsible for delivering key metrics and KPIs.
- Oversee Field management team, ensuring strong leadership, consistent practices, and shared operational discipline.
- Own the workforce plan for the national field operation, including capacity forecasting and workforce optimisation.
- Accountability for the field data collection budget, ensuring delivery to budget and identifying opportunities to increase value for money and identify opportunities for savings via operational efficiencies.
- Drive the adoption of new technologies and digital tools to modernise Field operations.
- Evidence of leading, motivating & managing remote teams and individuals.
- Experience delivering against operational targets and KPIs.
- Experience of data-driven decision making.
- Evidence of budget responsibility.
- Experience of working with multiple internal stakeholders.
As well as a competitive salary, attractive bonus structure 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.
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 everyone'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. And 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: Uses data to improve field performance and delivery; explores new approaches to workforce management.
- We Move with Purpose: Drives delivery against operational targets; aligns workforce planning to demand.
- We Act with Integrity: Ensures fair and compliant field practices; maintains quality and ethical standards.
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 you showcase your best self during our hiring process.
Head of Field in London employer: the National Centre for Social Research
Contact Detail:
the National Centre for Social Research Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Field in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Show us you’re not just interested in the role, but also in how you can contribute to our mission and values.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the job description. We want to hear how you can inspire and lead teams effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you fresh in our minds and show us you’re genuinely interested in the position.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Field in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Leadership Skills: As a Head of Field, we want to see how you inspire and engage teams. Share examples of how you've motivated remote teams in the past and driven high performance. This is your chance to shine!
Be Data-Driven: We love numbers! Make sure to highlight your experience with data-driven decision making. Talk about how you've used metrics to achieve operational targets and improve performance.
Budget Savvy: Since you'll be accountable for the field data collection budget, it's crucial to demonstrate your experience managing budgets. Share any successes you've had in identifying savings or increasing value for money.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at the National Centre for Social Research
✨Know Your Metrics
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to the Head of Field role. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully delivered against operational targets in the past, and think about specific examples that demonstrate your ability to drive performance.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience in leading and motivating remote teams. Think of instances where you inspired your team to achieve high performance and how you fostered a culture of engagement and accountability.
✨Budget Savvy
Since budget responsibility is a key part of this role, come equipped with examples of how you've managed budgets effectively. Highlight any strategies you've implemented to identify savings or increase value for money in previous positions.
✨Embrace Technology
The role involves driving the adoption of new technologies and digital tools. Be prepared to discuss your experience with modernising operations and how you've leveraged technology to improve field performance and data collection processes.