We provide advice, support and guidance to public and private sector bodies on governance, accountability and transparency.

Research Assistant Tasks

• Provide support to two major research projects:

• The first, analysing submissions made to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England further to local government boundary reviews;
• The second, relating to the mechanisms for the oversight of the risk of governance failure in English local authorities.

• Provide support in securing responses to CfPS’s annual survey of overview and scrutiny in local government;
• Provide background research and report drafting on other projects;
• Provide assistance on events and conferences.

Person specification

The successful applicant will:

• Be able to work effectively as part of a small team;

• Be able to exercise initiative in carrying out their duties, drawing on support from others in the team where necessary;
• Be confident in carrying out work independently.

• Be able to carry out high quality research;

• Ideally, with some knowledge of quantitative and/or qualitative research methods;

• Have high standards of written English;

• With the ability to craft persuasive and fluent reports and arguments;
• With the ability to proofread material produced by others;

• Have an understanding and interest in the issues on which CfPS focuses;

• With some knowledge of government at local and national level;
• Ideally, with some knowledge and interest in governance, scrutiny and accountability in the public sector.

This post is a full-time position for six months, 37.5 hours per week.

11 days of leave (for the six months of the contract) can be taken in addition to Bank Holidays. CfPS usually closes for a week over Christmas; the postholder would need to take four days of annual leave over that period as the office will be closed.

If you have any questions about the post or the application process please contact Ed Hammond, Director of Campaigns and Research, on 020 3866 5109 or ed.hammond@cfps.org.uk