UK Government and Public Services Researchers
Possible
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer issued few or no visas recently
£34,000 – £37,000 / year
Salary
As advertised by the employer
£40,400
Going rate
Offer is 0.8× the going rate
This role may qualify only on a lower rate
Anyone can use the standard rate, and the pay is below it. If you are a new entrant or a PhD holder, you can use a lower rate, and the pay clears the new entrant rate. On the jobs board, Standard hides roles like this and the new entrant rate shows them as Possible at most. The advertised pay goes up to £37,000.
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2115 Social and humanities scientists Most likely code | £33,400 Clears | £33,400 Clears | £37,500 Misses | £40,400 Misses |
2439 Business, research and administrative professionals not elsewhere classified Also possible | £39,600 Misses | £45,300 Misses | £50,900 Misses | £56,600 Misses |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. A mark is for the top of the advertised pay. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
Help make government work better for the people of the UK – join the Institute for Government.
Two roles available now to join the Institute for Government.
The UK Government team specialises in understanding how Whitehall, Westminster and the civil service – and the people therein – work. We develop rigorous innovative recommendations and programmes to improve these parts of the state. To do this, we work closely with ministers, MPs, special advisers and civil servants to inform our research and make the case for change. We are an enthusiastic, motivated team, and bring our diverse experience and perspectives – from digital consultancy to academia and parliament, to the civil service – to our work.
The public services team specialises in understanding the effectiveness of public services across the country as a whole and how and why performance varies in different places. We look at the funding of and demand for public services, and the impact of government policies on their performance and on the workforce that delivers them. We aim to identify examples of good practice, and consider why some innovations have worked and others have not, making recommendations for improvement.
We are looking for people who care about making government work better, and have the experience or expertise and motivation to develop the Institute’s thinking on how we do so.
This is a great opportunity for early-career professionals who understand the policy and political environment and value rigorous research communicated effectively through varied written outputs, media engagement and professional networks.
What you will do
You will play a central role in one of the IfG’s research teams, working with friendly and effective colleagues to help make government work better for the people of the UK.
There are two roles available: one in the UK government team and one in the public services team.
The research teams do a mixture of quantitative, qualitative, desk-based and in-person research, and organise regular panel events, roundtables, workshops and professional development opportunities with politicians, officials and other external experts.
As a researcher you will:
Work to build the Institute’s understanding of how government is performing, and how to make it work better. By leading work on smaller research projects, or leading parts of larger projects alongside colleagues and with support from your team, you will play a core role in the Institute’s research. This will include:
- Shaping the Institute’s research programme by helping to develop project proposals
- Conducting rigorous qualitative and quantitative research and analysis, including literature reviews, background research, interviews with politicians, officials and academics, and undertaking data analysis.
- Engaging colleagues and stakeholders to develop creative and workable solutions to the challenges the state faces.
Communicate the Institute’s findings in order to help government work better by:
- Writing compelling reports, setting out your research and arguments, and making the case for change.
- Writing and updating the Institute’s explainers to set out how government works.
- Commenting on the latest developments in government, sharing insights and expertise drawing on your research via social media and short-form videos.
- Engaging with the media, including TV and radio, to amplify the Institute’s messages and recommendations and discussing project findings.
- Working with our events team to organise and deliver public events, roundtables, podcasts and other kinds of discussion, and presenting our findings and recommendations in these forums.
- Developing strong relationships with your stakeholders.
Work collaboratively across the Institute by:
- Lending your expertise to colleagues and drawing on their insights and research to contribute to the Institute’s overall mission and in line with our new strategy.
- Actively contributing to the culture and working health of the Institute. This includes working with our partnerships team to help secure funding for elements of our work, including supporting the development of funding proposals and liaising with partners about funded projects.
What we are looking for
Essential skills and experience
- Enthusiasm for the Institute’s mission and understanding of our work.
- Relevant professional experience, and knowledge of UK politics, public policy, and the workings of government.
- Collaborative, team-oriented approach with excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to build and develop relationships at all levels.
- A hands-on, proactive attitude to work, the ability to manage your own workload and deadlines in consultation with colleagues, and a willingness to develop new knowledge and skills and seek help where needed.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write clearly and persuasively and with strong attention to detail and able to tailor written outputs.
- A high level of attention to detail, including when producing high-quality work to tight deadlines.
Desirable
- Research experience including novel ways of conducting qualitative or quantitative research and evaluation in similar fields.
- Experience of working with ministers, parliament, special advisers, civil service, devolved and local governments, or frontline public services.
How to apply
To apply, please follow this link: https://app.beapplied.com/apply/d6qejritss .
Before applying
We advise all applicants to read the full job pack on our website before applying.
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Institute for Government, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Social and humanities scientists (SOC 2115) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~12k in sample- Offer £34,000–37,000
- Middle half £29,744–~46,592
- Median £38,168
- Minimum £41,700
- Going rate £40,400
- New entrant £33,400–36,400
The range sits inside the market's middle half (£29,744–~46,592), so this is typical pay for the occupation.
This pay misses the £41,700 standard floor, but clears the £33,400 new entrant rate.
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Browse more sponsored jobs at Institute for GovernmentAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Institute for Government holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2115 going rate of £40,400. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.