Job description

You will join BIR as a social researcher working in the customer research function within BIR. We deliver a large programme of social research across a number of priorities. The team recently led HMRC’s research to understand taxpayer experience of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. We are also delivering multiple research projects to support EU transition. We manage HMRC’s Customer Lab, the department’s internal facility for delivering small-scale qualitative projects in-house. The multi-disciplinary approach we use throughout the team means you will work alongside other functions within BIR to deliver a holistic insight solution to business problems through the delivery of research alongside wider customer and behavioural insight.

You will play a vital role in delivering our research programme, including helping to manage our growing portfolio of EU transition research and ongoing COVID-19 support work.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:

•Supporting the development and scoping of primary research projects, maintaining relationships with key business partners and involving them throughout the process.

•Providing advice and expertise to colleagues across the business on a wide range of relevant research methods.

•Commissioning primary qualitative and quantitative social research, project managing the research process and external research suppliers.

•Quality assuring research, data analysis and outputs.

•Producing and communicating research in an accessible and engaging way to ensure maximum impact. This may include delivering presentations, workshops and seminars, it may also involve drafting briefing papers and internal reports to inform operational changes.

•The opportunity to deliver qualitative research (particularly focus groups, interviews and workshops) directly with customers, using our own in-house customer lab facilities, as and when COVID restrictions are lifted.

By joining us here in HMRC we can offer you an excellent opportunity to develop your career as a social researcher in central government. We are a large department with over 70 social researchers and offer a range of opportunities to deliver research across a wide range of policy and operational areas. GSR members are very active as a community and meet regularly through internal conferences, task and finish groups and socials. We place a strong focus on personal development with regular cross-department training, coaching and mentoring schemes, and regular opportunities to attend internal and external seminars through the GSR network.

Essential Criteria

•Strong social policy, social research methods and/or analytical, statistical and numeracy skills. Able to accurately evaluate competing data sources and identify salient points and trends to draw sound, logical inferences;

•An interest in the policy process and want to see research having an impact on government decisions;

•An appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of a wide range of research methods (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods), including those that you are not an expert in, as well as the ability to combine these appropriately to deliver robust analysis.

Desirable skills

• Experience designing and managing primary research projects;

• Experience managing communicating research findings to audiences via a range of formats in an accessible and engaging way.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Please contact us to request accommodation.

Qualifications

1. Qualifications: 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) including quantitative research methods and three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design and hypothesis testing; and the application of ethics to research.

OR

2. Experience: Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with a relevant postgraduate degree, in any subject, or hold a degree equivalent (for example, an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS) and have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience. Social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialised 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 and hypothesis testing.

Should they pass the initial sift non GSR members will also need to take the GSR online knowledge test.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• GSR - Professional Expertise: Technical Skills.
• GSR - Professional Expertise: Using and Promoting Social Research.

No Agencies please.