Job Title: Research & Event Assistant

Working For: Reform

Location: London

Salary: London living wage - £10.75 per hour

Job Details

 Reform is recruiting for a new Research and Events Assistant to join its small and passionate team for six months on a full-time basis. The successful candidate will help produce independent, challenging and authoritative research, and will assist in supporting Reform’s communications and events. They will be a dynamic and motivated individual with a track record of strong research and communication skills, and a commitment to our core principles.

For 15 years, Reform has been the leading think tank at the heart of Whitehall and Westminster’s efforts to transform public services for the better, in the interests of all citizens and within sustainable government budgets. It is a non-partisan, independent research charity. Its core research areas are Criminal Justice, Education, Health and Social Care, Welfare, and Work and Pensions, as well as cross-cutting issues such as workforce capability, digital transformation and competition and choice. Alongside its research, Reform runs around 80 policy events a year, attended by ministers and shadow ministers, other parliamentarians, senior officials, public service leaders, academics and business leaders.

The Research and Events Assistant will work closely with the research team to support Reform’s research programme, including drafting literature reviews and contributing to sections of reports. They will also support Reform’s regular contributions to the policy debate by researching ad hoc policy issues. They will support events, update Reform’s contact database, and participate in regular team meetings. They will contribute to Reform’s online output by writing blog posts and assisting with the weekly newsletter in collaboration with the research team.

It is essential that candidates are able to demonstrate:

• Some experience of conducting research on public policy (this can be during studies)

• Good organisational and administrative skills, including in prioritising tasks

• An ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• A commitment to building and maintaining good professional relationships

• Excellent attention to detail

• An undergraduate degree with a First or 2.1 in a relevant discipline, though those with equivalent relevant experience will be considered. A Master's degree is desirable, though not necessary.

• A positive and can-do approach

• Enthusiasm and commitment

We are happy to accommodate applications from any interested persons and to make reasonable adjustments at any stage should this be requested. Reform is committed to diversity.

Closing date: Monday 13th January 2020 at 9.00 am

Application details

Website: https://reform.uk/who-we-are/recruitment

Reform uses the Be Applied website for recruiting purposes. All applications should be submitted using this link. You will be asked to:

• Fill out 5 questions about your education, skills, research experience, work experience and motivation to work at Reform.

• Write a 400-word blog on what is the biggest issue facing the public sector & what could be done to overcome this issue in your view. Imagine that you are writing this piece for the Reformer blog. This task is designed to test your writing skills, critical thinking, ability to structure an argument, knowledge of Reform’s areas of research and originality. Upload this blog on the Be Applied website in the section where you will be asked to upload a CV/resume (DO NOT UPLOAD YOUR CV). Make sure that you exclude any identifiers from your blog (e.g. do not include your name, email address...).

• Please note that we do not accept cover letters or CVs. Your application will not be considered if you upload a CV or cover letter on Be Applied.   

• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

 Applications will be considered on a rolling basis from Tuesday 26th November 2019 to Monday 13th January 2020 at 9.00am . Successful applicants will be invited to interview by 6.00pm Wednesday 15th January 2020. Late applications will not be considered.

Interview/start dates

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 21st January 2020 and applicants are asked to be available on that date. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK, and be available to work for six months starting on Monday 10th February 2020, subject to negotiation.

Thank you for considering applying for a job at Reform. We are really looking forward to reading your application.