Research Assistant New

Position: Student Voice Support Assistant

The post holder will form part of a team responsible for delivering efficient and effective provision of student voice and representation activities across the Students? Union, working on activities which support recruitment, training, support and reward of student representatives, and the general advocacy, governance and representation activities of the Students' Union.

Major Duties

1. Deal with enquiries from staff, students and elected student representatives regarding the representation activities of the Students' Union and the University, signposting non-routine enquiries when appropriate.
2. Support the Students' Union, academic Schools, Institutes and University departments with the recruitment, training, support and reward of student representatives.
3. Assist with the delivery of Students' Union democratic processes, including elections, referenda, meetings, policy submissions, and student participation in national students' union events.
4. Draft briefing notes and documents under direction of line manager.
5. Assist with the organisation of events, such as meetings, workshops, training sessions and conferences.
6. Provide secretarial support for meetings, taking notes, preparing agendas, and coordinating meeting logistics.
7. Undertake administrative and clerical activities to support the general activities and specific projects within the Students' Union.
8. Any other duties commensurate with the post.

Additional working hours may be available on a weekly basis to support the operational needs of the organisation.

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Essential Criteria

1. Relevant experience of working in a student-led, or youth-led, organisation, to include both of the following:
   1. Experience of providing administrative support to student-led or youth-led activities.
   2. Experience of delivering and organising training, or experience of providing guidance on established processes and procedures, to student groups of youth groups.
2. Experience of working in a customer-facing environment and providing excellent customer service.
3. Experience (in a working environment) and up to date knowledge of a wide range of IT systems including MS Word, Excel and Outlook.
4. Well-developed time management skills including the ability to meet deadlines and to prioritise work.
5. Excellent attention to detail, demonstrable organisational skills and professional approach.
6. Excellent oral/written communication skill.
7. Ability to work on own initiative, as well as part of a team.
8. A commitment to education quality assurance and working for the welfare of students.
9. Understanding of and empathy with the role of student representatives and students' unions.
10. Ability and willingness to, where required, work flexible hours to meet the needs of the service (i.e. evening, weekend, public holiday work)

Desirable Criteria

1. Recent, relevant, experience of working within a democratic or membership environment (including local government, the voluntary or charitable sector and students' unions).
2. Experience of working in a higher education setting.
3. Experience of working to providing advice, supporting or guidance to student leaders / representatives in a higher education setting.
4. Knowledge or experience of academic and quality assurance issues faced by and/likely to be faced by students.
5. Knowledge of current issues impacting on Higher Education.

Note: ?Working? is considered to be undertaking activity in a paid role.

Reference: KPRI24

Department: King?s Careers & Employability/The Policy Institute

Role Structure: Part-time (0.2 FTE) alongside your studies / Fixed-term Contract

Start Date: October 2024 for 9 months

Role Location: Hybrid, working remotely and also on the Parliamentary Estate, Westminster

Deadline: 23:59 on 26 August 2024

Interviews: 12 and 13 September 2024 (you must be available for this)

Contact Details: Maria Sanz Taberner ? Work-based Learning Senior Support Officer via internships@kcl.ac.uk  

Restriction: Open to current King?s PhD students and Post-doctoral staff only. We encourage applicants to discuss their interest in the Programme with their Academic Supervisor to both support their application and determine whether such an application is achievable alongside the academic and research commitment of their studies.

About the Programme

The King?s Parliamentary Research Internships programme is a unique opportunity for King?s PhD and post-doc researchers to engage directly with the inner workings of parliament and policy, alongside their academic studies.

It is an exceptional opportunity for candidates interested in broadening their awareness and understanding of the political process - heightening their knowledge of the work of the House of Lords, honing their attributes, developing new skills and, through direct work with members of the House of Lords, gaining experience and networks to help build future career success. You can read more about the programme here.

To access an article about what it is like to take part in this Internship, written by one of our 2021-22 Participants, click this link.

?It has been an amazing experience to do work on an issue that could positively impact the lives of millions and to have received my Peer?s guidance throughout the process. Furthermore, the friendships I developed with the other King?s researchers partaking in the programme have been so rewarding.? ? 2022-23 Participant.

About the Role

Interns will be individually matched with Peers, providing the opportunity to observe and, indirectly, contribute to the business of the Lords. They will work both independently and with some involvement in broader engagement fora and structures including (potentially) APPGs, select committees or wider shadowing of and involvement in Peers? individual work beyond Parliament.

Whilst each opportunity will vary in its specific projects and scope, individuals will work with Peers to identify and agree a programme of work that is likely to include tasks such as provision of research support and analysis, written briefings or summaries, preparation for committees and support to all aspects of the Peer?s work. Most Peers work across a range of issues and so interns will be expected to provide research on issues that extend beyond their primary or core discipline.

In partnership with their Peer, each intern will agree a work schedule that suits both parties and may include working from time to time on the Parliamentary Estate. In this case, and subject to security checks carried out by Parliamentary services, it may be possible for the Peer to secure a Parliamentary Pass for the duration of the internship.

Specific details on the role profile and specification for each internship are provided in this job pack.

This is an exciting opportunity for candidates looking to develop their knowledge, attributes and skills through new experiences which help bring their academic study to life.

