Senior Research Advisor - Contract - Remote (mostly)

Job Title: Senior Research Advisor (Contract)
Location: Hybrid - attendance at a Newport-based office for meetings as required
Contract Length: Until 31/03/2026

£30 per hour/inside IR35

Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Research Advisor to support two exploratory projects focused on developing future estimates of natural resource depletion within the UK. The role involves scoping available data sources, assessing methodologies, and forming recommendations that will support long-term development of natural capital accounting.

This is a research-intensive position suited to someone who is confident engaging with external stakeholders, assessing data gaps, and preparing clear, evidence-based reports.

Key Projects

Project 4: Scoping Data Sources for Timber Depletion Estimates

The aim of this project is to identify data sources and methodologies that could be used to estimate the physical stock of timber in the UK, including rates of harvesting and regeneration.

Objectives:

• Identify existing data sources relevant to estimating timber stocks.
• Where data does not exist, outline viable methodologies and required input data.
• Determine which organisations hold relevant information and should be engaged.
• Produce a report proposing at least one viable strategy for moving forward.

Indicative Timeline:
Approx. 2-3 months to meet all objectives. Work can be broken into milestones if partial delivery is required (eg, initial provider scouting or methodology scoping).

Project 5: Scoping Data Sources for Fish Stock Depletion Estimates

This project focuses on understanding what data is available to support future estimates of fish stock depletion, including harvesting and regeneration rates.

Objectives:

• Review previous research and estimates relating to UK fish stocks and regeneration rates.
• Assess reliability of existing data, often derived from sustainability studies.
• Conduct initial engagement with relevant data-holding bodies to understand what information exists and any barriers to estimation.

Indicative Timeline:

• Approx. 2 months for reviewing previous estimates.
• Engagement with relevant organisations to run in parallel.

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven ability to manage and maintain stakeholder relationships.
• Experience engaging with data providers to understand datasets, limitations, and future commissioning possibilities.
• Strong research and analytical skills, particularly in environmental, ecological, or natural resource-based contexts.
• Ability to produce clear, structured reports summarising findings and recommendations.
• Python experience would be beneficial