We are recruiting for a Researcher (Challenge Works) - 3 month contract

Overview

Challenge Works is seeking a researcher to contribute to its portfolio of future challenge prizes by carrying out targeted research into, and expert engagement on, innovation opportunities.

Challenge Works is at the forefront of identifying and defining problems where new ideas, technologies and approaches can be encouraged to radically improve outcomes and then developing and managing challenge prizes that optimise the likelihood of success. Challenge prizes are competitions which reward whoever can first, or most effectively, meet a defined challenge.

The work of Challenge Works’ research team

The research team plays three key roles within Challenge Works: 1) carrying out targeted research to inform the design of new prize projects; 2) horizon scanning, futures thinking and expert engagement to identify new projects and develop new business; and 3) evaluating the impact and effectiveness of our prize programmes. We also carry out consultancy work to advise governments around the world on these three roles.

The team’s work focuses on expert engagement to ensure that our work is informed by the best evidence possible. We do this primarily through a combination of desk research, expert interviews and expert roundtables, but we are always keen to try out and adopt new methods.

Recent or ongoing research projects have included developing the Afri-Plastics Challenges to reduce marine plastics in Sub-Saharan Africa (for the Canadian Government), the Longitude Prize on Dementia on assistive technologies to help people remain independent in their homes (for Alzheimer’s Society, Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council) and competitions for the £200 million Ofwat Innovation Fund on water sector innovations in England and Wales. Recent consultancy work has included advising on the design of Northern Ireland’s city and growth deal challenge funds, and training Brazilian civil servants in how to design and run innovation challenge prizes.

The researcher will report to the Research Lead. The research team currently comprises the Research Lead, Evaluation Manager and two other researchers and is headed by the Head of Research and Evaluation. Researchers work across Challenge Works in teams with project managers, coordinators, prize designers, communication officers and other researchers as well as supporting directors in business development and strategy projects.

What are we looking for

We are looking for a researcher who can contribute across the full range of our challenge prize topics. These can range from frontier technology (such as robotics and AI) to social impact (such as innovations to reduce loneliness). Most of our prizes balance a focus on spurring technological innovation with a nuanced understanding of the technologies’ users, customers and impact on society. 

In the first instance, the researcher is likely to work primarily on a programme to consult on and design a number of large-scale challenge prizes that would incentivise work on topics that both contribute to strategic UK technology leadership, while also solving problems faced by UK society.

So more than any specific academic or professional background, we’re looking for broad curiosity, the ability to rapidly get up to speed with new topics, to pinpoint  opportunities and to articulate their importance. You’ll be interested in breakthrough innovations, but also the innovators who create them, and the broader systemic change that they are part of.

You might have that through having been…

• A management consultant, interested in the cutting edge of technology and innovation.

• A civil servant who has worked on projects to support innovation, foster economic development or fund research. 

• A science or technology PhD with an interest in entrepreneurship and tech transfer.

• A social scientist with a background in business studies, management or economics, with an interest in technology and innovation.  

• A service designer or design researcher, who uses speculative design to map out future scenarios.

• …or someone else.

The role

The researcher will:

• Work in-depth on prize projects, carrying out desk research to better understand market gaps and technical opportunities for prizes

• Prepare briefings on market opportunities in a range of fields, including to support the development of other prize projects

• Carry out interviews with experts to gather evidence and feedback on draft prize designs

• Write reports summarising research findings

• Designing and facilitating workshops

• Contribute to the research team’s development of methods

• Help identify promising new prize topics

• Help communicate our work to outside audiences, for instance through blog posts or speaking at conferences

• Contribute to Challenge Works team-wide initiatives as necessary 

The person

Essential:

• Strong communications skills

• Open and willing to work on unfamiliar topics 

• Strong sense of social purpose 

• Interest in, experience or knowledge of technological or social innovation

Desirable:

• Knowledge of relevant research method(s), such as impact evaluation, interviews, ethnography, design thinking 

• Experience of developing proposals for new projects and gaining funding 

• Interest in innovation, science and technology policy 

• Experience of successfully working in a fast-paced consultancy, research or think tank environment, getting up-to-speed quickly with new subject areas, flexibility in approach to work to fit project demands, and juggling light-touch short-term and larger in-depth pieces of research 

About Challenge Works

We run challenges prizes that attract innovators to solve some of the world’s biggest problems.

Challenge Works unearths innovations to solve problems that matter. We focus on improving health, climate adaptation and mitigation, and social inclusion. We believe in big ideas. Bold thinking. Creative problem-solving. We believe that great things happen when people come together. That, given the right support, unexpected ideas truly can change the world.

Our partners identify problems that need solving, then we at Challenge Works design prizes to attract radical thinkers who want to solve them. Through a process of rigorous testing and iteration, we’ll design a support system that incentivises progress. As well as a cash prize, we’ll offer unparalleled support as teams progress through each stage. From press and networking to upskilling and access to tech, our challenge prizes are designed to drive fast results, change markets and make the world a better place.

What we offer

Salary: £35k - £48k (offers are expected to be made towards the bottom of the band)

Location: This role is based in Blackfriars, London, hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of two days in the office

Term:  3 month Fixed term contract

Hours: This is a full-time role but we offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do. 

Making an application 

To apply for this role, please submit your application before 8:00am on the 3rd of January 2024.

Interviews will take place w/c 8th of January 2024.

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results. 

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop. 

This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful. 

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.   

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.