Job Description

Details

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Reference number

402565
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Salary

43,763
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
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Job grade

Senior Executive Officer###

Contract type

Permanent###

Business area

Government Social Research###

Type of role

Analytical


Social Research###

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time###

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Darlington, Leeds, Manchester, Wolverhampton

About the job

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Job summary

Do you enjoy finding creative and innovative solutions to problems?


Are you able to present data in a clear and concise way to different audiences?


If you have an interest in policy analysis and elections and are seeking a rewarding role, we would love to hear from you!



Elections Research and Analysis (ERA) is a friendly, multidisciplinary analytical team made up of social researchers, economists, operational researchers, and statisticians within the Elections Directorate in MHCLG.



We are looking for a SEO social researcher with strong research and analytical skills to lead on at least one major area of elections policy. The Elections Directorate oversees a complex and ever-evolving policy landscape that affects how elections are conducted, who can vote, and how campaigns are regulated.



The Directorate is responsible for implementing the Government's Manifesto Commitments and other key priorities, including lowering the voting age to 16 and improving voter registration processes. It is therefore an exciting time to join the team, given the significant policy changes and the role of ERA's analysis and research in shaping those. ERA prides itself on fostering a supportive, inclusive and high performing environment, making the team a great place to work.

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Job description

We are looking for a SEO social researcher with good research and analytical skills to manage internal and/or externally commissioned research in at least one of the major new areas of elections policy.



The exact responsibilities will depend on the skills and experience of the successful candidate and the priorities at the time, but will likely include:

Designing and procuring research and/or evaluation, and managing research contracts: This is likely to include scoping new research, leading the procurement of new research/evaluations, and/or managing existing research contracts, working closely with commercial colleagues, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure the overall approaches meet objectives and time requirements. Drafting and managing contractor's production of research materials and outputs, working closely with analysts in the team and colleagues across Elections Directorate to gather and co-ordinate feedback on these. Leading on ad-hoc pieces of research that may be conducted internally in the team, including for example theory of change development, or rapid evidence reviews. This may include task management of 1-2 analysts in the team. Developing strong working relationships with analysts in the team and colleagues across Elections Directorate in your policy area(s). Supporting on research communications: Providing analytical input and knowledge on your policy areas and concisely summarising this for policy documents, including documentation required for Parliamentary business and Bills. ###

Person specification

The successful candidate will have:

Social research skills - as a badged social researcher, you will have a good understanding of research scoping and design, plus knowledge of a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods (e.g. survey design, evidence summaries, interviews, and focus groups). Evaluation experience (e.g. process, impact or theory-based) is desirable but not essential as this could be developed in post. Analytical skills - a good understanding of statistical techniques and a proven ability to use a variety of evidence and data to solve uncertain and complex problems, identifying options and making recommendations. Interpersonal skills - experience of working with others to define and deliver tasks to inform policy design or business objectives, building strong relationships to ensure analysis has a strong and wide impact. Communication skills - comfortable communicating complex, sensitive or uncertain matters with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. ministers and their private offices, senior civil servants, press office, and the Electoral Commission) - both verbally and in writing - maintaining integrity as a civil servant. Task management and working at pace - working to deliver through others through effective task management and project planning, including being able to adapt this to deliver work at pace when required. Project management skills - responsible for a wide and varying portfolio, delivering projects independently and through others, at times to tight timescales whilst ensuring high quality.

You must be a current member of the Government Social Research Profession, or have the expertise required to be able to become badged as part of the recruitment process.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 43,763, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes 12,678 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

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Selection process details

As part of our pre-employment checking process we will be using your CV to confirm your job history. Please note that by providing us with your CV you are consenting to us using the information enclosed as part of the checking process. Unless stated otherwise in the advert, your CV will not form part of the assessment but will be used for information purposes and only shared with the panel at interview stage.


Our application system is designed to remove as much bias as possible from the recruitment system - this means that a hiring manager does not know your name, your details, see your whole application in one go (or have your CV at review stage unless stated otherwise).


Your answers are randomised and chunked up. This means that each assessor views sets of responses to questions, for example all candidates' responses to 'Seeing the Big Picture' rather than seeing a candidate's full application. The science behind this is that recruitment can be subject to ordering and fatigue effects and we want to reduce this as much as possible.


Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.


When writing your application, remember:

The assessor won't be reading your answers sequentially. Do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers. If talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!)

Analysts in MHCLG must be affiliated to a Government analytical profession. This is usually one of the following:

Government Economic Service (GES) Government Operational Research Service (GORS) Government Social Research Service (GSR) Government Statistical Service (GSS)

Stage 1: Filter and eligibility questions, entry tests

Candidates who successfully pass the initial filter and eligibility questions will be asked to confirm which of the analytical professions they belong to or are applying to be part of. This information will be used to progress successful applications to the appropriate professional checks element of the process.


Existing civil servants who are currently a member of one of these professions will retain their professional membership in this role. Applicants on promotion will be assessed for promotion within their profession as part of the selection process.

Please make any current affiliation clear in your application

.


External candidates or civil servants without a current profession affiliation may be considered for accreditation to one of the professions as part of the recruitment process. If you are not currently a member of a government analytical profession you will be put through the membership process for your chosen profession as part of this application. You must pass the membership process for your application to be successful. If you do not pass the relevant profession entry test your application will not be taken further. See the

Guide for Analytical Candidates

document for more details of the membership process for the relevant profession.


