Consultant – EU Education, Training and Skills Policy - Policy Research and Programme Implementation

ICF; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job description

About ICF

ICF (www.icf.com) is a consultancy firm with offices in the UK, Belgium, US and worldwide. At ICF, we help governments, public agencies and international institutions solve complex problems and improve the quality of life of people around the world. We offer critical insight, rigorous analytical techniques and implementation support to deliver innovative solutions and thought-provoking analyses for our clients.

Today, ICF is a global consulting services company with over 7,000 full- and part-time employees, but we are not your typical consultants. Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth.

About the role:

We are looking for a Consultant to join our well-established Research and Implementation team in the field of Education, Training and Skills. The consultant will join a leading provider of services in Education and Skills for the European Commission, in particular DG EAC and DG EMPL, as well as other agencies of the European Union and various national governments. This role involves research, analysis, evaluation work, and managing a spectrum of large programmes. We provide technical assistance, insights, research, networking and other implementation services to EU institutions, particularly the European Commission.

As a consultant, your work will include:

• Supporting the delivery of policy research involving analytical, investigative and other fact-finding work, conducting data collection and analysis, and interpreting results under supervision of senior staff.
• Carrying out primary data collection through various research methods, reviewing and compiling secondary data, and conducting data analysis to contribute to research or evaluation reports.
• Undertaking high-quality research and data collection and analysis activities, including qualitative analysis (experience with NVIVO an advantage) and quantitative analysis (experience with Excel essential; experience with STATA or R an advantage).
• Arranging, conducting and facilitating interviews, surveys, focus groups and stakeholder meetings, and assisting with report-writing and presentations.
• Producing policy content in various forms, such as thematic or analytical papers, case studies, good practice fiches, and monitoring and evaluation surveys.
• Preparing reports, presentations and other written deliverables for a range of audiences.
• Contributing to programme-related activities, such as working groups, secretariats, helpdesk or advisory services, and communities of practice.
• Contributing to the design and organisation of workshops and events, including supporting content development and writing summaries.
• Assisting in proposal-writing and preparations, supporting sections of the technical offer, and coordinating with relevant experts.
• Undertaking other consultancy tasks as required, working independently.

At Consultant level, you will typically support senior consultants and senior members of the team as they manage packages of activities and deliverables.

Required experience:

• University degree or equivalent in a related discipline, such as public policy, politics, economics, law.
• 4+ years professional experience in consultancy, public policy and/or government affairs in the EU, particularly in the context of European social policy, education, training and skills.
• Knowledge and interest in education and social policy, employment policy, and areas linked to the European employment strategy.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, including time management and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong foundation in research and analysis, including qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including interacting with multi-national and multi-disciplinary stakeholders.
• Excellent writing skills, including editing and proofreading skills.
• Fluency in English; proficiency in at least one additional European language is an asset.
• Advanced computer user skills (e.g., Microsoft applications, NVivo, R, Stata).

Personal Qualities:

• Ability to self-organise, prioritise, and manage multiple teams under tight deadlines.
• High level of confidence to perform tasks with limited supervision.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet client and organisational priorities.
• Sound research and business ethics, including the protection of proprietary and confidential information.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills in English; additional European languages an advantage.
• Ability to work with all levels of internal staff, clients, and sub-contractors.
• Ability to work within multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary teams across countries.
• Willingness to travel within Europe, as required.