Ecorys is an international world-class research-based consultancy that helps our clients make a positive impact on society. We are leaders in research and evaluation, project management and communications, providing the evidence and advice that our clients need to tackle the issues that affect communities around the world. Our staff are justifiably proud of our innovative and thought-provoking contributions to policy and programme delivery. We are passionate about our environmental and social impact, donating profits to the Charity of the Year, volunteering days, and maintaining our carbon neutrality.
What you will be doing
Our UK-based Policy and Research team is currently looking for emerging research talent to join our team of + research and evaluation specialists delivering impactful work across a variety of clients.
For our growing UK market, we are looking for a Research Assistant to support our delivery of work to a variety of clients including qualitative and quantitative research studies, evaluations, impact assessments, supporting learning and dissemination activities, and monitoring.
We are particularly looking for junior researchers with an interest and knowledge of UK social and economic policy (e.g., environment, education, children, youth and families, health, crime and justice, local economic development, financial inclusion). Expertise in other UK priority policy areas would be a bonus.
As a Research Assistant, you will develop and apply your range of quantitative and qualitative research skills, including desk-based research, literature reviews, survey design and implementation, in-depth interviewing, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis. You will also become familiar with research analysis software such as Excel, MAXQDA, and/or R.
As you develop in the role, you will have the opportunity to grow your client-facing and business development skills by contributing to work-winning activities. You may also be able to develop a specialisation into qualitative or quantitative methodologies and/or impact or economic evaluation. There is also the prospect for some travel across the UK.
Over the last few years, our UK Research Assistants have been exposed to a breadth of projects for the UK government to evaluate a range of environment, education, and children, youth and families programmes. As well as embedding technical learning and development, this has enabled and supported a progression path to Research Manager and further progression within Ecorys.
In 5 we are looking for a Research Assistant to work in any of our UK offices. We are looking for the successful candidate to join us as soon as possible, potentially starting in autumn 5.
Your continued development will be supported by career development planning, training, mentoring and regular reviews, and you will be supported by a dedicated Line Manager and a buddy.
Our team culture is collaborative and supportive, we aim to help everyone grow in their roles, towards a happy and fulfilling career with us. We have a wide range of staff networks and support groups including a global women’s network, a carer’s network, a neurodiversity group and our LGBTQ+ network. You can get involved in our wellbeing and social value activity including using your paid volunteering day to support our charity partner.
What we will need from you
1. Ideally you will have a good Undergraduate Degree in one of the following: social science, social research, geography, statistics, maths or economics, research methods and related subjects, or equivalent work experience. A Master’s degree is desirable but not essential for this role, and we encourage you to apply even if you don’t have a Master’s degree.
2. To be able to demonstrate a genuine interest in the business’s key social and economic policy areas.
3. Experience of applying research skills in practice.
4. Experience of producing reports of your results in a variety of written and verbal styles.
5. To be able to manage project delivery within tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
6. Experience of undertaking qualitative research, including conducting in-depth interviews face-to-face, online or by phone, and note-taking or moderating of focus groups
7. Experience of undertaking quantitative research including designing, analysing and writing up findings from survey data, and other data sets.
8. An ability to think critically and creatively when working with qualitative and quantitative data
9. Excellent English language skills, both verbal and written, are essential. Other language capabilities are desirable.
10. Ability to take ownership of problems and escalate in a timely manner.
11. To be receptive to change and be prepared to try new things out.
12. To be able to manage own tasks and be able to prioritise own workload to meet team needs.
13. To demonstrate excellent organisational and administrative skills.
14. To become familiar with the research analysis software MAXQDA for qualitative research and R for analysing quantitative data.
We offer a highly competitive benefits package including competitive basic salary, cost of living raises, London weighting (where applicable), variable pay (bonus), working from home allowance, a paid volunteering day, cycle to work scheme, flexible working options, company share scheme and buying and selling of annual leave. We work hybridly, with typically between 2-3 days a week in our offices or in the field undertaking research, and 1-2 days a week working from home.