Job summary
*Job title: Senior Research Analyst - Evidence & Insights
*Sector/organisation type: Public Sector, UK regulator
*Contract: Interim, full-time
*Start: ASAP
*Duration: 6 months
*Rate: £350/day (Umbrella LTD, inside IR35)
*Working pattern: Hybrid - 2 mandatory office days over a 4-week period
*Hours/Leave: 35 hours per week, 33 days annual leave (pro-rated)
*Office location: Brighton
*Closing date: Thursday 19th March
Overview
*This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in designing, delivering and communicating high-quality research that supports evidence-based decision-making at UK regulator. As a Senior Research Analyst, you will shape how evidence is collected, interpreted and used, ensuring decisions are grounded in robust analysis and clear insight.
*You will lead complex primary-research projects, apply independent judgement to test hypotheses, analyse diverse data sets and fill critical evidence gaps. A key part of the role is translating detailed findings into clear, actionable insights for senior, non-technical audiences. You will oversee high-profile projects, ensure all outputs meet Government Social Research (GSR) standards, and act as a trusted adviser on research design and evidence use.
*This role is ideal for someone who thrives on turning complex questions into meaningful insight, enjoys collaborative working, and brings confidence, judgement and clarity to analytical work.
Duties and responisibilities
*Design and deliver robust primary-research projects that inform strategic and operational decision-making.
*Apply independent judgement to test hypotheses, identify risks and address gaps in the evidence base.
*Analyse complex qualitative and quantitative data sets, presenting findings clearly to non-technical audiences.
*Produce high-quality evidence outputs that meet Government Social Research (GSR) standards.
*Commission and manage external research agencies, ensuring effective delivery and oversight.
*Advise colleagues on research design, analytical approaches and evidence needs.
*Build strong relationships across the organisation and with external partners to support consistent, evidence-based decision-making.
*Manage high-profile, multi-stakeholder projects to time, quality and scope.
About you
*Enjoys translating complex issues into clear, evidence-based insights that help others make informed decisions.
*Builds strong relationships and works collaboratively across mixed-disciplinary teams.
*Takes ownership, leads projects confidently and brings sound judgement to ambiguous or multi-layered problems.
*Communicates with clarity and confidence, particularly when explaining technical findings to senior, non-technical audiences.
*Uses independent judgement to select the most appropriate research design for each project.
Essential criteria
*Demonstrable experience designing robust research studies (e.g., longitudinal, cross-sectional, cohort or quasi-experimental).
*Experience commissioning and managing external research agencies, with strong contract-management skills.
*Strong understanding of probability and non-probability sampling methods and when to apply them.
*Expert proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods including survey design (CATI, Web, IVR), in-depth interviews and focus groups.
*Experience using survey platforms with complex routing, and analysing data using tools such as Excel or SPSS.
*Strong skills in analysing research data (descriptive statistics, basic statistical tests such as t-tests/chi-square, qualitative coding, data visualisation).
*Proven experience communicating complex research findings clearly and accurately, turning insights into practical implications for the business.
What do you need to do now?
If you’re interested in this role, click ’apply now’ to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.
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