Principal Research Officers

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 interested in delivering research and evaluation that makes a real difference in people’s everyday lives? 
 
Are you motivated to ensure that policies are informed by the best available evidence? 
 
Do you want to influence the development of some of the government’s highest priority, cross-cutting policy areas? 
 
Do you enjoy building relationships and collaborating with a wide range of partners both inside and outside of government?

If so, don’t miss this exciting opportunity at the Department for Transport (DfT), we would love to hear from you! 

Social research and evaluation at the DfT are about applying established and innovative methods to high-profile, national policy challenges. We are looking for three skilled and motivated social researchers to work on high-profile areas that that will shape the future of transport policy and investment.  
 
We have a strong network of more than 50 social and behavioural researchers across the DfT.

The three roles advertised are based in Local and Regional Transport Analysis team (2 roles) and the Roads Economics, Modelling and Evaluation team (1 role). 

You will be asked to express a role preference at interview stage. However, should you be successful in your application, we cannot guarantee you will be working in that specific role. 

In each of these roles you will:

• Scope out and manage the delivery of complex research and evaluation programmes and set direction in your area of work,
• Be surrounded by other highly skilled professionals and have opportunities to impact key policy priorities with potential for ministerial exposure,
• Grow and develop your existing skill set with an excellent opportunity to build on your communication and negotiation skills with a broad range of local, regional and national contacts,
• Manage junior members of staff (SEOs and/or HEOs),
• Enjoy an inclusive environment that puts employee well-being at the heart of what we do and encourages ambitious and creative social researchers who are committed to achieving success.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership to develop the evidence base in your area of work,
• Develop social research and evaluation evidence by engaging widely and getting the buy-in of policy partners, analytical colleagues and external stakeholders to identify their evidence needs and develop research and evaluation projects,
• Identify solutions to deliver evidence or advice to policy in a fast-paced environment. Provide advice to arising policy questions based on available evidence,
• Provide technical support and advice to policy colleagues on research methods, including advising on the relative robustness of competing sources of evidence and the interpretation of findings,
• Manage a large portfolio of social research and evaluation, with excellent project management to manage risk, and deliver timely research and analysis,
• Take a strong approach to prioritisation, so that research/evaluation can have the most impact or address key areas of risk and stakeholder concern, or where work can be stopped or reduced,
• Proactively manage staff and contractors, where you should be confident in delivering results through others and supporting people with their development,
• Set up an appropriate quality assurance process for your area, and support your team to provide quality assurance to ensure social research and/or evaluation are fit for purpose and meet GSR standards,
• Collaborate effectively with other analytical disciplines (economists, statisticians, operational research, transport modellers) within your team and across DfT, as well as delivery agencies, academics and other stakeholders,
• Effectively communicate and promote social research and evaluation evidence to inform decision-making and policy development,
• Become an active member of GSR within the department, working with GSR colleagues to find opportunities for cross-cutting work and knowledge sharing.

For further information on each role available, please see the attached Role Profile

About you

To thrive in these roles, you will need a broad knowledge and experience of social research and evaluation methods and of commissioning medium to large scale research and evaluation studies.

You will be experienced in working with policy colleagues or other customers to identify what evidence is needed, and delivering research or evaluation which impacts on senior decision-making.

You will be confident managing a programme of research or evaluation and providing (or leading a team to provide), quality assurance at all stages from design to communication of findings.

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 successful at sift and are not currently a member of the Government Social Research profession you will 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.

When completing your application you will be asked to confirm if you are part of the Government Social Research Profession.

Allowances

A recruitment and retention allowance may also be applicable for exceptional candidates, these are not guaranteed and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis at appointment stage.

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.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Government Social Research Technical Framework – G7 (principal research officer) – Identifying research needs, designing & specifying research
• Government Social Research Technical Framework – G7 (principal research officer) – Managing & commissioning social research
• Government Social Research Technical Framework – G7 (principal research officer) – Leading, communicating and championing social research

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

Job contact :

• Name : Jenny McCurry
• Email : jenny.mccurry@dft.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk