Research Officer 2 x positions available Full time / Part time Salary: £33,273 - £37,692 with potential for further progression to £42,439with our pay progression scheme. Location: Hybrid Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need. Please note that our Head Office will be relocating from Wilmslow to central Manchester in the near future. This move marks an exciting step forward, offering enhanced opportunities for collaboration, both within our internal teams and with external partners, through a more flexible, connected, and dynamic working environment. Why work for the ICO? Pay progression scheme. Hybrid and flexible working options. 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays. Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year). Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%). Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more. Health Cash Plan. Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress. Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website. Job summary This role is central to building the ICOs approach to using insight and evidence to inform ICO’s policy and decision-making. An evidence-based and outcome focused approach to regulation, which puts people at the heart of what we do, will be crucial to ensure we deliver on the vision set out in ICO25. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data. As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful. Job description You will be working in the newly formed Market Research function. You will have responsibility for supporting the commissioning and project management of market research projects, as well as supporting teams across the ICO on their respective research projects. You’ll work closely with qualitative and quantitative researchers, insights specialists, and research managers within the function to help deliver strategically important research programmes. You’ll be collaborating closely with colleagues across the ICO to ensure a joined up approach to research, and support to build a research culture across the ICO. You will also support the team as they scope the needs of the organisation and identify evidence gaps that require market research with the UK public. Key responsibilities: Supporting Senior Researchers with procurement and management of qualitative and quantitative market research, including quality control processes and oversight of key outputs, keeping colleagues updated and ensuring milestones are met. Supporting Senior Researchers to disseminate findings internally in compelling and engaging ways. Working with colleagues across the ICO to champion the value and importance of market research, identify priority areas for qualitative and quantitative research, build ongoing relationships and ensuring early understanding of research needs. Working collaboratively with colleagues to understand key concerns, the evidence required, and identify the most effective, timely and value for money approaches to delivering those needs. Identifying opportunities for bringing together and disseminating research and evidence both internally and, where appropriate, externally, including information gathered from external research sources. Supporting Senior Researchers to inform and educate colleagues on best practice and ensuring that high standards are adhered to. Proactively develop market research expertise, keeping abreast of developments in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Person specification Essential criteria assessed at application stage: Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience Relevant experience (minimum of one year), gained from a research environment – for example within a research agency, public sector research profession, think tank, academic institution, or research commissioning. Experience of assisting or managing qualitative and/or quantitative research projects (minimum of one year), including sample design, questionnaire/topic guide drafting, and analysis of findings. Experience of developing, or supporting Senior Researchers to develop, complex questions into clearly scoped research projects, including identifying research questions, methodologies, samples, procurement processes, and/or reporting. Excellent research skills, with the ability to support Senior Researchers to manage a project, ensuring deadlines are met and outputs are high quality. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including being able to communicate research findings in an engaging way with colleagues. Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to foster and maintain effective relationships, especially with ICO colleagues and research agencies. Ability to work under pressure and support Senior Researchers and Research Managers to deal with competing priorities in a busy environment. Experience of research software or data analysis techniques, for example, Excel, SPSS, R; and/or surveying software for example Survey Monkey, Snap Surveys or Smart Survey. Essential criteria assessed during interview: Relevant experience (minimum of one year), gained from a research environment – for example within a research agency, public sector research profession, think tank, academic institution, or research commissioning. Experience of assisting or managing qualitative and/or quantitative research projects (minimum of one year), including sample design, questionnaire/topic guide drafting, and analysis of findings. Experience of developing, or supporting Senior Researchers to develop, complex questions into clearly scoped research projects, including identifying research questions, methodologies, samples, procurement processes, and/or reporting. Excellent research skills, with the ability to support Senior Researchers to manage a project, ensuring deadlines are met and outputs are high quality. Ability to understand project needs, work alongside Senior Researchers and identify appropriate qualitative/quantitative research approaches to meet those needs. Knowledge of qualitative/quantitative research techniques and the ways in which they can be most appropriately and responsibly used. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including being able to communicate research findings in an engaging way with colleagues. Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to foster and maintain effective relationships, especially with ICO colleagues and research agencies. Ability to work under pressure and support Senior Researchers and Research Managers to deal with competing priorities in a busy environment. Ability to work with Senior Researchers to draw together research findings into high quality outputs that tell a clear story and bring the issues being explored to life. Equality, diversity, and inclusion The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website. Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk Closing Date Please submit your CV by 23:59, 23 June 2025 We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.