Cambridge
Permanent
£48,864 – £69,020
We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation, and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.
The Research and Technical Standards team is part of OCR’s Assessment Division, sitting within the UK Education part of the organisation. We provide expert technical support and advice to a variety of internal stakeholders in the context of UK-regulated qualifications, and work closely across the industry with a variety of technical communities and the Regulator to deliver valid, high-quality qualifications for centres and students.
We are looking to fill a permanent vacancy for a Principal Researcher within the team.
What you will do
In the role of Principal Researcher, you will be responsible for providing a high-quality service to OCR and wider Cambridge University Press and Assessment stakeholders on all research and technical matters. You’ll be supplying expert advice and guidance on all aspects of OCR assessments, both general and vocational. In particular, this role is key to the understanding of OCR’s examinations and assessments, the standards they set and the understanding of the maintenance of those standards.
You’ll represent OCR in technical discussions and problem solving at inter-board level and with the Regulator, contributing to the maintenance of OCR’s reputation from a research and technical perspective.
As a result of this, you will manage, undertake and implement programmes of technical work that contribute to the delivery of a variety of UK-regulated qualifications.
In addition, you will develop, lead and manage the OCR research programme.
About you
- You’ll have current, in-depth knowledge of research methodologies, statistics and educational research as they relate to assessment, knowledge and understanding of the domestic, Ofqual-regulated qualifications industry, and an understanding of the technical issues underpinning UK-regulated examinations.
- Confident in analysing complex data and drawing appropriate inferences, you will have the ability to communicate and explain a wide range of complex technical issues connected with assessment to a variety of audiences, both internal and external, who will have varying levels of expertise.
- Your persuasion and influencing skills will be needed in most aspects of what you do, helping to inform both internal and external stakeholders and ensuring that OCR’s position as a respected part of the technical community within the industry is maintained.
- Your excellent interpersonal skills will help you successfully manage the Research sub-team of the team in the delivery of OCR’s research programme, working with other internal stakeholders such as the Assessment and Research Division as appropriate.
- You will need to have a passion for ensuring high quality assessment and outcomes are delivered by OCR, in order that students get the very best assessment experience they can.
Our mission is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Which is why every year, we give vital support to millions of people in more than 170 countries around the world. From teachers and learners to researchers and academics, we help to build confidence, unlock potential, and enable success. We give people the opportunity to show what they’ve learnt, we spread knowledge, spark enquiry, and aid understanding.
We achieve this by embracing change, and continuously focusing on our customers’ needs. And by collaborating, and carefully listening to our customers and to each other, we keep moving forward, keep innovating, and keep finding newer and better ways of doing things.
The key to our work is our colleagues, whose shared commitment enables us to have an ever-greater impact. We are a united, vibrant, and respectful global community of people, and we ensure that every individual is recognised, listened to, and cared for. And because our impact is amplified when our people are empowered, we give everyone the opportunity to develop in their own way. Whether you want a career that’s linear, or want to follow your own path, we’ll support you, and help give you the resources and training you’ll need to be bold and take ownership of what you do. Alongside providing a supportive and flexible working environment we also offer a selection of fantastic employee benefits.
We review applications on an ongoing basis, with a closing date for all applications being 5 June 2022 and interviews are scheduled to take place during and after this time.
To apply, please upload your CV and covering letter via our website https://careers.cambridge.org/jobs/vacancy/principal-researcher-cambridge/1735/description/
Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it’s safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background.
We believe that diversity of thought, background, and approach create better outcomes. More importantly, fostering an inclusive culture is the right thing to do, and it’s part of how we achieve our purpose: to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Ensuring that anyone, no matter who they are, feels they belong here is an essential part of who we are and the contribution we make to society, and to our planet.
To enable an environment which our people can thrive in, our customers benefit from, and where work complements life, we empower everyone to manage their time and capacity, and to prioritise their wellbeing. That’s why from day one everyone at Cambridge University Press & Assessment can embrace a hybrid working model and discuss flexible working options to find the best solution for them and their role.
