We are inviting applications for a Researcher to join our devolution team, to start as soon as notice periods allow.

Our research staff spend their time thinking, talking, writing and advocating about how to make government more effective. They evaluate how government currently works and develop recommendations for how it could better organise itself, develop and deliver policy, and evaluate and regulate its own activities.

To get these ideas out into the world, our research teams write both longer reports and shorter articles, and work with our communications team to circulate and promote them. This often involves work with the press, TV interviews, taking part in panel events and making the case privately to senior decision-makers.

Our devolution team makes ambitious and influential recommendations for how to advance the devolution agenda, with many of our ideas directly influencing the government’s plans. We also work closely with metro mayors and their teams to help them to make the most of the opportunities that devolution offers.

Recent projects have looked at how English cities and counties should negotiate and implement devolution deals, how the government should extend devolution across the whole of England, and how metro mayors can use devolved powers to drive urban regeneration. We also carry out research into devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and develop ideas for how the four governments of the UK can work together more productively on shared objectives.

As part of our devolution team you will have the opportunity to engage with senior policymakers and experts from all parts of the UK. You will contribute to our understanding of how devolution can improve economic, social and public service outcomes, and which powers are best held at which level of government. You will help shape our assessment of the limits of devolution and the role of central government in supporting devolved institutions to become more effective. You will contribute to our work identifying successful policy innovations that devolution has enabled, and facilitate the sharing of best practice across the country.

As a Researcher, you will:

• Conduct rigorous qualitative and quantitative research and analysis, delivering research projects across our work programme, including by:

o   Proposing and shaping projects in areas where IfG research would add value.

o   Leading interviews with civil servants, politicians and others.

o   Completing background research (including literature reviews).

o   Undertaking data analysis, including creating and updating charts.

• Write about our research in a range of formats, including long-form reports and shorter articles.

• Build relationships across the UK, making the case for our recommendations to decision-makers and spotting opportunities to push our messages so they make a difference in practice.

• Work with our events team to organise and deliver public events, private roundtables, podcasts and more, and present our findings and recommendations in these forums.

• Work with our partnerships team to help secure funding for elements of our work, including supporting the development of funding proposals and liaising with partners about funded projects.

• Discuss project findings in the media, including TV and radio, where appropriate.

For full details, including a person specification, please read the job application pack available on our website.