Social Researcher

Job summary

Do you thrive in an environment where you can work methodically?

Can you review key research and create insights to be communicated to others?

Are you able to work independently to produce quality outcomes, in a timely manner?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

The successful Social Researcher will manage a programme of work across a number of policy areas including driver policy, motorcycle policy and vocational vehicles.

This includes managing research and evaluation projects targeted on policy questions, but also work with policy colleagues and other analysts to quickly draw on or gather new evidence for decisions.

Job description

The role holder will be provided with an excellent opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the policy process, and experience of making an impact with evidence.

The role may include a combination of managing externally commissioned research or evaluation projects; advising policy colleagues who directly manage commissioned research; identifying evidence needs and designing solutions; and drawing on and disseminating research for it to be used in decisions.

DVSA is open to new approaches to doing things, and there are lots of opportunity to offer leadership and develop new ways of working.

This role will have close links with professional contacts within the Department for Transport (DfT) and the cross-government community. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to be an active participant of the Driver Policy senior leadership team.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to;

Design, specify, commission, deliver and disseminate social research and evaluation projects to inform policy. Engage widely with various customers (policy, analysts, external) to identify evidence needs, shape work and deliver evidence or advice. This may vary across all of the specialist teams working within the Driver Policy teams for example motorcycle policy or Approved Driving Instructor policy areas.�

Collate insights from the evidence base to answer emerging policy questions.

Provide technical advice to policy colleagues on evaluation and social research methods, including on the relative robustness of evidence sources, and the interpretation of findings, so that they can be used appropriately in policymaking.

Take individual responsibility for providing timely, high-quality advice, research, analysis and briefing of both driver policy and legislation.

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached

Person specification

To succeed in this role, you will need to have experience of designing, managing and / or implementing complex social research or evaluation projects, to ensure the delivery of robust results on time.

You will need to have experience of using your leadership, communication, and collaboration skills to achieve impact from search or evaluation.

You will need to have experience of analysing a range of information and evidence from diverse sources to form conclusions and make recommendations.

Additional Information

Please note that�there is a requirement for frequent UK travel, including overnight stays as part of this role.

This role can be based in , , , , or , your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you. We operate a hybrid working model giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work. Our expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your time at your base location. Visits to other DVSA sites or work locations count towards this.�

Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.�

About Us

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably.�

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We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles.�

We�re working hard to:��

make roads safer�

improve services for our customers�

make road transport greener and healthier�

harness the potential of technology and data�

grow and level up the economy�

To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our .�

Qualifications

The expectation is that candidates will have the same qualifications as GSR (Government Social Research) members.

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 degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with an additional postgraduate degree.
� The degree must include a substantial research methods component, comprising around 30% of the modules taken on the course.

Experience route:

� Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with an additional postgraduate degree, in any subject; OR a degree equivalent such as the MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice.
� In addition to the above qualification, applicants must also have at least 4 years� experience of social research practice, which may consist of working in a research agency, market research agency or a specialist research team.

In your application, please remember to include details on:

� Any social research modules taken as part of your undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
� Any relevant professional qualifications you hold, such as the MRS Advanced Certificate or equivalent.

You will be asked to provide proof of qualifications should you be successful at sift.

Behaviours

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

Communicating and Influencing

Delivering at Pace

Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

Government Social Research Technical Framework - Knowledge of research methods, techniques and applications of these in more complex projects

Government Social Research Technical Framework - Identifying research needs, designing and specifying research

Government Social Research Technical Framework � Analysis and interpretation

Government Social Research Technical Framework - Managing and commissioning social research.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �40,808, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency contributes �11,822 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance

Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30

8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King�s birthday�

Latest IT and Tech devices�

A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues

Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level

Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names

Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing�

Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers

For more information see

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