Research Lead

Job title: Research Lead

Location: Standlake, Witney, Oxfordshire.

Salary: £40,000 to £50,000

Job type: Permanent, full-time.

Hours: Monday to Friday – 40 hours per week.

About The Role

We are looking for a Research Lead to help develop and implement the charity’s research strategy, focused on improving care and education for those impacted by trauma across a range of settings. Our work is both national and international and we work across residential, educational, youth and criminal justice and child and adult health & social care settings.

As part of our team, reporting to the Head of Learning & Research, you will play a key role in making sure our work creates real, positive change. This is a fantastic opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary, making a lasting difference in the lives of those affected by trauma and helping them on their journey to a brighter future.

We’ll look to you to

• Lead the development of the Mulberry Bush charity’s research and data strategy, focusing on supporting those impacted by trauma.
• Work with the Charity Leadership Group, staff, trustees, and external partners to create a best-practice research culture.
• Lead the development of the Mulberry Bush Social Emotional Adjustment (SEA) Scale.
• Design and manage research programmes, ensuring they’re delivered on time, within budget, and with high-quality data collection, analysis, and evaluation.
• Help to identify research priorities and new opportunities.
• Identify and secure research funding.
• Build and maintain relationships with key policy-makers, service providers, universities, and research centres nationally and internationally.
• Ensure research outcomes are disseminated and improve practice.
• Present research findings to stakeholders.
• Create research resources and courses.
• Stay informed on developments in policy, research, and innovative methods in evaluation and research tools.
• Follow Mulberry Bush policies, making sure that safeguarding and child protection are always a priority.
• Support the development of Action-Research as part of our Foundation Degree, and other, programmes. This will include teaching, student support and marking.
• Continue to completion existing research contracts
• Enabling us to utilise and develop ground-breaking research, in conjunctions with academics, researchers, universities
• Work closely with our Archives Team to develop the use of therapeutic community archives as a research tool.

We'll Care for you too

Benefits

You’re not just part of a team, you’re part of our charity. Support echoes through every part of our community, and your colleagues are always here. We also offer the following benefits to make your journey with us even more rewarding:

• 40 days’ holiday each year.
• A comprehensive range of informal and formal wellbeing support.
• Employer contribution pension of 6%.
• Enhanced parental leave benefits.

About You

We’re looking for someone who’s passionate about research and has a proven track record of delivering projects that support those impacted by trauma. You’ll be a proactive and experienced professional, able to lead research projects while building relationships with organisations, government bodies, research institutes and funding partners.

If you’re excited about making a real impact and are ready to be part of something extraordinary, we’d love to hear from you!

Here’s What You’ll Bring

• Strong communication and project coordination skills, managing priorities and supporting staff development.
• Experience accessing research funding and grants.
• Proficient in conducting research and sharing findings.
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative research skills.
• The ability to critically review data and literature.
• Experience of working, or researching, in a trauma related field
• Skilled in designing and developing evidence-based research methods and tools.
• Ability to work independently and solve problems proactively.
• Skilled in writing and speaking to varied audiences across different channels.
• Awareness of current policy related to research in trauma related fields
• Knowledge of project management processes and performance frameworks.
• Good understanding of research ethics and data management.
• Familiarity with intellectual property and copyright in research.
• In-depth knowledge of research relating to sectors supporting individuals affected trauma.
• Experience teaching research methods, including Action Research.
• Connections with existing research networks in trauma-related sectors.
• Psychodynamic and reflective practice understanding.
• Qualification - Post-graduate degree or equivalent in a research area

About The Mulberry Bush

At The Mulberry Bush, we believe that with support and opportunities, children can overcome challenges and shape their future. We see their untold stories, possibilities, dreams, and untapped potential – and we believe in their ability to rewrite their destiny. All while having lots of fun along the way.

The Mulberry Bush is a therapeutic community, registered as a children’s home and a non-maintained residential special school. We are dedicated to transforming the lives of those affected by childhood trauma. Since 1948, we’ve been helping children and those around them through specialist therapeutic services and fulfilling activities.

Over the years, we have established an outstanding reputation for transforming the lives of all those affected by childhood trauma. We believe we offer something special – and we’d love you to be part of it.

If you believe that you have the experience and expertise required to succeed in this role please submit your CV via the 'Apply for this job' button.

Selection process

• Closing date for CV’s Friday 6th June 2025
• Initial Teams interview Thursday 12th & Friday 13th June 2025
• Application forms completed Friday 20th June 2025. Applications forms are required to be completed for regulatory purposes.
• Interviews: Thursday 26th June 2025.

Please click here to view the Job Description. If you have any questions about the role or the work we do, please email the HR team at [email protected]

The Mulberry Bush is an equal opportunity employer. It is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff and students to share this commitment.

Applicants must have the appropriate right to work in the UK. For applicants requiring visas, we can only accept those with visas which allow you to work in the UK indefinitely (we do not have the ability to offer sponsorship).

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and therefore, candidates must be prepared to undertake a DBS criminal background check.