Researcher jobs in South croydon, greater london

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.  ​

• Directorate: Innovation, Policy & Systems Change
• Reporting into: Associate Director of Research, Learning and Systems Change
• Colleagues reporting into role: No direct reports at present. However, coaching and managing of volunteers and/or consultants is expected. 
• Location: You can be home-based anywhere in the UK, with travel for meetings. You can also choose to work from our Bristol or London offices.
• Closing date: Monday 8 June at 12 midday
• Interview dates: Monday 15 June and Tuesday 16 June (please tell us in your application if you cannot attend interview on one of these days)

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.

We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise well-being. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time.

About the role

We’re looking for a Head of Research & Evidence to join our ambitious Research, Learning & Systems Change Team. 

Young Lives vs Cancer has a strong and growing commitment to changing the system for children and young people with cancer, and their loved ones. Our North Star vision and Time is Now Strategy focus on influencing how the wider system works – from services and policy to practice on the ground – so that families get the support they need.

The Head of Research and Evidence sits in the Research, Learning & Systems Change team, within our Innovation, Policy & Systems Change Directorate. The role is responsible for ensuring our work is grounded in strong, credible and useful evidence, and that learning is actively used to shape decisions, practice and change across the system.

This is a leadership role within a small but ambitious team. You will set direction and provide thought leadership, but you will also be hands on – designing, commissioning, managing and using research alongside colleagues and partners.

Building trusted relationships and using evidence to influence thinking and action are central. You will work with colleagues, children and young people, families, and partner organisations (such as the North Star Cancer Collective) to learn, strengthen credibility and create change.

This role is subject to a Criminal Record Check. In the event of a successful application, a Basic Criminal Record Check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. You’ll work as part of a strong internal team, collaborating closely with colleagues across the organisation and with key external partners to generate, use and apply evidence that supports learning, influence and system change. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description and pack:

• You’ll be setting the direction for research and learning, leading a clear and purposeful research programme focused on the psychosocial experiences of children and young people with cancer. You’ll ensure research is high‑quality, ethical and impactful, including commissioning work with partners and contributing to research funding bids.

• You’ll be understanding needs and experiences to grow a strong, credible evidence base, building and using robust evidence on need, inequality, impact and progress to inform strategy, services, policy and system change. You’ll ensure children, young people and families meaningfully shape research and that insight is shared in clear, practical ways.

• You’ll be providing system insight and leadership, analysing how the system works, identifying trends and pressures, and using evidence to guide where change is most needed. You’ll build trusted relationships across the voluntary sector, NHS and research community, sharing learning and strengthening our credibility and influence.

• You’ll be turning learning into action and influence, helping teams apply research to real‑world practice and supporting testing, learning and improvement over time. You’ll put feedback and learning loops in place and assess how research‑informed change is affecting practice and outcomes.

What do I need? 

Diverse perspectives and unique skill sets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• Experience leading and delivering research, including setting direction, choosing methods, commissioning or carrying out research, analysing data, and ensuring high quality and ethical practice.

• Strong research and analytical skills, with confidence working with both qualitative and quantitative data and evidence, and turning insight into practical action.

• Experience using evidence to support change, such as shaping strategy, influencing policy, improving services or supporting system change.

• Experience working across organisations, building trusted relationships with colleagues, partners, and where appropriate, children, young people and families.

• Ability to communicate complex research clearly and accessibly to different audiences, in writing and in conversation.

• A collaborative way of working, with strong people skills, curiosity and a learning mindset, and a clear commitment to equity, inclusion and anti‑oppressive practice.

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Well-being, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

To hear more about this role, please sign up to one of our informal drop in sessions taking place at 12:30pm on Tuesday 26th May and 17:30pm on Monday 01st June.

#ShowTheSalary #NonGraduatesWelcome

National sight loss charity, Retina UK is currently recruiting for a personable, motivated Senior Research Coordinator with experience in communicating science to a lay audience, who is educated to degree level in a biomedical or clinical science, and has excellent presentation and planning skills.

Key responsibilities will include ensuring effective communication of research into inherited sight loss, including the projects we fund, to our community, fundraisers, supporters and staff and measuring the impact of our research programme.

About The Role
At Alzheimer’s Society, we are determined to end the devastation caused by dementia. Research is one of the most powerful ways we can make that happen. Across the UK, the research we fund is helping people get earlier diagnoses, better care and providing hope for the future.
As Senior Research Portfolio Officer, you’ll help make sure that research has the biggest possible impact. You’ll support a portfolio of projects and partnerships, helping great ideas move forward and making sure the learning, progress and outcomes reach the people who need them most.
This is a role for someone who enjoys connecting people and ideas. One day you might be speaking with researchers about a new project, the next you could be working with colleagues to turn complex findings into something clear, engaging and meaningful. Throughout it all, you’ll help keep the experiences of people affected by dementia at the centre of our work.
What you’ll do
You’ll be part of a team working to make dementia research more connected, visible and impactful. You’ll build relationships across the research community and work closely with colleagues across the Society to help share the difference our funded research is making.
You’ll help bring research to life, spotting opportunities for collaboration, supporting key partnerships and helping ensure promising ideas can lead to real world change for people affected by dementia.
In this role, you will:

- Manage a portfolio of funded research projects and partnerships, helping them deliver meaningful impact.
- Build strong relationships with researchers, clinicians, partners and colleagues across the organisation.
- Support the tracking and sharing of research outcomes and impact.
- Spot opportunities for future funding, collaboration and partnership working.
- Help communicate research in ways that are clear, engaging and accessible.
- Represent Alzheimer’s Society at meetings, workshops and conferences.

