GOVTALENT.UK

Head of Research and Delivery

This opening expired 5 months ago.

Department for Business and Trade

Location(s):
Birmingham, London
Salary:
£64,432 to £74,825
Job grade:
Grade 6
Business area:
Analytical
Contract type:
Permanent
Working pattern:
Full-time, Part-time

About the job

Job summary

About OPSS  

Do you care about the safety of products and want to protect people and places? Can we use your skills, knowledge and experience to enable UK business to thrive? If the answer is yes, then we would like to hear from you!  

We are the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), part of the Department for Business & Trade (Previously the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy). We are here for the purpose of making regulation work to deliver real world impact. Regulation is a powerful Government tool to address market failures, influence behaviour and promote positive action. Crafted and delivered well, regulation can be an enabler of growth, innovation and efficiency.  

Since early 2018 we have been building a positive and creative team that enjoys a position of influence and respect within an organisation that continues to grow, most recently with the addition of construction products regulation planned.  

Our primary purpose is to protect people and places from product-related harm, ensuring consumers and businesses can buy and sell products with confidence.  

Further information can be found on our website here  

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. We embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (DCS) for people with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.  

We are Inclusive  

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 recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.  

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation if required to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Job description

Exciting Leadership Opportunity: Head of Research Delivery at OPSS 

​Are you a visionary leader ready to shape the future of consumer product safety? The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) invites you to join us as our Head of Research Development, where you'll spearhead the development, coordination, and delivery of our research programme. 

​In this dynamic role, you will play a pivotal part in crafting a comprehensive evidence base, addressing issues ranging from direct harms associated with existing consumer products to cutting-edge technologies. As the leader responsible for delivering our Strategic Research Programme, you will oversee research governance, ensuring that our endeavours answer priority questions for OPSS. 

​Success in this role hinges on your ability to envision the broader context, articulate the alignment of OPSS research with our diverse responsibilities, and seamlessly collaborate with internal and external teams. Beyond routine research, you'll provide guidance on methodologies, conduct critical assessments of legislative and policy issues, and lay the groundwork for innovative governance structures that amplify the impact of our research. 

​But that's not all – this role brings even more excitement! As our Head of Research Delivery, you will actively create and manage the OPSS sponsorship of PhD and Masters student programme, cultivating the next generation of experts in the field. Additionally, you'll lead the charge in developing a Research Advisory Panel, bringing together diverse perspectives to enhance the quality and impact of our work. Your strategic expertise will also be crucial in identifying effective ways to procure resources, ensuring that our research endeavours are not only groundbreaking but also resource-efficient. To further enrich our capabilities, you will develop and maintain a comprehensive register of specialists, fostering collaboration and expertise within OPSS. 

​This role sits within the OPSS analysis team, an interdisciplinary and collaborative team, with around 40 social researchers, economists, statisticians, and data scientists. The team provides analytical support for all the Office’s activity, adding value by harnessing our expertise. We have a strong commitment to learning and development, maintaining strong links within DBT and HMG, and are not afraid to try new and innovative approaches to deliver our objectives. 

​If you're ready for a thrilling professional journey where your expertise directly contributes to consumer safety and regulatory efficiency, seize this opportunity to be our Research Development Lead at OPSS. Join us in shaping the future of product safety! Apply now to be a key player in this transformative role. 

Key Responsibilities   

  • ​​Governance and delivery of OPSS’ Strategic Research Programme  
  • ​Monitor and report on research development, providing evidence of cross-disciplinary impact, risk mitigation, and delivering updates to the OPSS leadership team DBT Central Analysis Team and Ministers. 
  • ​Ensure effective dissemination and communication of research findings to policymakers, enforcement officers, and relevant forums, positioning OPSS as a trusted and credible product regulator. 
  • ​Cultivate strategic relationships with DBT Central Analysis Team, other Government Departments and Agencies, research institutes, academic partners, and UKRI. Maximise collaboration opportunities, especially in areas of shared research needs, ensuring value for money. 
  • ​Develop and deliver a student sponsorship program actively supporting Masters and PhD students. 
  • ​Lead the development of a Research Advisory Panel, fostering diverse perspectives to enhance the quality and impact of research work.
  • Lead work to continually develop and maintain a comprehensive register of specialists, fostering collaboration and expertise within the OPSS.​ 

Person specification

Personal Attributes & Skills 

  • ​As someone who sees the bigger picture, you will understand the importance of your work in achieving OPSS’ objectives and will champion continuous improvement to improve assurance processes and ensure robust governance is in place.  
  • ​You are highly organised and adaptable, and comfortable working at pace whilst managing a busy workload and driving forward assurance activities.  

​We are looking for the below skills: 

  • ​Deliver at pace and able to make quick, effective decisions/resolve complex problems even when data is limited/ambiguous and provide well targeted analysis. 
  • ​Draft technical reports, advice papers and analytical notes to a high standard and clearly communicating complex concepts. 
  • ​Work and collaborate in a multidisciplinary team to deliver analytical outputs. 
  • ​Build and maintain strong relationships with expert stakeholders within/outside government to support programme of work. 
  • ​With experience of delivering and monitoring an organisational research programme. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,432, Department for Business and Trade contributes £18,304 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception. 

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way. 

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:    

  • A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages. 
  • A Personal Statement of up to 750 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the personal attributes & skills.  

After the closing date It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change. 

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.   

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.  

This role is available in seven UK locations and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. 

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview. 

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.

Further Information:

  • A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
  • Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
  • The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases. 
  • New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. 
  • 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. Any applicant who has 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. 
  • Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you. 
  • Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Added: 5 months ago