Senior Research Officers

At the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) our responsibilities are large and wide-ranging. Our work is aimed at creating a cleaner, healthier environment, developing a world-leading food and farming industry, expanding a thriving rural economy and securing robust defences against natural threats and hazards across the UK. This exciting work will only increase in complexity as the nation moves closer to leaving the EU. Join us as we take a lead in delivering this once-in-a-generation change, and see what you do having a real impact.

A number of positions have now become available within the Defra Social Research Group, in which you will deliver high-quality results to support key priorities. You will:

• Work with policy, implementation and analytical colleagues to understand the context and potential impact of high-profile policies and government actions.
• Guide policy colleagues on research evidence that is currently available, identifying areas that need further investigation in order to support the development of effective policy solutions.
• Design, conduct and manage complex research projects, ensuring your interpretation of the resulting data and information can be easily understood by a variety of audiences. 
• Explore innovative research approaches, evaluating competing data sources to draw evidence-based conclusions.
• Support the overall social research community with any interlinked challenges, and mentor junior members of the team, helping them to develop their research skills.

We are seeking experienced individuals to join the following teams:

• Strategic Policy Evaluation Team – fixed-term appointment
• Strategic Behavioural Insight Team – fixed-term appointment
• Strategic Social Research Team – fixed-term appointment
• Wildlife, International, Climate & Forestry Directorate – permanent appointment
• Future Farming – fixed-term appointment
• Food Chain – permanent appointment
• Natural Environment/ Environmental Land Management – permanent appointment
• Marine and Fisheries – fixed-term appointment
• Chemicals and Pesticides – fixed-term appointment
• Air Quality – part-time fixed-term appointment
• Strategic Behavioural Insights Team – Fixed Term Appointment

To thrive in any of these roles, we will expect you to have comprehensive analytical skills with an excellent knowledge of a variety of social research methods. With natural leadership and team-player abilities, you will drive the team to meet their shared goals. With at least two years of experience of delivering analysis in qualitative and quantitative social research environment, you will be self-motivated with the capacity to make confident decisions in a pressurised environment. You will have experience of designing and managing medium-scale projects, and it would be beneficial if you have previously worked across analytical disciplines to engage multiple stakeholders – so excellent communication skills are a must. Degree-qualified (2:1 minimum) in a subject that contained a significant social research methods component, you will have an outstanding awareness of current and emerging methodological developments.

We aim to support the professional and personal wellbeing of everyone in Defra. Our benefits include generous annual leave, a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme. We also offer flexible working and a variety of learning and development opportunities.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Grade: Senior Executive Officer