Head of Research: Skills

Head of Research:
Skills and Better Work

London or Leicester (with hybrid working)

The Head of Research:
Skills and Better Work is a new post for L&W. We’re expanding our team so that we can develop and deliver more - and better - policy-relevant research in the key areas of lifelong learning and progression to better work.

You will develop and lead research and insight projects. Those projects will be designed to influence policy change that will get more adults engaged in learning, developing their skills, and achieving their potential and ambitions in work. Income generation is part of this work: sometimes you will respond to reactive tenders, but we expect that you will also seek proactive opportunities to fund your work.

You will have the capability to lead a team of researchers, and work with colleagues with different methodological specialisms. You will be confident with quantitative data, but might have a qualitative research background yourself, or you might think of yourself more as a 'policy person'. The most important thing is that you have experience working out what insights are needed to solve a policy problem, and how to get them.

You will work across the lifelong learning, essential skills and better work pillars of our strategy – but key areas of focus for you are likely to include increasing employer investment in skills; improving apprenticeship access and quality; reducing inequalities in lifelong learning; understanding and harnessing the rise of online, self-led learning; and career change.

We’re the Learning and Work Institute, an independent policy and research organisation focused on lifelong learning and better work.

We're dedicated to tackling some the big challenges of today: driving growth and productivity through skills, getting to an 80% employment rate and tackling inequalities through the opportunities that adult learning can offer. We know lifelong learning and better work can change lives – and that employers, civil society and individuals all have a part to play, alongside Government. We do this by researching "what works", influencing policy, and working with practitioners to test and innovate new approaches.

We’re now looking for a Head of Research:
Skills and Better Work to join us on a permanent basis. This is a 0.8 - 1

FTE role, with flexible working supported (e.g. condensed hours, flexible start and finish times).

• Salary of £47,250 - £61,150 (FTE), depending on experience and location
• 31 days’ holiday FTE, increasing to 33 days after 5 years’ service, of which 3 are shutdown days, in addition to public holidays
• Company pension scheme with 8% employer contribution
• Group Life Assurance 3xsalary
• Hybrid working (with 40%-60% of your time required in the office)
• Flexible working practices
• Employee Development Scheme
• Retailer Discounts
• Enhanced occupational maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental pay
• Enhanced occupational sick pay
• Eye care scheme
• Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programme
• Gold award in Investors in People

• Experience of delivering and directing high-quality, policy-relevant research and/or analysis projects
• Experience of developing specific and actionable policy recommendations
• Experience of influencing policy and/or practice stakeholders to achieve change
• Experience of managing, supporting and developing researchers and/or analysts
• Demonstrable knowledge of areas of UK policy relevant to employment and skills (e.g. growth, education, employment, skills, etc.)
• Demonstrable policy-relevant research skills (qualitative or quantitative)
• Strong relationship management and communication skills

The closing date for this role is the 23rd October 2026.

Other organisations may call this role Senior Research Manager, Research Lead, Head of Research and Insight, Head of Policy Research, Head of Research and Policy, Head of Insight, or Research Programme Manager.

Webrecruit and the Learning and Work Institute are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.