Senior / Policy Researcher

We are looking for someone with experience of conducting research who can work within our research team and alongside our modelling team.  The candidate would be expected to conduct qualitative research, write briefings and reports, and present findings to stakeholders.  They would be supported by the Head of Policy Research and the Deputy Director of the PPI. 

The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) is an educational research institute established to help improve later life outcomes. We are independent and an expert across all elements of the UK pension system. We contribute facts, analysis and commentary to help stakeholders, decision-makers and law-makers take informed policy positions and decisions on pensions and retirement income provision.

Ideally the appointment would run from December 2024 to November 2025.

Team:                                Policy Research Team

Direct Reports:                None

Reports to:                      Head of Policy Research

Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the management and timely delivery of PPI research projects
• Manage multiple external and internal stakeholders including project sponsors
• Conduct literature reviews and desk-based research
• Analyse and interpret data from a policy perspective and develop conclusions from analysis
• Work closely with the PPI modelling team to determine methodology for the production of data and projections
• Draft PPI reports
• Present on a variety of retirement and pensions topics (internally and externally)
• Participate in discussion groups and seminars on pensions policy issues
• Generate ideas for new areas of research and get involved in developing and securing new PPI research projects if possible/appropriate
• Manage competing deadlines and priorities
• Work closely with other members of the PPI

Essential skills:

• A working knowledge of the UK pension system, or the ability to acquire knowledge quickly and / or work experience in social policy research;
• Proven high quality research skills, including desk and internet research and the ability to lead research projects in a pro-active way;
• Proven ability to interpret statistics and modelling results;
• Excellent report-writing and data presentation skills, drafting for public, or non-technical, readers in plain English;
• Good organisational and time management skills;
• Good interpersonal skills and demonstrable team player qualities.
• Experience of presenting research findings in seminars or conferences.

The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence of the right to work in the UK and two referees.  One should be the current/most recent employer and/or prior employer but they will not be contacted without prior consent. The successful candidate will also need to maintain an independent point of view to fit with the PPI’s non-political, fact-based stance.

The PPI takes the security of your data seriously. It has internal policies and controls in place to ensure that your data is not lost, accidentally destroyed, misused, or disclosed, and is not accessed except by our employees in the proper performance of their duties.

Location

We are a hybrid organisation and operate a remote working policy which means staff spend some time working in the office and some time working remotely. It is important that the successful candidate builds strong relationships across the team as a whole and with our stakeholders.  As most of our audiences and sponsors are mainly based in London, there will be a strong case for the successful candidate being London based, or able to come to London as frequently as required. We therefore anticipate that the normal place of work will be at the PPI office in Central London.

Diversity and Inclusion

We aim to build, develop and retain a talented workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, skills and experiences. We welcome and actively encourage applications from anyone who feels they’d be a good fit for our organisation, regardless of race, religion, colour, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, neurodiversity or any other protected characteristics.