Researcher in higher education, research and innovation policy

Researcher – Higher Education, Skills, Research and Innovation Policy

At PPMI, part of the Verian Group, we help build a world where policies work.

We are a leading European research and policy analysis centre working with public sector organisations, international institutions and civil society to address complex policy challenges. Since 2001, we have provided evidence-based research, evaluation and advisory services that help decision-makers turn evidence into practical, actionable policy solutions.

Our work combines methodological rigour with real-world impact. We support clients across Europe and beyond by delivering high-quality research, facilitating stakeholder engagement and translating complex evidence into clear recommendations for policy and practice.

Higher education, skills, research and innovation are among our core areas of expertise. Our teams contribute to major European and international initiatives, including the European Higher Education Sector Observatory, Eurograduate 2026, HEInnovate and the monitoring of European Partnerships under Horizon Europe.

We are now looking for a Researcher to join our team working at the intersection of higher education, skills, research and innovation policy.

What you will work on

In this role, you will contribute to policy-relevant research, evaluation and advisory projects for European and international clients. Depending on your background and project needs, your work may include:

• conducting desk research, literature reviews and policy analysis;
• contributing to evaluation, monitoring and impact assessment studies;
• designing and implementing qualitative and/or quantitative research activities;
• supporting surveys, interviews, focus groups and stakeholder consultations;
• analysing evidence and translating findings into clear conclusions and recommendations;
• drafting research reports, policy briefs, presentations and other client-facing outputs;
• presenting findings to colleagues, clients and wider stakeholder audiences.

You will work in a collaborative international environment where intellectual curiosity, analytical thinking, quality and ownership matter.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who can combine policy interest with strong research skills and clear analytical writing.

A strong candidate will bring:

• a solid understanding of higher education, skills, research and/or innovation policy;
• hands-on experience in public policy research, analysis, evaluation or implementation;
• good understanding of qualitative research methods, such as literature reviews, interviews, focus groups or qualitative data analysis;
• good understanding of quantitative research methods;
• experience with surveys, data analysis and tools such as R, Stata, SPSS or similar would be an advantage;
• excellent written and spoken English;
• the ability to structure complex information and turn evidence into clear, well-argued outputs;
• a bachelor’s or higher degree in economics, political science, public policy, education or another relevant social science discipline.

We value people who are analytical, curious, detail-oriented, responsible and comfortable working across different projects, topics and teams.

What we offer

• Gross monthly salary of €2,800–€3,400, depending on qualifications and experience.
• The opportunity to work on meaningful European and international policy projects.
• Collaboration with experienced researchers, policy experts and international partners.
• Training and coaching to strengthen your research methods, analytical and project management skills.
• Flexibility in how you organise your work, with a focus on results and quality.
• A multicultural, supportive and intellectually stimulating working environment.
• A people-centred approach to work, with attention to wellbeing, sustainable workload and personal development.
• Additional support and benefits designed to help our people feel well, grow professionally and do their best work.

Location and working arrangement

This is a remote-friendly role, and we welcome candidates based in different countries. The role involves close collaboration with European project teams, while the working arrangement may depend on the candidate’s location.

For candidates based outside Lithuania, cooperation may be arranged through a service agreement. Candidates based in Lithuania may be offered employment under a Lithuanian employment contract and have the option to work from PPMI’s Vilnius office, located at Gedimino pr. 50.

If you want to use research to shape better education, skills, research and innovation policies in Europe and beyond, we would be happy to hear from you.

Please apply by 15 June 2026.