Working at Ridgeway

Ridgeway offers the opportunity to work in a unique and dynamic organisation.

Our staff are proud that their work has direct and tangible impacts both in the UK and on the world stage.

The team is focused and responsive – delivering powerful insights and unambiguous advice for our clients when they need it most.

Different perspectives and discourse help us to innovate, generate ideas and foster a congenial, inclusive and open-minded environment.

We want our work to be an expression of our beliefs and values – Ridgeway’s team is determined to make a difference on issues that matter to the world.  

Diversity

At Ridgeway, we believe that team diversity is essential. Our team is gender and age-diverse and is made up of many different nationalities. We come from a range of cultural and social backgrounds and together speak over 40 languages. Our team bring the knowledge, perspective and insight gained from our varied careers to our work.

We strive to attract and retain exceptional staff, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace culture.

Mentoring

Supporting our staff to develop their career potential and grow as individuals is important to us, and we are proud of our commitment to mentoring. Each Board member mentors one of our core staff, who in turn mentor our assistant researchers.

Whether its subject-matter or project-specific advice, career guidance and coaching or assistance with networking, mentoring is important at Ridgeway.

Research Lead Vacancy for Researcher/Senior Researcher (Full-Time)

About the Role

The Researcher/Senior Researcher will lead the research and related tasks in support of our new project analysing Russia’s foreign policy in the field of nuclear energy and non-proliferation. The key responsibilities of the Research Lead role include:

  • Plan and manage the research deliverables and small-scale fieldwork for the company’s Russia project

  • Lead the preparation and delivery of research reports in staggered deadlines  

  • Perform data collection and report-writing independently and as part of the team, drawing mainly on open sources and complemented by small-scale interviews

  • Manage a research team consisting of part-time and full-time staff and consultants

  • Manage the project’s external research partners in collaboration with the Programme Manager, to instruct and support their contribution to the research deliverables in a timely manner

  • Present research findings to the client in one or two research briefing sessions, independently and as part of the team

  • Develop new research proposals as part of the nuclear team

  • Any other tasks as reasonably required by Ridgeway’s management

  • On agreement with Ridgeway, the successful candidate will be working in a hybrid arrangement.

About You

We welcome applications from candidates with diverse linguistic skills (especially Russian), technical knowledge and educational backgrounds, including international relations, geography, public policy, area studies, security studies, and others. Prior knowledge of non-proliferation issues is not essential; the successful applicant will be given training on relevant aspects of the nuclear non-proliferation issues and also on open-source research skills.

We are looking for candidates with experience and competencies in the following areas:

  • Excellent analytical and writing skills

  • Excellent organizational skills and communication skills

  • Ability to plan and manage the research team staffing and research components

  • Ability to lead the research team and work in collaboration with the Programme Manager

All candidates must have a minimum of an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject. A Senior Researcher will have finished a PhD degree or a master’s degree with minimum two years of relevant work experience. The key attributes Ridgeway seeks in all its staff and consultants are a keen interest in international affairs, professionalism in the workplace, and the ability to carry out quality research both independently and as part of the team.

The successful candidate is to work as Researcher or Senior Researcher on a fixed-term, full-time contract from May 2024 to March 2025, with the possibility of extension. The annual salary will be between £32,000 and £45,000 depending on experience and qualifications.

Candidates must have permission to work in the UK by the start of their employment. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor work visas for this role.  

How to Apply & Recruitment Timeline

If you would like to be considered for this Researcher/Senior Researcher post, please send (1) a short covering letter, (2) a CV, and (3) one or two writing samples on international relations or other relevant topic of your choice by e-mail (in English) to Dr Joanna Kidd (joanna.kidd@ridgeway-information.com) and Beth James (beth.james@ridgeway-information.com) with “Russia Researcher/Senior Researcher job application” in the email title by 10th April 2024.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and interviews for short-listed candidates will take place in April 2024 either in person or online.  

Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Ridgeway Information values diversity. We welcome applications from people of all cultures, backgrounds, ages, and experiences, and we highly encourage applications from people of colour, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+  individuals. If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply, please email applications@ridgeway-information.com, including “Accessibility support” in your email title.