Research officer jobs in Cardiff
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About Kinship
We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to.
Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.
About the role
The Research Officer supports Kinship in building a strong and coordinated evidence base about kinship families, and ensures our influencing work is grounded in real experience.
The role supports the design, delivery and communication of high-quality research, insights and evaluation that shapes policy, practice and service development. It also supports the coordination and operational delivery of research and practice activity, helping ensure projects, networks and events run effectively and that insights are shared across the organisation and the wider sector.
They will work closely with colleagues across the organisation, including Policy, Programmes, Peer Support and Communications. It will ensure that research and insight are gathered and used consistently and that the experiences of kinship carers, particularly those from underserved communities, are central to our work.
Key responsibilities include:
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Design and deliver qualitative and quantitative research that improves understanding of kinship families’ needs, experiences and outcomes.
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Lead data collection through surveys, interviews, focus groups and desk research.
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Carry out analysis using suitable methods to produce accurate and meaningful insight.
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Ensure research reflects the diversity of kinship carers, including carers from ethnic minority communities, mixed heritage families, informal kinship carers and carers experiencing additional barriers.
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Maintain strong ethical standards and follow GDPR requirements.
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Developing and supporting participatory research methods with carers, children and young people.
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Support evaluation of Kinship services including peer support, training and digital programmes.
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Develop tools and approaches that help gather feedback and evidence of outcomes.
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Analyse programme data to highlight trends, gaps and opportunities.
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Provide evidence that strengthens Kinship policy positions and external influencing activity.
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Contribute data and insight to briefings, consultation responses and reports.
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Support opportunities for kinship carers to participate in research in a respectful and inclusive way.
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Manage the Kinship Professionals Network and the Kinship Care Researchers Network, including planning and scheduling meetings, coordinating agendas, recording and minuting meetings and sharing insights across the organisation.
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Support the planning and delivery of research and practice events, from consultations to knowledge exchange events.
Essential requirements include:
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Experience completing mixed methods research including design, fieldwork, analysis and reporting.
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Experience working in a research, evaluation or insight role in a charity, academic or public sector setting.
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Experience producing accessible research outputs for different audiences.
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Experience engaging with underrepresented communities and understanding barriers to participation.
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Experience of kinship care or social care research in the UK or comparable settings
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Undergraduate degree in Psychology or a related discipline
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Strong analytical and data interpretation skills with experience of R or equivalent statistical languages.
What we offer you:
- Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
- 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
- Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
- Charity Worker Discounts.
Key dates:
- Application deadline: 11.59pm on Sunday 19 April 2026
- First interview: w/c 27 April 2026 (online)
- Second interview: w/c 4 May 2026 (if required)
How to apply:
Please apply for the role of Research Officer by sending a CV (max 2 pages) and cover letter (max 1 page). The deadline is 11.59pm on Sunday 19 April 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons. Please ensure you have read the application timelines.
Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion. We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams. We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us.
Some tips for your application:
• Make sure you’ve read the job description and the essential requirements – make sure your application reflects those points in the requirements very clearly.
• Tell us why you want to work for Kinship. We’re interested in working with people who share our values. You can read about our values above.
• Keep your response clear – use bullets points and short paragraphs if that helps. It will help the recruitment team to focus on your knowledge, skills and experience.
• Don’t go over 2 pages on your CV and 1 page on your covering letter.
• Please do not use AI tools like ChatGPT to produce your answers. We use software to check, and your application will be rejected if you do.
We support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Overview:
Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice is seeking a Senior Research Officer to support
our organization's research portfolio focused on gender and masculinities through rigorous quantitative,
qualitative, and mixed-methods research.
About Equimundo:
Equimundo is a global leader in promoting gender equality and preventing violence by engaging men
and boys in partnership with women, girls, and individuals of all gender identities. We believe that
working with men and boys to transform harmful gender norms and unequal power dynamics is critical
to achieving gender equality. Our core thematic areas of work are Caring Men, Healthy Boyhoods, and
Social Connection. With partners in more than 55 countries, Equimundo’s work – including high-impact
research, evidence-based programs, and targeted advocacy efforts – seeks to create a nonviolent, caring,
and gender-equitable future for all.
Job Description:
The Senior Research Officer reports to the Deputy Director of Research, Evaluation and Learning and
plays an essential role in supporting technical, strategic, operational, financial, and other aspects of
leadership for the projects in the digital portfolio within the Research Department. The position is
full-time and requires up to 30% travel.
In addition to competitive base pay, for US -based employees, we provide:
- Full employee healthcare coverage, including medical, dental, and vision
- Ancillary coverage, including group life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability
- Employer 401k contribution equalling 8% of annual salary
- Commuter benefits
- 4 weeks of PTO, paid holidays, and health leave
- International employees will receive benefits in line with their country’s requirements and best practices.
