Vacancies

​Applications close on Friday 24th October 2025.

 

Start Date: Monday 3rd November 2025
End Date: Friday 30th January 2026
Hours: 11.5 Hours per week

Hourly Rate: £17 - £20 per hour

​

​About This Role:

This is a fixed term part-time role from Monday 3rd November 2025 to Friday 30th January 2026. We are seeking a Research Associate to deliver a specific research assignment using quantitative population data and quantitative insights to illustrate urban evolution over time in multiple cities. The task will involve gathering historic population data sets at city and metropolitan levels for over 15 cities and annotating population charts to show key moments and periods in the city over time. The task will also involve producing one map per city. These tasks form part of a much larger research task that The DNA of Cities team are currently undertaking. In addition to the core tasks, the Research Associate will assist the team with administrative tasks relating to this research project. 

The ideal candidate will have previous experience of telling stories using data, communicating data visually to multiple audiences, and developing infographics and visually appealing charts. They will be someone who takes pride in their precise attention to detail and has experience in using quantitative and qualitative data to produce visual forms of storytelling for different global contexts and in different geographical scales. The ideal candidate for this role will have experience in working in research teams in city institutions or city-focused organisations, and/or an academic background in geography, urban studies or a related discipline. 

Essential Requirements:

• Masters degree in geography, planning, economics or a related discipline, or an undergraduate degree with 3+ years of professional experience

• Advanced knowledge of ArcGIS or QGIS, Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint

• Previous experience in assembling data sets and diligent record-keeping of data sources

• Previous experience in developing visually appealing maps and charts using data

• Understanding of spatial scales in cities and experience navigating data gathering nuances in different global contexts at city and metropolitan scales

Location:
Our team is based between Manchester and London, UK and travel regularly, so we tend to work together remotely. If the candidate is Manchester-based or within commuting distance, there is an option to work time-to-time from the co-working space in Ancoats where we hold a membership. 

How to Apply:
Please send a CV and a cover letter of no more than 200 words to hello@thednaofcities.com with ‘Research Associate’ in the subject line. We thank all applicants for their interest and will endeavour to contact all applicants, whether they are successful or not.    

About The DNA of Cities:
The DNA of Cities is an outcome-led advisory practice helping cities to prosper in the 21st Century. We have dedicated the past three years to developing and testing our methodology for decoding The DNA of Cities. We are now in the early stages of transitioning The DNA of Cities to a sustainable commercial model. Our podcast The DNA of Cities has over 25,000 global downloads and The DNA of Cities book will be published in 2026. We will give keynote speeches and host tailored workshops at several European conferences this autumn.