Health Foundation Research Fellow

Salary between £28,000 – £35,000 depending on skills and experience, plus benefits

About IES

The Institute for Employment Studies (IES) is a leading UK independent centre of excellence for employment policy research. We work with a wide range of organisations in public, private and third sectors and complete research on an extensive range of issues including education and life chances from early years through further and higher education and adult skills; health, work and wellbeing; the quality of work; and inclusion within the labour market for example seeking to tackle labour market disadvantage experienced by some groups including women, ethnic minorities, older and disabled people.

We have secured grant funding from the Health Foundation related to its Young People's Future Health programme. This is enabling IES to appoint a three-year fixed term Research Fellow to design and implement a programme of research across the four UK nations, focused on youth employment as one of the social determinants of good health and wellbeing.

Our Requirement

We are looking for a researcher with experience who is ready to take their next step up. Your role will be to develop the detailed research design and delivery plan and to take this forward to successful completion.

You will hold a relevant degree in a discipline such as social science or occupational psychology and/or have demonstrable experience of applied policy research. Ideally you will bring subject expertise on youth employment or the wider determinants of health amongst young people. You will be able to demonstrate experience of project design and delivery, and capability in engaging a range of stakeholders, including young people and policymakers, in research. 

You will be contributing to and managing a project that focuses on what drives the poor quality of work that many young people now experience; for example, whether it relates to the changing job market or austerity; how the job market affects groups of young people differently, such as young disabled people or those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds; what society can do to help young people find better quality work, for example by helping them to prepare for work or changing how employers support young people; and how employers can work with schools and colleges to help young people into fulfilling and productive work.

What we can offer

IES offers a contributory career-average defined benefit pension scheme, interest-free travel and cycle loans, flexible working opportunities and 31 days annual leave (which includes four Christmas closure days) plus bank holidays.

Our strongest offer to you is the benefit to your career ̶̶ the professional and personal development you will gain through working with us and the Health Foundation. Our people are acknowledged experts in their fields and you will learn and develop by working alongside them. You will be managed by our Deputy Director whose portfolio of work focuses on employment, skills and health. The Health Foundation will also provide career development support; this will include building a learning group of the 5 post-holders it is supporting, so that you are part of a wider network focused on the social determinants of good health and wellbeing for young people.

This job will be based at the Institute’s head office, in Brighton. Brighton and the surrounding areas of Sussex offer a stimulating environment in which to live with close access to the sea, countryside, cultural activities, London (1 hour) and France (2.5 hours).

For more information on the role please download the job description below that provides full details on how to apply.

Legal note

The Institute for Employment Studies:

• is a registered charity (no. 258390)
• seeks to be an equal opportunities employer
• is an Investor in People