About the job

Job summary

In December 2021 Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired Appeal Court judge, was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chair of the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was formally established with full powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 in June 2022. The Inquiry sits independently of the Government with the Cabinet Office acting as the sponsoring department. 

Following an initial set up phase the Inquiry began hearing evidence in May 2023. We are now looking for a Lead Research Analyst to join the excellent team that is delivering the Inquiry.

This is an exciting role, offering the opportunity to lead an innovative team, in fast moving circumstances, to ensure lessons are learned from the UK response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Further information about the Inquiry can be found on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry website.

Conflicts of Interest

Please note that candidates invited to interview will be invited to declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interests which could affect the independence of the Inquiry, in confidence, to the senior conflicts of interest recruiting manager. This may include current or prior work undertaken on the COVID-19 pandemic response. Decisions on any potential conflict of interest will be made before an appointment to the role is confirmed.

Job description

The Team

Research, analysis and data are integral to informing the evidence base underpinning the Covid-19 Inquiry. The Research & Analysis Team sits within the Policy, Research, Analysis and Legal Directorate  (PRAL). 

The Research & Analysis Team has three main functions:

• Identifying and evaluating evidence on the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which will be used by the Inquiry in its investigations.
• Supporting analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from the Inquiry’s research projects, such as the Listening Exercise (Every Story Matters).
• Ensuring that potential recommendations for consideration by the Chair are grounded in rigorous evidence.

The post holder will work closely with the Research and Analyst team (including three other G7 Research Leads, Senior Research Analysts and Research Support Officers) on a programme of research examining the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent impact on the UK. Working in partnership with legal operations and policy colleagues to establish a narrative account of the pandemic, you will deliver insights to directly contribute to the development of recommendations, helping to ensure that lessons are learned for the future.

We are recruiting for a G7 Lead Research Analyst. You will play an important role contributing to the Inquiry by leading on the best use of evidence from research, data and external experts. Your research will underpin the Inquiry’s eventual recommendations for change. There will be opportunities for gaining research, data analytics and project management experience, working closely with the Inquiry’s extensive legal team, as well as leading on collaborations with external research organisations such as universities, charities and third sector organisations

Some of the key responsibilities include and are not limited to:

• Overseeing commissioned research projects, from study design through to the final report. The most significant responsibility will be the set up and management of a research programme investigating the social and economic impacts of the pandemic on the UK population. This will involve close management of relationships with external suppliers to ensure the evidence meets the Inquiry’s requirements.
• Contributing to the team’s programme of expert reports, by liaising with academics and experts across sectors such as public health, political governance, education and care settings, to develop a critical evidence base for each of the Inquiry’s modules.
• Evaluating the evidence and lessons from the Inquiry’s research projects, including the Listening Exercise (Every Story Matters) that aims to capture the views and experiences of the UK public.
• Contributing to the design and delivery of internal research and analysis activities to be used by the Inquiry in its investigations and potential recommendations for change. This will include working closely with legal teams on each of the Inquiry’s investigation modules.

Person specification

The ideal candidate for this role would have the following key skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Excellent working knowledge of and experience of quantitative research techniques.
  Knowledge and understanding of research principles, ethics, data protection and quality assurance.
• Working knowledge and experience of evidence synthesis techniques, particularly at pace.
• Ability to communicate accurate information to technical and non-technical stakeholders in a way that is concise and engaging, and to navigate challenging discussions.
• Excellent critical thinking skills; able to look at evidence to evaluate the quality of the information and present it within the context of other research.
• Experience of commissioning and managing research.      

Desirable Skills:

• Experience of working in an Inquiry, investigation or legal context.
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of qualitative techniques.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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 and Experience.

Application Process:

You will need to submit:

A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable 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 Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.

Selection Process:

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Statement of Suitability. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

If you are successful in securing an interview you will be asked questions on the behaviours listed within the advert.

As part of your interview, you may be asked to deliver a short presentation. Full details of this, including the topic, and whether or not you will need to use visual aids, will be sent to you prior to your interview. 

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 29th July 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 5th August 2024
Interview location - Remote - Video - Google

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

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

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency prior to commencing. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

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 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.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.