About you
You’re someone who enjoys working with people, bringing ideas together and helping things move forward. You’re organised and thoughtful, and comfortable managing different priorities while keeping sight of the bigger picture.
We know not everyone will meet every point listed below. If this role interests you, we’d still love to hear from you.
You’ll also bring:

- Experience managing or coordinating multiple projects or programmes with different timelines and priorities.
- The ability to explain complex or technical information in a clear and accessible way.
- Strong relationship building skills and experience working with a wide range of people.
- A creative approach and the ability to spot opportunities to increase the impact of research activity.
- A practical, solution focused mindset and the ability to adapt when priorities change.
- A commitment to inclusion, collaboration and improving the lives of people affected by dementia.

Interviews are provisionally planned to take place face to face during the week commencing 8th June.

About Alzheimer's Society
Dementia is the UK's biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

At Alzheimer's Society, we're the UK's leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.

Together with our supporters, we're working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 

Our hiring process

During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.  Please also contact Alzheimer's Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.

We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.

We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.

Giving back to you

Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society. 

You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it's like to be an employee at the Society.

A fantastic opportunity to join the Cure Parkinson’s Research team – a medical research charity supporting research to slow, stop or reverse Parkinson’s. Working with the Director of Research, this role will have management of Cure Parkinson’s clinical portfolio. The charity supports a large treatment selection process that feeds new clinical trials seeking disease modification. This is an exciting time in Parkinson’s research and there is the opportunity to have a really meaningful impact by joining the Cure Parkinson’s team as we expand our funding schemes and initiate new ventures.

As our Clinical Research Manager, you will have a PhD in life sciences (an MD or MBSS would be advantageous) and significant experience in clinical trial development. A healthcare professional engaged in medical research you will be looking to move to the charity sector to influence the strategic direction of the Parkinson’s research field and drive forward the search for a cure. You must have a strong understanding of Parkinson’s, the biology associated with the condition, and the agents currently in development. You will require excellent organisational and communication skills as you will be representing the charity via stakeholder engagement. Working as an effective member of our Research Team you will be able to handle multiple tasks with precision simultaneously and be comfortable building relationships and providing support for researchers.

Social Policy Economist/Quantitative Researcher

Full time, permanent contract with 6 months’ probation.

NEF is looking for an economist or quantitative researcher to join its social policy team. This is an excellent opportunity to join a leading Westminster think tank, ideal for a curious and energetic researcher who is excited by NEF’s mission to build an economy that works for people and planet.

We strongly encourage you to apply if this role interests you, even if you’re not sure you meet every outlined criteria. We take an open-minded approach to how candidates may have developed the skills needed for the role.

We’re looking for someone with strong experience in rigorous quantitative public policy research, alongside specific knowledge of labour markets, public services, social security, or a related area. You’ll bring the energy and creativity to challenge established orthodoxies, and the skills to develop robust, innovative approaches to complex public policy challenges.

Economists and researchers at NEF bring deep expertise in at least one key UK economic or social policy area. They apply strong economic and quantitative research skills, working collaboratively to produce high quality analysis and insight, and taking ownership of discrete elements within larger projects.

A key part of the role is connecting research to contemporary debates, and communicating complex ideas clearly and persuasively to a range of audiences, both internally and externally.

Role: Social Policy Economist/Quantitative Researcher
Hours of work: Full Time (32 hours per week under NEF’s Shorter Working Week)
Salary: £44,769 - £49,764
Location: London/South East (in-office minimum two days per week)
Contract type: Permanent

How to apply

Deadline for applications: midnight, 10th June 2026
Interviews:  First stage interviews 23rd June with second stage in person interviews on the 29th June

Start date: ASAP

Please send your CV and Covering letter (no longer than 1 page and in Word format) outlining how you meet the person specification. 

Please also complete the Equality and Diversity monitoring form.

You must be eligible to work in the UK, as we are unable to sponsor visas.

Inclusivity at NEF:

NEF wants to be an inclusive workplace with a diverse body of staff. We don’t want to conform to the traditional think-tank model where people from certain backgrounds are hugely under-

represented. We know we have some way to go in this and are therefore genuinely keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic people; women; neurodivergent people; disabled people; people who identify as LGBT+; people with experience of mental health problems; and people who identify as working class or have done so in the past.

Accessibility and Equal Opportunity:

We value all candidates and are committed to equal opportunity. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the application process, or would like information in an alternative format, please let us know.

We actively promote positive action to advance fairness and tackle underrepresentation within our workforce.

Have you worked as a sole Prospect researcher before in a busy fundraising department?  A charity offering excellent flexible home working options, is seeking their next sole Prospect Researcher on a permanent basis.

The role:

You will be supporting the Corporate, Trust, Community and Regional fundraising teams on pipeline development.  As Prospect Researcher your responsibilities include research, network mapping, lead qualification and due diligence.  
 
Essential criteria:

• Experience of delivering prospect research activities
• Ability to provide support as the sole researcher
• Experience of due diligence processes
• Excellent communication skills
• Previous experience implementing and improving processes

 
Salary:  £36,000 - £41,000
 
Closing date:  ASAP
 
If this sounds like the role for you, then we would love to hear back. We are reviewing CVs as and when we are receiving them so, if you are keen to apply, then please do so today!
 
TPP are always keen to speak with candidates looking to work in the sector so if this role isn’t quite right for you, please do check out our website www.tpp.co.uk and pop your CV over to us!

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.