Research Assistant (Social research and engagement)

Job Title:        Research Assistant

Reporting to: HVM Researcher

Liaison with: HVM Team and Associates; freelance facilitators; members of the public, external clients and stakeholders

Location:       Coppergate House, 10 Whites Row, London E1 7NF

Hours:          40 hours per week. This role involves working on some evenings and weekends, with time off in lieu

Workplace:  Our London office for a minimum of 2 days per week (Tuesdays, plus one other day)

Salary:         £23,000-£29,000 dependent on experience. Reviewed annually

Holiday:       30 days per year in addition to public holidays

Pension:      HVM makes a 5% contribution to the NEST Pension scheme. You are required to make a minimum of 3% contribution.

Main purpose of the post

Hopkins Van Mil (HVM) is a small and successful social research agency. Our mission is to bring people together to inform the future. We distil the collective voices of society and deliver meaningful insights and provide spaces for change.  Our vision is a better society built on thoughtful social insights explored and implemented with humanity and kindness.

We work with clients across the public sector on a wide range of issues including health and social care, data systems, the environment and climate change, and cultural heritage. We work with members of the public across the UK, as participants in our projects.

The role of the Research Assistant at HVM is focused on supporting the full range of deliberative social research projects undertaken by the team. The role requires flexibility, confidence, an ability to prioritise complex and competing deliverables and an excellent rapport with co-workers, stakeholders and research participants. The Research Assistant is an essential and integral part of HVM operations.

Main responsibilities

Support HVM team and projects through:

• Using HVM project management tools to organise your tasks and communicate effectively with HVM Team
• Working with recruitment agencies to engage new participants in research and dialogue
• Working with the in-house team and community groups and networks to recruit some participants to deliberative projects
• Preparing information for participants including print and postage of participant handbooks
• As the important first contact between HVM and participants: contacting participants in advance of workshops to identify any needs,  access requests or dietary requirements
• Preparing information and equipment for HVM workshops in a timely fashion using a checklist approach.
• Providing event support for face-to-face workshops across the UK
• Providing technical support for online workshops including 1:1 sessions with participants
• Working with the Administration Support and liasing with the HVM Team and external agencies to organise efficient transcription of audio recordings
• Setting up coding frameworks developed by the team and coding and analysing qualitative data using NVivo and Excel software
• Supporting Event/Tech Support freelancers, by sharing learning, understanding and resolving issues, providing training
• Liaising with freelance Event/Tech support team to schedule sessions and provide information in a timely way
• Working with HVM Researchers and Project Leads to undertake desk research in support of project design, including drafting and development of stimulus materials to be used in workshops.
• Supporting HVM Business Development by undertaking a weekly TenderWatch process

From time to time the Research Assistant role may be asked to:

Support the HVM Administration Support with administrative tasks Transcribe audio recordings of in person workshops into anonymised transcripts to use for research Facilitate small groups for HVM deliberative projects Identify and appraise options for innovative ways of working Support report writing for research projects Support the preparation and submission of bids and proposals  

This role is not limited to these tasks, and you will be asked to work flexibly to contribute to tasks as needed to support HVM. 

Next steps 

If you’d like to hear more do get in touch with leah@hopkinsvanmil.co.uk for an informal chat. To apply, send a brief CV (no more than 2 pages) with a short letter explaining why you are the best fit for this role to info@hopkinsvanmil.co.uk. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 2nd October at 9am.

Interviews will be held on 15^th October in our London office.

We’re interested in someone joining us as soon as possible, so please get in touch.