Research Associate (Evaluation)

Job id: 087671. Salary: £43,205 - £50,585 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 11 April 2024. Closing date: 21 April 2024.

Business unit: Social Science & Public Policy. Department: Policy Institute at King's.

Contact details:Susannah Hume. [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Research.

We are seeking a Research Associate to join the Evidence Development and Incubation Team (EDIT), within the Policy Institute. The Policy Institute addresses complex policy and practice challenges with rigorous research, academic expertise and analysis focused on improving outcomes. EDIT focuses on designing robust, pragmatic evaluations of complex social programmes, combining academic rigour with agility and pragmatism.

This role is an exciting opportunity to work with a high-performing team in a fast-paced research environment, to deliver evaluations with real-world impacts. We are seeking to appoint a Research Associate to contribute to existing projects in areas such as skills and education, and violence reduction. We are also seeking someone to focus on bidding for new projects and to develop our ability to deliver excellent, timely bids.

We deliver mixed methods evaluations, combining quantitative and quasi-experimental analysis, Randomised Controlled Trials, online and phone surveying, interviews, focus groups, and cost analysis. We also conduct some capacity-building work, helping organisations develop their own evaluation approach. We are seeking to strengthen our ability to work with programmes to understand their theory of change and the way they operate, and to help them establish their own evaluation activities.

As a small team, we work flexibly across projects, depending on the policy area and methodological requirements, so the Research Associate will work across a range of projects. The Research Associate will also have the opportunity to develop their own portfolio of evaluation projects, with the support of the Director and colleagues. They will have expertise or interest in social policy issues, particularly the subfields listed above, be a skilled project manager, and a strong written and verbal communicator with a demonstrated commitment to evidence-based policy, building evaluation capacity in organisations, and conducting research with real world impacts.

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract until April 2027

This is a full-time post.

Managing evaluation projects, including:

• establishing and maintaining the project plan,
• liaising with funders and other partners,
• delivering programme theory workshops and writing up Theories of Change and Logic Models,
• coordinating the development and documentation of the research approach in an Evaluation Plan or Trial Protocol,
• developing training documentation and delivering evaluation training,
• monitoring for risks,
• ensuring projects are delivered on time and to the required standard, and
• liaising as required with other King’s functions (Post-Award, Information Security, Research Ethics) to ensure that King’s processes and procedures are adhered to.
• Delivering research activities, including:
• Determining the most appropriate research methods,
• Establishing topic guides, survey instruments and/or analysis plans, depending on methodological expertise,
• Conducting and/or coordinating fieldwork, including recruitment, consent, data collection, transcription and storage,
• Robustly and carefully analysing data in line with academic best practice,
• Engaging in quality assurance and peer review of research activities carried out by colleagues,
• Working with colleagues to write up research findings in a holistic and coherent manner across research strands.
• Contributing to the development of EDIT’s portfolio of projects, by monitoring for opportunities and bidding for competitive tenders that are appropriate and winnable, leading on the bid development process where required, and providing input to bids and proposals.
• Developing strong relationships with key stakeholders within relevant policy domains, including government agencies, charitable organisations and funders.
• Maintaining expertise in evaluation training and capacity building, keeping abreast of new tools or techniques, and training both colleagues and partners as required
• Line management of junior colleagues.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Essential criteria

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

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We are not able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.