About the job

Job summary

Are you a social researcher looking for an opportunity where you can use your skills and knowledge to influence government policies and improve the transport system?

Do you have outstanding stakeholder management and interpersonal skills with a passion for providing a quality service?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Job description

Social research and evaluation at the Department for Transport’s (DfT) are about applying established and innovative methods to high-profile, national policy challenges. This includes improving transport for users, levelling up the UK and reducing transport emissions for the Net Zero carbon agenda. 

Within DfT the Local Transport directorate is responsible for design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of policies to ensure that local transport networks and services are safe, reliable, sustainable, resilient, attractive, inclusive and support the economy. This post sits within the Local and Regional Transport Analysis (LRTA) Division – a fast-paced multi-disciplinary team of around 30 analysts, including social researchers, economists, and transport modellers. LRTA is the local transport directorate’s centre of expertise on research and evaluation. 

As the Principal Social Researcher, you will lead the development of a research and evaluation strategy for Network North, a £36 billion package of local transport funding announced in October 2023. You will be able to think strategically and identify synergies between different areas of work, in order to build on the evaluation frameworks which have been established for related programmes, and ensure that evaluation activity is proportionate, robust and provides value for money.

This role represents an excellent opportunity to work with policy teams to embed research and evaluation into the department’s work and to build our already strong evidence base across local and regional transport. You will work collaboratively with policy colleagues and other analysts in DfT to scope research requirements and design and deliver high quality research and evaluation. This will also involve close working with the newly established Local Transport Portfolio Office to develop more efficient ways of collating and synthesising evaluation data across the whole portfolio of local transport funds. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop their ability to think strategically, with a focus on continually improving the quality and efficiency of analysis across the directorate. 

This is a fantastic chance to be the subject matter expert, to set analytical direction in a high-profile area which is of significant interest to Ministers and external stakeholders.

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.
• Proactively manage staff and contractors, where you should be confident in delivering results through others and supporting people with their development.

For further information please see role profile.

Person specification

About you 

This role will suit a social researcher with strong knowledge and understanding of a range of quantitative and qualitative methods, and confidence and expertise in working with both. You will have experience of designing and delivering medium to large research and evaluation projects, commissioning research, and managing contractors to ensure that work is delivered on time and meets GSR quality standards. You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, be effective at delivering complex projects and programmes, and have demonstrable experience of ensuring that research has impact and influence. 

Due to the nature of the role, the post-holder will require excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, as well as experience of scoping and delivering complex monitoring and evaluation projects.

If you are invited to interview and are not currently a member of the Government Social Research profession you will first be invited to sit a Knowledge Test. 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 

If you PASS, you will then be invited to attend a video interview. These may be held on separate dates. If you have taken and passed the GSR Knowledge Test within the past 12 months, we may be able to waive the requirement for you to sit the test again. If this is the case, you will be asked to show evidence that you have successfully completed the Knowledge Test, for example by providing confirmation from the hiring manager at the Department where you took the test.

Additional information:

You will have the option to be based in the Leeds or Birmingham office attracting the National salary. 

A minimum 60% 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. Occasional travel to other DfT offices will be required.

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

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

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (750 word limit). Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

How to Apply

When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role. Please tailor your CV to match the role and its responsibilities and within your Personal Statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:

• Broad knowledge and experience of social research and evaluation methods and commissioning medium to large scale research and evaluation studies.
• Working with policy colleagues or other customers to identify what evidence is needed, and delivering research or evaluation which impacts on senior decision-making.
• 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.

When writing your CV, please provide detail of your work history, including your previous roles and the dates you held these roles.

Please ensure you include your qualification details in the qualification section of the application form. 

You will need to meet the qualification requirements for GSR professional membership, as outlined in the Government Social Research Membership and Eligibility Guidance

Qualification requirements are dependent on whether candidates are eligible for GSR professional membership under the qualification route OR the experience route.

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. 

The sift is due to take place from 26 February 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held from week commencing 07 March 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

• Knowledge test (knowledge test will only be required if you are not currently part of the Government Social Research Profession and you must PASS to be invited to interview).
• An interview.
• A Presentation.

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.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, 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 you’re 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 applicant’s 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.

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.