Job Title: Research Officerdepartment: Policy and External Affairs

JOB DESCRIPTION

September 2013

Job title: Research OfficerDepartment: Policy and External Affairs

Reporting to: Research and Evaluation Manager

Aim

Support the development and delivery of Crisis’ Research and Evaluation Programme, under the direction of the Research and Evaluation Manager. Specific duties will include data collection and management, quantitative and qualitative analysis relating to specific projects, the critical review of existing literature, preparation of outputs for publication, and contribution to research activities as required.

Circumstances

Salary

Principal Accountabilities

1. Research

To undertake primary and secondary research onhomelessness and housing issues.Research tasks principally include desk research, data collection and organisation, quantitative and qualitative analyses, and preparation of outputs.
To plan, manage, write up and disseminate internal research projects in collaboration with colleagues in other teams.
To collect data held in Crisis’ client database and create datasets in the statistical package SPSS that can be used for analyses.
To respond to information requests from colleagues and members of the public.
With support, preparing proposals for grant applications to external funders, and identifying opportunities for sponsorship in consultation with the Trusts team.

In collaboration with colleagues in other teams, to effectively plan and execute internal research projects (including defining the scope of the project, timeline development, organising project activities, managing problems, and ensuring quality control).

To organise semi-structured and in-depth interviews and focus groups and give out incentive payments to service users.
To prepare reports and other research outputs for publication within agreed timescales and ensure all outputs are of high standard.
To assist with the management, delivery and dissemination of externally commissioned work (e.g., commenting on draft research instruments, such as questionnaires, and editing draft reports).

To ensure the efficient dissemination of findings from Crisis’ research projects, both internally and externally.
To represent Crisis externally at relevant research conferences and seminars and to present research findings.

To work closely with colleagues in the Policy and External Affairs Department and other Departments to develop new research projects to meet Crisis’ strategic priorities.

To line manage and develop research interns,ensuring that their performance is of a continually good standard.
To deputise for the Research and Evaluation Manager as required.

6. General

Be an active member of the Research and Evaluation team, constructively considering ways to improve Crisis’ Research Programme and the team’s performance and processes.
To keep up to date with developments affecting your work and maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development
To carry out administrative tasks associated with the Research and Evaluation Programme.

To develop and maintain an understanding of the charity’s work and the needs and circumstances of homeless people
To comply with Crisis policies and procedures, including Health and Safety policies, for which all employees owe a duty of care both to themselves and others, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act

7. Flexibility

To deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is needed, and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above.

Person Specification

Essential

A graduate or post-graduate qualification (or equivalent) in housing, economics or other social science.
Understanding of research methodologies, with experience in developing appropriate methodologies and corresponding primary research instruments for specific research projects.
Experience of conducting and analysing quantitative and qualitative social research, including surveys, focus groups and in-depth interviews.
Excellent writing skills, with experience in collecting, analysing and presenting evidence in order to produce reports, practical outputs and policy recommendations.
Good verbal communications skills with the ability to summarise and present research findings to a range of audiences.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to support several research projects at once within set timeframesand able to work independently at speed and under pressure when required.
A proactive and creative approach to research work, with an ability to work independently and prioritise own tasks and time, but also take direction, be flexible and work collaboratively with others.
An understanding of and commitment to the maintenance of research ethics and data protection issues.
Excellent IT skills, with experience in using Excel, statistical analysis software (preferably SPSS) and computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (preferably Nvivo)
Commitment to Crisis’s purpose and values including equality and social inclusion

Desirable

10.Experience of involving and working with service users in the development and management of research and evaluation projects

11.Good knowledge of housing and homelessness issues.

12.Experience of using and analysing large-scale datasets in research projects.

13.Ability to travel within the UK

We encourage applications from all sections of the community particularly those with personal or previous experience of homelessness.