About this role
Salary: £45,000 - 60,000 per year
Requirements
- Strong background in applied research, critical thinking and problem-solving
- Experience in applied, qualitative or mixed-methods research, preferably outside academia
- Experience designing and delivering primary and secondary research projects
- Knowledge of systems thinking, systems modelling, or complex social and economic factors
- Experience working with unstructured information, grey literature and varied evidence sources
- Ability to turn complex research into clear findings and strategic recommendations
- Ability to work independently and engage with senior stakeholders
- Background in population health, health inequalities, economics, public policy, education, labour markets, strategic consulting, or a similar research-focused environment
Responsibilities
- Lead primary and secondary research into social inequalities and emerging trends
- Investigate complex problems by turning ambiguous briefs into structured research questions and hypotheses
- Analyse unstructured information, reports, policy developments and other evidence sources
- Apply qualitative and mixed-methods research approaches to identify patterns and underlying drivers
- Use systems thinking to understand relationships between factors contributing to inequality
- Translate research findings into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for senior stakeholders
- Identify gaps in existing evidence and opportunities for further research
- Help develop our qualitative research and insight capability
Technologies
- Support
More
We are a collaborative, values-driven organisation focused on tackling inequality, improving outcomes across the UK and creating positive, long-term change across society. In this individual contributor role, reporting to the Head of Insight and Innovation, you will work with senior stakeholders and colleagues across disciplines, with autonomy to shape how research questions are approached and investigated and contribute to our strategic direction. Our offices are in central Edinburgh, commutable from both train stations, and we support hybrid working with four days in the office. We offer a salary of £45,000–£60,000, depending on experience, plus a benefits package that includes 40 days of holiday and an 8% employer pension contribution.
last updated 45 week of 2026