You will need to address the

technical competences for your profession

in the application and at interview.


Please refer to the

Guide for Analytical Candidates

which provides:


1 - The technical competences for each analytical profession - GES, GORS, GSR and GSS.


2 - details of the entry requirements to each analytical profession


3 - details of the entry process for each analytical profession


The entry qualifications are listed below. Please list FULL details of your degree in your application form.

Government Social Research (GSR):

Hold an undergraduate degree, at a minimum of 2:1 or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, in a social science subject. A qualifying social science subject is one which contains substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken in the course). It should cover quantitative methods and at least

three of the five topics

listed below.

Mandatory:

Quantitative methods, including research design, data collection (i.e. questionnaire design, sampling, weighting), data analysis (e.g. statistical analysis)

Three of:

Systematic/literature reviews Qualitative methods, including research design, data collection (i.e. interviewing, focus groups, ethnography), data analysis (e.g. thematic analysis) Interpretation of data (qual & quan), presentation of results, provision of recommendations/ conclusions Study design, hypothesis formation, testing and evaluation Application of ethics to research

Relevant degree subjects in the social sciences can be varied. Potential members need to demonstrate the substantial social research methods training they have taken and not merely the social science degree subjects.


OR

Professional Experience route

: Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, 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. The degree requirement for Main Stream applicants is an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2 with no need for a postgraduate degree. In any case, 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.

Social Researcher candidates (entry test):

Candidates who

ARE NOT

members of Government Social Research service (GSR) will be invited to sit the Government Social Research Knowledge test. This is the first part of the GSR membership process and you must pass this test for your application to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.


We will arrange for you to sit the GSR Knowledge Test as soon as possible. This test must be completed prior to interview and if candidates fail the knowledge test their application is terminated at this point.


Candidates who are

EXISTING

members of Government Social Research service (GSR) do not need to complete this test as part of their application.


Candidates who do not pass the filter and eligibility questions will not move to the second stage.

Competencies

You will need to address the technical competences for your profession in the application and at interview.

Social research competences

Social research: technical skills


Social research: using and promoting social research

At sift, we will be assessing

Technical (lead Element) - Describe a complex piece of research you delivered, including the methods you used and why these were chosen, and how you ensured it was robust.


Behaviour 1 Making Effective Decisions - Describe a time when you have had to choose between different options and how you came to a decision on which option to go for?


Behaviour 2 Managing a quality service - Please outline an example of how you have made improvements to ensure a high quality piece of analysis


Experience - Please outline your experience of commissioning and managing qualitative and quantitative research and/or evaluations to meet policy goals.


There is a 250 word limit per question.


In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of the following success profiles elements:

Behaviour - Delivering at Pace, Working Together


Technical - You will be provided with a question in advance of the interview and asked to prepare a presentation of a specific length addressing this question. This presentation will be followed by questions from the panel. More information will be provided upon interview invite.

In the full campaign we will test the below Success Profile Elements:

Behaviours: Delivering at Pace, Working Together, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a quality service


Experience: Please outline your experience of commissioning and managing qualitative and quantitative research and/or evaluations to meet policy goals.


Technical: There will be a technical Presentation at interview. More information will be provided upon interview invite.

We do not consider direct CV applications to our Recruitment mailbox - you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign.

SEO

The salary for this role will be

43,763 (National).

For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If you apply for a role that requires a transfer of location, for example if you are transferring from London to a National location, your salary will be adjusted in accordance with our policy on transfer between HQ pay ranges.

In order to receive this specialist pay band, you must be fully qualified and in a qualifying post as agreed by the Finance Head of Profession.

Please note that the average employer pension contribution is based upon the National minimum salary for this role. Should your agreed starting salary for this role be different, the average employer pension contribution will be calculated accordingly. If you are a Secondee, this will not apply as you will remain on your home organisation's terms and conditions.

BENEFITS

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Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018:

Any move to MHCLG 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


For further information about the benefits available to MHCLG employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:

Wolverhampton Darlington
Leeds Manchester

There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role.

Please note:

The Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) is a pioneering new cross-government hub which will bring together people across departments and public organisations to play an active role in the most important economic issues of the day. The work of the Campus will make a real difference to people both across the UK and internationally. There will be substantial career opportunities and exciting prospects - a career at the Campus means you will be working at the heart of Government, with access to the benefits and fantastic opportunities offered by the civil service.

For further information on the DEC, please take a look at the attached DEC candidate pack.

SIFT AND INTERVIEW DATES

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Sifting is envisaged to take place w/c 12/05/2025 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall.

Reserve List

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details in a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@communities.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list.

Candidate Pack Information

Please see attached Candidate pack for further information. The candidate pack contains information about the CS Commissioners appeals and complaints procedure.

Before starting your application it's very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the MHCLG candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules

Internal Fraud Database

The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to MHCLG as a participating government organisations. MHCLG then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented.


For more information please see - Internal Fraud Register



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

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.###

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.###

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
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.###

Diversity and Inclusion

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

Apply and further information

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This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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

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Job contact :

Name : Emma Robson Email : emma.robson@communities.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

* Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk