Overview
Join us as a Senior Insight Researcher at Bristol SU, where you’ll drive innovative, student-focused research to address key challenges facing our students. As part of the Research and Insight Team, you’ll design and deliver impactful projects—from focus groups to surveys and everything in between — uncovering valuable insights for students, University teams, or internal teams across the Students’ Union. Your work will shape initiatives, influencing policy and enhancing organisational performance. If you’re passionate about using data to create meaningful change, this is your chance to make a lasting impact on student life. Developing and supporting cutting edge, impactful research, supporting us to campaign and make change for students.
At Bristol SU we believe that innovative, student-focused research can help us understand and tackle some of the biggest problems facing our members. From the Black Student Attainment Gap to Student Mental Health and Wellbeing, we have been delivering cutting edge research and h into the experiences of our members and using the insights we’ve gathered to make real change.
As our Senior Insight Researcher within the Research and Insight Team, you’ll design and deliver social research projects that are impactful and credible. The Research and Insight Team works across the Students’ Union, and you’ll be keen to ensure that all teams are utilising the insights that you’re discovering. You’ll work with your team to use a range of methodologies to design research and insight projects – from small scale focus groups to surveys that gather data from thousands of students – to understand the experiences and needs of our members. From the National Student Survey and students’ experience of the Welcome Programme to community, campus safety and inclusivity, you’ll conduct robust
research and analyse results to support student leaders to lobby and influence. As the Senior Researcher in the team, you’ll take a leadership role when it comes to overseeing more complex research projects, supporting other researchers in the team and leading on team process development.
You don’t have to have worked in higher education or in a students’ union before. But we are looking for someone who can help us ensure that our campaigns and influencing work is based on credible, robust research to ensure we are always evidence-based and data driven. You’ll be a passionate researcher, interested in getting to the bottom of experiences and issues that matter to our members. You’ll want to ensure that Bristol SU is at the forefront of using evidence, evaluation and research to improve our services and support our wide-ranging campaigns. You’ll also be experienced when it comes to using qualitative and quantitative research methods and presenting accessible and impactful reports, briefings and communications.
Our team isn’t as representative of our student body as we’d like it to be so we’re particularly keen to hear from you if you’re Black, disabled, Transgender, or have any other marginalised experience. It’s important to us that we diversify our team and that students see themselves represented here.
What’s the job?
Role: Senior Insight Researcher
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £30,095 to £34,368. The starting salary for this role is £30,095 FTE. The Grade range for this role is £30,095 to £34,368 FTE and pay can progress annually through the band in line with our pay and reward policy
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: 20 February 2025, 5pm
Who are we?
Part business, part charity, part membership body – Bristol SU is a seriously fun place to work. Our professional staff do something extraordinary every day: we support student leaders to give people a voice in their education, help people get the most out of their student experience and help people make the change they want in the world. We have over 26,000 members, 400 clubs and societies, a diverse range of professional services, and an innovative strategy that will help to create an inclusive and supportive University community.
What will you bring?
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- Expertise in Research and Analysis: Bring robust research methodologies to deliver high-quality insights and lead evidence-based decision-making. Ensure research meets objectives and guide elected officers in utilising student-led research for impactful campaigns.
- Presentation Skills for a Variety of Audiences: Provide training, support dissemination of findings, and foster a culture of evidence-led practices across the Students’ Union.
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- Project Management and Collaboration: Work with stakeholders to define research needs, create customised proposals, and assist in developing funding bids. Support the development of research methods and timelines, ensuring alignment with desired outcomes.
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- Driving Data Insights and Research Culture: Support key research, advise on research methodologies, and collaborate with internal teams (e.g., Marketing and Digital) to highlight SU impact. Build networks to implement best practices and continuously improve student-led research expertise.
Why apply?
Because you’re excited to make a difference!
We offer lots of great benefits including enhanced pay for parents taking maternity, adoption or shared parental leave, a competitive salary for the non-profit sector, a generous pension scheme and at least 40 days’ holiday. We’re committed to helping you achieve a healthy work-life balance through flexible working and are open to considering requests for part-time working. We provide professional training so that whatever your chosen field of work, with the right mix of challenge and support, you’ll gain fantastic experience, and room to develop and advance your career.
We are proud to have been recognised through numerous accreditations and awards that demonstrate our commitment to creating a positive and supportive culture. We have appeared in the Inclusive Companies top 100 list and have won a number of awards for our commitment to diversity, including best Students’ Union. We also won a Third Sector Excellence Award at the 2018 Investors in People Awards. No wonder 87% of our employees would recommend Bristol SU as a great place to work!
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are central to life at Bristol SU. We approach our work with positivity and celebrate our diverse and unique communities. Our people are proud of our values and care about creating diverse and supportive communities that are inclusive of age, disability, gender, identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and experience.
Bristol SU strives to have an inclusive culture and an environment for all, underpinned by respect and compassion, where everyone feels welcomed, included, supported, valued and safe. Bristol SU recognises that candidates from some backgrounds/ identities may face additional barriers throughout their careers and when applying for new roles across the sector. We are committed to taking positive action to expand the diversity of our staff team by offering two guaranteed interview schemes – a scheme for people of colour and a scheme for disabled people.
Be yourself, be proud of the work you do and build a career in a place that knows different is good.
Key dates
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Closing Date: 20 February 2025, 5pm
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Shortlisting: 24 February 2025
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Interviews: 27 February 2025
For general enquiries, please contact us at bristolsu-people@bristol.ac.uk.