Research officer

Deadline for applications: 14 December 

Candidates will be interviewed on a rolling basis, please submit your application as soon as possible  

Start date: January 2023 

Full time position 

Location: Brussels 

MPG is an equal opportunity employer 

About you: MPG is looking to hire a highly-motivated and proactive Research Officer who will have key responsibilities in implementing and further developing MPG’s comparative research agenda. The ideal candidate will be an experienced researcher, passionate about advancing evidence-based policies, and keen to work for a dynamic, value-driven European think-and-do tank. 

Purpose of the job: MPG designs and implements comparative research and projects with stakeholders on comprehensive migrant integration and diversity. MPG works on a variety of topics, such as integration of migrants and refugees, citizenship, political participation, education, employment, entrepreneurship, family reunification and anti-discrimination. This work largely focuses on comparisons of policies and practices at national, regional and local level, monitoring compliance with international/EU legal standards and analysis of the impact of policies on integration outcomes. MPG’s research officer will:  

  • conduct qualitative and quantitative (statistical) analysis of policies and outcome indicators;  
  • conduct comparative research on practices and policies at national, regional and local level;  
  • provide methodological guidance across the organisation’s projects and areas of expertise;  
  • communicate results to MPG’s audience of policymakers, practitioners and other stakeholders. 

She or he will work on several MPG projects, including in a leading role the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) and other projects on integration policy and outcome indicators at local and national level.  

Key responsibilities  

1. Developing and coordinating international comparative research 

  • Coordinating research project(s), including collaborating with partners, identifying experts, designing questionnaires, convening meetings, preparing agendas with supporting documentation as well as reporting. 
  • Proposing, developing and fundraising for new research projects on laws and policies at European, national, and local level as well as their impacts on immigration and integration outcomes. 
  • Management of project implementation (narrative and financial reporting, budget monitoring). 

2. Conducting interdisciplinary and comparative research 

  • Using and creating international harmonised datasets from a wide variety of sources including government, statistical institutes, expert networks, academia, non-governmental organisations, media, internet, etc. 
  • Conducting quantitative analysis (descriptive mono-variate and bi-variate analysis). 
  • Analysing, writing, and presenting comparative results in an accurate and accessible way in the appropriate format (publications, trainings, blogs, public speaking). 
  • Survey planning and implementation (questionnaire development process, data collection, analysis of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets). 

3. Working with MPG team 

  • Work with other MPG staff on common projects and the development as well as fundraising for new research projects. 
  • Monitor international statistics on migration and integration.  
  • Collaborating with a wide variety of actors.  
  • Other research or networking tasks as requested. 

Requirements: 

Professional skills, knowledge and experience  Essential  

  • Degree in Political Science / Sociology / Economics 
  • At least 6 years’ experience in applied research on migration or integration  
  • Knowledge on migration, integration, diversity or social inclusion 
  • Strong coordination skills, with the ability of managing a portfolio of several projects 
  • Strong analytical skills, with the ability to gather, compare, and summarise complex information 
  • Proven experience with comparative cross-context research 
  • Strong skills on descriptive statistical/quantitative analysis and various quantitative methods (mono-variate and bi-variate analysis) and basic knowledge of multivariate statistical/quantitative techniques 
  • Advanced Excel User 
  • Excellent writing skills, with the ability to present information and arguments in an articulate and persuasive manner in English (native speaker level) 
  • Proven experience with acquisition of research funding 
  • Knowledge of main sources of data and international datasets (e.g. Eurostat) 
  • Proven ability to autonomously lead project implementation including reporting cycle and budget monitoring (project and financial management) 

Desirable 

  • Experience in designing and operationalising policy indicators in the areas of migration, integration or anti-discrimination 
  • Knowledge and use of the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) 
  • Trained in SPSS software 
  • Knowledge of additional languages 

 

Personal attributes 
  • Creativity and entrepreneurial attitude to design/fundraise projects and work with different experts and stakeholders 
  • Attention to detail and accuracy 
  • Good networking skills and ability to engage with practitioners 
  • Good understanding of working with other cultures 
  • Ability to prioritise own workload and to meet deadlines 
  • Ability to work independently and in a team 
  • Approachability and openness 
  • Diplomacy and political sensitivity  
  • Committed to MPG’s work 
  • Willingness to help out in other areas of MPG’s work where necessary 

 

Contact 

To apply, please send the completed MPG application form and a CV including a list of publications to jobs@migpolgroup.com. Please also attach a short article that displays your skills with policy and/or comparative and/or quantitative analysis on migration, integration or anti-discrimination. 

Please note that: 

Applications should be sent electronically. No written applications will be accepted. 

Applications should be sent in English. 

The deadline for applications is 14 December 2022Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted and interviews will take place on a rolling basis. 

For more information please open this link
Apply Here

About the Migration Policy Group (MPG)

MPG is an independent think-and-do-tank based in Brussels. MPG’s purpose is rooted in its ability to inspire networks to provide evidence-based projects, research and campaigns in the areas of integration, migration and anti-discrimination.

Learn more about the Migration Policy Group.

 

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