Research Assistant

We are inviting applications for an exciting role as a Research Assistant to support our impact-capturing activities.

At WCPP, we are committed to understanding and maximising our own impact and this Embedded Impact Researcher role aims to understand the relationship between the Centre’s knowledge mobilisation practices and its impact on the use of evidence in policy making and public services in Wales.

The successful candidate will deploy a range of tools and approaches to improve the way in which our teams that work with Welsh Government and public services to help them access and apply evidence in their decision-making think about and measure the impact of their knowledge mobilisation work. This could include developing project-level theories of change, conducting stakeholder mapping, organising and conducting interviews with colleagues and wider stakeholders, and running reflection sessions during and on completion of projects.

The role will also include conducting research on the use of evidence in policy making and practices of evidence mobilisation. The Research Assistant will work alongside experienced researchers in the Centre on studies that help to inform our approach to working with public services and the Welsh Government and assess our impact.

This post offers a unique opportunity to conduct innovative research that will contribute directly to the growing academic literature on evidence-informed policy making as well as helping to improve understanding on how the Centre can improve its impact. The successful candidate will broaden their understanding of key academic debates in these areas working within a Centre that is acknowledged to be at the leading edge of both academic research and practice in the field.

Co-funded by the Welsh Government, Economic and Social Research Council and Cardiff University, WCPP bridges the gap between academic research and policy makers/practitioners by generating and mobilising evidence that improves policy decisions and public services.

Our colleagues come from a range of backgrounds including academia, the civil service, health service, local government, think tanks and the voluntary sector.

The Centre provides a stimulating and supportive working environment with flexible working arrangements; a generous pension scheme and a range of other benefits; a wealth of training opportunities; and offices in the world’s first Social Science Research Park (SPARK), located on Cardiff’s £300 million Innovation Campus.

The post is full time from October 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. We are open to a job share and flexible working arrangements, such as compressed hours. The post is fixed term until the end of our current funding period (31 March 2028). The university will consider applications which propose secondments of a minimum of one year.

for full job specification and to apply.