Senior Research Manager European Social Policy (m/f/d)

Ecorys UK is looking for a Senior Research Manager European Social Policy (m/f/d)

Owned by our employees and a foundation, Ecorys is a world-class research-based consultancy that helps our clients make a positive impact on society. From research and evaluation, through to project management and communications, we are leaders in providing the evidence and advice that our clients need to tackle the issues that affect communities around the world. Our 500 strong staff are justifiably proud of our innovative and thought-provoking contributions to policy and programme delivery. By joining us you will be part of a multidisciplinary team including social researchers, economists, and evaluators, working collaboratively in a large international group with offices worldwide.

We aim to achieve our business objectives in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible way, giving 1% of our profits to charity each year. Our working culture promotes personal and career development. Ecorys operates a hybrid working policy; flexible and part-time working is fully supported. This role can be based in any of our UK offices. We are an equal opportunities employer. We are welcoming and inclusive, and we want the diversity of our backgrounds and experiences to benefit our work and our team. We value our collaborative and entrepreneurial team culture. We have a great benefits package with 25 days holiday, company bonus scheme, wellbeing support and opportunities to get involved in team events and company away days.

Features, advantages and benefits:

The role of Senior Research Managers/Senior Consultants is to win and deliver research, evaluation and consultancy projects, within the Policy and Research (P&R) team at Ecorys. We have several roles available to work in research and evaluation across one or more of our policy areas including education, employment, social inclusion, and in communications evaluation.

As a Senior Research Manager, you will take responsibility for managing and delivering medium sized research and evaluation contracts and, work with Project Directors on larger-scale, longer-term research, and evaluation projects, from work winning and inception to delivering the final report and dissemination. You will lead on providing effective project and client management, planning, and monitoring delivery to agreed timescales, ensuring quality, and liaising with experts, contractors, partners, associates, as well as with Ecorys corporate services on compliance, budgeting, and invoicing.

Senior Research Managers contribute to business development and work winning so you will actively pursue tender opportunities helping the team to secure new work. In addition, you will start to develop one or more specific areas of business development / market interest, and maintain client contacts that you develop.

The role will also give the right candidate the opportunity to develop in the area of Communications Evaluation which is a growing market for Ecorys.

Our working culture promotes team-working and we have a strong focus on personal and career development. You will be part of a large international group with offices worldwide. Ecorys operates a flexible working policy and our team are all hybrid-working. All our roles are available full or part time.

Role Requirements:

You should hold a first degree in relevant subject or equivalent experience (social sciences, public policy, communications, methodology, economics, mathematics, etc) and hold post-graduate, professional or vocational qualification in a relevant subject.

You must have significant and demonstrable experience in the development and delivery of evaluation or research into relevant policy interventions at EU level, including the successful application of analytical approaches that feed into the understanding and formulation of relevant policy areas.

You will have proven ability to acquire new work and secure repeat business from clients including the preparation of high-quality tenders and proposals through excellent writing skills with evidence of strong commercial awareness.

You will need to show strong evidence of effective project management including excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage complex, larger scale projects.

Strong, applied quantitative and/or qualitative research skills are a requirement, including experience of designing, conducting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data. Experience in applied economic and/or econometric skills are desirable.

Good proficiency of MS Office suite is expected while social sciences software including NVivo, R, R Studio, SPSS, Stata is desirable.

A thorough induction and on-boarding is supported by training and ongoing professional development based on a needs assessment conducted with the line manager.
Twice yearly appraisals are undertaken to set objectives and review performance.

Our team of 100+ researchers is based across our offices in Birmingham, London, Leeds, and Brussels. Our team work in a hybrid way flexing between home and the office as needed. You can choose to work flexibly with the opportunity to travel into one of our UK offices when required.

Due to the nature of research, this role requires a DBS check and some European or international travel, when permitted.

We encourage interested and qualified candidates to review the attached job description and submit their CV and cover letter via our online application form.

Early applications are encouraged. Applications received will be assessed on a rolling basis.