ESRC Policy Fellow and Researcher: Government Strategy

<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <p></p><div><strong>THIS POST MAY BE OFERED AS A SECONDMENT OPPORTUNITY</strong></div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div><strong>About the Blavatnik School of Government</strong></div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>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.</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div><strong>What we offer</strong></div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>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 &#8211; 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.</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees&#8217; wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:</div><br> <ul><br> <li>An excellent contributory pension scheme</li><br> <li>38 days&#8217; annual leave</li><br> <li>Family leave schemes and a comprehensive range of childcare services</li><br> <li>Cycle loan scheme and discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans</li><br> <li>Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs</li><br> <li>Opportunities for remote working.</li><br> </ul><br> <div>More information about working at the School can be found on our&#160;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/jobs">jobs page</a>.</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div><strong>About the Role</strong></div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>Reporting to the Blavatnik School of Government&#8217;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.</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>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).</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>Lucy intends to explore the question of how government can be better at strategy, including the case for &#8216;national strategy&#8217; 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.</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>Whilst this position is offered on a full-time basis, we would be open to discussing flexible working options.</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div><strong>About You</strong></div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>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.</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>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.</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div><strong>Application Process</strong></div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>You will be required to upload a <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/cv-and-supporting-statement">supporting statement</a>, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>The closing date for applications is <strong>12 noon (UK time) on Tuesday 27 August 2024</strong>.</div><br> <div>&#160;</div><br> <div>Interviews will take place during week commencing 2 September 2024.</div> </div>