Contracts and vacancies at The Workshop
Research or Senior Researcher, The Workshop
The Workshop is an exciting research start-up, reframing the public and policy conversation in Aotearoa New Zealand to build better systems and structures for better lives. New Zealand can be a country where all people thrive. Our mission is to make that happen. We do this by helping experts and advocates translate the best research and evidence on social and environmental issues into effective communications, which build support for the solutions that will work.
One of the ways we do this is through our unique primary research. Using mixed methods, we research how both experts and the public understand and explain big issues in the world; the narratives and models they draw-upon and use. We then use these findings to develop strategic communications, and test what works to bring experts and the public closer together on understanding and acting on the big issues. We work on many complex issues ranging from child poverty, climate change and criminal justice.
Demand for our research is growing, and we are looking to build our team, initially for a contract covering parental leave. We are looking for a researcher or senior researcher, but mainly we are looking for the person who is into our work as much as we are and enjoys a dynamic environment!
As a researcher for The Workshop you will plan and carry out primary research projects, mainly using qualitative methods initially, do literature reviews, write up findings, and work closely with the Co-Director to build and develop our research programme.
About you
This role might be just right for you if you share a vision for a better, more inclusive future for New Zealand, and want the flexibility of a part-time contract role that enables you to contribute to that future. You will be a researcher who is interested in how people think, how understandings about big issues are shaped, how we change systems, and how to best communicate evidence. You do need to be intensely curious about the work we do but you don’t need to be an expert in it.
You may be a mid level or a senior researcher. Either way you’ll need to have research experience in an area related to the health, social, or environmental issues and a postgraduate qualification. We need someone who is familiar with qualitative research methods and high quality literature reviewing; experience in other methods of research is a bonus. We will do on-the-job training in our unique mixed methods.
As well as being an experienced researcher, this role will suit you if you are passionate about using evidence to build a more inclusive society, get frustrated that evidence is not used in policy making enough, and enjoy a small, inclusive, nimble organisation run by people who have an eye on the big picture and are always adapting as we learn.
At The Workshop we value inclusiveness and equity across our society, so we especially encourage people to apply who will bring an inclusive perspective to our research and general approach.
We are an organisation that encourages flexible working.
About the role
The main responsibilities of this part-time role include:
Working with the co-director to secure and plan new research
Undertaking research, specifically:
literature reviewing,
qualitative research,
design and oversee quantitative research (with external research contractors), and
writing up research results, into reports and practical guides.
Working with the co-directors and training manager to disseminate the findings of our research, and embedding the research into strategic communication tools
Develop new methods as part of The Workshop’s focus on iterative learning
Project managing research projects
Download the full role description here
Location: Our office is in Webb St, Wellington and our preference is for a Wellington based position
Hours: This is a part-time, 6 month contract from February 2020 until July 2020, for 0.75 FTE (around 30 hrs a week negotiable)
Salary: Salary range is $70,000 - $85,000 (FTE, pro rata rate applies)
If this all sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your resume, and cover letter to jay@theworkshop.org.nz by 5pm Monday 2nd December