Data Journalist

Ref Number

B03-02344

Professional Expertise

Research and Research Support

Department

UCL SLASH (B03)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

See advert text

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

Hybrid

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

09-Mar-2025

About us

University College London (UCL) is one of the world's top universities. Based in the heart of London, it is a dynamic, outward-looking institution. At its establishment in 1826, UCL was radical and responsive to the needs of society, and this ethos – that excellence should go hand-in-hand with enriching society – continues today. The Department of Geography is a leading UK and global department, with a heritage of excellence in research across a broad range of research themes. The Department has a long and distinguished tradition of top-quality cross and interdisciplinary research with social scientists, climate modellers, data scientists, urbanists, environmental scientists and geoscientists all working on a huge variety of projects across the domains of Environment, Resources, Heritage and Social Science. Further details of the department are at https://www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/. The role will also have a close affiliation to the UCL Social Data Institute, which offers a pioneering programme of teaching and partnerships that have particular strengths in data science, visualisation and storytelling. The appointee will be a member of the Geospatial Analytics and Computing (GSAC) Group, which researches and develops best practice through assembling, linking, visualising and analysing diverse data sources, cognisant of relevant underpinning technologies and social processes; and developing substantive research applications in social and spatial mobility, housing market analysis, demography, disaster recovery, urban design, retailing and health.

About the role

We are seeking a skilled Data Journalist to work with the research and data services team as part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded Geographic Data Service (GeoDS). In the context of research data services this is an innovative position which sits within a broader initiative: the ESRC Smart Data Research UK programme (www.sdruk.ukri.org/). Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK) is an investment of £22 million in new data services, enabling researchers across the UK to access new forms of smart data. The GeoDS seeks to integrate a wide range of data sources to generate new insights into equitable and sustainable growth – bringing focus to geographic disparities, barriers to opportunity and the circumstances of vulnerable populations. Building on the strong foundation of the Consumer Data Research Centre (data.cdrc.ac.uk), the GeoDS team develops partnerships with data providers and coordinates a national industry summer placement programme, the Masters Dissertation Scheme, to engage a new generation of smart data researchers. You will be a core part of an interdisciplinary team that spans both UCL and the University of Liverpool. It is charged with developing and maintaining a national data service that provides smart data to researchers, both internal and external. This is a varied role that will require you to collaborate with the internal research team to create data-led high-quality visual and narrative outputs from their findings. These outputs will engage and appeal to a broad audience, including policy makers, commercial partners and the public at large. The underlying research will have investigated new sources and forms of data, as well as substantive findings of the GeoDS user base, which will require delivering shared capabilities and following professional best practice. Your data journalism will help to justify sustained investment in services and systems which underpin internationally leading data intensive social science research, thereby promoting new tools, practices and methods, bringing particular focus to use of geographically referenced data. The role requires working with Personal and Sensitive Personal Data (as defined under GDPR) and so you will be required to attain BPSS security clearance to use and manage secure data using facilities at GeoDS’s institutions. You will be expected to understand legal liability issues related to the handling of GeoDS research data and emulate best practice in this area.
The full job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page. This is a full time, fixed term post with funding available to March 2029. The appointment is available from 1 April 2025. Funding is available at Grade 7, spine point 30-36 (including London Allowance). Informal enquiries may be made to Prof James Cheshire (james.cheshire@ucl.ac.uk).
If you have any queries regarding the application process, or if you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online, please contact the department’s research administration team: geog.research@ucl.ac.uk.

About you

The successful candidate will have a degree in data journalism, data science / AI, geographic information science, or allied discipline with a strong social science component, with understanding of quantitative methods and social science datasets OR equivalent professional expertise appropriate to the role. You will have experience of leading the writing of research informed publications of quality acceptable to leading news outlets, and be able to demonstrate confidence, developed through practical experience, of core data journalism/data science techniques: data sourcing, cleaning and analysis. You will also have:

A flair for data journalism alongside strong quantitative social science skills, ideally aligned with substantive interests arising from study of UK geography, business, economics or politics.
A demonstrable interest in current affairs, unfolding news events and public understanding of social science.
The tenacity to work with academics and data scientists to identify and develop the news-worthiness of research findings.

This is a diverse role requiring understanding of data analytics, visual imagination and awareness of what is going on in the world: all will be integral to your data stories that will bring high impact to research findings. Please see the full job description and person specification at the bottom of this page full more information. This role is eligible for hybrid working and you will be expected to work on site at UCL at least two days per week (currently Tuesdays and Fridays). We will consider applications to work on a flexible and job share basis wherever possible. This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
On-Site nursery
On-site gym
Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. The Department is committed to the values of equality, diversity and inclusion and we have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and networks for BME, LGBTQ, and disabled/neurodiverse staff and students. The Department recognises the importance of family-friendly working and we try, as far as possible, to organise meetings and events with staff responsibilities as parents and carers in mind. In 2022, the Department was awarded an Athena SWAN Silver award in recognition of our advancement of gender equality: representation, progression, and success. Above all the Department aims to be a supportive environment for both its staff and students. More information can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/geography/about-ucl-department-geography/equality-diversity-and-inclusion