DescriptionRole Overview
Ipsos UK Public Affairs are leaders in social research and evaluation.
We are looking for an Associate Director to join our highly successful Policy and Evaluation Unit. The team is multi-disciplinary of economists and evaluation specialists who work across all areas of public policy.
The team has an expanding portfolio of complex evaluations of high-profile energy and civil infrastructure projects and industrial policies. The successful candidate will support the growth of this portfolio by leading evaluations of major interventions aimed at tackling the challenges of achieving net zero, energy security, and addressing the UK’s stagnating productivity growth.
This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded Evaluator with a good understanding of economic policy, including market barriers and challenges and why Government might intervene (strategic case assessments). The role will suit someone with a passion for policy themes including innovation, regional economic development, industrial and infrastructure policy, business and competition.
What will I be doing?
As an Evaluation specialist, you will take leadership on evaluation projects falling within our economy and environment policy division. You will be supporting an established team of evaluators and policy specialists and will be confident applying quantitative impact evaluation methods and theory-based approaches to complex evaluation problems.
The main responsibilities of the role are:
- Managing and directing evaluations through the full project cycle from design to data collection and analysis, through to developing conclusions and recommendations.
- Drafting engaging and persuasive publishable outputs.
- Presenting the findings from evaluation to clients, key stakeholders and other audiences.
- Taking editorial leadership and design oversight on successful evaluation proposals and pitches (£500,000 - £750,000 in gross value terms) with support from our senior directors.
- Collaborating with colleagues across our Public Affairs division, as well as external partners.
- Providing specialist expertise in a policy or methodological area.
- Contributing to the development of evaluation skills across our Public Affairs division.
- Working alongside the Senior Management Team in the strategic and operational management of the Policy and Evaluation Unit.
- Supporting senior staff in the team to manage the well-being and job satisfaction of junior team members.
Ipsos UK offers a hybrid working environment, 3 days in the office and working the rest from home. We have offices in London, Manchester and Edinburgh and welcome applications from candidates able to work from one of these offices.
What do I need to bring with me?
This role will suit candidates who enjoy working closely with clients in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for someone with:
- A passion for policy themes including innovation, regional economic development, industrial and infrastructure policy, business and competition.
- A commercial mindset in delivering research and evaluation, and a thirst for growing a business.
- A masters degree or higher-level qualification in economics or related discipline.
- Good knowledge and experience of both quantitative and qualitative (i.e. mixed-method) approaches
- Proven ability to manage and deliver projects to timescale and budgets with limited director supervision
- Proven ability to lead winning evaluation proposals
- Confident and clear written and verbal communication skills
In addition, the candidate would ideally have:
- Proven skills in the application of econometric methods to complex programme evaluation problems.
- Expertise in cost-benefit analysis and the application of HMT Green Book.
What is in it for me?
Ipsos UK offer an attractive basic salary and a rewards package including 25 days annual leave, a pension scheme and a great range of flexible benefits to suit your personal needs. For roles at Research Manager level and above we also offer private healthcare.
In addition to this we have a fantastic Learning & Development offer delivered through a mix of face to face, online or on-demand; you can read more by clicking here.
We realise you may have commitments outside of work and will consider flexible working applications - please highlight what you are looking for when you make your application.
Ipsos is committed to equality, treating people fairly, promoting a positive and inclusive working environment and ensuring we have diversity of people and views. We also recognise that this is important for our business success - a more diverse workforce will enable us to better reflect and understand the world we research and ultimately deliver better research and insight to our clients.
