Senior Researcher (Transport)

Job summary

The House of Commons Library is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Senior Researcher (Transport) to join its Business and Transport Section within the Research and Information team. This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of UK Parliament, providing trusted, impartial research and analysis that helps Members of Parliament scrutinise legislation, engage in debate and support their constituents on some of the most important transport issues facing the UK.

Job description

As part of a highly respected research service, you'll use your expertise in transport policy to produce authoritative briefing papers, respond to confidential enquiries from MPs and their staff, and provide clear explanations of complex policy issues. From rail and aviation to road policy, local transport and transport decarbonisation, you'll contribute directly to Parliament's understanding of fast-moving and high-profile topics that affect people across the country.

Working within the Business and Transport Section, you'll collaborate with specialist colleagues across the House of Commons Library, the Statistics team, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology and Parliamentary Committees. This is an exciting role for someone who enjoys research, analysis and communicating complex information in a way that helps others make informed decisions.

This role is offered on a hybrid working basis, with an expectation of you spending 40% of your time in the office.

Find out more about working at the House of Commons.

Person specification

• You have excellent knowledge and understanding of key areas of UK transport policy and/or law. In particular, one of the following areas: rail policy, road policy, aviation policy, local transport, transport decarbonisation. You have a good knowledge of current affairs and UK public policy.
• You are able to absorb complex, technical material, relevant to a subject quickly, and can analyse, interpret and present it clearly and accurately for a non-specialist. You have experience of using reliable, accurate and relevant information sources and research tools with the ability to assess their value using sound judgement.
• You have the ability to explain complex information clearly and succinctly using your excellent written and oral communication skills. You can communicate demonstrating strict political impartiality and authority, and in line with the needs of the audience.
• You can deal with a changing portfolio of work or cover for colleagues. You plan, prioritise and organise your workload to meet deadlines, and other competing demands. You can maintain high quality standards whilst working under pressure.
• You work effectively as part of a team and build and maintain working relationships with a wide range of people. You share skills, knowledge and learning with colleagues, with the ability to informally coach others and uphold our principles of equality, diversity, inclusion at all times.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,180, House of Commons contributes £17,434 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including but not limited to:

• Generous annual leave starting at 30 days and increasing to 35 after one full working year.

• Enrolment in the excellent Civil Service pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 27%

• Flexible working options that help you find a balance including enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave, caring leave and alternative working patterns.

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

CV and Criterion Responses - If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and provide evidence against criteria 1-5 in the Job Description.

More information on the application process can be found in the Application Support Pack.

Additional Information

Please ensure that you anonymise your application by removing any identifiable factors from your CV or Supporting Statement.

Once you have submitted your application, and the recruitment has closed, all candidates will also be asked to take an online verbal reasoning test.

Candidates successful at this stage will progress will then be invited to complete a written test and attend an interview. If you are shortlisted for interview, the interview questions will be shared with you in advance.

Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Information Session

As part of the process, we will be running virtual information sessions on MS Teams for you to find out more about this role.

These sessions will be on:

• Tuesday 11 August, 12:00-13:00
• Thursday 20 August, 13:00-14:00

To register to attend, please book your slot via Eventbrite here. If you are an internal staff member, please email Georgia Pearse (Recruitment Advisor) to receive the Teams invite.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) 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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@parliament.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@parliament.uk