A day in the life of a...Research Director

Research Directors at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) are responsible for leading research teams to deliver projects to the highest standard, managing relationships with customers and collaborators, and bringing in new work. 

I am a Research Director in the Centre for Children and Families and have been in post since February 2022. The Centre for Children and Families is made up of a team of mixed-methods researchers. We have expertise in impact,  implementation and process evaluation, qualitative research, and survey research, often in collaboration with other NatCen teams. Our customers include the Education Endowment Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund, and central government departments like the Department for Education, Ministry of Justice, and the Home Office.

Since joining NatCen, my work has included a range of high-profile social research and evaluation projects spanning early years, primary and secondary education, family law, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic—a real mix! This variety is something that I particularly enjoy about working at NatCen.

So, what activities do I do?

Since my projects are so varied, no two days are the same. My week typically involves meeting with customers and project teams, catching up with the Senior Researchers I line manage, and developing research tools and outputs, like reports and presentations. 

Research Directors have a leadership role on projects; so much of what I do involves supporting Senior Researchers and Researchers to confidently carry out exceptional data collection and analysis. Delivering projects to time and within budget are important, and so is making sure that the team stays motivated and has opportunities to develop their skills and interests while they’re working on projects. 

It always satisfying to get to the analysis and reporting stage of a project. This is where we come together as a team and make meaning from the data that’s been collected. Since projects can often last multiple years, this stage can feel a bit like approaching the finish line having run a marathon. Maintaining a strong relationship with the customer throughout the project is key for ensuring a smooth and enjoyable reporting process. When that happens, expectations are managed well on both sides. It can often be the case that what we, the research team, think is interesting about a project isn’t the same as what the customer finds interesting or will use to make decisions. We need to have a strong understanding of that to frame findings in reports to have the greatest impact. 

What do I think you should consider when entering the research industry?

Working in research can be emotional. If you’re thinking about a career in research, I think it’s useful to know that emotional intelligence and relationship skills are often as important as technical research skills. 

The people who commission our work are passionate, and the findings of our projects can have real implications. They may be used to decide whether an intervention should continue to be funded or to inform policies. These decisions matter to people’s lives. Methods must always be robust, replicable, and balanced to minimise bias, and within that, don’t lose sight of the emotional charge within a study, the impact that it can have on working relationships, and how findings will be received. 

As you’re honing your craft as a social researcher, look for opportunities to develop your interpersonal skills, management, and leadership styles. These can be learnt and developed just as technical skills can. Make sure to have some tools and strategies for managing challenging conversations and situations as even the best planned projects will face some obstacles along the way.