About the job

Job summary

This is a Nationally based role

Job description

The team 

The Social Science team is based within the Science Directorate of the Chief Scientist’s Directorate in Natural England. The Directorate is responsible for Natural England’s Science, Evidence and Evaluation Strategy and supports its implementation to ensure Natural England is an evidence-led organisation. 

We are an interdisciplinary team and welcome applications from candidates with different disciplinary backgrounds and specialisms within the social sciences. The team includes a number of social science specialists, senior specialists and a principal specialist.  

Our mission, to build partnerships for nature’s recovery, reflects the need for us to work with and through a wide range of people. In order to do this effectively, we need to understand people: to work with diverse ways of knowing, experiencing and thinking about the natural environment; understand behaviour and what drives it; understand how we engage with nature (or why we don't); as well as how best to work together towards delivering thriving nature for people and planet.

Job Introduction

The post holder will join a dynamic and welcoming team of social scientists and lead on a number of social science evidence projects in response to Natural England priorities and work programmes.

The nature of the work may change over time, responding to organisational priorities. We are therefore seeking a permanent social science specialist who can be flexible and adaptable, with the ability to provide social science thought leadership and insights across Natural England’s programmes as the need arises.

We employ social scientists with a broad set of knowledge and skills and all successful applicants will be held on our reserve list for 6 months and may be contacted within that period as roles become available. We are currently particularly interested in increasing skills in quantitative analysis and health and wellbeing in relation to nature, but please do not be put off applying if you do not have these skills as we are interested in a broad set of social science knowledge and experience.

Work areas will vary but may include some of the following:

• Contributing to the development and delivery of NE’s four programmes: Greener Farming and Fisheries; Sustainable Development; Connecting People to Nature; and, Resilient Landscapes and Seas, including helping to scope opportunities where social science evidence and approaches can support programme delivery.
• Involvement in external networks to promote the use and impact of social science within the natural environment sector.

We are seeking someone who is confident and capable of working at a strategic level and with the ability to quickly understand and respond to current needs and challenges.

The role is based within the Science Directorate of the Chief Scientist’s Directorate in Natural England. The Directorate is responsible for Natural England’s Science, Evidence and Evaluation Strategy and supports its implementation to ensure Natural England is an evidence-led organisation.

Role Responsibility

The role of the senior specialist for social science includes:

• Identifying evidence needs and managing and conducting research to support social science approaches that support better delivery against Natural England’s priorities.
• Development, oversight/project management and quality assurance of research, including procurement and contract management of research projects.
• Primary research (e.g. quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods) including research design, data collection and analysis (methodological approach dependent on successful candidate’s knowledge and expertise).
• Provision of analysis and synthesis of critical evidence to support Natural England teams (including rapid evidence reviews, policies and summary briefings).
• Delivery of workshops, webinars and presentations to raise awareness of social science research findings and lessons for theory and practice.
• Providing advice and guidance on social science approaches, methods and techniques; supporting others to use and understand these to maximise the robustness of research delivered across NE; and helping colleagues to apply research recommendations.
• Providing social science insights in relation to a wide range of NE’s work (for example, to help progress implementation of the Nature Recovery Network).
• Supporting the Social Science Team to continue to deliver and improve on our evidence standards and vision for social science both within NE and the wider sector
• Maintaining their specialism, including contributing to relevant networks (for example, the cross-government Natural Environment Social Research Network) and building links with social researchers and analysts in the Government Social Research (GSR) community.
• Working in and helping to build interdisciplinary teams, including with our Natural Capital and Economics Team and Evaluation Team.

The exact work areas to be supported will depend on the successful candidate’s knowledge and expertise and responsibilities will develop and change over time. The post holder will need to maintain a flexible and adaptable attitude and approach.

The cross-cutting nature of the role means there is significant scope for personal development and developing areas of personal interest. The post holder will be provided with support in the role by Senior and Principal Specialists working on social science. We also have a strong informal and formal training offer.

Competencies

Competence 1 

Professional competency

Detail 

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Description

• You do not need to use STAR for this competency.
• Demonstrable specialist knowledge of social science research, including within interdisciplinary teams, at expert level with at least two years of post-graduate work experience in identifying needs and evidence gaps, designing, delivering and analysing robust research (quantitative and/or qualitative) / and or applying research for impact.
• Knowledge of relevant research themes (e.g. environmental/conservation social science, behavioural science, social norms change, sustainability science, environmental justice, community engagement, conflict resolution, health and wellbeing determinants, governance and accountability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present complex ideas simply, to a wide range of audiences.

Competence 2 

Professional competency

Detail 

Personal Effectiveness

Description 

• Research, produce and contribute to specialist products such as articles, think pieces, peer reviewed papers, reports and conference presentations for both general and technical readerships, both internal and external (expert)
• Develop your personal impact skills in influencing, thought leadership, assertiveness by applying expertise in a proportionate and appropriate way and communicating to have impact (practitioner)
• Test and challenge others in a constructive and evidence-based way providing scientific scrutiny, challenge and assurance so that the guidance you provide is practical and, where appropriate, cross-disciplinary (expert).

Competence 3 

Professional competency

Detail 

Work Delivery

Description

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines and reporting requirements against personal and programme targets (expert).
• Understand evaluation and apply it to your work at an appropriate scale in order to identify the impact of our evidence or interventions and opportunities for improvement (practitioner).
• Identify and apply the most appropriate data and methodologies for your analysis, utilising reproducible analytical pipelines and data science approaches where appropriate (expert).

Competence 4 

Professional competency

Detail 

Putting people at the heart of the environment

Description

• Build relationships and effective networks both externally and internally to bring in fresh perspectives, approaches and evidence to raise the profile of both your individual specialist work and that of Natural England (expert)
• Work proactively and collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to identify and secure opportunities to deliver gains for people and nature (practitioner)
• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims (practitioner)

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,098, Natural England contributes £9,782 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

Please refer to Job Description

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.