A dynamic and growing research consultancy is looking for bright, flexible, committed people who can apply economics, statistics and policy research skills to address problems in public policy. We guarantee challenging and stimulating analytical tasks, a high degree of responsibility and client exposure from day one.
Who are we?
We are a small London-based consultancy founded by former government analysts. Our goal is to use research and analysis to improve the delivery of public services. We are good at coming up with analysis ideas and good at implementing them. We work across levels of government: local, national and international.
Our current portfolio of work is diverse, but all contracts have a shared focus upon improving public policy through robust analysis. We have worked for a range of central government departments including the Department for Business Innovation & Skills, Department for Education and the Ministry of Defence exploring different policy options and evaluating whether their policies work. We have worked with a regulator about their funding mechanisms; with local governments evaluating policies to support troubled families; and with charitable organisations to understand the impact of their work. We have undertaken these projects collaborating with small and large like-minded organisations such as universities, market research companies and other consultancies. The company is young and your interests and skill-set will help to shape its future.
What you might do
We would expect you to quickly pick up a project and work on it for about six months. You’ll usually be part of a multi-disciplinary team. Work may be at the client’s office so travel may be involved.
A typical issue you would tackle may involve you engaging with the client, reviewing and discussing analytical options, preparing and delivering analysis and reporting your results. We would expect you to initially work under close supervision to make sure you get the support necessary; we’ll also ensure you get the relevant training. We’re using sophisticated qualitative and quantitative analytical approaches, such as case studies, data linking, propensity score matching, and you’ll also need to communicate your work clearly.
What you need to have
Our standard entry requirement is a good undergraduate degree where you have stretched and developed your analytical skills. If you do not have a Masters, you should have the potential to complete one in statistics, economics or another quantitative public policy postgraduate degree. In addition, we would like you to demonstrate:
- Public policy analysis skills: Proven ability to apply analytical approaches to real world problems. Ideally this would involve some exposure and practical application of a range of skills including qualitative interviewing, regression analysis and data preparation techniques.
- Collaboration and partnering: The ability to work in a team and to encourage the best out of others.
- Communicating effectively: Able to write in a form suitable for different audiences and to communicate orally with enthusiasm and clarity.
- Delivering at pace: Working effectively so that deadlines are met but pressures managed across a range of tasks and projects.
- Good research skills: Able to critically synthesise across analysis results.
- Excellent IT skills: In addition to office software, ideally some exposure to statistical/econometric packages (Stata/R/SPSS)
Benefits
We base our full-time package on comparable posts and expecting that you are a recent graduate. We would be happy to discuss if that does not suit your background.
Currently, that means £27k per annum, more if you have a post-graduate degree. We offer a pension. You will have 22 days annual leave with eight Bank Holidays. We would expect a six-month probation. We would encourage your training in the first year through a personal training budget allowance of £2.5k and 10 days. We would also expect to recognise how important you are to our business over the years and will reward your contribution, potentially with a bonus, an increasing salary as you take on more responsibility and possibly taking a share in the company.
How to apply
Please send us a CV and page-long statement about how you demonstrate the competencies set out in the selection criteria by 9AM, 6 June. You should also include the names and contact details of two referees, who we will only approach if you are interviewed. If you are invited for an interview, we will ask for some written work, which would provide evidence of your analytical skills. We expect to interview in July.
All applications and enquiries should be to info@belmana.co.uk.