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Social Research & Evaluation Lead - Flexible Working Available

Employer
Department for Transport
Location
London (Central), London (Greater)
Salary
£42,003 - £46,205
Closing date
19 Jan 2020

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Job Details

Location

City of Westminster, London, SW1P 4DR

About the job

Passionate about social research and evaluation?

Want to use your social research skills to help make the transport system better for everyone?

If the answer to this question is 'yes', don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity in the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.

Job description

We are looking for a Social Research and Evaluation Lead to join the Department’s growing team of Government Social Researchers. You will work directly with policy customers to deliver high quality research with real impact.

In this post you will be linked with an active internal Evaluation Network that provides professional support and exchange of experience. Further professional development will be provided through Government Social Research seminars and general analyst training.

We may hold a merit list for up to twelve months. During this time, if a similar role is identified and you have been placed on the merit list you may be considered for the post. Within the merit list period, your application form and selection information may be shared across the department and its agencies

Job summary

The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) is a joint Department for Transport (DfT) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) policy team contributing to the delivery of the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge, a core part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy.
Autonomous, or self-driving, vehicles have the potential to bring safety benefits, boost the UK economy, increase accessibility of travel and change the nature of our towns and cities for the better. This role offers you the opportunity to be at the very heart of Government’s critical work to secure these benefits and contribute to the delivery of the Industrial Strategy.
Vehicle automation has already begun with cutting edge development happening here in the UK and elsewhere and billions of dollars being invested globally. The next decade will see a step change in the way vehicles are made, owned and used. But self-driving vehicles also bring new risks, for example around safety and security.

Working with colleagues across CCAV, the Social Research and Evaluation Lead will help us assure we are delivering good returns on our investments, informing future competition scopes and providing evidence to support the assessment of the competition process, including on the broader impacts around skills development, public attitudes and engagement.

We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced social researcher to help us ensure that our decisions are based on robust evidence, and that we are learning from our work and evidencing achievements. You will not only work across CCAV to take this agenda forward, but will also collaborate with our partners to ensure high standards in social research and evaluation across all of our work, as we take forward our new strategy, and the next phase of our work
 

Responsibilities

The impact of emerging technologies and trends remains hugely uncertain, but what is clear is that the changes will be radical, and we will need support from across Government and industry to help deliver against our future vision.
You will ensure that our approach remains relevant and ambitious, informed by the most up to date social research, monitoring and evaluation teachings, and communicated effectively with our stakeholders. Responsibilities will include:
• Supporting the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation strategies and practices across the CCAV branches
• Commissioning and managing research and evaluations to support the CCAV strategy
• Supporting and encouraging the use and dissemination of social research across the project portfolio and the CCAV teams
• Representing CCAV in cross departmental, national, and international Monitoring and Evaluation and Social Research fora
• Lead the development and management of a Theory of Change to support the CCAV Strategy
Person specification
You will be responsible for helping shape the future, alongside a dedicated team. You will be self-sufficient and enthusiastic, with a passion for problem solving, with excellent interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills.

You are an excellent communicator, with the ability to understand and explain complex subjects. And, you will be able to engage with, and successfully influence, different stakeholders, ranging from technology sceptics to technology enthusiasts.

You will be required to effectively manage a complex portfolio of work, delivering at pace throughout to meet the team’s priorities with limited guidance.

Qualifications

Candidates must be members of the Government Social Research Competency Framework or meet the minimum requirements of entry.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-governement-social-research-competency-framework

Behaviours

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

  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

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

  • Government Social Research Competency Framework - Professional Expertise: Technical Skills

Benefits 

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

This includes:
- a generous annual leave entitlement,
- attractive pension options,
- flexible working,
- good career development opportunities,
- a variety of career paths,
- inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

The following criteria will be assessed during the selection process:

Within your CV and personal statement please demonstrate the following experience:
• Guide your own work, seeking advice and direction as required.
• Work with policy customers to identify their research or evaluation needs, identify possible options, and determine the best way forward in conjunction with stakeholders.
• Manage and deliver research and evaluation projects; understand customer context and timescales and work with other analysts (e.g. economists, statisticians) to meet customer needs
• Use tools such as Theory of Change to help define CCAVs future strategy
• Communicate complex information or analysis clearly, in written and verbal form
• Make assessments and recommendations for good use of evidence, even where it is not perfect.
More information about Experience

Selection Process Details
The sift is due to take place W/C 20th January 2020.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held: W/C 3rd February 2020.

Interview location to be confirmed.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment could include:
• an interview
• an interview with one or more exercises
• a full day of activities including interactive, written and timed exercises

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. For further information on Success Profiles please click here

Your interview may consist of a range of question types. These may include questions about:
• what energises and motivates you
• how you would manage situations relevant to the role
• your previous experience
• your professional skills and knowledge

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

Further Information
We have adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel.

We may hold a merit list for up to twelve months. During this time, if a similar role is identified and you have been placed on the merit list you may be considered for the post. Within the merit list period, your application form and selection information may be shared across the department and its agencies.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Any move to the Department For Transport will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

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

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

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 equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

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 :   Claire Gregory Email :   [email protected]   Recruitment team : Email :   [email protected] Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission

Company

Transport matters – what we do matters.

Transport touches the lives of everyone in the country. Across road, rail, air, sea and space, our transport networks affect homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and more. It’s how we deliver goods to our shops, get people to work and reunite with our loved ones. Our staff know how important their work is and how they fit in.

 

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