Senior Researcher
hace 1 día
London
Senior Researcher Location: Westminster (primarily office-based, with some ability to work remotely) Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience Contract: Full-time About the Centre for Government Reform The Centre for Government Reform (the Centre) is a newly established organisation dedicated to preparing the next generation of serious leaders for roles in government: prospective ministers, MPs, Peers, CEOs/Permanent Secretaries and Directors General of government departments, heads of quangos, NEDs and senior Special Advisors. We believe the country requires radical reform, especially of the machinery of the state. Delivering such reform will require an influx of experienced leaders, including from business, science, technology and other professional fields, ready to step into positions of public responsibility with an unambiguous reform mandate. The Centre will act both as a training institute and as a conduit for talent, working in close partnership with aligned political parties. We will provide a route for high-calibre individuals who wish to enter government or public service, and equip them with the practical preparation necessary to succeed once elected/appointed. The Role: Senior Researcher The Senior Researcher will identify, test and refine the reforms needed to transform the state, with a particular focus on implementation and mechanisms for delivery rather than new policy development. This is a rare opportunity for an analytically strong, politically astute individual to develop concrete, operational plans for radical change at the heart of government. You will work closely with the CEO and other members of the team, and will be expected to build a wide network of individuals amongst think tanks, academia, former officials, former ministers and other experts so you can draw on their policy work. You will be expected to have a firm grasp of the think tank landscape and an ability to extract and pull together the very best policy ideas as they emerge so they can be incorporated into the Centre’s training and plans. BY guiding both the Centre’s public output and the training delivered to the pipeline of candidates, you will directly shape the thinking of future ministers, Peers, special advisors and senior officials. This role requires intellectual confidence and independence, creativity, strong analytical skills and an ability to build an impactful network. Key Responsibilities 1. Develop Implementation Plans for Government Reform • Design detailed, practical implementation plans for reforming the machinery of government, drawing on the best policy thinking from think tanks and parties., • Analyse existing departmental structures, statutory duties, regulatory frameworks and operational processes, including which existing legislation should be repealed, amended or consolidated, where new primary legislation is required and how it should be sequenced and timetabled in Parliament to deliver rapid change., • Think creatively about the full suite of levers available to a new administration, including organisational restructuring, appointments, procurement, budget mechanisms and governance reforms. Assess opportunities to use secondary legislation, statutory instruments, directions, guidance or delivery bodies to accelerate implementation. 2. Cross-Sector Engagement • Work closely with think tanks (drawing on the established relationships the Centre has already built), academics, former civil servants, former ministers and policy experts to test assumptions and refine proposals., • Conduct expert interviews, structured conversations, roundtables and consultations., • Build and maintain a network of trusted advisors and specialists relevant to the Centre’s mission. 3. Research & Analysis • Conduct rapid, precise research on public administration, ministerial powers, departmental operations and legislative frameworks., • Analyse historical and international case studies of government reform and assess applicability to the UK context., • Produce written outputs of varying lengths for internal and external audiences: training materials, briefing papers, legislative proposals, policy notes and reform blueprints. 4. Support to Training Programmes • Work hand-in-hand with the in-house and external trainers to translate research and insight into clear, compelling training materials., • Ensure complex reform ideas are turned into accessible modules, case studies and exercises suitable for prospective candidates and aligned political parties., • Provide briefings, background material and strategic advice to trainers, candidates, and senior leadership., • Leverage network to identify talented candidates to join training cohorts. 5. Strategic Input • Provide rapid-turnaround research and advice to the CEO and senior team on emerging events, political developments or opportunities for intervention., • Contribute to the Centre’s overall narrative, publications and public communications on government reform. Person Specification Essential Experience • Strong academic or professional background in public policy, law, political science, economics, public administration, or a related field., • Demonstrated experience producing high-quality analytical writing and research., • Excellent writing skills and the ability to produce compelling briefing material, • Ability to develop practical, operational implementation plans, translating broad political objectives into concrete steps, rather than purely theoretical policy work., • Experience analysing legislation, regulation and government processes., • Experience in Westminster, Whitehall, academia or a political environment, • A pre-existing network in the think tank community and/or in aligned political parties, • Understanding of parliamentary procedure and legislative drafting How to Apply Please submit: • CV Closing Date: 10 May 2026 • Please note applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so you are encouraged to apply early.