Researcher, Research​/Development, Research Analyst

Researcher

Final date to receive applications: 27 August 2026

Department: Policy Research Centre

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: London (Hybrid)

Compensation: £28,725 - £32,500 / year

Researcher

£28,725- £32,500 depending on experience

London | Hybrid

Full time | Permanent

Location:

London (Hybrid - 2-3 days per week in the London office, depending on business needs)

Team:
Policy Research Centre

Instant Impact in partnership with Nat Cen (The National Centre for Social Research) are hiring Researchers to join their Policy Research Centre.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build their career in social research and evaluation, while contributing to work that helps shape policy and improve people's lives.

The Policy Research Centre works as one integrated unit across a broad range of policy areas, including health and health inequalities, health services, work and wellbeing, children and families, income, community, and crime and justice. You will be placed within a team based on your experience and interests, while also having opportunities to work across different areas and projects.

You’ll work alongside experienced researchers, supporting the delivery of high-quality research and evaluation projects for clients and stakeholders. You will gain early exposure to both qualitative and quantitative research methods, build your project delivery skills, and contribute to evaluations of services and policy measures that help inform decisions and drive positive change.

• Support the design and delivery of social research and evaluation projects.
• Contribute to literature reviews, evidence reviews and systematic reviews, with support from more experienced colleagues.
• Undertake qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, depending on your background and project needs.
• Support data collection activities, including one-to-one interviews, workshops and stakeholder engagement activity.
• Support the development of research tools, including questionnaires, discussion guides and evaluation frameworks.
• Contribute to high-quality reports, presentations and research outputs.
• Assist with project management activities to help ensure delivery against agreed timelines and quality standards.
• Work across multiple projects at the same time, managing priorities effectively and communicating clearly with project teams.
• Contribute to proposal writing and business development activity where required.
• Manage research data in line with organisational policies, ethical standards and data protection requirements.
• Take part in communities of practice, learning activities and wider organisational initiatives.

• An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.
• A degree or experience with a strong research element, such as a dissertation, research project or applied research component.
• Research methods training, coursework or practical research experience.
• An understanding of social research methods and experience in one or more of the following areas: quantitative research and analysis, qualitative research, survey research, evaluation, or impact evaluation.
• Experience contributing to research, evaluation or evidence review projects through employment, consultancy, internships, placements, postgraduate study or university research projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate work.
• Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities across more than one project.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• The ability to work collaboratively within project teams and build positive working relationships.
• A proactive, reliable and accountable approach, with the confidence to take ownership of tasks and follow through on commitments.
• A willingness to work on unfamiliar research tasks with appropriate support and training.
• A genuine interest in the relationship between research, policy and practice.
• A commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Around two years of…