Jobs

Island Research Associate

Caribbean various locations - Ref: 47300
Purpose of the Role
Grenada Research Associates is expanding its operation to other Caribbean islands and is looking for reliable island-based researchers to support genealogical, probate and heir-tracing research.

The Island Research Associate will carry out local research, record searches, document retrieval, community enquiries and field investigations on behalf of GRA.

The role is intended to support probate, heir-tracing, family history, estate verification and historical research cases. The researcher will work under instruction from GRA and will not provide legal, financial, valuation or estate-distribution advice to clients.

In line with standard probate and heir-tracing practice, researchers must not discuss the nature, purpose or possible financial implications of their enquiries with family members, potential heirs, neighbours, community contacts or other third parties unless expressly authorised by GRA. Enquiries should be framed only as necessary to verify identity, family relationships, dates, locations or contact details. Researchers must not suggest that an individual may benefit from an estate, is being traced in connection with an inheritance, or has any legal entitlement. This protects the integrity of the research, avoids creating false expectations or family conflict, and ensures that all communication with potential beneficiaries is managed appropriately by GRA or the instructing professional client.

The purpose of the role is to provide accurate, discreet, well-documented and locally informed research that can be incorporated into GRA’s client reports.
Required Skills and Experience
The ideal candidate will have:
  • Strong knowledge of the island’s local communities, parishes, geography and family networks
  • Experience with genealogical, historical, legal, archival, registry, heritage, administrative or community-based research
  • Ability to access or navigate local record offices, churches, registries, cemeteries and archives
  • Good written communication skills
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Ability to follow a research brief accurately
  • Ability to distinguish between evidence, assumption and local information
  • Discretion when dealing with sensitive family or probate matters
  • Reliability and good time management
  • Access to email, phone, WhatsApp and basic document-sharing tools
  • Ability to take clear photographs or scans of documents where permitted
Desirable Experience
  • Experience working in archives, museums, libraries, registry offices, churches, legal offices or public administration
  • Knowledge of probate, succession, estate administration or heir-tracing work
  • Experience preparing research reports
  • Familiarity with civil registration and church record systems
  • Ability to read older handwriting
  • Knowledge of local land, deed or property records
  • Existing relationships with local churches, registries, archives, community elders or historians
  • Experience with oral history or community interviewing
  • Knowledge of Caribbean migration patterns, naming practices and family structures
Personal Qualities
GRA is looking for researchers who are:
  • Trustworthy
  • Discreet
  • Methodical
  • Patient
  • Locally knowledgeable
  • Professionally curious
  • Respectful when dealing with families and sensitive histories
  • Able to work independently
  • Able to report clearly and honestly, including when no evidence is found
  • Comfortable working to deadlines
  • Willing to follow GRA’s procedures and client confidentiality requirements
Confidentiality and Professional Standards
The Island Research Associate will often handle sensitive personal, family and estate information. The researcher must:
  • Treat all instructions, documents and findings as confidential
  • Not disclose case details to third parties except where necessary for the authorised research
  • Avoid gossip, speculation or inappropriate discussion of client matters
  • Keep secure any notes, photographs, records or personal information obtained during research
  • Comply with applicable data protection, privacy and local legal requirements
  • Declare any conflict of interest, including personal knowledge of a family, estate, beneficiary or disputed matter
  • Act only on instructions from GRA
The researcher must not approach potential beneficiaries in a way that creates alarm, false expectations or reputational risk for GRA or its clients.

Scope of Authority
The Island Research Associate is not authorised to:
  • Give legal advice
  • Give financial advice
  • Give tax advice
  • Value estates, land or property
  • Confirm entitlement to an estate
  • Negotiate with heirs or beneficiaries
  • Accept money or documents from families on behalf of GRA unless expressly authorised
  • Represent themselves as a lawyer, probate practitioner or estate administrator
  • Contact GRA’s clients directly unless authorised
The researcher’s role is to gather, verify and report information.

Working Arrangements
Assignments will be issued by GRA on a case-by-case basis. Each assignment will normally include:
  • A written research brief
  • Known facts and documents
  • Specific research questions
  • Agreed scope of work
  • Expected timescale
  • Reporting requirements
  • Approved budget or time allowance
  • Any approved disbursements
The researcher should not incur significant costs, order certified records, travel outside the agreed area, or extend the scope of work without prior approval.

Payment
Payment will be made on an agreed hourly basis.
Reasonable pre-approved expenses will be reimbursed, including official record fees, local transport, copying, scanning, certification, postage or courier costs.
All expenses must be supported by receipts or clear written evidence wherever possible.
  • Check electoral records for a surname in a parish
  • Trace descendants of a named individual
  • Confirm whether a family has links to a particular estate, property or district
  • Provide local context for a family history or probate report
Application Requirements
Applicants should provide:
  • A short CV or professional biography
  • Details of the island or islands they can cover
  • Relevant research, archival, legal, heritage, administrative or community experience
  • Details of local records, institutions or areas they are familiar with
  • Confirmation of availability for occasional casework
  • Two references, preferably professional or community-based
  • Any examples of previous research or report-writing experience, if available
  • Please send applications to Stephen Lewis, Director at the following address: steve@473gra.co.uk
Key Responsibilities

1. Local Record Searches
The Island Research Associate may be asked to search, inspect or obtain information from local records, including:
  • Civil birth, marriage and death records
  • Church baptism, marriage and burial registers
  • Cemetery and gravestone records
  • Electoral rolls
  • Probate, wills and administration records
  • Land, deed and property records
  • Court or public registry records, where accessible
  • Newspaper notices, obituaries and death announcements
  • School, employment, institutional or community records, where relevant and lawful
  • Local archives, museums, libraries and historical collections
Where certified copies are required, these must only be ordered with prior approval from GRA, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

2. Probate and Heir-Tracing Support
The researcher may assist GRA with probate-related enquiries, including:
  • Verifying family relationships
  • Identifying possible heirs or next of kin
  • Confirming dates and places of birth, marriage and death
  • Checking whether individuals are living or deceased
  • Locating potential family branches
  • Identifying local relatives, descendants or informants
  • Establishing whether a person or family has a continuing connection to a particular parish, village, estate, property or community
3. Fieldwork and Community Enquiries
The Island Research Associate may be asked to undertake field visits, including:
  • Visiting churches, registries, archives, cemeteries or government offices
  • Visiting villages, parishes, former family homes or known addresses
  • Making discreet local enquiries
  • Speaking with community members, relatives, neighbours or local officials
  • Identifying individuals who may be able to provide relevant family or community information
  • Taking photographs of relevant locations, graves, documents or landmarks, where permitted
  • Recording local knowledge that may assist formal documentary research
All community enquiries must be conducted professionally, sensitively and discreetly. Word-of-mouth information can be useful in directing research, but it must be clearly distinguished from documentary evidence.

4. Reporting and Evidence Recording
The Island Research Associate must provide clear written updates and evidence of work completed. This may include:
  • A short written summary of enquiries made
  • A list of records searched
  • Dates and locations of searches
  • Names of offices, churches, archives or individuals contacted
  • Results found, including negative searches
  • Photographs or scans of documents where permitted
  • Notes of conversations or oral enquiries
  • Recommendations for further research
Reports should be factual, concise and suitable for inclusion in a professional client file.
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