Quantitative Research Director
Salary in the range of £46,359 - £52,181pa depending upon qualifications and experience.
NFER is the UK’s largest independent provider of research, assessment and information services for education, working across the UK and internationally. We make a difference to children and learners by using evidence to identify improvements to education policy and practice. Following the arrival of our new Chief Executive, we are looking to make more of an impact with our quantitative analysis and to build our economics expertise.
We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic individual to fill a new Research Director role in our established Research Department. This exciting new post will have a particular focus on developing the team’s analytical and strategic skills in order to help us add value and have a greater impact on education policy and practice. You will work alongside an expert team of researchers, statisticians, economists, information experts and research design and delivery professionals.
The role would suit someone with a background in economic analysis and/or quantitative research, and who is able to use analysis and research to address social policy issues – framing research questions and devising innovative analytical approaches to answering them. The successful candidate will work across the organisation, leading projects with researchers in our Centres for Evaluation, Statistics and International Comparisons.
The successful candidate will:
• have extensive experience of undertaking research and analysis and applying the findings to public policy issues, ideally with some experience of the education and children’s services sectors
• have a first and – preferably – a higher degree or equivalent postgraduate/ professional qualification(s) in a quantitative analytical/research discipline
• have an understanding of, and be able to apply, a range of quantitative knowledge and skills including experimental and quasi-experimental designs, statistics and/or econometrics, and option appraisal and value for money analysis, to answer specific policy related questions
• ideally, have experience of working in public policy and/or welfare economics; behavioural economics; and/or market/competition/regulatory analysis, along with knowledge of existing education data collections and how they might be most effectively used
• have strong organisational capabilities and substantial experience of managing others and leading major projects or programmes of work
• have excellent leadership qualities and the ability to motivate staff
• have a reputation for leading quantitative studies which have had an impact on policy and practice, and be able to draft proposals and contribute to income generation activities
• be able to communicate effectively with a range of analysts, researchers and wider stakeholders, explain complex analytical findings to a variety of audiences, and provide expert guidance and advice to internal colleagues and to our clients
• be able to work flexibly as a member of a team and contribute to Foundation-wide strategic activities
• be able to develop and maintain strong client relationships.
Working at NFER will give you the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of children and learners through independent and robust research and analysis.
We have a pleasant office environment and beautiful surroundings, 30 days paid leave per year, over and above Bank holidays and discretionary days, good support for staff development and generous pension arrangements.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your completed application form to [log in to unmask]
Please note, an application form and equal opportunities form must be completed (CVs can also be attached). Further details can be found at http://www.nfer.ac.uk/about-nfer/careers/.
Applicants for this post should note that it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Further details of NFER’s Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checking procedure are in the attached Further Particulars Research Director.
Closing date: Friday 23rd May
Interviews: to be held in June – shortlisted candidates will be notified within two weeks of the closing date.
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