Do you want to do research that makes a real difference to babies, children and young people?

Every childhood is worth fighting for. This is our belief. It drives us. And it motivates us to maintain our position as an influential, informed and forceful voice at every level. Join us as a Senior Research and Evaluation Officer within the Research and Evidence team and play your part in leading progress that makes a real difference to the lives of babies, children and young people. 

What kind of research does the NSPCC Research and Evidence team do? 

The NSPCC Research and Evidence team carries out, commissions and partners on high quality social research. We seek to answer big and small questions around preventing and stopping child abuse, and how to support children who have experienced it.

• Our research is child-centred, meaningful and useful - it drives improvements to our work with children, families and communities, influences the development of policy and guidance, and contributes to new NSPCC campaigns, as well as adding to the wider evidence base. 
• We also support research activity at NSPCC via our Research Advice Clinic, Evidence Summary Service, and the NSPCC Research Ethics Committee.

 What will the job involve? 

This is an exciting and varied role for a researcher with excellent project management skills. You'll be working with colleagues in departments across the NSPCC including Childline, Policy and Public Affairs, Knowledge and Information, Schools services and Participation. Current projects we're working on include research on technology assisted online sexual extortion, sex and relationships education at secondary and primary levels, problematic sexual behaviour and provision of services to tackle loneliness, to name just a few.

Specifically, the role will involve: 

• Designing and project managing research on a wide range of NSPCC research projects. 

• Liaising with internal and external stakeholders to develop research projects and advising other teams in the NSPCC about how to carry out robust and ethical research. 

• Communicating research findings to a range of different audiences including colleagues, practitioners, decision makers, policy makers, academics and the children and families who access our services. 
• Managing junior members of the team directly and via our matrix management structure.

What experience are we looking for?

You will have demonstrable experience of undertaking and managing complex research and evaluation projects in different settings and contexts. You will have a passion for the NSPCC's mission, and for child-centred, participatory research, as well as a strong understanding of: 

• Qualitative and quantitative research methods, including participatory fieldwork methods 
• What makes research, particularly research with children, safe and ethical.  

Looking for a team that is passionate about what it does? 

You'll be part of the team of friendly and talented researchers. We're quite a big team, which is great for diversity in thought and practice. There are things we all have in common though, namely a passion for doing excellent work that makes a difference to children and a commitment to showing care for each other and those involved in our research through trauma-informed practice and inclusive approaches. We put children at the heart of our work and, in line with the NSPCC's strategic goals, we listen to and take their views and ideas into account wherever we can. 

As a senior researcher you'll no doubt have a thirst for the acquisition of knowledge! The NSPCC provides rich and varied opportunities for this, both through interactions with inspiring colleagues and via structured learning and development opportunities.  It is a genuinely exciting and stimulating environment for someone who cares about research and keeping babies, children and young people safe.

Does this sound like the role for you? 

If you share our values and you have the experience we're looking for we would love to hear from you.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this post early if we receive a high number of applications.

Interviews for this post will take place in person at the NSPCC's Weston House office in London on December 17, 2024.

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