ESRC Policy Fellow and Researcher: Government Strategy

**THIS POST MAY BE OFERED AS A SECONDMENT OPPORTUNITY**





**About the Blavatnik School of Government**





Our vision is of a world better led, a world better served and a world better
governed. We are a global school committed to improving the quality of
government and public policymaking worldwide, through three routes: teaching
current and future leaders; generating research with impact; and engaging with
governments and practitioners.





**What we offer**





The School is a collaborative, friendly, and dynamic department based in an
award-winning building in Oxford. We host regular events and talks with well-
known guest speakers – all of which are open to staff. On the social side, we
have regular coffee/cake mornings for staff, a family-friendly Halloween
event, and Christmas and summer parties.





As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is
reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:





* An excellent contributory pension scheme


* 38 days’ annual leave


* Family leave schemes and a comprehensive range of childcare services


* Cycle loan scheme and discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans


* Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs


* Opportunities for remote working.




More information about working at the School can be found on our jobs page.





**About the Role**





Reporting to the Blavatnik School of Government’s Heywood Fellow, the grant
holder funded by the Economic Social Research Council (ESRC) will have
responsibility for carrying out an evidence-based UK public policy project.
You will be a core part of the Heywood Fellowship team and expected to
contribute to a range of outputs and events, including with policymakers and
senior researchers.





The Heywood Fellow is a very senior UK civil servant who is supported by the
Heywood Foundation - and hosted by the Blavatnik School - to conduct a
detailed inquiry into a specific policy issue which has long-term impacts for
the UK and/or which has proven stubbornly intractable over time. For 2024-25,
the fellow will be Lucy Smith (recently Director General, Strategy at Defra,
previously Director General, UK Governance at the Cabinet Office).





Lucy intends to explore the question of how government can be better at
strategy, including the case for ‘national strategy’ to respond to the growing
complexity and long-term nature of external challenges, and at the
capabilities, structures, culture and other elements required to develop and
deliver successful strategies in government.





Whilst this position is offered on a full-time basis, we would be open to
discussing flexible working options.





**About You**





You will bring your knowledge and expertise of the field, of key thinkers and
researchers and of research approaches and methodologies. In return, you will
gain a unique insight into the policy mindset, access to a senior level policy
network and be connected to the ESRC Policy Fellowship 2023 cohort, to enhance
your understanding of how research and evidence can impact on policy.





A doctorate in a relevant subject, an interest in the policy-making process,
and the ability to manage your own academic research are essential for the
role.





**Application Process**





You will be required to upload a supporting statement, CV and the details of
two referees as part of your online application.





The closing date for applications is **12 noon (UK time) on Tuesday 27 August
2024**.





Interviews will take place during week commencing 2 September 2024.