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: Experience in leading teams, managing budgets, and 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 Romford 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 Romford
✨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. We want you to show how you align with our values, so think about examples from your past that demonstrate your leadership and innovation.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family. This will help you feel more confident and articulate when discussing your experience and how it relates to the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Field in Romford
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 role. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully met or exceeded these metrics in your previous positions, as this will show your understanding of the expectations for the Head of Field.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading and motivating remote teams. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you inspired your team to overcome them. This will demonstrate your capability to drive engagement and high performance.
✨Budget Savvy
Be prepared to discuss your experience with budget management. Have examples ready that illustrate how you've effectively managed budgets in the past, identified savings, or improved operational efficiencies. This is crucial for the accountability aspect of the role.
✨Embrace Technology
Research the latest technologies and digital tools that can modernise field operations. Be ready to share your thoughts on how you would drive the adoption of these tools within the team, showcasing your forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovation.