Local Authority Research Practitioner

About the job

Salary: £47,181 – £50,269 a year pro rata plus £3,203 car benefit allowance
Hours per week: 22.2
Contract type: Fixed Term/Secondment

This position is available as a secondment opportunity for 2 years (with scope to extend to 3). If you are a permanent LBC employee, you must have written approval (an email will suffice) from your manager prior to applying and a copy will need to be submitted with your application. Please note: we will not be able to proceed with your application form without your manager’s permission.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Luton Borough Council’s Strategy and Policy team – a dynamic and forward-thinking group that sits at the heart of the council’s long-term ambitions. Our team works across the organisation and with partners to help deliver our town-wide vision for Luton to be a place where no one lives in poverty and everyone can thrive.

We are committed to becoming a learning-driven, insight-led organisation, using robust research and evidence to shape both strategic and day-to-day decisions. In this role, you will be integral to embedding a deeper understanding of residents’ needs into how we plan, deliver and evaluate services, ensuring we are tackling the main drivers of poverty in the town.

As a Local Authority Research Practitioner, you will lead and support high-quality research and analysis, helping to turn evidence into action that improves outcomes for our residents. You will work closely with senior officers, partner organisations and the community to shape services that are inclusive, effective and grounded in real-world insights.

About you

We are looking for a strategic thinker with exceptional analytical skills and the ability to communicate findings in a clear, compelling way. You will bring strong experience in research processes and practices, ideally with an understanding of public health, health inequalities and the wider determinants of health.

You will have a proven track record of using research to develop needs analyses that inform intelligent decision-making, policy and practice. You will be confident in working in partnership and influencing both internal colleagues and external stakeholders to make changes that deliver better outcomes.

To succeed in this role, you will need:

• Excellent research, analysis and data management skills – with the ability to interpret complex information, spot trends and translate insights into actionable recommendations.
• Strong interpersonal skills, enabling you to build effective relationships and collaborate across teams and organisations.
• Experience of designing and conducting research that is accessible to and inclusive of diverse communities.
• Knowledge and understanding of equality issues, relevant legislation, and how to embed inclusive practice into service delivery.
• An understanding of research and data governance principles, and how to strengthen them in a local authority setting.
• The ability to manage multiple projects, deliver to deadlines and maintain a high standard of work.

A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field, with specialist knowledge in research techniques and analysis, is essential. You will also need to be able to attend occasional evening meetings and site visits within and beyond the borough.

About us

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough

Application Process

On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.

Benefits

We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:

- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel

How to apply

We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!

Our ‘How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

• download: Work with Luton 2040 at Luton Council.pdf
• download: PREF105618 202508 M3 Local Authority Research Practitioner.pdf
• download: Luton_Values_Flyer (1).pdf