Job summary Ofgem is Great Britains independent energy regulator. We protect energy consumers, especially the most vulnerable, while working with government, industry and consumer groups to deliver a clean, affordable and secure net-zero energy system that supports economic growth. With ongoing challenges in the energy market following the global gas crisis, and the vital role consumers play in achieving Net Zero, placing the consumer voice at the centre of our decisions is more important than ever. This relies on timely, robust and impactful evidence. The Consumer Insight and Behavioural Science team provides this evidence, ensuring policies reflect real consumer experiences, needs and behaviours. We support teams across Ofgem by designing, commissioning and analysing quantitative and qualitative research across diverse groups, including households, vulnerable consumers and businesses. Our insights directly inform major policy and regulatory decisions, helping Ofgem respond to issues from affordability and debt to the evolving role of consumers in Net Zero. Our impact extends beyond internal policy. We share findings with industry and external stakeholders, publishing research on the Ofgem website. Our work is recognised through award nominations, external interest and regular conference presentations. As a Senior Research Adviser, you will lead work ensuring consumer perspectives shape key decisions. Your insight will close evidence gaps, strengthen policy development and support regulation that delivers confidence, fairness and meaningful outcomes for all energy users. Ofgem fosters an inclusive culture that celebrates diverse voices and strengthens our connection to the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome, and colleagues are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work. We have two full-time roles available, with flexible, part-time and job-share options considered. Come along to our recruitment open event on 16th March at 1pm where you can meet the team, explore what a Researcher at Ofgem does and get the top tips for your application. This is a free to attend event with a Q&A section for you to ask any questions you may have. Book your spot today, meeting links will be shared on the morning of the event. https://buytickets.at/ofgem/2105769 Job description Purpose Lead the development and delivery of robust, value for money programmes of research and analysis Support the wider Consumer Insight & Behavioural Science team to ensure our work achieves maximum impact, working internally and externally to promote the evidence and analysis. Advocate for the consumer voice ensuring senior decisions makers have access to high quality, timely insights, analysis and briefings on consumers. Key Responsibilities: Lead on the design, development, commissioning and delivery of high quality, inclusive quantitative research (or qualitative/mixed methods) with households and businesses), ensuring they meet policy needs and deliver timely, robust insights that have a tangible impact on policy decisions. Delivery of rapid insights, drawing on both internal and external evidence sources, to ensure that support decision and policy making under tight deadlines. By providing quick turnaround findings, you will help Ofgem remain responsive to emerging consumer and market issues. Champion and embed the consumer voice and unique insights around consumers and their behaviour into Ofgems decisions, working effectively with other analytical disciplines to triangulate evidence from different sources and generate a holistic narrative around consumers. Work effectively with policy colleagues within Ofgem to bring in the consumer voice, identify evidence gaps and ensure evidence is interpreted correctly and has a tangible impact on decision making Conduct ad hoc research and analysis on areas of emerging priority and secondary analysis of external evidence and data to build our evidence base on consumers Ensure effective quality assurance at all stages of the research process eg critically review agency approaches and outputs to ensure accuracy and quality including sampling methodologies, weighting approaches, data quality and accuracy of analysis and reporting. Provide effective task management and mentoring to more junior researchers Ensure broad dissemination of consumer insights across Ofgem, presenting insights in an engaging way for senior, non-technical decision makers Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders eg peers in other regulators or government departments and research agencies, seeking opportunities for collaboration and building a picture of the external evidence base. Represent Ofgem at external events, networks, conferences etc to showcase the research and wider analytical work in Ofgem and bring learnings into Ofgem Keep up to date with developments in social and market research continually exploring new ways to innovate our research and analysis and ways of working Play an active role in the Research and Behavioural Science sub profession, helping to improve the skills/capabilities of people and quality and rigour of outputs, including through taking ownership for own continued professional development. Key Outputs and Deliverables High quality research strategies, plans and stakeholder engagement to develop fit for purpose consumer research that meets stakeholders needs Delivery of timely, publishable standard research outputs from commissioned, in house research or analysis, with clear recommendations and effective, engaging dissemination Delivery of clear and concise documents, including presentations, briefings, reports, and management papers for internal and external audiences. Support for junior team members, where necessary, to deliver high quality research outputs Person specification Essential Criteria: Substantial experience (client or agency side) leading on all aspects of the design and delivery of quantitative and qualitative research projects and analysis (LEAD) Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and to translate policy needs into clear research strategies and plans (LEAD) Technical expertise in quantitative analysis using survey data, including strong understanding of statistical methods and hypothesis testing. Ability to evaluate, synthesise and interpret evidence from a variety of sources, coming to logical conclusions and communicating this effectively through a range of channels to senior non-specialists. Experience working across multidisciplinary teams and providing effective task and people management Ability to manage both longer-term project delivery and rapid reactive advice and analysis work Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Communicating and Influencing Making Effective Decisions Delivering at Pace Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: You will be required to complete a technical task at interview stage Benefits Alongside your salary of 47,895, OFGEM contributes 13,875 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about. Things you need to know Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills. When you press the Apply now button, you will be directed to a Civil Service test guidance for this can be found here Civil Service online tests - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The test you are due to take is not timed and you can complete it at your own pace. Upon passing the test, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications. You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word personal statement evidencing how you meet the essential criteria listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the criteria listed in the role profile. The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Ofgem takes any incidences of cheating very seriously. Please ensure all examples provided are of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Please refer to Civil Service candidate advice on the acceptable use of artificial intelligence within the recruitment and selection process - Artificial intelligence and recruitment, Civil Service Careers The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [ https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn ]. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. 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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Lucy Dowding Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk Further information Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website. Attachments Role Profile_ 452165 Senior Research Advisor Opens in new window (pdf, 206kB) Terms and Conditions Apr25 Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB) Candidate Pack_452165 Senior Research Advisor Opens in new window (pdf, 718kB) Apply now