Research Associate - National Youth Agency
Contract: 12-month Fixed Term Contract (with potential to extend)
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £30,000 – £35,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Remote: This role is 100% homebased with occasional travel for staff residentials and other events.
What we do
As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.
We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work
About the Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Knowledge Team, working alongside two existing Research Associates and a Data Analyst.
You will be integral in delivering research, data, and insights that support organisational development and programme delivery across NYA.
We are looking for an experienced mixed-methods researcher with a strong understanding of social research and evaluation approaches. Ideally, you will have experience working in or alongside the youth sector and be confident using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
You’ll need to be flexible, proactive, and a strong communicator, able to explain complex ideas to varied audiences.
This role is ideal for someone looking to make a tangible difference through evidence-led approaches that shape policy, practice, and impact in youth work.
Key responsibilities for this role will include:
- Designing and delivering research projects using a range of methods including surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
- Supporting the development of the NYA research and data hub, including external research collation and data visualisation.
- Leading on evaluations to meet funder requirements and contribute to NYA’s growing evidence base.
- Analysing data from NYA programmes to support impact measurement.
- Promoting evidence-based practice across NYA and the wider youth sector.
- Communicating findings clearly through reports, briefings, and presentations.
- Managing research projects and collaborating with internal and external partners to deliver on time and to quality.
- Responding to internal and external research enquiries.
The ideal candidate will have experience in social research, familiarity with various research methodologies, and the ability to communicate complex findings to diverse audiences.
Please refer to our Candidate Pack for more information on the role and the requirements.
Why Work for NYA?
NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.
How to Apply:
Please download our applicant pack to find out more about the role and requirements
To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Monday 12th May 2025:
A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the
About You section.
We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.
Please note: the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 30% AI generated content with be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.
The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.
At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.
We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.
Youth Work changes lives
Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it. As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.
We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.
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Registered Charity 
21 - 50
Thank you!
LOCATION: Homebase (Preferably Lincolnshire / Notts based, or centrally located in England to attend team meetings, but applicants outside this area will be considered)
HOURS: Part-time or full-time depending on candidate preference, 33 – 37.5 hours per week, flexible working
CONTRACT: Permanent or FTC
Are you an energetic and motivated individual with a passion for communications and events who is looking for their next step? Would you like to join a dynamic organisation that’s truly making a difference?
The Jon Egging Trust is seeking an exceptional Communications and Events Officer to support our small and close-knit Communications and Fundraising Team to create outstanding, inspiring outward-facing communications and deliver our established calendar of fundraising events. You will be joining a fantastically motivated and committed team of home-workers who are passionate about improving the lives of young people through our long-term youth programmes.
The successful candidate will be a meticulously organised and brilliant team-player with extremely strong written communications and proofreading skills and a track record of working in a professional comms or events environment.
The role would ideally suit someone seeking their second job after graduation, or someone who is returning to the workforce or seeking a change in pace, but if you can convince us that you are the perfect candidate then we will happily consider other applicants.
We are looking for someone who is comfortable working autonomously and able to prioritise multiple workloads, and who is endlessly curious and wanting to bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the table.
If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you!
About the Jon Egging Trust (JET)
At JET, we support vulnerable young people to get back on track and realise their potential; more than 40,000 young people right across the UK to date, and there’s so much more we can do. We’re an organisation that really values its people and we’re immensely proud that our team culture is based on caring and raising each other up.
Our benefits package includes:
- Flexible working
- Enhanced annual leave
- Homeworking allowance
- Occupational pension scheme
- Occupational sickness scheme
- Special paid leave provision
Read our Applicant Privacy Notice
Child and adult at risk protection policy statement
The Jon Egging Trust is committed to providing a safe and positive environment for everyone involved in its services and activities. The Trust takes its extended moral and legal duty of care very seriously in relation to children, young people, staff and volunteers. We seek to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children and to protect them from harm or abuse when they engage in any of our activities. JET expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees or volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment.
To apply
Please complete our online application form.
The closing date is Tuesday 13th May 2025 at 23:59. We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible and not wait until the deadline, as we reserve the right to close the process early if we receive a high volume of applications. Shortlisting will take place on a rolling basis.
Interview process:
First-round interviews will be held online on Wednesday 28th May 2025.
Second-round interviews will be in person on Tuesday 3rd June 2025 and take place in Lincoln.
Candidates will also be asked to complete a written task during the interview stage.
Questions?
Contact us through our website.
Please note: To become an employee at JET you must be able to produce evidence of your Right to Work in the UK and a satisfactory DBS check.
On 20th August 2011, Flt Lt Jon Egging lost his life whilst completing a display at the Bournemouth Air Festival. He was coming to the end of his first year with the world-famous Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, flying in the position of Red 4.
Jon was an inspirational individual, and inspiration is at the heart of everything we do. Like Jon, our staff and volunteers are chosen for their ability to act as positive role models; in turn they inspire and enthuse our vulnerable young students to reach their full potential. Our long-term support programmes increase self-confidence, self-esteem and aspiration, and ultimately empower young people to become role models within their own communities.
The Jon Egging Trust realises Jon’s dream of inspiring young people through his love of aviation, STEM, teamwork and leadership, helping them to overcome adversity, identify their strengths and work towards their dreams.
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