Surveys and Research Manager
Live Here Love Here
Salary: £32,000£36,000 per annum
Hours: 4-day working week
Contract: Permanent (subject to funding)
Location: Hybrid home working and Belfast office, with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and regular fieldwork across Northern Ireland
Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer
This position is funded through the DAERA Environment Fund.
About the Opportunity
Charity Jobs NI is delighted to be working in partnership with Live Here Love Here, formerly Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, to recruit a Surveys and Research Manager.
This is an opportunity for an analytical professional with advanced Excel skills and experience in quantitative research, data analysis or survey management to contribute to meaningful environmental change across Northern Ireland.
Combining research and analysis with practical outdoor surveying, the role offers the chance to lead established environmental survey programmes and shape their future development. The successful candidate will turn data into clear evidence and accessible reports that inform decisions, support environmental policy and raise awareness of the issues affecting local communities, beaches and public spaces.
About Live Here Love Here
Live Here Love Here is an independent charity dedicated to connecting people with nature through education, engagement and empowerment.
Its work spans community engagement, environmental education and local environmental quality, helping people and communities across Northern Ireland take positive action for the environment.
The Role
The Surveys and Research Manager will lead the delivery and development of Live Here Love Heres environmental survey programmes, including Borough Cleanliness Surveys, Cleaner Neighbourhood Surveys and Marine Litter Surveys.
With a strong focus on quantitative research, the role involves collecting and analysing numerical data to understand litter levels, identify trends and measure change over time. Advanced Excel skills will be central to this work, alongside the ability to interpret findings accurately and explain their significance clearly.
The post-holder will oversee survey methodologies, data collection and quality assurance, while exploring opportunities to develop the programmes in response to emerging environmental priorities. This could include research to help assess the impact of initiatives relating to single-use plastics and deposit return schemes.
Regular fieldwork is an important part of the position. The successful candidate will carry out surveys and litter counts across Northern Ireland, as well as analysing results and working closely with colleagues who support survey delivery.
The post-holder will turn survey results into clear insights, explaining key trends, their implications and any limitations in the evidence. Working closely with the Communications team, they will contribute analysis, written commentary, charts and maps to reports and publications, helping councils, funders and other stakeholders understand the findings.
They will also provide practical guidance to colleagues involved in survey delivery. This is a specialist programme leadership role with no direct reports.
Key Responsibilities
Survey Delivery and Development
- Plan and deliver environmental survey programmes, ensuring surveys and associated reporting are completed to a high standard and within agreed timescales.
- Carry out regular field-based surveys and litter counts across Northern Ireland.
- Coordinate survey activity with the Field Officer Coordinator, field officers and other colleagues.
- Maintain and develop survey methodologies, guidance and recording processes to ensure consistent results.
- Adapt survey approaches to reflect emerging environmental priorities and the needs of partners and funders.
- Manage survey schedules, budgets and resources.
Quantitative Research and Data Analysis
- Manage survey datasets, from collection and validation through to analysis and reporting.
- Use advanced Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables and charts, to analyse data and present findings.
- Identify patterns, compare results and assess changes in environmental quality over time.
- Investigate anomalies and inconsistencies, ensuring conclusions are supported by accurate and reliable evidence.
- Maintain effective quality assurance procedures and clear guidance for colleagues contributing to survey programmes.
- Use ArcGIS and associated survey tools to support data collection, mapping and analysis, developing expertise where required.
- Lead on data protection, ensuring information is managed in line with GDPR and organisational policies.
Reporting, Insight and Communication
- Interpret survey results and explain the key findings, trends and implications clearly to technical and non-specialist audiences.
- Produce clear written analysis and commentary, working closely with the Communications team to develop accurate, accessible reports and publications.
- Present findings through appropriate charts, graphics, maps and written summaries, ensuring conclusions reflect the evidence and acknowledge any limitations.
- Communicate findings to councils, funders, partners and colleagues, responding confidently to questions about the data and methodology.
- Contribute research and insight to organisational decisions, policy discussions and relevant consultations.
- Support data-led website content, respond to relevant technical enquiries and represent Live Here Love Here at meetings, networks and events.
Partnerships and Collaboration
- Support colleagues involved in surveying through practical guidance, training and shared expertise.
- Build effective relationships with councils, funders, survey partners and other stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities to develop survey programmes and extend the value of the organisations research.
