We are recruiting for a Researcher to join Challenge Works
We are looking a researcher to contribute to our portfolio of future challenge prizes by carrying out targeted research into, and expert engagement on, innovation opportunities.
The research team plays three key roles within Challenge Works:
- Carrying out targeted research to inform the design of new prize projects;
- Horizon scanning, futures thinking and expert engagement to identify new projects and develop new business;
- Evaluating the impact and effectiveness of our prize programmes.
We also carry out consultancy work to advise governments around the world on these three roles.
Overview of the role
Job type: Fixed term contract (3 months) Salary: £35k-£48k plus excellent benefits Location: Blackfriars, London - hybrid working Closing date: 8am on 3 January 2024 Apply now
The role
You will:
- Work in-depth on prize projects, carrying out desk research to better understand market gaps and technical opportunities for prizes
- Prepare briefings on market opportunities in a range of fields, including to support the development of other prize projects
- Carry out interviews with experts to gather evidence and feedback on draft prize designs
- Write reports summarising research findings
- Designing and facilitating workshops
- Contribute to the research team’s development of methods
- Help identify promising new prize topics
- Help communicate our work to outside audiences, for instance through blog posts or speaking at conferences
- Contribute to Challenge Works team-wide initiatives as necessary
What we are looking for
We are looking for a researcher who can contribute across the full range of our challenge prize topics. These can range from frontier technology (such as robotics and AI) to social impact (such as innovations to reduce loneliness). Most of our prizes balance a focus on spurring technological innovation with a nuanced understanding of the technologies’ users, customers and impact on society.
An outstanding communicator, you will have strong organisational skills and a willingness to work on new and unfamiliar topics. You have a strong sense of social purpose and an interest in, experience or knowledge of technological or social innovation.
What we offer
Salary: £35k-£48k Location: This role is based in Central London, Blackfriars, hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of two days in the office Term: Three months fixed term contract Hours: 37.5 hours - This is a full-time role but we offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do
Making an application
To apply for this role, please submit your application before 8am on the 3 of January 2024.
Interviews will take place w/c 8 of January 2024.
About Challenge Works
In 2012, Challenge Works (Previously known as Nesta Challenges) was established in partnership between Nesta and the UK Government to become a global centre of expertise in the design and delivery of challenge prizes.
In the decade since, we've worked with international development funders to demonstrate challenge prizes’ potential as a powerful method for stimulating needed innovation for development by mobilising a diversity of innovators and by working closely with affected communities.
Theses challenge prizes have stimulated badly needed innovation in areas ranging from boosting the productivity of smallholder farmers with USAID to tackling plastic pollution with the Government of Canada.
Unlike the traditional funding approach for innovation in development, our challenge prizes provide funding and support to those that make the most progress in achieving outcomes. They are open to all and final prizes are only given to those that deliver impact with a sustainable model.
Over the last decade Challenge Works has designed and delivered more than 80 challenge prizes, has worked with more than 12,000 innovator teams and invested £84m to support the boldest and bravest ideas to become real.
Diversity and inclusion at Challenge Works
We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results.
We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued. A place where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.
This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.
We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working. This includes working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.
Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.
Making an application
To apply for this role, please submit your application before 8am on the 3 of January 2024.
Interviews will take place w/c 8 of January 2024.
