Deputy Head : Principal Evaluation and Corporate Research Officer
Companies House
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 6th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
We are looking for a talented, experienced social scientist to join the Corporate research and Evaluation team within the Data function at Companies House.
Companies House is entering a pivotal moment in its history with the introduction of the ECCT Act 2023. This is where you come in…
Your role is crucial in supporting Companies House during this change shaping how research and evaluation can support the organisation through this period. You will be expected to lead others, build a new team, continue to establish and deliver research and evaluation as a core support function for the operation of a successful Companies House.
You will work within a vibrant and multi-disciplinary directorate and be based in the research and evaluation team. This is a friendly, hard-working but new team which aims for best practice in social research methods. The team is also primarily concerned with ensuring practical application from the research and evaluation work carried out, building strong working relationships across Companies House and with internal and external stakeholders.
Therefore, the person we are looking for must have strong leadership skills, experience of team supervision, excellent social research skills (ideally GSR badged or equivalent experience) and importantly have excellent collaborative and communication skills. The person must thrive with the challenge of working in a new area, in a situation of change and enjoy the challenge of producing rigorous analysis that changes decisions for the better.
If you enjoy demonstrating the value of social research whilst working through change and building strong team relationships, this is the place for you.
Companies House offers a flexible and welcoming culture that promotes a healthy work life balance as well as a proactive approach to wellbeing that allows us to be our best at work. We recognise that people are the key to our success so offer a fantastic benefits package including flexible working with no core hours, 30 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day as well as enrolment into the Civil Service Pension scheme with a contribution rate averaging 28%.
Find out more about what a great place Companies House is to work
Job description
Corporate Research:
- You will lead on shaping what research is undertaken and how new approaches are developed, including acting as an expert consultant to key internal stakeholders such as Internal and External Communications with a strong focus on dissemination of results and impactful delivery of findings.
- This will include: developing the long-run Corporate Research Strategy, plans, and roadmap which contributes to the overall data, analysis and research strategies. Align a programme of the Corporate Research to the Companies House’s strategic goals and strategic outcomes through stakeholder consultation. Manage the research budget.
Corporate Research and Evaluation:
- Lead the delivery of corporate research and behavioural insights within several Companies House projects as identified by the process evaluation for the ECCTA. These will include understanding the feasibility of reducing customer contact, undertaking randomised control trials to test hypotheses, introducing nudge techniques and provide confidence in decisions to improve process design.
- Lead on corporate research and evaluation horizon scanning to take into account a rapidly changing landscape and future organisational strategic planning. Contribute to the delivery of the Companies House Data Strategy. As new research is conducted, ensure that these are in line with standard social and behavioural science approaches. Implement standard operating procedures, ethical guidelines and quality assurance across the team
- Lead on the delivery of strategic corporate research projects. These projects arise from Directors and a range of internal and external stakeholders and focus on understanding the behaviours and motivations of Companies House customers. There will be a focus on high-quality analysis, with short concise reports which help to identify practical ways to implement changes to systems and processes.
Collaborative work:
- Work collaboratively with cross government partners to undertake research to understand the value of Companies House products to society. Develop strong links with GSR (Government Social Research); BEIS and OGD Social Research/Behavioural Insight units where appropriate.
- Work collaboratively with internal customers such as Strategy & Planning, External Comms, Policy development, Portfolio (benefits) and service owners. Develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders as outlined above.
- Manage a small team of researchers.
- Seek out opportunities to improve the perception of corporate research internally and externally. Play a key role in upskilling colleagues across Companies House on value of Social Research and Behavioural Science designing and delivering training to a diverse range of colleagues if needed.
To be eligible for this role you also need to meet our Nationality requirements which are outlined below and also successful candidates must meet the security requirements for Security Clearance (SC) before they can be appointed. To gain (SC) clearance you will need to have been a UK resident for a minimum of 3 years.
Further information can be found below.
Companies House also cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.
Person specification
Technical skills
- Demonstrable Research and Evaluation experience – in depth knowledge of techniques including qualitative experience (e.g. discourse, content, thematic analysis)
- Technical knowledge of the methods of social and/or policy research – ability to deploy qualitative & quantitative methods to answer complex questions.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills.
- Strong reporting skills.
- A degree in a social sciences and desirable post grad degree (or equivalent experience /training in related field)
- Experience of delivery research or evaluation projects from scoping through to publication – inc. RCTs (Desirable)
Experience
- Experience of stakeholder management
- Experience of delivering accessible social research to a non-technical audience
- Experience of best practice social research methods
- Experience of team management
The post holder must be either a badged or eligible for Government Social Research GRS Membership:
To be eligible to apply for GSR membership you will need to hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2.
The degree must contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken on the course) including quantitative research methods and at least 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.
OR hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, in any subject, or a degree equivalent (e.g. an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), plus have social research practice experience.
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.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Benefits
We believe that our success is driven by the well-being and satisfaction of our team members at all levels of the organisation. At Companies House we’re committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring your career journey with us is not only fulfilling, but also rewarding. We pride ourselves on offering a quality work-life balance with our employee wellbeing being central to our working practices.
Head to Our benefits - Working for us - Recruitment (companieshouse.gov.uk) to find out more about the fantastic benefits package we have at Companies House.
We celebrate diversity...
As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity, being committed to ensuring we’re representative of the citizens we serve and creating an inclusive environment. Everyone in Companies House brings something different, and so will you. To fulfil our commitment to recruiting and attracting diverse talent we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We also welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
We are proud to be a disability confident leader. Our recruitment process is fully inclusive and we can make adjustments as needed through our process. These could include having an interview buddy, extra time at interviews/assessments and receiving interview questions in advance, to name a few. We will be happy to discuss any person-centred adjustments, please contact us by emailing recruitmentCH@companieshouse.gov.uk
Where will you be working?
You will be aligned to our Cardiff Office, where we are currently using a hybrid approach to the way we work. Our approach to hybrid working provides opportunities for you to be adaptable in the way you work so that you can achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life. The degree of choice you have will depend on business need, your role and your day-to-day work activities and will be discussed at offer stage.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
In your application form we’d like you to:
- Tell us about your employment history, including key responsibilities and achievements.
- We’d like you to write a personal statement of 1000 words where you tell us about why you’d be great for this role and how you demonstrate the sift criteria below. (250 words per criteria)
At sift candidates will be assessed against:
- Demonstrable Research and Evaluation experience – in depth knowledge of techniques including qualitative experience
- Technical knowledge of the methods of social and/or policy research – ability to deploy qualitative & quantitative methods to answer complex questions.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills.
- Team management/collaborative working
At interview candidates will be assessed against the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the advert.
We’re committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as names and dates) from your employment history and personal statement.
We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.
What will the process look like?
- We’ll carry out a sift of applications and successful candidates at sift will be invited to interview, where we’ll explore your skills, experiences and the behaviours mentioned in the advert and your strengths.
- There will be a presentation for you to prepare at interview stage as well as an online test (if not GSR badged)
Read more information and guidance about Applying for Your New Job.
Companies House uses a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you. We use the Success Profile framework and may include Strength based questions in the interview.
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of recruitment based on fair and open competition with decisions made on the basis of merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Jemma Basham
- Email : jbasham@companieshouse.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitmentch@companieshouse.gov.uk
Further information
Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact infopoint@companieshouse.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission .
info@csc.gov.uk
Civil Service Commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road SW1A 2HQ