- Support income generation through existing survey services and new reporting opportunities.
- Develop appropriate health, safety and environmental procedures for survey activity.
About You
The successful candidate will enjoy working with data and have the practical skills to turn numerical information into clear, useful findings.
They will be confident using Excel beyond everyday spreadsheet tasks, with experience of checking data, investigating discrepancies and drawing well-supported conclusions. They will also bring an organised approach, sound judgement and the confidence to lead projects and suggest new ways of working.
Alongside their analytical ability, they will be a clear and confident communicator who can explain the story behind the numbers. They will be comfortable producing written analysis, discussing findings with stakeholders and helping colleagues understand technical information.
A willingness to spend regular time outdoors carrying out surveys will also be important.
Relevant experience could come from quantitative research, data analysis, environmental monitoring, surveying, auditing or performance reporting.
Essential Criteria
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the use of formulas, pivot tables and charts to clean, analyse, check and present data.
- Significant professional experience of quantitative research, data management and analysis, including interpreting numerical data to support reporting or decision-making. Examples should demonstrate applied work experience beyond academic assignments or dissertation research alone.
- Significant surveying or auditing experience, including collecting and checking information against defined methods or standards.
- Strong analytical writing and report-writing skills, with experience of turning numerical data into clear findings, conclusions and written commentary for different audiences.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to investigate data quality issues and assess their implications.
- Strong organisational and project coordination skills, with the ability to work independently and deliver through collaboration with colleagues.
- Effective verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to explain data trends to non-specialists, discuss findings with stakeholders and provide practical guidance to colleagues.
- A relevant degree-level qualification or at least three years equivalent demonstrable experience.
- Knowledge of environmental matters.
- Experience of data security, privacy and GDPR compliance.
- Proficient ICT skills, including Microsoft Office, and the ability to learn new digital systems.
- Willingness and ability to undertake regular field surveying across Northern Ireland.
- A full current driving licence and access to suitable transport to carry out the duties of the role.
Desirable Criteria
- Practical experience of GIS, particularly ArcGIS and digital survey tools.
- Experience of designing or improving digital data collection systems, survey forms or spatial analysis processes.
- Experience of environmental surveying, litter monitoring or local environmental quality programmes.
- Understanding of local government services or environmental policy.
- Experience of research supporting environmental behaviour change.
- Experience of business development or publicly presenting research findings.
- A recognised Excel or GIS qualification.
- Experience of using content management systems.
Strong Excel and analytical skills are the priority for this role. Candidates who meet the essential criteria and are keen to develop their GIS expertise are encouraged to apply, even if their current GIS experience is limited.
Why Join Live Here Love Here?
- Meaningful environmental impact: Contribute research and evidence that helps improve environmental quality across Northern Ireland.
- A 4-day working week: Benefit from full-time pay while working 30 hours over 4 days, with a paid non-working day each week. Staff are contracted to 37.5 hours, and additional hours may occasionally be required given the seniority of the role.
- Scope to shape the work: Lead specialist survey programmes and help develop new approaches to environmental research and monitoring.
- Variety: Combine quantitative research and analysis with outdoor surveying, partnership working and communicating findings.
- Hybrid and flexible working: Work across the Belfast office, home and survey locations, with a minimum of 2 office days per week. Some evening and weekend working may be required, with reciprocal flexibility.
- Professional development: Access Carbon Literacy training and opportunities to develop expertise in environmental surveys, data systems and GIS.
How to Apply
If you have strong Excel and quantitative analysis skills, can communicate findings clearly and would like to put those abilities to work for the environment, we would love to hear from you.
Simply apply now with your CV to register your interest. A member of the Charity Jobs NI team will be in touch to discuss your experience and guide you through the next steps of the process.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and suitable candidates may be invited to interview as the search progresses. Early applications are encouraged, as the vacancy may close once a suitable candidate has been identified.
The post-holder may at times have contact with children and vulnerable adults. Finalisation of the contract of employment will be subject to the successful outcome of Access NI checks.
If you have any questions about the role or the application process, please contact the Charity Jobs NI team. Were here to help.
Charity Jobs NI is proud to be supporting Live Here Love Here with recruitment for this vacancy.
Skills:Quantitative Research Data Analysis Excel
WHJS1_NI
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