Onward is looking for an exceptional individual to contribute to, or to lead, our work on infrastructure, planning and housing. This vital work has rarely mattered more to unlocking economic growth and improving public service delivery.
This role would suit a Senior Researcher looking to take the next step in their career and build towards spearheading a programme of work; as it would equally an expert in the field able to lead the debate on how the UK can solve its chronic under-delivery of housing and infrastructure.
The successful candidate will need at least two years’ experience writing high-quality research, with deep specialist knowledge of infrastructure, planning and housing policy, and be able to demonstrate strong project management experience. They must also be comfortable engaging with and contributing to public policy debates, including through the media, policy events and meetings with MPs, ministers and civil servants.
The successful candidate will be joining Onward at a pivotal moment. Our work on housing, including our recent report Fixing London Housing, has helped lead the debate on how we can solve the UK housing crisis, and we now want to build on that foundation by expanding this programme of work.
In particular, alongside our longstanding interest in housing, it is likely we will want to focus on the delivery of major projects in the public sector, and how this could radically be accelerated and kept to budget.
Onward has become a truly leading voice on housing, planning and infrastructure issues, and this exciting position is a unique chance to help develop the blueprint for a future centre-right government to win and serve.
Salary: £44,000 – £70,000, dependent on experience.
Probation period: 5 months
Applications close: 6pm, 11th August 2026.
Start date ASAP.
Main responsibilities
- Have a strong understanding of the politics surrounding planning reform and infrastructure delivery, including the ability to apply this to wider policy contexts such as the energy system or the prison estate.
- Contribute to the overall editing of work, through a shared editorial process across senior members of the research team.
- Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders at the highest levels of government, the media, industry and among the policy community.
- Produce regular articles for newspapers, websites and other outlets.
- Be confident chairing events and speaking to broadcast media about key infrastructure, planning and housing issues.
Candidate requirements
- A commitment to Onward’s mission, vision and values. You are interested in advancing the policy priorities set out in Onward’s recent work.
- A clear, concise and precise writer. Much of your work will be public facing and aimed at high level policymakers and politicians. It must always be accurate, accessible, and pithy.
- Good quantitative and statistical literacy. You are comfortable with research tasks that involve data and think critically about statistics and data.
- Willing to use AI agents in daily analytical tasks, including coding agents. You are proactive in using AI to improve your productivity and the productivity of the organisation, but always while exercising your own independent judgment. You use AI as a cutting edge analytical tool, not to replace your own writing.