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About the job
Job summary
Salary National – £39,428 – £43,159 London Salary – £43,316 – £47,415
GSR applicants may be eligible for an annual £2,000 retention allowance, paid annually. Retention payments for GSR members in qualifying posts are non-contractual and reviewed annually.
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 a social researcher looking for an opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to influence high-profile Government policy?
Do you want to use social research and evaluation to help make the transport system better for everyone?
Are you interested in working creatively with other analytical professions on policy questions?
If so, we’d love to hear from you!
This is an exciting time to join the Roads Strategy directorate. Social research and evaluation in roads have expanded rapidly over the last few years, and you will be joining a dynamic team which works closely with policy and analysts on high-profile issues of strong interest to Ministers and the public, such as road safety, e-scooters, strategic roads, freight and supply chain issues.
Job description
As a senior research officer, you will manage a programme of work within the Road Safety policy area. You will manage research and evaluation projects targeted on policy questions, but you will also work with policy colleagues and other analysts to quickly draw on or gather new evidence for decisions. You will line-manage one social researcher.
Some examples of the types of projects you may work on include:
- An evaluation to assess the impact of £100 million funding targeted at upgrading 50 of Englands most dangerous roads.
- Research on how to reduce collision risk and increase safer driving in high-risk drivers.
- Research on how to better support road collision victims.
The role would suit someone who has built a solid foundation as a social researcher, enjoys collaboration, and likes to think creatively about how research and analysis can answer policy questions. The role would also suit someone who is looking to build their leadership skills to support their future career.
Responsibilities include:
- Designing, specifying, commissioning, delivering, quality assuring and disseminating social research and evaluation projects to inform Road Safety policy.
- Engaging widely with various stakeholders to identify evidence needs, shape work and deliver evidence or advice.
- Communicating evaluation and social research evidence for maximum impact, including developing bespoke briefings for policy colleagues and Ministers.
- Managing relationships with external suppliers to ensure projects remain on track and focused on delivering high-quality evidence relevant to the departments objectives.
Please see the attached Role Profile for an in-depth view of the post.
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 you are invited to interview and are not currently a member of the Government Social Research 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: example knowledge test.
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will have the confidence to work with senior stakeholders and the ability to communicate complex information in non-technical terms to ensure understanding and impact.
You will have excellent analytical skills providing innovative solutions when problem solving that are analytically sound and robust. As a Senior Research Officer, you will be able to prioritise your workload whilst being flexible in your approach. You will have a passion and desire to engage with learning particularly research methods and evaluations.
You will need the following experience to be successful in this role:
- Experience of designing, managing and / or implementing a complex social research or evaluation project to ensure the delivery of robust results on time.
- Experience of using your leadership, communication, and collaboration skills to achieve impact from a piece or research or evaluation findings.
- Experience of analysing a range of information and evidence from diverse sources to form conclusions and make recommendations.
- Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, OR 2:2 with an additional postgraduate degree or have relevant experience (further details below)
Qualifications
Qualification requirements are dependent on whether candidates are eligible for GSR professional membership under the qualification route OR the experience route:
Qualification route:
Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, OR 2:2 with an additional postgraduate degree
The degree must include a substantial research methods 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 an additional postgraduate degree, in any subject; OR a degree equivalent such as the MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice
In addition to the above qualification, applicants must also have at least 4 years experience of social research practice, which may consist of working in a research agency, market research agency or a specialist research team
On your application, please remember to include details on:
Any social research modules taken as part of your undergraduate or postgraduate degree
Any relevant professional qualifications you hold, such as the MRS Advanced Certificate or equivalent
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 Senior Research Officer – Knowledge of research methods, techniques and applications of these in more complex proj
- Government Social Research Technical Framework Senior Research Officer – Identifying research needs, designing and specifying research
- Government Social Research Technical Framework Senior Research Officer – Managing and commissioning social research
Benefits
Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits.
This includes:
- a generous annual leave entitlement
- attractive pension options with an average employer contribution of 27%
- flexible working
- good career development opportunities
- a variety of career paths
- inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to Apply
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, and within both your CV and Personal Statement (max 1000 words) please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:
- Experience of designing, managing and / or implementing a complex social research or evaluation project to ensure the delivery of robust results on time.
- Experience of using your leadership, communication, and collaboration skills to achieve impact from a piece or research or evaluation findings.
- Experience of analysing a range of information and evidence from diverse sources to form conclusions and make recommendations.
When writing your CV, please provide detail of your relevant qualifications, including any social research modules taken as part of your degree or any relevant professional qualifications you hold (e.g. MRS Advanced Certificate or equivalent), and your work history, including your previous roles and the dates you held these roles. In particular we are interested in your experience of social research practice, which could consist of working in a research agency, market research agency, research organisation or specialist research team or a similar environment.
Key dates
The sift is due to take place from 04th September 2023.
Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from week commencing 18th September 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.
Interview and Assessment
The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:
- An interview
- Knowledge test (this 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 Technical Framework, 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.
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 : Digital Resourcing
- Email : DigitalResourcing@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
