Researcher (Qualitative)

We are seeking to appoint a Researcher (Qualitative analysis) to contribute to the design and delivery of research, with a particular focus on gathering and analysing qualitative data. The Researcher will normally be involved with research projects focusing on higher education and/or employment in relation to people from lower socio-economic backgrounds: their access, experiences and progression.

This role is available as at 0.5 Full Time Equivalent (2.5 days per week).

The location is flexible: Bridge Group staff normally work remotely and are currently dispersed across the UK. We want our Team to be diverse, because having a range of perspectives and experience benefits our work, and we particularly encourage people who are diverse by socio-economic and/or ethnic background to apply. You must however have the right to work in the UK, and be resident in the UK to apply.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1.        Contribute to the design and delivery of research

The Researcher (Qualitative analysis) will contribute to the design and delivery of research relating primarily to qualitative data, working with the Senior Researcher (Qualitative). The Researcher will contribute to a range of processes. While these will vary from project to project, they are likely to include helping to identify and design the most appropriate approach, undertaking preparatory tasks, gathering data through fieldwork and delivering analysis that is equal to the rigour expected of peer-reviewed academic materials.

Research fieldwork will typically include undertaking interviews (usually by video call or telephone, but sometimes in person). The Researcher will code data, conduct thematic analysis and intersect qualitative findings with quantitative findings. They may also contribute to analysing survey responses, in particular to open-ended questions and using NVivo or similar software. The Researcher will undertake this work in strict compliance with the Charity’s policies on data security and confidentiality and research ethics.

The Researcher will be expected to work on several projects concurrently. The Researcher will take a pro-active approach to anticipating risks and intervening early where challenges arise.

2.      Collaborate with colleagues

The Researcher will normally work alongside the Senior Researcher (Qualitative), who will typically lead on the qualitative aspect of research projects and will allocate responsibilities to the Researcher. The Researcher will be expected to undertake these with relatively little guidance.

Occasionally, the Researcher might manage small teams of qualitative researchers: allocating interviews; monitoring progress; arranging support and supervision as necessary; and ensuring that team members deliver their respective research tasks to schedule and to a high standard.

The Researcher will work alongside the Senior Researcher (Qualitative) and quantitative researcher colleagues to synthesise qualitative and quantitative findings. They will contribute to discussions of findings with the research team to generate practicable and impactful recommendations to clients and/or stakeholders.

3.      Communicate research findings

The Researcher will share their specific outputs with the Senior Researcher and/or other colleagues through concise informal reports. They will contribute verbally to internal meetings to discuss and understand how findings from various strands of research address key research questions; and to develop recommendations. The Researcher may contribute to drafting external reports (or sections of reports), presenting findings in a style accessible to a range of audiences.

4.      Operational contributions

There will also be other more operational tasks associated with the role, working in collaboration with colleagues in the Charity. These are likely to include administrative tasks for meetings and events; communications with research participants and stakeholders, including by phone and email; copywriting; and website contributions.

SKILLS, UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCE

We seek candidates with experience of qualitative research (such as designing, undertaking and delivering interviews, and intersecting qualitative findings with quantitative data findings) and a good knowledge of qualitative research methods.

Candidates should have completed a posgraduate research degree or have equivalent professional experience.

A full person specification and job description is available on our website - please follow the Apply via Website link below to view.