Job Description
Senior Behavioural Science Researcher
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Flexible working: We recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer part-time working and compressed hours in this role. Please note, this is an office-based role with no remote or home working.
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About Us
MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing, and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you'll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.
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The Role
As a Senior Behavioural Science Researcher, you’ll design, develop and lead some of the most impactful behavioural and social science research in the UK. You’ll join our Behavioural Science department and ensure colleagues across MI5 have access to defensible, evidence-based behavioural and social science that can help shape investigations and MI5’s applied work.
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Working alongside other researchers, teams and intelligence partners, you’ll lead the solving of intricate behavioural science problems. You’ll provide authoritative, clear and timely research advice and collaborate with other colleagues and departments to embed that research into operational projects. And you’ll contribute to the advancement of behavioural science research capabilities – setting, documenting and implementing best practice across research delivery, project management and training.
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As this is a senior role, you’ll also have line management responsibilities within the team. You’ll mentor staff in areas including research, communicating research findings with impact and how to deliver research into applied practice. Plus, you’ll provide technical advice and supervision of research project design and delivery across the department.
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Importantly, you’ll play a key role overseeing governance and strategy within the department. Whether you’re contributing to the research programme and governance process, or ensuring the programme contains the right projects delivered at the right time – you’ll work with the Head of Research to set and deliver our strategy in line with MI5’s priorities. And, you’ll always look for new ways to champion research and identify opportunities for collaboration with behavioural science partners internally, across the intelligence community and internationally.
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About You
You’ll have a behavioural science qualification at Masters level (or above), with a significant research component within that qualification. This will be supported by significant experience in quantitative and/or qualitative behavioural science research, and demonstrable research leadership experience (either thematically or programmatically).
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You’ll need previous experience of designing and/or delivering high quality behavioural science research in an applied setting. And you’ll understand the different ways research can be pulled through to support HMG problems.
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As you’ll be a line manager, you’ll have previous experience of this (or significant research supervision) too. You’ll be a confident communicator with the ability to translate research findings into accessible materials. Collaborative and approachable, you’ll enjoy working with scientific and non-scientific people and seek to drive research innovation for the benefit of others.
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Training and Development
Upon joining, you’ll receive a full induction to MI5 and our ways of working, as well as a series of induction meetings and training sessions within the department. There is a commitment to learning and development and you’ll be offered professional development days to enhance your capabilities, as well as internal training courses.
Please note, you will be expected to stay in this role for a minimum of four years, after which there may be opportunities to progress within the department or to explore other opportunities at MI5 or with our partners.
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Rewards and Benefits
You’ll receive a starting salary of £64,302 plus other benefits including:
• 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
• Dedicated Development Budget
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Excellent pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
• Paid parental and adoption leave.