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About the job
Job summary
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
Are you excited about the prospect of working on some of the biggest challenges facing the country?
Do you enjoy working collaboratively with people at all levels?
Does behavioural science excite you and are you eager to use your expertise to generate new policy solutions and promote the benefits of behavioural science across different DfT business areas?
If so, we have an exciting role as a Principal Behavioural Scientist in our team and we would love to hear from you.
Job description
DfTs Behavioural Science team provides behavioural science advice on policy design, the development of messaging, communications and guidance for the public. It oversees the design and delivery of behavioural trials and the commissioning of other research projects to improve our understanding of behavioural responses to transport policies. In recent years, the team played a key role in developing advice for the policy and operational response during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent plans to encourage people to return to public transport.
This role provides variety and challenge in a fast-paced environment with regular opportunities to provide direct advice to ministers and senior management of the Department.
The team works closely with two parallel teams – the Social Research team and the Evaluation Centre of Excellence in the Central Research Division (20 staff). The Division sits within the Analysis Directorate (100 staff) which includes other analyst teams covering transport appraisal and modelling, advanced analytics, and data. It works closely with the Science and Technology Directorate, a Strategy Unit, an External Communications team and teams covering different transport modes.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and motivated behavioural science analyst to develop a portfolio of projects to support important policy areas.
Responsibilities
Key accountabilities of the role include:
- Contribute to the Behavioural Science teams work programme. The postholder should play a strong contribution as a senior member of the Behavioural Science team, delivering its work programme to ensure that the Department makes impactful use of behavioural science approaches to inform its activities for the benefit of the public.
- Apply technical behavioural science expertise. Provide authoritative technical advice to ensure policies, programmes and communications are informed by people-centered behavioural insights.
- Build capability in behavioural science. Build the Departments capability in behavioural science including the production and dissemination of information to raise awareness of behavioural science approaches and show how policies can be developed in a people-centered way.
- Engage with stakeholders for behavioural science. Work with stakeholders across the Department and in its agencies and partner organisations to advocate and support the effective use of behavioural science to inform activities.
For a more in-depth insight into the role, please refer to the Role Profile.
Person specification
To thrive in this role, you will be experienced designing and managing analytical projects and using qualitative and quantitative social research methods.
You will have experience providing behavioural science advice/insights and using the relevant tools to diagnose problems and design, trial and evaluate behavioural solutions.
You will have an engaging and influential communication style and can build effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
Additional Information
A minimum of 40% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance.
If based in Birmingham or Leeds, the postholder should be expected to travel to DfT’s London office about once a month.
Government Social Research requirements
You will need to meet the qualification requirements for GSR professional membership, as outlined in the Government Social Research Membership and Eligibility Guidance.
If you are invited to interview and are not currently a member of the GSR profession you will also be invited to sit a Knowledge Test. The Knowledge Test will take place on the day of the interview. The Knowledge Test is used to test the Social Research Professional Competency and assesses the basic knowledge and application of statistical, analytical and research skills and techniques. An example knowledge test can be found here: Government Social Research Service.
Candidates who state they are already a member (in their application) will undergo a status check to confirm they are a member of the GSR profession. The results for the knowledge test will be recorded as either a pass or a fail therefore will not impact the overall score to ensure fairness; your score will be provided for reference. Please note, the knowledge test will contribute to the overall outcome as you will need to pass the knowledge test to be a member of the GSR profession in order to be successful in this post.
Qualifications
Qualification route
Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree.
The degree must include a substantial research methods training component, comprising around 30% of the modules taken on the course.
Experience route
Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, in any subject; OR a degree equivalent such as the MRS Advanced Certificate or Diploma in Market and Social Research Practice.
In addition to the above qualification, applicants must also have at least four years experience of social research practice, which may consist of working in a research agency, market research agency or a specialist research team.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Government Social Research Technical Framework at Principal Research Officer level: Technical skills – Identifying research needs, designing and specifying research
- Government Social Research Technical Framework at Principal Research Officer level: Technical skills – Knowledge of research methods, techniques and application of these
Benefits
Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.
Find out more about what it’s like working at the Department for Transport
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a CV, Personal Statement and complete a written exercise. Please tailor your CV to suit the role. For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:
- Experience of designing and managing analytical projects
- Experience of providing behavioural science advice and/or insights and using behavioural science tools (e.g., frameworks/models) to diagnose problems and design, trial and evaluate behavioural solutions
- Experience of using qualitative and quantitative social research methods
- Experience of engaging and influencing stakeholders and building effective relationships and networks
Your Personal Statement will be limited to a maximum of 750 words.
Written Exercise
You will also be required to complete a Behavioural Science task as part of your application, in the form of a written exercise (500 words). The written exercise will be used to assess your knowledge of behavioural science theory and how it can be applied to improve a policy, service or communications. The Behavioural task will be as follows:
Please imagine that you have been asked to provide behavioural science advice on how to prevent or reduce fares evasion in different modes of public transport. Policy customers want to understand how to maximise compliance across all modes.
In 500 words or less, describe how you would use behavioural science to inform the design and delivery of interventions to increase fares compliance.
Your answer should describe:
- what behavioural model you would use to explore the drivers and inhibitors of fares compliance.
- a behaviour change intervention that has a good chance of discouraging fares evasion.
- How you would evaluate that intervention
No prior knowledge of government policy is expected.
The exercise will be assessed against this Government Social Research Technical Criteria from the Government Social Research Technical Framework
The sift is due to take place week commencing 6th November 2023.
Interviews/assessments are likely to be held 23rd & 24th November 2023.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:
- An interview and a presentation
- Knowledge test (knowledge test will only be required if you are not currently part of the Government Social Research Profession)
This interview could be conducted online via Teams or face to face at one of our offices. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
Youre encouraged to become familiar with the role profile and the Government Social Research (GSR) Technical Framework at Principal Research Officer level, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.
Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
Pre-employment Checking
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Bev Bishop
- Email : bev.bishop@dft.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here
