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Socio-Economic Researcher

Employer
Midlands Connect
Location
16 Summer Lane, Birmingham B19 3SD
Salary
£29,829 to £34,899 per annum
Closing date
13 Jun 2021
Reference
WMCA00346

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Do you have a background in economics or another quantitative social science? Do you have a passion for evidence-based decision making? Are you interested in contributing to the long-term transport strategy for the region? If this sounds like, you then we would like to hear from you.

As Socio-Economic Researcher you’ll have an important part to play in the continued development and enhancement of the Midlands Connect Strategy and its constituent parts. Reporting to the Lead Economist, you will manage a programme to develop the evidence base that informs the strategic direction of Midlands Connect and contribute to deepening understanding of the social, environmental and economic impacts of potential investment opportunities. This will include conducting your own research into the socio-economic potential of the Midlands, managing external commissions and providing expert advice on the impacts of Midlands Connect supported business cases. The role will require you to oversee the application of a range of analysis on several transport projects.

What will you be doing?

  • Develop detailed understanding of the social and economic environment of the Midlands and the role transport plays enabling it, including direct research to improve understanding in this field
  • Identify gaps in our evidence base and develop plans for filling those gaps
  • Collaborate with the Technical Programme Team to enhance the capability for scheme appraisal and broader analysis
  • Support the development of Strategic Cases for a range of schemes in the Midlands Connect portfolio, including by providing insights into the potential socio-economic impacts of the interventions
  • Provide advice to authorities to assist with their business cases where there is clear overlap with the Midlands Connect programme
  • Develop evidence around the impacts of the Levelling Up agenda and shift to Net Zero Carbon on the Midlands, considering both the transport and broader implications
  • Establish strong working relationships with other social research teams in the sector (DfT, Highways England, Network Rail, Midlands Engine and partner Local Authorities)

About you

We’re looking for someone who understands how to apply social science theory to real world applications and be confident carrying out quantitative analysis to support these insights. You will be pro-active in your approach and be happy to conduct your own research to support the evidence you apply and be open to the developing of new ways of thinking about your work and role.

Either an experienced social researcher or economist, you will have experience of the application of socio-economic theory to a policy domain. You’ll have broad knowledge and interest of the role transport plays in the wider context of the economy and society and experience in the commissioning and management of external research.

A combination of quantitative and qualitative analytical skills including excellent written and oral skills to produce considered and robust reports and recommendations and a strong grounding in social and/or economic research methods, with the ability to apply research findings to applied problems, is needed.

In addition to strong analytical skills you will be organised and flexible to manage your own work-load and assist other team members as and when required. You will be a team player and work collaboratively to achieve collective goals.

About the team

Here at Midlands Connect, we explore, develop and recommend major transport projects which provide the biggest possible economic and social benefits for the Midlands and the rest of the UK. These initiatives will create more capacity for passengers and freight on the Midlands’ roads and railways. As the Sub-national Transport Body for the Midlands and transport partner of the Midlands Engine, our partnership is vast: councils, LEPs, Chambers of Commerce, airports, HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Highways England, and our sponsor the Department for Transport.

About us

Our role in the West Midlands has never been more important and in these extraordinary times we’ve shown we can step forward, speak up for our region and bring people together. Everything we do is focused on making life better for people in the West Midlands – that’s our reason for being here and it drives every move we make. We lead and support others to deliver our shared future vision for the region – a happier, healthier, better connected place to live and work. 

We fully believe that we are only as great as the people who work for us and are committed to providing a positive, healthy and inclusive working environment where our people feel valued and respected. We are a “Leaders in Diversity” accredited organisation, are in the Inclusive Top 50 Employers List and are one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Women.

Our employees feel they can make a difference and are excited by the growth and the potential to shape the future. As we undergo a period of significant change, our employees are engaging with what is going on and we are encouraging a culture where people feel they can contribute towards improvements.

We’re ambitious, forward thinking and determined to find better ways of working, always leading the way in what we do. We trust and support each other to get the job done, and encourage creativity, originality and curiosity from those who work with us. We’re committed to creating an accessible and diverse workplace, one that nurtures an inclusive environment where our people can be themselves.

If your values align with ours and you’re committed to working towards creating a future we can all be proud of, we want to hear from you.

Additional information

We are designing our organisation of the future and planning a new, flexible approach to the way we use our office space.  This approach will mean most of us working from home some of the time and using our office space to come together to share ideas and learn from each other. We will continue to use digital technology for meetings, collaboration and communications - bringing teams together virtually wherever they’re working, saving time and spending on travel.

We are committed to developing an organisation that is representative of the diverse communities that we serve and welcome applications from all sections of the community. The following groups are currently underrepresented: young people, Black, Asian and ethnic minority groups and women at senior levels.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and offer a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who meet the essential job role criteria. We will make reasonable adjustments, in line with the Equality Act, for disabled applicants if these are needed. Wherever possible we will offer flexible working options which assist work-life balance.

We’re dedicated to providing a broad range of rewards and benefits and constantly benchmark our benefits packages to ensure they are attractive for all our people. As well as a competitive salary, employees also receive a benefits package that includes 27 days annual leave (plus public holidays) and access to a great pension scheme.

Supporting documents
Social Research Analyst - Role Profile.pdf

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