Core tasks are likely to include:

• Horizon scanning for forthcoming issues that lie within the Peer?s areas of interest
• Analysis, evaluation and interpretation of data to ensure they are accurately informed
• Preparation and presentation of research and analysis for the purposes of briefing notes for committees, articles, presentations and press releases
• Preparation and presentation of research and analysis for drafting of oral and written questions and for spoken contributions in debates
• Support for specialist commissions or inquiries in which the Peer may be engaged
• Research into aspects of legislation and policy to support engagement with bills at all their stages in the Lords
• Research into specific policy areas, as agreed, to support development of Private Members? Bills
• Identifying subject experts and stakeholders on specific topics, convening meetings and roundtables for the Peer, where appropriate
• Monitoring media coverage and briefing accordingly
• Bringing research-informed advice to specific policy matters
• Keeping abreast of developments relating to key issues of interest, as agreed, to ensure the Peer is well informed in a fast-changing environment
• Dealing with particularly complex queries on the Peer?s behalf, including drafting letters

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. The list is indicative, based on the experience of previous interns and Peers. However, these are unique opportunities, and the post holder will work with their Peer to agree a work programme with an appropriate range of tasks, responsibilities, and outputs. These will be in line with tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

This year, we are particularly interested in applications from candidates who have experience, interest or academic research related to:

• Cultural Policy and Creative Arts
• Food, Chemical, and Medical Regulation
• Human Rights 
• Housing Development, Physical and Mental Health 
• Revising the chambers of other major liberal democracies to inform the UK?s own 
• LGBTQ+ and bridging the gap between Westminster and Academia 
• Adult Social Care, Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism, and Assisted Suicide 
• Physical Disability, Devolution and the UK, and women in Defence services 

Application & Assessment

ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE A CURRENT (2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR) KING'S COLLEGE LONDON PhD STUDENT OR POST-DOC RESEARCHER.
Applicants from other programmes or individuals who do not meet this criteria will be automatically rejected as ineligible.

Please pay careful attention to the below criteria in order to ensure you understand how your application will be received, reviewed and scored:
 

• Your application should consist of a standard CV and cover letter, clearly setting out how you meet the essential criteria as a starting point, and if possible, the desirable criteria.
• If you do NOT provide both of these, or do not meet the basic screening question on eligibility for the programme, your application will not be scored and will be immediately marked as "not selected" on our Talent Bank system.
• All eligible applications will be scored against criteria by a panel, who will determine the degree to which the full application meets the criteria - starting with essential, and utilising the desiable criteria if necessary. The collective of these scores will be totalled and the top candidates invited to interview.
  • Find tips on writing your application and supporting statement on our website.
• All eligible applications which are NOT invited for interview will receive basic feedback from our team on why their application may not have been taken forward. Due to the number of applications received, this initial feedback process is based off a number of criteria prompts and will be automated.
• Interview & Assessment will be held on September 12 and 13 2024 - please ensure before applying that you are able to attend an interview on one of those dates and that they are held in your diary. We are unable to provide additional interview slots due to panel availability, so if you are unable to make these dates, please do not make an application.
• The interview & asssessment process will consist of:
  • A pre-drafted written task, to be shared with us via the email provided, before your interview slot. Shortlisted candidates will be given at least 3 working days to complete this task.
  • A 45-50 minute online panel interview with members of The Policy Institute and the House of Lords.
• The panel will make their assessment on the marking scheme for their interview questions - alongside considering the research and experience match of shortlisted candidates, based on the specific Peers who have chosen to host an intern in any given year. The two of these factors together will determine successful candidates and the specific match to a Peer.

Please submit your CV and cover letter via King's Talent Bank, following the "Apply" button above.

Find tips on writing your application and supporting statement on our website. You can also book a 1:1 appointment with our experienced and knowledgeable career consultants through King's CareerConnect (through the appointments tab).

Your application should consist of a CV and cover letter, clearly setting out how you meet the essential criteria as this is how we shortlist applications.

Find tips on writing your application and supporting statement on our website.

Successful candidates will be shortlisted by King?s Careers & Employability and invited to interview with a King?s panel before being matched Peers. Interviews will take place 12 and 13 September 2024.

?Bringing academic research, Parliamentary processes and policy development together can be a simple step to solve complex problems for public good. Above all, working with my Peer has been a lifechanging experience and an immense privilege.? ? 2022-23 Participant.

Essential Criteria

Knowledge

• Knowledge and/or awareness of the UK policy landscape
• Demonstrable interest and understanding of the Parliamentary & legislative processes

Skills & Attributes

• Application of both qualitative and quantitative research methods, specifically those applied in social research, data management and statistics.
• Excellent and concise writing skills, including reports and briefings.
• Ability to review documentation, policy and reports and clearly articulate salient points to different audiences.
• Ability to confidently present findings to different audiences, including Parliamentarians.
• Confidence and ability to work flexibly, coping with multiple tasks, projects and reports and competing demands in an agile fashion
• Collaborative approaches to delivery ? solution-orientated, proactive and self-motivated.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively in writing, and orally. 
• Ability to work independently where needed.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly in a multi-faceted environment to Peers and a range of other stakeholders at various levels of seniority. 

Experience

• Experience working in a policy-related field
• Strong digital capabilities, including usage of business communication platforms and research packages

Student will conduct research, collect data and produce reports

DSPol Student

Research