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Research Lead

Contract: Fixed term until 31 December 2026 with high likelihood of the role continuing (dependent on funding), full-time (or close to full-time)

Location: London, hybrid working (three days per week in the office)

Salary: £30,000 – £60,000 depending on experience

About Campaign Lab

Campaign Lab is a network of progressive technologists and campaigners focused on campaign innovation. Founded in 2018, we operate through a small paid team, a committed group of volunteers, and a wider network of campaigners, technologists and progressive organisations.

We are an experimental, research-driven organisation. We research, innovate, test and embed effective tools and practices to strengthen progressive campaigning. Our work includes applied research, pilot projects, hackdays, and partnerships with MPs, campaigners and progressive organisations.

About the Role

Research is at the heart of what Campaign Lab does. We exist to help the progressive movement learn faster — to figure out what works in campaigning, and to get that knowledge into the hands of the people who need it. This role is central to that mission.

We are looking for a Research Lead who combines genuine methodological rigour with a practical, field-oriented mindset. This is not an academic role. We want someone who is excited about getting research out of the lab and into the hands of campaigners — someone who can design a randomised controlled trial and also explain its findings clearly to a local organiser who has never heard of one.

We are open to candidates at a range of levels of seniority and will shape the role — including responsibilities, title and salary — around the strongest candidate we find. A more junior hire will focus primarily on research design and delivery; a more senior hire will also take on budget management, line management and partnership building.

Key Responsibilities

Research design and delivery

  • Design, develop and deliver research projects across a range of methodologies, including: rapid literature scans, randomised controlled trials, A/B tests, process evaluations, qualitative research, quantitative analysis, piloting and prototyping, ideation, and cost-benefit analysis
  • Identify the right research approach for a given question, balancing rigour with speed and practicality
  • Ensure research is grounded in the realities of campaigning practice, not just academic convention
  • Maintain high standards of research quality and integrity across all projects

Translation and communication

  • Translate research findings into clear, accessible outputs for audiences who may not have a research background including campaigners, organisers, politicians and partner organisations
  • Develop formats and products that make research genuinely useful in the field, not just in a report
  • Contribute to Campaign Lab’s public-facing communications, including writing up findings for blogs, briefings and events

Partnerships and collaboration

  • Work closely with partner organisations, many of whom won’t have in-house research capacity, to support them in designing and running research projects
  • Build and maintain relationships with relevant academic institutions and researchers across the UK and Europe, keeping Campaign Lab connected to the cutting edge of political research
  • Collaborate closely with Campaign Lab’s technologists, specialist contractors and other team members to embed research into practical tools and pilot projects

Management and strategy (more senior hires)

  • Manage the research budget, tracking spend and prioritising resources across projects
  • Line manage a Research Assistant and/or PhD student(s), supporting their development and ensuring high-quality delivery
  • Contribute to the strategic direction of Campaign Lab’s research programme, helping to set priorities and identify opportunities

Person Specification

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience designing and delivering research projects using a range of quantitative and qualitative methods including the ability to run RCTs
  • A practical, applied approach to research focused on generating knowledge that can be used, not just published
  • Ability to communicate research clearly and compellingly to non-specialist audiences
  • Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
  • Genuine commitment to Campaign Lab’s mission and to progressive politics
  • Collaborative working style and experience working with external partners or stakeholders

Desirable

  • Familiarity with the progressive political ecosystem in the UK including political parties, trade unions, civil society organisations and campaigning groups
  • Experience working in or closely with political campaigns, advocacy organisations or the third sector
  • Technical skills in data analysis, statistics and modelling (e.g. Python, R, SQL)
  • Experience building relationships with academic institutions or research networks
  • Experience managing budgets or line managing others

How to Apply

Please send a CV and a short covering note outlining your interest and relevant experience to [email protected].

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Campaign Lab encourages applications from candidates who are underrepresented in politics, technology and research.