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We are recruiting a Higher Research Officer within the Children, Education and Lifelong Learning Team in the Research Service at the Senedd. The team comprises a team leader, two senior research officers and one higher research officer (this post). The purpose of this post is to provide impartial, independent, and expert factual briefing on all aspects of pre-16 education policy, legislation and statistics to support Senedd Members and committees. This briefing can involve secondary research and requires a critical analysis of a range of information sources. The role also involves writing and publishing articles to inform debate and scrutiny, while aiding understanding of the Senedd’s wider work.

The role of a Higher Research Officer involves understanding areas of devolved policy as well as having the ability to work flexibly, leading on your own research work and supporting senior researchers on their subject areas. This post has particular responsibility for supporting the senior researcher who leads on pre-16 education but, as demand requires, will also involve work in the other subject areas covered by the team (children and early years, and post-16 education).

You will need to have a thorough understanding of current Welsh policy alongside an overview of relevant legislation and statistics in the policy area of pre-16 education. You will need to demonstrate excellent research and briefing skills. You will be expected to be flexible, work proactively with research colleagues across a range of policy areas and work across the whole Service, providing support to teams where there is high demand. You’ll be responding to enquiries from Senedd Members; preparing briefing for committees; creating digital content to be published via our social media channels and identifying opportunities for cross service working. You will have the opportunity to develop digital skills, including producing data visualisations and helping to create interactive content.

We work as ‘one team’ and have a culture of working across teams to help support each other in times of high demand. You will therefore be expected to adapt as the role evolves and to work across teams as required. You will work in an agile way to support and develop ways of working in Senedd Research, through participation in cross service improvement groups, editorial board activities and any service plan priorities where opportunities arise.


For more information, please view the job description.

Pattern of Working
This is a full-time post although flexible working arrangements will be considered, subject to meeting the needs of the Senedd and its Members.

Please note recruitment will normally be at the minimum of the band.
The successful candidate will be subject to security vetting.