Research Specialist Sunderland, North East England, England
Job description
Responsible to: Head of Innovation
Salary Range: £24k - £30k
Term: 1 year (fixed term)
Role Overview
At Sunderland Software City (SSC) our vision is to improve the economy by creating digital tech opportunities and our mission is to make a difference by pushing boundaries.
As part of the Innovation team this role will involve managing and delivering research projects with SMEs from scoping through to methodology and report writing, including managing and developing client relationships. Your role will be to engage with these businesses across a diverse range of sectors and to best craft a research plan to help them in their innovation journey.
You will be responsible for the delivery of short research project as part of out offer as a regional catapult centre to best support SMEs through Innovate UK grant funding; this will involve working in collaboration with SME clients to understand their challenges and design research projects that help them identify the best solutions for these.
On the completion of this grant funding scheme, you will be responsible to delivering research activity related to the organisation’s growing expertise in immersive technology and the virtual production studio at PROTO, Gateshead.
How you’ll contribute to our vision
- Taking the lead in managing and delivering research projects, from scoping through to methodology and report writing, including managing and developing client relationships;
- Take the lead on the day-to-day management of a range of customer accounts and be the first point of contact for these accounts - ensuring that customer expectations are managed and fulfilled;
- Deliver a wide range of social research techniques including fieldwork such as telephone and in-person interviews, literature reviews, focus groups and data analysis;
- Work with senior managers and the Head of Innovation to win new work from new and existing clients and proactively identify new business opportunities both in terms of research services and policy markets;
- Produce insightful research reports with sophisticated advice to support your clients in their decision-making;
- Contribute to the development and profile of our research expertise with customers and key funding bodies.
Working at Sunderland Software City
At Sunderland Software City we celebrate multiple approaches and opinions and believe diversity drives innovation. We are working hard to build a culture where difference is valued. We are a growing team and it’s important to us that we recruit the best people. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.
We aim to maintain an entrepreneurial culture within our organisation. As a small team, staff have the opportunity to get involved with different projects in the organisation.
We are committed to your personal development (CPD). If there is a course you’ve spotted, an event you’d like to attend, or if you’d like to shadow a colleague and learn a different skill, we will seek to facilitate this where possible.
We also work flexibly. Alongside having our own office in the heart of Sunderland, we encourage working from home and have various partnerships in place with local co-working spaces across the North East to facilitate flexible working,
All our perks:
- Flexible working
- Regular team socials
- Pension contributions
- Basic Bupa health insurance
- Subscription to the ‘Calm’ mental health app
- 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
- A range of discounts and promotions via Charlie HR Perks at Work
- Commitment to CPD including events/paid training opportunities
- Cycle to work scheme
We actively encourage applications from people of under-represented groups as we strive to increase diversity in our workplace.
Additional notes
- Completion of a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is essential for this role.
- Safeguarding Level 1 training will be provided as part of this role and must be completed.
- Please note we are currently unable to sponsor work visas.
How to Apply
The deadline for applications is 16th August 2023 by 17:00
Interviews will be held week of 21st August 2023.
Please note we are unable to sponsor work visas.
Key Skills/Qualifications:
The following key skills and qualifications are a guide and should not be seen as a list of requirements. Even if you are not sure about your existing skills but are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply. Please contact us if you would like to discuss your suitability for the role further.
Important for success:
- Experience of delivering research projects
- Managing and delivering a portfolio of research projects to tight deadlines
- Interrogating and analysing datasets
- Ability to present, explain and interpret data or analysis to non-technical audiences, specifically businesses
- Preparing reports which are both objective and accessible to read
- Research design, such as devising interview and focus group topic guides, questionnaires, surveys and evaluation frameworks
Nice to have:
- Proven experience of research in a business environment
- Project management experience, particularly related to public funds
- An interest in the tech sector