Key responsibilities envisioned for this position:
- Research Portfolio Management
- Provides oversight and technical leadership throughout all stages of the research cycle, including:
- Research design and tool development
- Training of research personnel (internal and external)
- Data collection, quality assurance, and ethical conduct
- Data management and analysis
- Developing knowledge products for diverse audiences
- Contributing thought leadership to strategic and impactful dissemination
- Provides project/research management and coordination, including budgeting, contracts, and reporting to funders
- Effectively coordinates research portfolio, delivering high-quality outcomes while respecting timelines and budgets, with minimal supervision
- Provides oversight and technical leadership throughout all stages of the research cycle, including:
- Research and Thematic Skills in the Digital Sphere
- Conducts research on the digital lives of men and boys, including online behaviors, digital interventions, and digital methodologies
- Develops and implements innovative evaluation approaches for assessing online interventions
- Applies big data social media listening tools and methodologies to track digital conversations, trends, and sentiment analysis at scale
- Utilizes digital scraping techniques, web data extraction, and ethical methods for collecting publicly available online data
- Conducts narrative shift analysis to assess changes in public discourse and cultural narratives
- Employs adjacent digital research methodologies such as online ethnography, digital content analysis, community monitoring, influence mapping, misinformation/disinformation tracking, and digital storytelling assessment
- Knowledge Leadership
- Serves as a capacity building resource in several technical skill areas and at least one core thematic area (Caring men, Healthy Boyhoods, and/or Social connection), both internally and externally
- Maintains connection to the wider research community by actively participating in at least one strategically selected working group or learning collaborative in the area(s) of expertise
- Seeks opportunities to present organizational research at conferences and events
Qualifications:
Required:
- Master's Degree; at least 3-5 years relevant work experience.
- Track record of developing innovative evaluation approaches for online interventions
- Experience with project management and partnership development.
- Track record of presenting work to diverse audiences.
- Passionate about Equimundo’s mission and goals.
- Deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Kind to oneself and others.
Preferred:
- Knowledge and experience within gender and masculinity, and at least one of
- Equimundo's core thematic areas.
- Prior experience conducting research on the digital lives of men and boys, including online behaviors, digital interventions, and digital methodologies
- Fluency in another language aside from English, preferably French or Arabic.
Compensation:
Equimundo offers competitive and fair salary ranges in Washington, D.C., the not-for-profit and related
sectors. This position ranges between $90,000 and $110,000, depending on years of experience and
academic qualifications.
To Apply (only shortlisted candidates will be contacted)
To apply, please send the following documents as one single PDF file labeled
FirstName_LastName_SeniorResearchOfficer no later than April 13, 2026:
1) Cover letter
2) CV / resumé
3) Three professional references
Please write “Senior Research Officer” as the subject heading.
This position is expected to begin in May 2026 and is anticipated to be funded through the end of 2028,
with the potential for extension, subject to funding availability. This position is contingent on external
funding.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location: Working remotely from home across the four nations of the UK, occasionally co-working spaces, with occasional travel
Start date: As soon as possible (Spring/Summer 2026)
Salary: £38,422 p.a. (FTE)
Benefits: 38 days (FTE) annual leave (including bank holidays) so that leave can be taken when you wish, not necessarily on the fixed bank holiday days / Christian calendar. Pension Scheme. Flexible working arrangements. Access to co-working budget
Hours of work: Full-time or part-time (1 FTE or 0.8 FTE) worked flexibly around business needs (28 to 35 hours per week)
Contract type: Permanent contract
Do you feel passionate about supporting a charity who are reshaping the systems that support children and young people across the UK? Do you want to develop skills and get involved in a range of innovative social research and design initiatives? Do you want to join our impact driven team?
Dartington Service Design Lab is a national charity that harnesses experience, cutting edge evidence and design to tackle the challenges children and young people face today, securing thriving futures for tomorrow. As we move forward with our refreshed strategy, we are looking for a new Research and Design Officer to join our dynamic team.
The Research and Design Officer plays a crucial role in our work at Dartington. They work alongside experienced Leads, Senior Researchers and Designers, to support a varied portfolio of research and design projects.
This ‘Officer’ role is sometimes also referred to elsewhere as a research or design ‘associate’, ‘fellow’ or ‘consultant’.
Key duties include data collection and analysis, covering both qualitative research and design engagements (workshops, interviews, and focus groups – with young people, practitioners and system leaders) and quantitative work (surveys, synthesis of secondary and administrative data).
The Research and Design Officer also plays a key role in synthesising learning and insights, into digestible, engaging reports and outputs for a varied mix of clients and partners.
As well as strong research skills, the candidate will also bring a strong approach to co-design, facilitation and visual design.
The Research and Design Officer works with our wider team to ensure that we approach our work with rigour and integrity. This includes an intentional focus in putting our anti-racist and equitable principles into practice, and preparing materials for ethical review.
Research and Design Officers work across multiple concurrent projects and report directly to experienced Leads (who specialise in research, evaluation, service design, youth and community engagement, and systemic change).
The role demands a highly relational approach – working with a diverse range of clients, partners and working styles - flexing approaches as required. It also requires an ability to effectively context-switch and manage a varied workload and set of priorities. It will suit a candidate that thrives with a varied workload, is able to effectively prioritise and communicate well.
This is a fantastic opportunity to learn, develop new skills and experiences, and be part of a passionate, curious and highly skilled team.
If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
Don’t meet every single requirement outlined in the Job Description? Studies have shown that women and racially minoritised groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single requirement. Dartington Service Design Lab is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience or qualifications don’t match the job description exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be the right person to help us achieve our impact for children and young people.
The post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.
Creating thriving futures with and for children and young people


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.