Senior Researcher

Senior Researcher

Permanent, Full Time

£43,431 to £51,095 per annum

Location: Chelmsford*

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 18th May 2025

*Please note this is a hybrid-working role, with a requirement to work in the Chelmsford office 2-3 days per month on average, depending on business need.

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda - one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We're immensely proud of our flexible working options.

The Opportunity

This Senior Researcher role will lead on complex research projects and will work on a mix of qualitative and quantitative research workstreams. The role is critical to enabling senior leaders to take decisions on services or strategic direction that are evidence-based.

The post holder will have expert technical ability in a number of social research methodologies, championing an 'evidence first' culture both within and outside of the organisation. They will proactively liaise with senior colleagues to ensure business questions are identified and answered.

They will be expected to matrix-lead teams of researchers, analysts and other colleagues from across Policy Unit to deliver high quality primary and secondary research to the organisation. They will use a range of techniques, including qualitative and quantitative research methods. This role will require working with primary data collected through resident engagement as well as a range of local, partner and open source data, to deliver insight that will help to inform strategic policy development and service delivery.

Accountabilities

• Working collaboratively with senior colleagues to understand their business requirements and identify opportunities for using both primary and secondary research to solve business problems, such as understanding the needs, experiences and behaviours of Essex residents in order to manage demand.
• Responsible for leading multi-disciplinary 'delivery' teams of colleagues across Policy Unit, working collaboratively to deliver complex pieces of research that enable evidence-based business decisions to be taken.
• Responsible for providing Senior Leaders and stakeholders with the information and business intelligence required for effective leadership, governance, commissioning and decision making.
• Responsible for using intellectual curiosity to proactively explore areas and provide useful, timely research that enables the organisation to focus on demand management and prevention, as well as 'whole systems' integration.
• Responsible for producing high quality research that draws on a range of both primary and secondary data sources to deliver compelling and actionable findings and recommendations for improving outcomes for local people and/or organisational effectiveness.
• Responsible for using innovative approaches to challenging assumptions and delivering compelling research findings.
• Responsible for providing expert advice and guidance to internal stakeholders on the procurement of external research services.
• Responsible for providing support and guidance to enable colleagues outside of Policy Unit to carry out simple engagement and consultation activities through the development of research capabilities.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience with evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Significant experience in successfully delivering high quality, complex research and recommendations that impact on strategic decision making - within local government or a public sector setting is desirable.
• Extensive experience of carrying out research that has made tangible improvements, as well as identifying opportunities for research to help solve business problems and inform future strategic direction.
• Knowledge of governance requirements around quantitative and qualitative research methodology, including excellent working knowledge of research ethics and the Data Protection Act.
• Ability to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders to influence thinking and secure collaboration, including citizens with specific accessibility and communication needs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with the ability to present complex insight and to speak and present the Council's position at external and public meetings.
• Experience of leading teams within a matrix management approach, outside of traditional line management arrangements, is preferred.
• Ability to manage the routine delivery of research tasks to high standards and on time.

To read more about us please visit: People, Policy, Economy and Public Health - Working for Essex