AddressWith 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, having a deep understanding of the needs, perceptions and experiences of consumers, and putting the consumer voice at the heart of our decisions, has never been more important.
We are recruiting for an experienced social researcher, with particular expertise in quantitative research to work as a senior member of the Customer Insight & Behavioural Science team within the Analysis profession.
The successful candidate will play a leading role in ensuring we deliver high quality quantitative research and analysis, providing the evidence needed to support Ofgem's decision making.
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.
Purpose
Key Responsibilities:
- Leading, shaping and delivering high quality and inclusive quantitative, (or qualitative/mixed methods) research projects, ensuring they have a tangible impact on policy decisions and support our strategic objectives.
- Supporting the Principal Researcher (and wider team) through provision of technical expertise/oversight in survey research and quality assurance at all stages of the research process.
- Conduct/oversee advanced analysis of large datasets to build our evidence base on consumers, including through working with data scientists and other analysts
- Provide mentoring to less experienced members of staff on quantitative research methods and play an active role in the Research and Behavioural Science sub profession to help build capability.
- Ensure research and analysis has impact within Ofgem and that research is effectively interpreted and communicated in policy papers.
- Champion the voice of the consumer in Ofgem.
- Present consumer insights to internal and external stakeholders (at all levels) in an engaging way, helping to raise the profile and impact of the team and the research we produce.
- Work effectively with the behavioural science team to help ensure that as a team we take a holistic view of policy issues and what methods are most appropriate.
- Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders eg peers in other regulators or government departments and research agencies
Key Outputs and Deliverables
- Identify research needs, plan and lead or oversee commissioned (or in-house) projects to ensure timely, publishable standard research outputs, clear recommendations and effective dissemination.
- Provision of technical expertise and advice on quantitative methods- eg critically review agency approaches and outputs at all stages to ensure accuracy and quality - including sampling methodologies, weighting approaches, data quality and accuracy of analysis and reporting.
- Lead in-house quantitative statistical analysis of survey data sets to address key policy questions, generating clear, simple and engaging outputs.
- Embed the consumer voice and unique insights around consumers into Ofgem's decisions, working effectively with other analytical disciplines to triangulate evidence from different sources and generate a holistic narrative around consumers.
- Keep abreast of advances in the social/market research profession and cutting-edge external research, finding effective ways to channel it into Ofgem.
- Work with peers in other regulators, Government and other stakeholders to identify opportunities for collaboration.
- Draft clear and concise documents, including briefing, reports, and management papers.
- Represent Ofgem at external events, conferences etc to showcase the work of research and wider analytical work in Ofgem.
- Help to strengthen links with the Government Social Research profession and improve the skills/capabilities of people and quality and rigour of outputs, including through taking ownership for own continued professional development.
Person specification
- Strong track record in leading the design and delivery of quantitative social research projects (LEAD)
- Advanced technical expertise in quantitative analysis using survey data, including strong understanding of statistical methods and hypothesis testing.
- High level of 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 to identify opportunities for research and collaboration.
- Ability to evaluate, synthesise and interpret evidence from a variety of sources, coming to logical conclusions and communicating this effectively to senior non-specialists
- Experience managing or mentoring less experienced researchers
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Please see Candidate Pack for details.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £45,614, OFGEM contributes £12,315 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 personal 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:
- 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
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.
