Research Assistant
nfpResearch delivers research, insights and expertise to help non-profits understand their audiences and make informed strategic decisions.
We use a range of research and consultancy skills to help charities find out exactly what they need to know. We speak to over 30,000 people a year about non-profits. With over 15 years of experience and vital trend data, we help charities collate, analyse and understand the opinions of their key audiences and integrate them into their work. We have already helped over 150 charities in a vast range of ways, including understanding supporter journeys, segmenting their audiences and evaluating and improving services for the people who need them.
Non-profits of all sizes and areas have benefitted from our work, including three quarters of the UK’s top 50 fundraising brands. We have also written over 100 popular free reports and presentations on the major issues facing the sector.
The role
We are a small, dynamic, values-driven research company that works exclusively for the non-profit sector, looking for a Research Assistant to join our hard working team.
The Research Assistant will provide support to the Public Audiences team and on bespoke projects. In practice, this means working on a wide variety of topics and using many different research methodologies to help charities make better decisions. Key topics we cover in our research and outputs include brand, communications, fundraising, reputation and trust. Many charities subscribe to our regular tracking research, which primarily focus on research with the general public and MPs. Some charities need more bespoke research, which would involve the team working closely with clients to help understand their needs and to design research projects to meet their objectives. This type of work could include: online surveys to measure people’s attitudes on social issues to influence the development of a campaign; interviews with service users to explore the impact of their services; focus groups to test awareness of a charity’s brand and communication; or supporter satisfaction surveys to understand the motivations and retention of supporters.
nfpResearch is based in Spitalfields, near Liverpool Street. We adopt a flexible working environment, including enabling staff to work both at home and in the office. There is an expectation that the successful candidate will be required to spend a minimum amount of time in the office monthly.
Description of responsibilities and opportunities:
- Opportunities to work on the research we conduct for a whole range of charities in the UK and further afield
- Working on the Charity Awareness Monitor, as well as on other trend research, including the Charity Brand Evaluator and Celtic Charity Awareness Monitor.
- Potential opportunities to provide support on bespoke projects, ranging from assisting with qualitative projects such as focus groups/interviews or quantitative projects such as segmentations
- Supporting the research team on tasks such as preparing client presentations, compiling and proofreading reports, data entry and invoicing
- Attending client and pitch meetings
- Dealing with client requests, including additional data analysis
- Supporting on tasks involving more complex statistical analysis of data
- Opportunities to work on tasks related to business development and marketing, including assisting in the sales process.
- Providing core administrative support for the team and across the company. Assisting the Office Manager in tasks such as nfpResearch event preparation, admin and answering calls.
Who we are looking for:
This post would be ideally suited to a graduate who wants to gain knowledge and experience in market/social research and has an interest in the not-for-profit sector.
The post holder could have skills and experience in a variety of different areas. Some of the things we like to see in our staff:
Essential:
- Previous research experience, whether qualitative or quantitative
- Strong numerical skills, experience of statistical analysis (for example using SPSS)
· Enthusiasm and passion for working in the charity sector
· Strong oral and written communication skills
· Good time management and organisational skills
· Self-motivated, hardworking and proactive, able to deal with periods of heavy workload, and stay motivated during quieter periods
· Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly as part of a team
· Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Excel and especially PowerPoint
Desirable:
· Experience of charities and not for profits, such as volunteering or experience of the public or voluntary sector
· An interest in the policy and campaigning work of charities
· Experience of support/administration roles
What nfpResearch delivers to you:
· A varied and interesting role in Britain’s only research consultancy working exclusively in the not-for-profit sector, providing the chance to gain considerable insight into the sector
· The chance to be an integral part of a small but thriving, dynamic company
· 19 days paid holiday over the 9 months
· Towards the end of your contract with nfpResearch we will work with you to polish your CV and help prepare for job interviews
Testimonials from recent Research Assistants
"The Research Assistant programme at nfpResearch was the perfect start to my career. I was given all the support and training I needed to develop my research skills, and working with a wide variety of charities gave me a great understanding of the third sector. Working alongside such dedicated, passionate and fun colleagues everyday was a pleasure, and I was quickly encouraged to take on meaningful responsibility. I would recommend the experience to anyone looking to work with charities or in market research."
Jonny Harper, Researcher
“The Research Assistant scheme at nfpResearch is a great opportunity to get a wide range of experience in all aspects of research. I found it really fascinating and inspiring to work with so many different charities, gaining a unique overview of the third sector. You're given a lot of support and guidance from the team, whilst at the same time being given enough freedom and space to really progress and follow your own interests. The working environment is fun, sociable, and engaging”.
Anna Wates, Researcher
How to apply:
- Send a cover letter and CV to Berni White at work@nfpresearch.com stating why you’re right for this position and why you would like to work with us.
- Please submit your application as a single document with your full name as the document title. Please state where you saw this job advertised. Please also write the job title and team in the email subject line.
- Please note the deadline is midday, Friday Feb 17th 2023 and interviews will take place from Thursday Feb 23rd to Thursday March 2nd
- Please note, at the time of starting employment, ‘The successful candidate must, by the start of their employment, have permission to work in the UK’.
- No agencies please.