Job Description

Job title: /

Research Officer

Employer: / Qualifications Wales
Location: / Q2, Imperial Park, Newport NP10 8AR
Contract: / Permanent, full time. Requests for alternative working patterns, including part time, job share and secondments may be discussed at interview
Salary: / Band 2 - £23,400 - £26,400
Hours of work: / 37
Department: / Policy and Research Directorate
Reporting to: / Senior Research Officer
Closing date for applications: / 17 March 2016
Contact: / Kate Crabtree - Executive Director, Policy and Research – 0333 077 2739

Background
Qualifications Wales has been created as a Welsh Government Sponsored Body and is an independent regulator of qualifications and the qualification system in Wales. The new body is responsible for ensuring that qualifications and the qualifications system are effective in meeting the reasonable needs of learners in Wales, and for promoting public confidence in these.
Qualifications Wales has a publicly appointed Chair and Board who is accountable for the fulfilment of Qualifications Wales’ statutory functions and of its obligations to Welsh Government as a Welsh Government Sponsored Body. The Board agree the strategic direction and governance of the organisation and the Executive Team (comprising the Chief Executive and the three Executive Directors) are responsible for the development and implementation of the strategic and operational plans.
Job purpose
The purpose of the Research team is to conduct and commission research and data analysis in support of the furtherance of Qualifications Wales’ principal aims in relation to qualifications and the qualification system. The team will provide advice on assessment and qualification practices in the UK and around the world and will provide expert services to the organisation to enable it to develop policies and deliver operations based in robust evidence.
The primary role of the Research Officer is to produce strands of research work for Qualifications Wales and to provide support to the team for its work. The post holder will have an interest in education research, ideally in educational assessment and will work with colleagues and external stakeholders to help establish Qualifications Wales as a body that works on an evidence basis and that is recognised as a leading organisation in the field of assessment research.
Main duties
  • As directed, design and conduct small scale stakeholder opinion, qualification and assessment research projects.
  • Assist colleagues with substantial or more complex research projects producing work of publishable quality.
  • Engage and work collaboratively with operational and policy colleagues as required.
  • Utilise knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative research methodology
  • Be aware of research issues relating to Welsh language and equalities (both substantive and methodological) and conduct research accordingly.
  • Use bibliographic skills to survey literature in assessment and qualifications as needed.
  • Undertake quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
  • Administer relevant projects following appropriate procedures and setting and adhering to agreed schedules and quality measures.
  • Advance personal knowledge of assessment and qualification practices and of research in the field of assessment.
  • Use monitoring and performance data within research and evaluation studies.
  • Maintain effective records of research and analysis activities on behalf of the team.
  • Work flexibly, performing any other duties as required, where relevant to the post and appropriate to the grade.

Person specification

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications / Honours Degree in research related subject / Achievement of, or working towards, MSc or PhD or equivalent qualifications in research relevant to the field of education and/or assessment
Experience / Experience of undertaking research.
Experience of managing own work and meeting deadlines. / Experience of working in an educational context
Knowledge / An understanding of Industrygood practice on research. / An understanding of the education sector in Wales.
An understanding of the UK qualifications sector.
Knowledge of educational assessment practices
Skills / Strong analytical and interpretative skills.
Strong writing skills.
Ability to interpret, synthesise and present complex data.
Able to work independently or in the context of a team as required. / Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh

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