Job Description

Research Officer/ Senior Research Officer

Salary: 30,000-36,000

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Location: Borough, London (hybrid working)

Hours: 35 hours per week, 2 days in office

Reports to: Research Director

About the Role

Centre for London is the capital's dedicated think tank. We develop rigorous research and bold ideas to help London thrive. As a Research Officer or Senior Research Officer, you will play a central role in designing and delivering research projects that shape policy and practice across the UK's capital city.

This is an exciting moment to join the Centre for London in the first year of our new five-year strategy - London 2030: An Ascendant Global City. You'll work across our research projects, spanning our strategic programme and our consultancy offer the London Policy Lab, and contribute to the Centre's thought leadership, public engagement, and fundraising efforts.

This opportunity is open to both early-career and more experienced researchers, with a Senior Research Officer role available dependent on experience.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Analysis

Design and deliver research projects using qualitative and/or quantitative methods. Conduct literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, data analysis, and policy synthesis. Develop compelling narratives and policy recommendations for publication.
Project Management

Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring high standards and timely delivery. Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to support project execution.
External Engagement

Represent Centre for London at events, roundtables, and in the media. Support the development of partnerships and stakeholder networks. Collaborate with the External Affairs team on communications and public engagement.
Fundraising & Development

Contribute to fundraising strategies and proposals. Identify potential funders and support relationship-building efforts.

Person Specification

Essential

Strong social research methods skills, with familiarity with both qualitative and quantitative methods. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presentations. Project management skills, including ability to design and deliver research projects to a high standard. Ability to independently plan and manage workload, and to work at pace or manage competing priorities when required. Stakeholder engagement and relationship management experience. Proficiency in MS365, with strong Excel skills. Passion for London and its future.
Desirable

Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Specialism in either quantitative or qualitative research methods Specialism in urban policy and/or: Social policy (e.g. housing, urban economics, inequality) Climate and environmental policy Devolution, public services reform, and governance Experience in relevant fundraising or working with funders. Experience acting as a public spokesperson or working with communications teams.

How to apply

Please send a CV and cover letter (2 pages max) with the subject line 'Research Officer / Senior Research Officer' to jobs@centreforlondon.org Your application should show how your experience and achievements to date would make you a suitable candidate for this role. Download the job description.

Application deadline: 9 AM on Monday, September 22nd.

Interviews expected to take place: From the week of September 29th.

If you have any questions, please contact jobs@centreforlondon.org.

We will be assessing applications as they are submitted and may close the opportunity earlier than the deadline if we find suitable candidates to conduct interviews.

Working at Centre for London

We are a small, collaborative team committed to making London a better city. We offer flexible working, generous leave, and a supportive environment for professional development.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. People from certain backgrounds are under-represented in the think tank sector and we're committed to doing what we can to correct this.?We are particularly keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic people; women; people with disabilities; people who identify as being LGTBQ+; people who have a mental health condition; and people who identify as working class or have done so in the past.

Centre for London

We are London's think tank. A voice for all London is, and could be. We're fiercely independent and consistently influential. Our vision is a London that's successful and sustainable. A global city that works for all Londoners.

Our activities

Research and evidence: we conduct robust, unbiased research and analysis, and collaborate with Londoners and stakeholders across all sectors, to generate new ideas and recommendations. Convening and collaborating: we bring together citizens, experts and decision makers from diverse standpoints to discuss complex issues in a safe space. We devise solutions and work out how to implement them. Awareness raising and advocacy: being an authoritative policy voice on London and promoting our research and ideas to those with the power to act on them - from the grassroots to London's and the nation's leaders - through briefings, publications, social media, press and events.

Message from our chair, Fiona Fletcher-Smith

"Centre for London's work is more important than ever, with the city facing many challenges - from the local right up to the global, from the housing crisis to the threats posed by climate change. Our work is crucial in bringing together decision makers, experts and opinion formers to come up with new solutions to these complex problems facing London. You'd be supported by a fantastic team dedicated to making London a better place to live and work. And you'd have a diverse board of trustees backing you all the way.

If you are passionate about making London a better city for all Londoners, then this is the role for you."

About our culture

We are a small charity with nine members of staff. Everyone is passionate about London and committed to making it a better city. We have a friendly, fun and collaborative team culture. We invest in our team to help them succeed; offering on the job support and opportunities for development of your skills, both formally through training (learning lunches, whole team and individual training) and informally through experience and shadowing.

We celebrate London's rich and diverse culture and we want our team to reflect the city we serve. We especially welcome applications from women, and people from minority ethnic and/or less advantaged backgrounds.

We're a London Living Wage and an equal opportunities employer - an ethos which also informs our work. We make employment decisions by matching organisational needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. Ours is a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based on merit.

We also know that there's much more to life than work. Our flexible hours policy allows staff to make sure work fits around their personal lives. Benefits include 25 days holiday per year (plus extra days during office closure between Christmas and New Year), a contributory pension, cycle and savings schemes, childcare and eye care vouchers. All staff have access to an Employee Assistance Programme, and we have an organisational commitment to promoting good mental and physical health.

Our support for working parents and those with caring responsibilities includes enhanced maternity pay (12 weeks at full pay), enhanced provision for supporting partners (three weeks leave at full pay), and we encourage shared parental leave.

People who have worked with us for more than two years may also be able to take career breaks of up to six months, giving them time for personal or professional development, or to simply take an extended holiday.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 30,000.00-36,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Company events Company pension Cycle to work scheme Health & wellbeing programme Work from home
Education:

Bachelor's (preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London SE1 4YB