Research and Policy Analyst – 0456-23

View All Vacancies The Work Foundation
Salary:  

£30,619 to £35,308
(+ £3,257 London Weighting)

Closing Date:  

Sunday 11 June 2023

Interview Date:  

To be confirmed

Reference:  

0456-23

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled researcher to join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University . We are looking for a talented individual who shares our goal to tackle structural inequalities in the UK labour market through shaping changes in employer practice and policy with strong research and engagement skills to help make sure our work has real world impact. 

About you

Are you ambitious to create research and evidence that helps to improve working lives in the UK? Are you interested in the debate about what responsible employment looks like in the 21st century?    

You will be able to rapidly acquire specialist knowledge around employment and the labour market and clearly communicate complex issues to a range of audiences. Your role will include working with employers to develop evidence-based inclusive practices and generating insights to inform local, regional and national policy. 

As a constructive collaborator, you will be able to build effective internal and external relationships with a wide range of groups including workers, managers, HR and business leaders, industry bodies, academics and civic institutions, civil servants and politicians.  

The work you’ll do

The Research and Policy Analyst will support the Work Foundation research team to deliver valuable new evidence and insights that help to shape transformative ideas. We are ambitious about delivering research that has impact in society, and work closely with workers, employers and policymakers to realise that goal. 

Our current areas of focus are: 

• Our working lives programme is focused on tackling inequality within organisations and the labour market. The impact of the Covid-19 has changed how and where people work, and the cost of the living crisis is making employers review what their responsibility to employees is. The programme  involves timely, responsive work on topical themes, such as the shift to remote and hybrid work, or exploring how employers can best support workers as living costs rise. 
• Our insecure work programme involves a flagship annual study, the UK Insecure Work Index, as well as in-depth analysis and influencing activity to understand the impacts of insecure work and drive long-term improvements in employment practices across the country. Following our recent work on the gender insecurity gap, we have work in the pipeline looking at insecure work across UK regions, and the distinct experiences of disabled people in insecure jobs.

As we approach a General Election, this is a key moment to be involved in influencing employment and social security policy. We are a politically independent organisation, and will be engaging with a range of political parties and the next Government to discuss our priorities for raising working standards and improving Universal Credit.  

Check out our blog and Twitter channels to find out more about our research, engagement and influencing work.  

Being part of our team

We are a small, friendly and collaborative team focussed on building institutional expertise. Alongside formal training, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn from and support your research team colleagues through research workshops, presentations and peer learning. 

Flexible working is important to us at the Work Foundation and we’re open to candidates who would like to work flexible hours or job share. Members of our team currently use a range of flexible working arrangements including part-time, flexible hours and compressed hours. 

We have offices on Fetter Lane in central London and on campus at Lancaster University. Our team tend to work part of the week at home, and part of the week on site, but both offices are available five days a week. 

The reward and benefits package for this role includes:

• a salary of £30,6190 to £35,308 (+ £3,257 London Weighting), with annual increments. Please note, it is the normal expectation of Lancaster University that the chosen candidate will be appointed to minimum point of that grade.
• a defined benefit pension with the Local Government Pensions Scheme (employer contributions currently 15%, employee contributions 6.5%)
• a generous holiday entitlement (25 days plus five university closure days between Christmas and Easter), which increases with length of service 
• a Cycle to Work Scheme
• a confidential Employee Assistance Programme and a range of other benefits and discounts. 

How to apply

Check out our website and twitter feed for an overview of The Work Foundation’s mission, live projects and influencing priorities, and to learn more about our team.   

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, so please check you have the right to work in the UK before completing an application.  

Complete the application form and supporting statements on the Lancaster University jobs site: 

Create an account  

Fill out the form detailing your work experience 

Provide four short personal statements outlining how your experience fits aspects of the person specification. These should be written in full sentences with detailed examples. 

At the Work Foundation we are committed to being an inclusive organisation and see that as central to our ambition to tackle inequalities in the labour market. We would welcome applications from all communities for this position, and if you would like to discuss this role before applying, please contact Jon Fitzmaurice, Head of Engagement or Asli Atay, Policy Advisor , with any questions. 

About the Work Foundation

We believe everyone should have access to secure, rewarding and high-quality work. By engaging directly with workers, employers, policymakers and leading academics, we deliver rigorous applied research to tackle structural inequalities in the labour market and improve working lives across the UK. 

The Work Foundation is a unique think tank. We been an independent source of ideas and analysis on the labour market and the wider economy for over a hundred years, but are also part of the world leading Lancaster University Management School. We work with academics and colleagues across the University – and our expert advisory board – to deliver our research and influencing programme. We are regularly featured in the national media, and work closely with policy-makers and employers to turn research into impact.

About Lancaster University

Lancaster University is among the best in the UK. A top 15 university in the three major UK league tables, we are also highly ranked in international league tables such as the QS World Rankings. It has been recognised as a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident employer, and holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award for advancing the careers of women in higher education.  

The university has several networks focussed on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, including a Race Equality Network, an LGBT+ staff network and a Parents and Carers’ network. 

Visa sponsorship

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. 

Further details:
Please note: Unless specified otherwise in the advert wording, all advertised roles are UK based.


The University provides an environment that strongly
supports the individual needs of each employee, whilst promoting the importance
of wellbeing for all our colleagues. We have a range of support networks available for our employees, and more information on these can be found on the ‘Working at Lancaster’ information page.
 
We are committed to family-friendly and flexible
working policies on an individual basis. The University recognises and
celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address all inequality in
higher education.
 
We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the
community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression,
race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting
diversity, and equality of opportunity.