Research Officer

Research Officer

• Are you looking for a new challenge?
• Do you have experience of leading and conducting social research projects?
• Would you like to be part of an innovative new project?

Barnardo's is currently recruiting a part time researcher who, as part of Barnardo's Ubuntu Project, will collect data and conduct research on the impact of policy and legislation on families arrived to the UK seeking international protection. This work will amplify their voices of children, young people and their parents, feeding into the development of recommendations on policies that negatively impact families arriving to the UK seeking sanctuary.

The successful candidate will be tasked with developing creative reports and information which can be used to advocate for systemic changes to local, regional and national government policies and directly influence system change.  

What is Barnardo's Ubuntu?

Ubuntu “I am because we are” or, “Humanity towards others” is an exciting new project delivered by Barnardo's.  Thanks to National Lottery players, Barnardo's has received over £4.5 million over four years from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK. The funding will be used to develop regional support networks for families arrived seeking sanctuary across Northern Ireland; Scotland and Hertfordshire. The project aims to empower young voices from a refugee and asylum-seeking background and create sustainable community support.

This role is Belfast Based, with the ability to travel across Northern Ireland as required, and include some evening and weekend engagement on occasion.

Please ensure that you outline on your application how you meet the essential criteria detailed in the attached additional information sheet. Where we receive a high volume of applicants, the desirable criteria may be used to reduce those shortlisted for interview.

Barnardo's will be holding a waiting list of appointable people, where you may be offered similar jobs of the same grade should they come up within 12 months post interview.

Although this contract has a permanent status, please be aware that this post is subject to funding currently until 30th June 2028 and therefore should this funding not be extended further, you may be subject to a redundancy consultation or a TUPE arrangement. This contract is due to expire on 30th June 2028 

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

The world of work has changed. We are understanding of what works best for our colleagues both current and future as we look to embrace this new way of working. Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or any combination of these.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.  

Our basis and values