Research Lead in London/Hybrid - National Employment Savings Trust (NEST)

London/Hybrid

£57,325 (depending on experience)

Permanent

Not Specified

37.5 Working Hours - (Flexible)

29 Apr 2025

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Research Lead

Role Overview

Nest Insight Research Leads both lead the research components of and project manage one or more Nest Insight projects, working to an overall project lead who has ultimate responsibility for the project and its impact.

The Research Lead will need to drive the project forward, managing the different moving parts and resources and ensuring milestones are met. They will lead the research design and delivery bringing in other research expertise and resource as needed and will ensure that research components of the project join up and work together with communications and engagement strands of the work. They will be focussed on the smooth-running of projects and their high-quality delivery, maximising impact from the work.

This role will report to and work closely with the Associate Director of Research and Innovation.

It will involve managing, supporting and working closely with other members of the Nest Insight team.

The Research Lead will need to build strong relationships with and manage senior stakeholders across relevant departments of Nest and with external partners, including research collaborators, delivery partners, our funders, and the advisory groups we consult with as part of the programme

We are open to discussing working patterns.

We welcome all internal applicants to apply for our roles, regardless of your current working pattern or hours. We will aim to accommodate your request and match your current working arrangements.

Don't worry if you think you don't have all the key skills, it might be worth taking the few minutes to apply as we're good at spotting potential and offer a generous training budget.

Please download a full job description to find a full scope, deliverables, experience and personal attributes required for this role.

Reward and recognition

A discretionary bonus scheme
Reward and recognition scheme
Enhanced auto enrolled pension – your contributions start at the default 5% while ours are higher at 8%. If you up your contributions to 6% we raise ours to 9%. If you contribute 7% or more we’ll contribute 10%.
Income protection scheme – is an insurance benefit that provides you with income if you cannot work due to illness or incapacity.

Click here to see the benefits we offer at Nest.

Flexible and agile working

Everyone's personal situation is different.

To make the most out of hybrid working, we've introduced different ways of working, which include (subject to role requirements):

hybrid of office (Canary Wharf, London) and home working (there will be an expectation to attend the office, once - twice a week, or more, as required)
reduce or vary working hours
reduce or vary the days worked
work compressed hours
job share

For more information about our recruitment process click here

Directorate/Department Overview

Nest Insight is a public-benefit research and innovation centre set up by Nest Corporation in 2016 to find ways to support low- and moderate-income workers to be financially secure, both today and into retirement.

We conduct rigorous, cutting-edge research, working collaboratively with industry and academic partners to understand the needs and behaviours of the new generation of savers created by the UK’s pensions auto enrolment system. We also consider how self-employed workers and others at risk of missing out on pension saving can be brought in. We use our data-driven insights into this wide range of financial challenges to identify and test practical, real-world solutions.

Together our team of around 25 delivers an ambitious programme of research, publications and events, sharing best practice, both nationally and abroad. The team is passionate about the work we do and proud of what we are achieving. We are innovative thinkers, not afraid to challenge the status quo. We work flexibly, creatively and collaboratively. We are committed to supporting each other to learn and develop.

Our findings are shared widely and freely to help inform industry and policymakers so that people around the world can benefit from our work. We amplify our learnings and spark debate through our publications and digital media and by convening events that bring together industry, academics and policymakers.

The depth and breadth of our research garners attention. Our work is regularly covered by national media and financial trade outlets.

Whilst Nest Insight is a business unit of Nest Corporation, we are responsible for raising our own operating budget through sponsorships, grants and in-kind support from organisations with similar research interests, goals and values.

By working in partnership with industry, academics, innovators and policymakers, and sharing our research widely and freely, we’re generating insights that could improve the retirement outcomes of millions of savers worldwide. With lots of exciting projects ongoing and in the pipeline, and plans to expand our reach significantly, this is an exciting time to join Nest Insight.

Organisational Overview

Nest is an award-winning workplace pension scheme, the largest in the country.

Set up by the government to give every worker in the UK somewhere to save, our first-class responsible investment practice and governance are the backbone of what we do, supported by all the functions you’d expect to find in a thriving business. We’re committed to creating a workplace where you can be your authentic self and offer an inclusive and flexible working environment.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Everyone is welcome to apply for our roles, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment because of their age, disability, gender identity, marital status, national origin, pregnancy or caring responsibilities, race, religion/belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio economic background.

We also recognise the importance of diversity of thought and other forms of neurocognitive variation.

Nest is a Disability Confident Leader, which is the highest level of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you have disability, declare that you’re applying through the scheme and meet the minimum criteria for this role, we aim to invite you to an interview. However, there may be a few exceptions where we are not able to take all eligible candidates to the next stage due to the volume of applications.

Please note that this advert may close early if we receive a sufficient number of satisfactory applications.

If you have any difficulty in sending your application or need the application pack in an alternative format, or you require any reasonable adjustments please contact: [email protected].

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