About TASO
The Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes (TASO) is an affiliate What Works Centre, and part of the UK Government’s What Works Movement. Our aim is to help eliminate equality gaps in higher education (HE) through evidence-informed practice.
TASO was set up in 2019 and became an independent charity in April 2021. Our work focuses on the generation, synthesis and dissemination of high-quality evidence about effective practice to widen access and participation in higher education and improve student outcomes. We primarily focus on developing and disseminating findings from impact evaluations and implementation and process evaluations and encourage the sector to do the same by providing HE professionals access to research, toolkits, evaluation guidance, networks, evaluation training and more.
The Role
The Research Manager will join our Research and Evaluation (R&E) team. The post-holder will be responsible for managing multiple research projects and evaluation initiatives and contributing to team and project development.
Responsibilities include:
- Scoping and designing new research projects and impact evaluations in collaboration with higher education providers (with a particular focus on RCTs and quasi-experimental evaluation designs)
- Developing theory of change models and evaluation plans for interventions run by higher education providers.
- Managing research and evaluation projects in collaboration with multiple external organisations.
- Review evaluation protocols, study plans, statistical analysis plans and research and evaluation report
- Commissioning of external research and evaluation projects and collaborating with external partners e.g. research agencies, evaluation consultancies, or specialist academic advisors.
- Overseeing funded projects, ensuring delivery to timelines, value for money for TASO, and timely and proactive risk assessment and mitigation.
- Conducting desk-based research, reviewing existing literature to synthesise the quality of evidence on a given topic, and collating examples of sector good practice.
- Developing/maintaining knowledge of cutting-edge research and methodological developments that is relevant to TASO’s work. Using this knowledge to contribute to the delivery of blog posts and research briefings.
- Contributing to practical evaluation guidance and tools to support practitioners within universities and colleges to better evaluate the activities and programmes they deliver.
- Planning and delivering external training courses on evaluation and presenting research during workshops and other stakeholder engagement events.
- Developing TASO’s relationships with key stakeholders in the higher education sector and contributing to the running and administration of advisory panels formed of external stakeholders.
- Managing junior colleagues to help deliver research projects, providing in-role development of appropriate research skills and other competencies.
Why work for TASO?
- Annual Holiday – 27 days per year, plus public/bank holidays and a day off for your birthday.
- Pension Scheme – TASO will contribute 8% to your pension.
- Flexible working – We are committed to flexible working where possible, with core hours of 10:00 – 16:00.
- Hybrid working – Currently, a two-day requirement to work from our London office.
- Team days – Regular team days in the office and team building days.
- Training and Development – Systematic performance reviews, personalised learning and development objectives and access to a training and development fund plus team training days.
- Volunteering – One day a year off to volunteer for an organisation of your choice.
- Wellbeing – Free Employee assistance programme which offers webinars, courses and counselling sessions. A yearly personal wellbeing budget.
- Sick Pay Scheme – 3 months full pay and 3 months half pay after probation has been passed.
- Staff Discounts – Discounts are available via Perks At Work from a wide range of retailers for shopping, dining, experiences, car maintenance, study, etc.
Initial terms and conditions of appointment
- Remuneration: £43,000–£45,000 per annum
- Location: Central London. This post will be hybrid with the expectation that the post holder will be in the office two days a week in addition to attending office-based project meetings. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.
- Term: Permanent. Full-time, 35 hours per week.
How to apply
In the first instance, please download the candidate information pack (PDF) for more information on the job specification.
To apply, please send a CV (no longer than 2 pages, excluding list of authored reports and publications) and your response to the four questions in the application form (DOCX) to people@taso.org.uk, citing “Research Manager” in the subject of the email. We also ask that you fill out our online EDI monitoring form when you submit your application. The form is anonymous.
We encourage interested candidates to inquire if you have questions or want to discuss your suitability for this role. We will facilitate brief online conversations with the TASO team, please email info@taso.org.uk to request a call.
Deadline for applications: 23:59 on Wednesday 12 February. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview and complete a short pre-task on a rolling basis on the w/c 3 March.