Reporting to / Director of Evidence and Impact
Job purpose
The Research Officerundertakes activities and projects to ensure the work of Drinkaware isinformed by current evidence, evaluated to assess impact and that research findings are communicated effectively to colleagues and external parties. A key component of the role is monitoring emerging research and public data, providing summaries of findings and assisting the Media and PR team with accurate communication. The Research Officer supports the team in providing research evidence to underpin Drinkaware’s mission to reduce alcohol-related harm.
Activities are varied and involve working with colleagues across the organisation. They include: assistingthe development of evaluation designs and undertakingdata collection and analysis in respect to innovative as well and routinely applied tools, using quantitative and qualitative methods. It involves independent oversight of specified activities and supports on-going as well as project-specific work led by other members of the Research and Impact Team, which consists of aDirector of Evidence and Impact and aResearch and Insight Manager.
Specific Responsibilities
- Undertake research based on primary and secondary data, and confidently use both quantitative and qualitative methods and appropriate data analysis techniques.
- Monitor national data statistics and relevant research journals, identifying findings and insights of strategic relevance to Drinkaware.
- Assess and summarise key research findings, communicating effectively to different audiences.
- Work with the press team to prepare accurate and accessible press releases for national and regional media on Drinkaware research, national statistics and breaking health stories.
- Support the planning and design of communications, campaigns and educational (including web-based) interventions by researching the evidence base for planned activity, and assisting in the identification of appropriate research and evaluation tools.
- Support the analysis ofconsumer knowledge of our key target audiences and of drinking behaviours that contribute to alcohol-related harm.
- Support colleagues internally in terms of programme specific Theory of Change (ToC) development and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) data collection.
- Support the analysis of research dataforthe Senior Leadership Team and Board of Drinkaware as required, and lead on or contribute to key organisational reports (e.g. the Website User Survey Report).
- Act as content owner for specified aspects of evidence and impact information on the website drinkaware.co.uk, ensuring that the content is reviewed, current, comprehensive and accessible. Updating the Research and Impact content as required.
- Contribute to inputting and updating required information on organisational databases.
- Undertake primary data collection for research and evaluation projects, and support the development of internal research capacity.
- Support less experienced members of the Drinkaware team with their research responsibilities.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Education / Training
Degree or equivalent in relevant area. Experience of working in a similar role.
Essential Criteria
- Excellent analytical skills: able to conduct in-house analysis; interpret and synthesise large data sets; and cull insight from external data sources.
- Sound knowledge of quant and qual methodology and best practice through the research cycle.
- Ability to undertake primary research data collection (e.g. surveys, focus groups and 1-2-1 interviews) and interest in developing further skills in this area.
- Good writing skills and ability to communicate effectively with different audiences.
- People skills: ability to develop and sustain positive relationships with a range of internal and external contacts.
- Highly organised with strong administrative skills and excellent attention to detail.
- Excellent computer skills and experience of using relevant software (Excel, Powerpoint).
- An interest in emerging thinking in the area of behaviour-change theories and the evaluation of health-promoting interventions.
- A personal commitment to reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm.
- Experience of digital content management – reviewing and updating website content.
- Ability to support the development of Theory of Change models, collect and analyse and write up KPI data.
- Ability to undertake systematic reviews of evidence.
Special features of the role
Some out of standard hours working, evenings and weekends (on an exceptional basis only).
The Drinkaware Trust is committed to diversity and inclusion and it is essential that the post holder is committed to make a positive contribution to their promotion and implementation.
N.B. This job description summarises the key features of the role, it is not intended to be a detailed description and does not cover all the duties that the job holder may reasonably be expected to fulfil.