Senior Research Officer (3 roles)

Job summary

Do you want to use your research skills to help make the transport system better for everyone? Want to find out what works, for whom, when and why in transport initiatives? Are you interested in leading research and evaluation to help accelerate the shift to greener transport?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Social research and evaluation at the Department for Transport (DfT) are about applying established and innovative methods to high-profile, national policy challenges. DfT is now recruiting three talented Senior Research Officers (SRO) to deliver important research and evaluation in the following areas:

• Evaluation Centre of Excellence, leading on the delivery of a diverse portfolio of evaluations covering a range of transport modes and policy areas, and working with embedded analysts across DfT.
• Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, leading on high-profile research and evaluation to inform electric vehicle (EV) policies that will shape the future of transport policy and investment.
• Major Rail Projects, leading on the research and evaluation of major rail projects such as HS2, in the UK.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working in the Evaluation Centre of Excellence at the Department for Transport: Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

The roles and teams

Role 1 in the Evaluation Centre of Excellence

The Evaluation Centre of Excellence works with analysts and policy teams across DfT to support the design, development, commissioning, management and quality assurance of studies to assess the real-world effectiveness, efficiency and impacts of the department’s interventions, and to feed information into policy-making, delivery and appraisal.

The team of five is led by a Grade 6 social researcher and incorporates social researchers of a mix of grades. As part of a multi-disciplinary ‘evaluation network’ of analysts across DfT, the Evaluation Centre of Excellence has close links with the Social Research and Behavioural Science teams, analysts embedded in modal teams, economists engaged with appraisal and modelling, data scientists, and the science and engineering professions.

We are looking for a talented Senior Research Officer with an interest in evaluation to join the Evaluation Centre of Excellence. The role provides an opportunity to work across DfT’s policy areas, supporting monitoring and evaluation activity on diverse topics including cycling and walking, buses, air quality, road safety, new transport technologies and innovations, strategic roads, airport capacity, search and rescue helicopters, new rail lines and stations, and reviews of regulations.

Role 2 in the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles

Climate change is one of the biggest and most pressing challenges facing governments across the world. In this role you will be at the heart of the Department’s strategy to accelerate the shift to greener transport. Transport is now the largest contributor to UK domestic greenhouse gas emissions, contributing 28% of emissions in 2022.

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Senior Research Officer to lead on high-profile research and evaluation to inform electric vehicle (EV) policies that will shape the future of transport policy and investment.

You’ll play a leading role in delivering year 2 of an exciting new representative survey of EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivers to track attitudes and behaviours to monitor the impact of existing programmes as well as help inform new policies. You will also lead on monitoring and evaluation activity for major projects that may include areas like the Electric Car Grant; developing the design, delivery and quality assuring outputs. You’ll help promote research and evaluation across policy teams in the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).

You’ll be based in the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) Analysis Team (OAT). The OZEV Analysis Team (OAT) is a friendly, high-performing and multi-disciplinary team of around 16 analysts responsible for providing timely and robust analysis, research, evaluation and specialist advice.

Role 3 in Major Rail Projects Analysis

We are looking for a keen social researcher, who is passionate about major projects and applying existing best practice in novel contexts.

The successful candidate will join the Major Rail Projects Analysis team and will have the opportunity to help shape the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK for a generation. The team sits within the Major Rail Projects Group in DfT and provides analytical support across the range of HS2 workstreams and on major rail projects which sit within the Rail Services Group such as Northern Powerhouse Rail and East West Rail. It is a multi-disciplinary team of around 25 economists, statisticians, social researchers and modellers. The successful candidate be managed by a G7 Social Researcher.

The team’s remit spans a range of complex work programmes, giving the successful candidate the opportunity to contribute across them. However, you will primarily be tasked with managing evaluations of HS2, the Elizabeth Line and East West Rail, as well as developing and managing the teams research portfolio. The includes developing and designing new avenues for research and advising existing projects.

As a Senior Research Officer at The Department for Transport (DfT) you will:

• Develop social research and evaluation evidence by working with policy partners, analytical colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Support the design, specification, delivery and dissemination of quantitative and qualitative social research and evaluation projects to inform policy priorities.
• Manage research and evaluation projects, working with external contractors and liaising with key policy stakeholders, to deliver good quality, relevant and timely evidence to support policy making.
• Communicate and disseminate social research and evaluation evidence, developing bespoke and engaging research briefings and ensuing evidence is accurately presented and influential.
• 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.
• Provide quality assurance and analytical scrutiny on social research and evaluation projects with attention to detail, ensuring these are focused on delivering insight and evidence on the questions which are most relevant to achieving DfT’s objectives.
• Help promote and embed a culture of proactive monitoring and evaluation among policy and analytical colleagues across DfT.
• There may also be opportunities to undertake analysis of datasets using relevant software such as MS Excel, R or equivalent, and/or to develop skills in this area.
• Become an active member of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession within DfT, working with Government Social Research colleagues to find opportunities for cross-cutting work and knowledge sharing.

For further information on the roles, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the roles, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert details exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

You may be asked to express a preference for your preferred role at the interview stage. We will endeavour to match successful candidates to their preferred role.

Person specification

This section sets out the essential qualifications, experience and technical skills needed for the roles.

