3652 - Research Officer (HEO) / Senior Research Officer (SEO) - Multiple roles

Job summary

Our aim is to help the First Minister and Welsh Ministers to build a fairer, greener and more equal Wales.

We are looking for passionate and capable people from all walks of life. Previous experience as a civil servant is not a requirement. We are looking for people who can bring different lived experiences to our decision making, while being able to thrive in collaborative teams that will help change the way we think. We are looking for applications from diverse candidates who can bring fresh skills, lived experiences and perspectives to our work.

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join a group of researchers working as part of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession. As a Research Officer (RO) or Senior Research Officer (SRO) at the Welsh Government, the post-holders would work closely with policy colleagues and other analysts. Post-holders will be responsible for the development and oversight of a research programme.

Example posts are:

Senior Research Officer - Social Partnership and Fair Work
This post will lead and manage social research and evaluation projects that support the Social Partnership, Fair Work and Employability Directorate. The role is responsible for building a robust evidence base to inform policy and delivery across Wales, supporting the evaluation of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) 2023 Act, and strengthening research on fair work, including the impacts of remote and hybrid working and inclusive workplace practices. The postholder will work collaboratively with analysts, economists, and statisticians, and will develop research links with social partnership groups and academic networks to ensure that research findings inform policy and practice across the Welsh Government.

Research Officer - Justice Devolution

This post will be responsible for assisting in the design, development and management of a range of a research activity and evidence development to support and inform Welsh Government preparations for the devolution of justice responsibilities to Wales. As part of this the post holder will work with other teams in the Welsh Government, external stakeholders and partners in the Ministry of Justice, HM Prison and Probation Service and the Youth Justice Board.

Research Officer - Housing

This post plays a key role in delivering a research programme that supports the strategic priorities of the Housing policy team. This includes providing robust data, evidence, and analysis to inform housing policy development and programme evaluation. Working closely with colleagues across housing and regeneration teams, the role will support initiatives in areas such as homelessness, affordable housing supply, and the decarbonisation of homes. The research contributes to cross-cutting priorities, including advancing equality, supporting the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, and addressing the climate and nature emergencies

Note, these are example posts, provided for illustrative purposes. A number of RO and SRO posts are expected to be available at the time of appointment.

All posts will involve supporting emerging needs from the relevant policy areas as well as contributing to projects working across different teams in the Research Profession. Please get in touch if you would like to know more about any of these posts or emerging opportunities.

More information about Social Research careers at Welsh Government can be found at Government Social Research careers , GOV.WALES

Person specification

The indicative key tasks outlined below may not all necessarily be required within a single post and other tasks may also be undertaken. The level of responsibility will vary between Research Officer and Senior Research Officer roles. There will be a greater emphasis on autonomy and leading projects for a Senior Research Officer role.

What your organisation will expect?

• Contribute to the development of an evidence base for policy and influence budget decisions by providing relevant, timely and reliable evidence.
• Work with policy colleagues and other analysts to support the delivery of departmental evidence plans by identifying and prioritising research requirements and evidence gaps. Also developing projects that meet departmental requirements.
• Keep abreast of relevant evidence and methods and communicate findings to key policy colleagues.
• Ensure projects and contracts are delivered within deadlines and resource constraints. Also ensuring compliance with appropriate professional standards, by using project management techniques.
• Ensure that sound financial management procedures are followed.
• Promote the effective use of social research in strategy, policy development and delivery, both across the Welsh Government and externally.
• Contribute to quality/improvement activities within own job, and through the wider GSR network.

What your team will expect?

• Lead and/or manage the development and delivery of research and evaluation projects.
• Support and encourage policy colleagues to develop their understanding of social research. This includes appreciating how social research can support wider Welsh Government aims.
• Advise and support internal colleagues on technical and professional social research issues.
• Ensure any line managed staff are developed, through the provision of direction, advice and support for training and professional development.
• Deputise for Principal Research Officers as required.
• Contribute to other areas of research and evaluation, as deemed appropriate by line manager.

What your stakeholders will expect?

• Ensure that research findings are communicated effectively, including findings feeding into policy and service development, delivery and evaluation.
• Develop and maintain strategic links with the wider research community. Within Wales, the UK and internationally.
• Work with other public sector organisations where common areas of interest are identified.

Qualifications

To be eligible to apply for these roles, you must meet the Government Social Research profession entry requirements. Via either the qualification or experience route (experience 1)

Hold a minimum of 2:2 in an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree

Memberships

Candidates must either be an existing GSR member or have satisfied the GSR eligibility criteria.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,111, Welsh Government contributes £10,751 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:2 stage processStage 1Application FormStage 2Interview

Assessment Stage

Guidance for Candidates

Candidates who are successful at the sifting stage will be assessed using the Government Social Research assessment approach. These include:

• A GSR knowledge test;
• An oral briefing exercise which will assess Research Knowledge, Managing Research and Communicating and Influencing.
• A general interview following the oral briefing which will cover Leadership and Delivering at Pace
• Eligibility for GSR membership is only assessed at application stage.
• A candidate who passes all assessment stages other than the GSR knowledge test may be offered a fixed term post during which they are able to resit the knowledge test. If they subsequently pass then a permanent post may be possible, although that is not guaranteed.
• Applicants will be assessed initially for the Senior Research Officer roles at the SEO grade. However if the applicant is not found appointable at the grade, they will be assessed for the Research Officer role at the HEO grade.
• If an applicant is graded at SEO (SRO), they will have a starting salary of – £ £47,675
• If an applicant is graded at the lower grade HEO (RO), they will have a starting salary of -£37,111
• For more information and news about the GSR please visit the GSR website –
  https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-social-research-profession.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Digital, Data and Technology
• Email : socialresearch.recruitment@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales

Further information

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk