Senior Researcher

Permanent, Full time: 35 hours per week

Salary: £46,000 - £52,500 + Benefits

Home based in England, Scotland or Wales with occasional national travel

About the role

We’re looking for a Senior Researcher to join us. You will lead high-impact research that identifies current and future workforce and skills challenges, generating actionable insights to inform policy, guide initiatives, and support employers—particularly SMEs.

This role sits at the heart of our mission, working with data, policy, industry, education, and government partners to deliver research that shapes real-world solutions.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading research projects from inception to completion, delivering high-quality outputs on time.
• Designing and applying a range of research methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods).
• Conducting research such as literature reviews, interviews, focus groups, and data analysis.
• Producing reports, white papers, and presentations that provide clear, actionable recommendations.
• Working with the data & insight team to analyse large datasets and generate workforce intelligence.
• Staying up to date with research methods, data analytics, and workforce development practices.
• Representing Enginuity at partner events, advisory boards, round tables, and conferences.
• Supporting the Technical Solutions & Research Manager in developing partnerships and funding opportunities.

What we’re looking for

• Experience in research management, preferably in workforce development, skills training, labour economics, or a related sector.
• Strong research and analytical skills and knowledge of research methods
• The ability to identify opportunities for new research, develop compelling research proposals and secure funding
• Significant experience in conducting relevant research
• An understanding of the educational landscape, and an understanding of the technical challenges the sectors face in the UK
• Ability to prioritise workload with good organisational skills and able to manage time effectively
• Decision-making and problem-solving abilities with the drive to make things happen
• Excellent project management skills

Other skills which would be desirable however not needed to apply for the role

• Experience of working in the Engineering/Manufacturing sector, with a particular focus on engaging with SMEs
• Have successfully completed a Safe Researcher training course run by ONS, or another equivalent course which has been recognised by ONS
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R, Python) and visualisation tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of workforce and skills-related policy issues and industry trends

Working for EAL/Enginuity Group

We offer a supportive work environment and a comprehensive benefits package. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive place to work for all our colleagues and we want everyone to feel valued and that they can be themselves at work.

Many of our team work flexibly, and we would be happy to talk to you about how this could work for you, please let us know if you are shortlisted for interview so we can discuss this with you.

We welcome discussions regarding reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process.

Remote/home based working at Enginuity

Your working hours will be 35 per week, working 9am until 5pm with a 1 hour lunch.

As a home-based employee you will fulfil your job responsibilities from home. Interactions with work and colleagues will be from a virtual environment. Depending on your role you will be required to either have some occasional travel or UK national travel. This travel will be required to allow you to fulfil different parts of your role and to meet colleagues on a quarterly basis. Other meetings that might require you to travel are events such as all colleague away days, training, and project work. Please review the advert to gain this insight to how much travel is expected. Also, ask at interview stage to confirm the frequency of travel and distance.

The company will provide you with the IT equipment required to carry out your role but it is a requirement that you provide all the necessary facilities for working from home; including broadband, home office, desk and chair.

Our benefits include:

• Competitive externally benchmarked salaries
• A defined contribution pension (4.5% employer/employee contribution).
• 25 days paid holiday (increasing after 1 years’ service to 26 days and 2 years to 27 days), plus bank holidays.
• 3 additional paid days for company shutdown over Christmas and New Year
• A holiday buy scheme - option to buy up 5 days extra days holiday per year
• Life assurance of 2x your salary
• A Healthcare Cash Plan so you can claim back the costs of everyday health care such as dental, optical and physiotherapy. Plus, a virtual 24 hour GP service.
• Paid membership of a Professional Body to support your continuous development.
• An Employee Assistance Programme offering free confidential advice and support
• Wellbeing programmes, access to a free wellbeing website and wellbeing app
• Paid time off to volunteer in your local community or to support wider charitable causes
• A comprehensive discounts and benefits scheme, with discounts at many high street and online retailers
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependant leave
• Access to training and development opportunities

About Us

The Enginuity Group exists to find new ways to close skills gaps in UK engineering and manufacturing in order to create a more productive sector at the forefront of designing, making and maintaining the solutions to society’s greatest challenges. Enginuity is a charity that has created a ‘common language’ for engineering and manufacturing occupation and skills data, to help employers have the right skills at the right time to adapt faster to change.

We use this unique approach to sector data, alongside our deep understanding of the skills needs of UK engineering and manufacturing businesses, to:

• support engineering and manufacturing employers in discovering new sources of skills;
• provide insights and recommendations on the skills that are increasingly in demand so businesses, sectors and government can plan ahead;
• and alongside EAL, the Enginuity Group's specialist Awarding Organisation, End Point Assessment Organisation and skills partner for industry, connect organisations to ensure technical education is fit for purpose and keeps pace with changing industry needs, new technologies and the net-zero transition.

Further Information

If you have any questions, a request for further information, or would like to request this information in an alternative format, our Recruitment Team will be happy to help. Email us at recruitment@enginuity.org.

We’re unable support UK relocation or to sponsor a visa for this role.

Depending on the volume of applications, the closing date for this position may be extended or brought forward.