Closing date: 8 June 2022
Job title: Research Fellow
Location: Westminster, London
Salary: £2,000 pcm
Length of contract: 4 months fixed term
Job details
The Constitution Society is an independent, non-party educational foundation which works to promote informed debate about constitutional reform.
The Society publishes papers and a regular blog on constitutional topics by leading experts, as well as conducting its own research programmes and supporting affiliated organisations. We also hold conferences, seminars and lectures.
The Society is looking to recruit a Research Fellow on a fixed-term appointment to research and write a paper on a contemporary UK constitutional issue of their choosing. Areas of interest to the Society include, but are not limited to:
- devolution and the territorial constitution;
- the judiciary and the rule of law;
- executive standards and accountability;
- the role of the civil service and the structure of government;
- legislative issues;
- democracy and electoral systems;
- and the constitutional change process.
We are especially interested in research that will make an original and pertinent contribution to the constitutional debate in the UK. We expect the finished product to be c.15,000 words and to be completed within four months.
The successful individual will be asked to engage in some promotion of their paper, once completed, including presenting their research findings at an event. An example of work previously produced under the Constitution Society’s Research Fellow programme can be found here: https://consoc.org.uk/publications/the-electoral-system-and-british-politics/. This paper is an example of the standard of work we are looking for.
The successful candidate will have a strong academic background, preferably to master’s level or beyond. This is likely to be in Political Science, Law or History, with multi-disciplinary experience an advantage. The ability to write clear and succinct English – accessible to politicians and public officials as well as to academics – is essential. We are looking for someone who is self-motivated and confident working independently. They will also possess the confidence and interpersonal skills to interact with senior figures in Parliament and government. Some prior experience of this kind of interaction is desirable, but not essential.
Previous participants in the programme have gone on to a variety of further research roles, including doctoral study, think tanks, and the civil service.
Closing Date: 8 June 2022
Interview/start dates
Interviews to be held soon after the closing date. Start date in July 2022.
Application details
Candidates for the role are asked to submit an abstract outlining their proposed research project (300-500 words) to info@constitutionsoc.org.uk. This should be accompanied by a draft work plan, setting out how the individual intends to complete the project. Please also send a CV. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.