Local Authority Research Practitioner

What will you be doing?

You will embed research skills and methodologies into our work, including evidence reviews, needs assessments and evaluations, to inform policy and practice and lead to better decision-making. This will include providing leadership, advice, training and support on activities such as primary data collection, evaluation design, qualitative analysis, co-production and engagement, literature review, mixed methods approaches and evidence synthesis. You will develop training and guidance on best practice and support the colleagues in developing and incorporating research evidence and insights in their work. The post-holder will also work as a wider research and evaluation Community of Practice. This is a key role needed to support the development of evidence-based approaches to policy and practice, and create a culture of continuous learning, to improve the health and wellbeing of residents and reduce health inequalities in West Northants.

The post holder will develop relationships with local academic institutions, including the University of Northampton. As part of the role you will have the opportunity to apply for a Visiting Fellow role to support the development of research, enterprise and learning and teaching between West Northamptonshire Council and the University of Northampton. Visiting Fellows are integrated into the vibrant university community acting as experts and assisting wider institutional research priorities. The Visiting Fellow will be sponsored by the University’s Research Knowledge Exchange Directorate to maximise their reach across the Institutes, Centres, Professional Services and other groups active in research, enterprise or pedagogic development. The Visiting Fellow will have access to the University’s essential research and knowledge exchange infrastructure, including but not limited to: library access, training, research support services, campus facilities, data collection, analysis and management software, and be embedded among academic colleagues.” The University believes this joint Research Practitioner and Visiting Fellow role offers an exciting opportunity to accelerate and expand the developing research and knowledge exchange partnership between the University of Northampton and West Northamptonshire Council.

About you

This role is for someone who has a passion for research and wants to work with a local authority to build a research culture, where research is regularly used to make decisions and make a difference to the local community. You will have knowledge and skills in different approaches to research, as well as skills in teaching and supporting others to use and create research. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to develop partnerships with a range of people working across the local authority, as well as with external partners including academia.

West Northants is a great place to work. With a focus on career development, wellbeing, flexibility and support, this is an opportunity for you to take the next step on your career journey in a supported environment. We have mentoring, coaching, training and many other opportunities available to assist and develop you, to ensure your success in the role and your ongoing progression and success within the Council. We will also consider a variety of flexible working arrangements.

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is: ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality, and at WNC it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bring new ideas, demand better ways of working, care about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people. When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

About us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU  

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.