Essential qualifications:

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

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

• Qualification route:
  • Applicants must hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2.
  • The degree must contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken on the course) including quantitative research methods and at least three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.
• Professional Experience route:
  • Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, in any subject, or a degree equivalent (e.g. an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), plus have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience.
  • Social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. To enter the GSR through this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills, which must include quantitative research methods and three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.

If you are invited to interview and are not currently a member of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession you will also be invited to sit a Knowledge Test. The Knowledge Test will take place on the day of the interview. 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: GSR Example Knowledge Test. Candidates that are not currently a member of the GSR profession must pass this test to become a badged member of the profession and meet the eligibility requirement for this role.

More information about applying for Government Social Research Profession membership.

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide this evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

Required experience:

As per the requirements ofGovernment Social Research Technical Framework: Senior Research Officer, to be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• translating policy requirements into robust research and evaluation specifications that meet customer needs;
• planning, designing and managing a complex social research or evaluation project to ensure the delivery of robust results on time;
• using your leadership, communication and collaboration skills to ensure research and/or evaluation has an impact on decision making;
• working with and influencing a wide range of people to build support for a common goal and/or to gain their ‘buy-in’ on a research or evaluation project.

More information about Experience

Required Technical Skills:

As per the per the requirements ofGovernment Social Research Technical Framework: Senior Research Officer, to be successful in this role you will need to have the following technical skills:

• Knowledge of research methods, techniques and application of these in more complex projects: Thorough and detailed knowledge of the main quantitative, qualitative and evaluation research methods and experience of their use in more complex projects.
• Analysis and interpretation: Identifies salient points and trends from research or other information and draws out sound, logical inferences, for example, picks out key messages from dense data sets.
• Identifying research needs, designing and specifying research: Translates broad project aims into researchable questions, for example, turns policy requirements into well-designed research and evaluation specifications.
• Leading, communicating and championing social research: Communicates professional judgements regarding the application of social research methods; helps customers make full use out of available social research evidence, even when it is not perfect; defends position/viewpoint in the face of opposition or challenge.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder(s) during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the roles (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

DfTc does not offer Visa Sponsorship for this role.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements are dependent on whether candidates are eligible for GSR professional membership under the qualification route or the experience route:
Qualification route:
•Applicants must hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2.
•The degree must contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken on the course) including quantitative research methods and at least three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.
Professional Experience route:
•Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, in any subject, or a degree equivalent (e.g. an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), plus have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience.
•Social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. To enter the GSR through this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills, which must include quantitative research methods and three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Knowledge of research methods, techniques and application
• Identify Research needs, designing and specifying research
• Leading, communicating and championing social research

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Department for Transport contributes £12,816 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

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, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (2 A4 pages) and personal statement (1,000-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:
  • translating policy requirements into robust research and evaluation specifications that meet customer needs;
  • planning, designing and managing a complex social research or evaluation project to ensure the delivery of robust results on time;
  • using your leadership, communication and collaboration skills to ensure research and/or evaluation has an impact on decision making;
  • working with and influencing a wide range of people to build support for a common goal and/or to gain their ‘buy-in’ on a research or evaluation project.
• If we receive a large volume of applications, the sift will be based solely on applicants’ CVs. So please ensure your CV demonstrates you have the essential qualifications and required experience set out in the person specification in the section above.

The sift is expected to take place week commencing 21/01/2026

Stage 2: Interview

As outlined in the person specification above, if you are invited to interview and are not currently a member of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession you will also be invited to sit a Government Social Research Knowledge Test. The Knowledge Test will take place on the day of the interview.

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – You will be assessed against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

Delivering at pace

Communicating and influencing

Making effective decisions

• Experience – As per the requirements of Government Social Research Technical Framework: Senior Research Officer, successful candidates for this role should demonstrate experience of:
  • translating policy requirements into robust research and evaluation specifications that meet customer needs;
  • planning, designing and managing a complex social research or evaluation project to ensure the delivery of robust results on time;
  • using your leadership, communication and collaboration skills to ensure research and/or evaluation has an impact on decision making;
  • working with and influencing a wide range of people to build support for a common goal and/or to gain their ‘buy-in’ on a research or evaluation project.
• Technical – You will be assessed against the following criteria from the Government Social Research Technical Framework – Senior Research Officer:
  • Knowledge of research methods, techniques and application of these in more complex projects: Thorough and detailed knowledge of the main quantitative, qualitative and evaluation research methods and experience of their use in more complex projects.
  • Analysis and interpretation: Identifies salient points and trends from research or other information and draws out sound, logical inferences, for example, picks out key messages from dense data sets.
  • Identifying research needs, designing and specifying research: Translates broad project aims into researchable questions, for example, turns policy requirements into well-designed research and evaluation specifications.
  • Leading, communicating and championing social research: Communicates professional judgements regarding the application of social research methods; helps customers make full use out of available social research evidence, even when it is not perfect; defends position/viewpoint in the face of opposition or challenge.

The interviews are planned to take place week commencing 02/02/2026

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process

Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

We will also hold a12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

Role assignment: Candidates will be approached in merit order and allowed to select the role they prefer

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 theHow 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.

All External applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:

Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour

Threats or acts of violence

Illegal activity or substance misuse

Sexually explicit material

Extremist views or affiliations

Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public.

Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle—it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture.

If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.

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 set