Senior Research Adviser
Ofgem
Senior Research Adviser
£45614
Ofgem, Blythswood New Town, Glasgow City
- Full time
- Permanent
- Onsite working
Posted today, 18 Sep | Get your application in now to be one of the first to apply.
Closing date: Closing date not specified
job Ref: 8418487055a248239d5595f0f74c3ccd
Full Job Description
- Lead on the design, development, commissioning and delivery of high quality, inclusive quantitative research (or qualitative/mixed methods) with households and businesses), ensuring they meet policy needs and deliver timely, robust insights that have a tangible impact on policy decisions.
- Champion and embed the consumer voice and unique insights around consumers and their behaviour into Ofgem's decisions, working effectively with other analytical disciplines to triangulate evidence from different sources and generate a holistic narrative around consumers.
- Ensure effective quality assurance at all stages of the research process eg critically review agency approaches and outputs to ensure accuracy and quality - including sampling methodologies, weighting approaches, data quality and accuracy of analysis and reporting.
- Maximise the value and impact of data collected by Ofgem and external organisations, conducting/overseeing analysis, advising on analytical frameworks, and synthesising evidence to address key policy and strategic questions.
- Play a lead role in ensuring research and analysis has impact within Ofgem and that research is effectively interpreted and communicated in policy papers, consultation documents and publications.
- Ensure broad dissemination of consumer and behavioural insights, presenting to internal and external stakeholders (at all levels) in an engaging way, helping to raise the profile and impact of our research, including with senior executives.
- Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders eg peers in other regulators or government departments and research agencies, seeking opportunities for collaboration.
- Provide effective task management and mentoring to more junior researchers
- Play an active role in the Research and Behavioural Science sub profession, helping to improve the skills/capabilities of people and quality and rigour of outputs, including through taking ownership for own continued professional development.
- Represent Ofgem at external events, networks, conferences etc to showcase the work of research and wider analytical work in Ofgem and bring learnings into Ofgem.
- Keep up to date with developments in social, market and behavioural research - continually exploring new ways to innovate our research and analysis.
- High quality research plans, project plans and stakeholder engagement to develop fit for purpose consumer surveys and bespoke research that meets stakeholders' needs
- Lead/oversee in-house quantitative statistical analysis of survey data sets to address key policy questions, generating clear, simple and engaging outputs.
- Delivery of timely, publishable standard research outputs from commissioned or in house research or analysis, with clear recommendations and effective, engaging dissemination
- Delivery of clear and concise documents, including presentations, briefings, reports, and management papers - for internal and external audiences.
- Support for junior team members, where necessary, to deliver high quality research outputs
- Promotion and dissemination of research internally and externally
Significant experience and understanding in all aspects of quantitative research and survey design, particularly questionnaire design, sampling, statistical methods and hypothesis testing (LEAD) - Substantial experience (client or agency side) in the end-to-end delivery of complex social, behavioural or market research projects (LEAD)
- Knowledge and experience of behavioural insights and experiments and/or strong understanding of qualitative research design and analysis.
- Proficiency using tools such as SPSS, Python, R, or similar to manipulate, analyse and visualise research data.
- Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and to translate policy needs into clear research plans
- Ability to evaluate, synthesise and interpret evidence from a variety of sources, coming to logical conclusions and communicating this effectively to senior non-specialists.
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
- Delivering at Pace
- 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
Key Outputs and Deliverables
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) works on behalf of energy consumers to ensure that every household and business in Great Britain can rely on a safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy supply. We are playing a vital part in accelerating the transition to Net Zero and a carbon neutral energy system.
Through the Energy Act 2023 Ofgem received a new Net Zero Duty1 which requires us to consider how to assist the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero in meeting the government's Net Zero target, while protecting the interests of existing and future consumers. This act also appointed Ofgem as the heat networks regulator. Heat networks will play a crucial role in decarbonising heat in buildings and reducing the cost of living through efficient, affordable heating in densely populated areas.
Team purpose
The Consumer Insight and Behavioural Science team delivers crucial evidence and insight on the needs, behaviours, perceptions and experiences of all households and businesses, including heat networks customers, to ensure that Ofgem is delivering in the interests of consumers. With the continued challenges that consumers face in the current energy market following the global gas crisis and cost of living pressures, and the important role of the consumer in achieving Net Zero, putting the consumer voice front at the centre of our decisions has never been more important. Doing so helps to ensure that policies meet consumers' needs, support consumers as intended, and our regulatory frameworks and protections are fit for purpose.
We support teams across Ofgem by designing, commissioning, analysing and interpreting both quantitative, qualitative, and behavioural research using a range of methodologies and across diverse audiences (including households, vulnerable consumers and businesses). We also conduct qualitative research and behavioural experiments in-house. We have a programme of core tracking surveys to look at trends in consumer experiences across the energy market and conduct bespoke research on topical issues.
Our research is used internally as a key evidence source on consumer experiences and behaviours to inform decision and policy making. It achieves external impact too and is shared widely with external stakeholders, including being published on the Ofgem website , and has even won an award for its impactful work and has even won an award for its impactful work.
We are recruiting for an experienced social or market researcher to work as senior member of the Customer Insight & Behavioural Science team within the Analysis profession. In this role you will focus on scoping, developing and leading a new, robust, value for money programme of research on Heat Network customers. This may include establishing new tracking surveys and bespoke qualitative, quantitative or behavioural research to address emerging evidence gaps. You will work closely with the heat networks policy and implementation teams to ensure the work has visibility and tangible impact on heat networks policy development. You may also be expected to play a leading role in the design and delivery of other aspects of our core consumer research programme, working effectively with stakeholders and staff across the Research and Behavioural Science sub profession.
Ofgem has a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and connects us closer to the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome-as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.
Alongside your salary of £45,614, OFGEM contributes £13,214 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; Hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but is in review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
When you press the 'Apply now' button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.
You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word 'personal statement' evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the essential and desirable skills and capabilities.
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:
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.
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .