Research Leader - Employment (Education, Employment and Skills)

RAND Europe is an independent, not-for-profit research organisation whose mission is to help improve policy and decision-making through rigorous and independent research and analysis. We benefit the public interest through the impact and wide dissemination of over 200 projects per year. Our work at its most impactful changes policy, practice and process to the benefit of the public good. That is also our organisational mission

RAND Europe has approximately 200 staff across offices in Cambridge, Brussels, and the Hague. Our staff represents 22 nationalities, speaks over 20 languages and covers 31 academic disciplines. Our multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches to research generate unique perspectives and insights for our wide-ranging government, foundation and other NGO clients.

The Education, Employment, and Skills (EES) research group undertakes research across several public policy areas for a diverse client base in the UK, Europe and beyond.

Our work covers a broad range of public policy issues across:

• Employment and Skills (including skills, employability, labour migration, child and family policy).
• Education (including early childhood education and care, special educational needs, alternative provision, and edtech).
• Workplace Wellbeing (including productivity, culture, and occupational health and safety).
• Social inclusion and equalities (including violence prevention, intersectional inequalities).

We are now looking to recruit a Research Leader to join the team and help lead our Employment and Skills workstream. We are looking for an experienced researcher with methodological expertise in one or more of the following areas: programme evaluation (quantitative impact evaluation, theory-based approaches e.g. contribution analysis, process evaluation), evidence reviews (including Rapid Evidence Assessments), quantitative and qualitative primary research.

The successful applicant will have an extensive research background in employment and demonstrable track recording of securing research contracts from key research such as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Youth Futures Foundation (YFF). Experience of conducting research for EU institutions and agencies (e.g. European Commission, European Parliament, Eurofound, EU-OSHA) is desirable.

 You will thrive on teamwork and collaboration with colleagues and research funders, play a key role in developing and running this workstream.

The role is based in our Cambridge office and typically requires office attendance a minimum of once a week. We work flexibly as an organisation and adopt an activity-based model, which means that travel to some meetings in Cambridge and some out-of-office client meetings is also typically required.

Key Responsibilities

Leading business development activities in the employment workstream

• Reviewing and responding to invitations to tender
• Building research consortia across multiple organisations
• Leading proposals, including supporting more junior members of staff
• Strategic planning and proactive business development

Overseeing the design and delivery of high quality, objective research in a supportive environment,.

• Leads quantitative and/or qualitative elements of studies including research design, selection of appropriate analytical approaches, writing analysis plans, reviewing data collection approaches and analysis and reporting findings.
• Provides methodological and statistical support to junior researchers in the team.
• Independently leads projects to deliver high quality work within available time and resources.
• Identifies project and delivery risks, taking appropriate mitigating actions and escalation.
• Develops and sustaining strong client relationships.
• Delivers presentations and disseminates information as well as other activities that support the impact of RAND Europe’s research.
• Ad hoc duties as required.

Management & leadership

• Experience leading research/evaluation projects and competitive proposals.
• Track record of undertaking research for policy and/or practitioner audiences.
• Experience of leading client relationships.
• Experience in supporting junior staff and creating strong-performing teams.
• Contribution in senior leadership or management environments.

Commercial awareness

• Experience of writing winning research proposals
• Securing funding in competitive environments.
• Experience of effectively managing small to medium-sized project budgets.
• Ability to effectively process large amounts of information, translate and presenting complex research findings to policy, practice and lay audiences.
• Delivery of high calibre research and/or client deliverables.

Personal skills and experience

• Ability to work autonomously, flexibly and to deadlines.
• Collaborative leadership supporting whole-team achievement with no one left behind.
• Competence of managing and leading in virtual and in-person environments.

Subject Matter Confidence

• In-depth knowledge of employment and social policy
• Applied understanding of research methods

 Fluency in English

 IT skills

• Intermediate Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of STATA, R or Nvivo (desirable).

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent (desirable)

• Candidates without a PhD will be considered if they fulfil the following criteria:

• equivalent educational attainment or accreditation to post graduate (e.g. MA/MSc) level and in addition at least one of the following: career experience working in senior leadership role(s) connected to the subject matter along with an understanding of research;
• leading and working in research teams;
• career experience in a consulting role;
• achievement in higher education settings;
• named author on peer-reviewed publications in academic journals.

• Pension - 8% Employer contribution;
• 33 days holiday allowance, including the Bank Holidays;
• Annual salary review;
• BUPA medical insurance;
• Generous company sick pay;
• Enhanced family friendly policies;
• Group income protection scheme;
• Group life assurance;
• Compassionate leave;
• Flexible working arrangements;
• Learning and development opportunities;
• Employee wellbeing training and support;
• Fresh fruit every day;
• Free on-site parking;
• Cycle to work scheme;
• Access to company bikes;
• Service awards.

Salary

Starting from £50,000 per annum, depending on experience

How to Apply

If you believe you are suited to the above role, please submit an application comprising of a CV and covering letter below. Closing date for applications is 30th November 2025.

If you have not been contacted within 30 days of application deadline, please assume your application has not been successful.