Reference: 99212
Date Added: 13 May 2026
Closing Date: 26 May 2026
Job Title: Researcher
Working For: Onward
Location: London
Salary: £29,500 - £37,000 dependent on skills
Length of Contract: Permanent
Job Details
If you are able to think critically across a broad spectrum of problems, write high-quality and persuasive arguments and share our worldview then we want you to join us here at Onward. Please note that we are interested in how you think about policy and research questions, your skills and your attitude, not how many years of experience you have.
You would be joining our policy and research team at an important time in British politics and for Onward. The centre-right has never been more ready to embrace the change needed to bring about the course correction this country so desperately needs. At Onward, you can be part of identifying and understanding the UK’s problems, and putting forward solutions.
Main responsibilities
You will provide research support across the team. Our current active research topics stretch across energy, housing and high streets, criminal justice, welfare and the economy. That support will include:
- Conducting rigorous analysis and research
- Drafting research reports and pitches
- Reviewing colleagues’ work
- Novel presentation of data and ideas
- Assisting with Onward’s events and communications, as all team members do.
Candidate requirements
- A commitment to Onward’s mission, vision and values. You are interested in advancing the policy priorities set out in Onward’s recent work.
- A clear, concise and precise writer. Much of your work will be public facing and aimed at high level policymakers and politicians. It must always be accurate, accessible, and pithy.
- Good quantitative and statistical literacy. You are comfortable with research tasks that involve data and think critically about statistics and data.
- Willing to use AI agents in daily analytical tasks, including coding agents. You are proactive in using AI to improve your productivity and the productivity of the organisation, but always while exercising your own independent judgment. You use AI as a cutting edge analytical tool, not to replace your own writing.
Closing Date: 26 May 2026
Interview/Start Dates
Interviews will take place the week commencing 8th June 2026.
Application Details
Send your CV and a one-page cover letter to office@ukonward.com. Both your CV and cover letter must be sent to us as a single combined PDF, or your application will be automatically disregarded.
In your cover letter, please include:
- A link to a recent right of centre article with which you agree, with 2-3 sentences on why you agree with it.
- A link to a right of centre article with which you disagree, with 2-3 sentences on why you disagree with it.
Second round. Candidates will be given a week to complete a writing and analysis exercise.
Third and final round. An interview.
Website: http://ukonward.com