Research Associate - National Youth Agency

Location: Homebased - with occasional travel for staff residentials and event
Contract: Permanent Full-time - 37 hours per week (subject to funding)
Salary: Band 4 - £30,858.80 - £40,777.70 per annum dependent on experience

The National Youth Agency is looking for a new Research Associate to join our Knowledge Team. 

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 a newly formed and rapidly expanding team within our Growth Directorate. We are seeking a skilled Research Associate to contribute to our mission of supporting youth work and driving evidence-based practices.As our new Research Associate, you will be integral to delivering data, knowledge, and insights that underpin our organisational development and program delivery. This role involves a wide array of research activities, and you must be able to handle multiple tasks efficiently. We are looking for a professional who is not only confident and flexible but also has excellent communication and organisational skills.

Key responsibilities for this role will include:

- Providing research support for local authority service reviews, including analysing local statistics, conducting surveys and focus groups, and contributing to gap analysis.
- Collaborating with the Knowledge Team to design and deliver social research projects.
- Assisting in the design and implementation of project evaluations to meet funder requirements and enhance our evidence base.
- Leading small research projects for both NYA and external clients.
- Promoting evidence-based practices and utilizing insights to drive improvements across the organization.

The ideal candidate will have experience in social research, familiarity with various research methodologies, and the ability to communicate complex findings to diverse audiences.

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

Please use our online application process to submit the following documents:

- 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. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.

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