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This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £42,914 - £46,182, London salary range is £49,325 - £53,081. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
23-Jan-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
2
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
13042

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

About us  

 

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice.  We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.  

About the role 

 

This is an exciting opportunity to join HMCTS’s Insight function in the Strategy and User Insight (S&UI) Division. The Insight function ensures that our understanding of user characteristics, behaviours, and needs, is analysed and shared in inspiring ways to inform decision-making throughout HMCTS.  

 

You will be part of a multidisciplinary team, comprised of social researchers, behavioural scientists, and operational researchers, setting the direction for the use of research to create insight across digital services, customer services, and operational delivery teams. This is a hands-on research role within the courts service at a crucial time of change. 

 

You will be carrying out research and evaluation to improve HMCTS services and the systems and processes underpinning our services. Projects will focus on the users of HMCTS services (e.g. defendants and claimants) and professional users of HMCTS systems and processes (e.g. court staff and judges). The role will have a key focus on understanding Civil, Family and Tribunal services. You will be working in a fast-paced operational environment where things can change quickly, but where there is a real opportunity to help shape frontline services.   

 

You will also be implementing much of the research we do: this is a ‘hands on’ role where you are likely to be out in the courts, carrying out fieldwork (e.g. qualitative and observational research, preparatory court visits to help with questionnaire design).  

 

We’re recruiting a resourceful, creative and adaptable research analyst who is keen to make a difference to users of the justice system to join our Insight team (within the Strategy and User Insight Division). You will be working on a wide variety of research projects relating to court processes in the civil, family and tribunal jurisdictions. You will work as part of the team on both large and small-scale research and evaluation projects, drawing on your knowledge of and skills in key quantitative and qualitative methods.  

 

Your role as the Senior Research Officer encompasses several key aspects (but not limited to): 

  • Delivering quantitative and qualitative research projects that enable HMCTS to make timely, evidence-based decisions.  
  • Designing research projects and evaluations; conducting secondary analysis of data and/ or undertaking primary research. 
  • Undertaking primary research to generate staff and public user insights.
  • Analysing and synthesising a range of evidence to present compelling summaries and narratives of knowledge. 
  • Communicating succinctly the results of analysis and managing relationships effectively with operational colleagues, senior stakeholders and external organisations to ensure maximum impact of analytical work being delivered. 
  • Providing advice, with support of senior analysts, on the outcomes of research and analysis.  

 

You will be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of  

Over the next year, the Civil, Family and Tribunals team will undertake both quantitative and qualitative research to improve access to justice across civil, family, and tribunal services. This work will also focus on enhancing operational performance by analysing a wide evidence base, including management information, user experience data, and primary research with diverse stakeholders such as citizens, court staff, the judiciary, and third-sector organisations. 

 

Who are we looking for? (Person Specification) 

The ideal candidate for this position should demonstrate:  

Essential  

  • Proven experience managing social research projects end-to-end, including scoping, designing research instruments, data collection, and analysis. 
  • Demonstrated ability to design and deliver in-house research projects to deepen understanding of organisational users. 
  • Practical application of a broad range of research methods, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and evaluation, while critically assessing their strengths and limitations to deliver a multi-disciplinary approach. 
  • Knowledge and experience in applying data analysis and statistical techniques to generate robust insights. 
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, reprioritising tasks to meet changing deadlines, evidenced by examples in previous roles.  
  • Track record of producing clear, concise written reports and delivering engaging presentations tailored to diverse audiences. 
  • Experienced in building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships, identifying insight needs, and collaborating to deliver fit-for-purpose research and actionable recommendations. 

 

Desirable  

In the event of a tied score between candidates, the following desirable criteria will be used: 

  • Knowledge of Civil, Family or Tribunals’ jurisdictions. 
  • Familiar with statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS or R. 

 

Application Stage  

Please submit: 

  • An anonymised CV 
  •  Statement of suitability demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria (up to 750 words). Please ensure you cover both ‘what’ you do but also ‘how’ you do it. (i.e., the effective skills, knowledge & experience needed to undertake the role). 

 We aim to sift both the CV and the Statement of Suitability but, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift may be conducted on the Statement of suitability only. Candidates who pass the initial sift of the Statement of Suitability will either be progressed to a full sift where the CV is then assessed or progressed straight to further assessment/interview. 

Interview  

If you are invited for an interview, this will take place via MS Teams.  

 

Please note: We will verify GSR membership of candidates who are shortlisted to interview by checking the GSR database. 

We will assess your suitability against the role requirements outlined above. You will also be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profiles framework and the Government Social Research Technical Framework. 

Guidance for the frameworks can be found below:  

 

Success Profile Behaviours (Grade SEO): 

  • Managing a Quality Service  
  • Making Effective Decisions  
  • Communicating and Influencing  

 

GSR Technical Framework  

  • Technical Skills 
  • Using & Promoting Social Research 

Additionally, you will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation followed by questions from the panel. The presentation brief will be shared with you in advance of your interview. The presentation and follow-up questions will focus on both aspects of the GSR Technical Framework, including Technical Skills and Using & Promoting Social Research. 

 

Further details  

Allowance  

This role qualifies for a GSR based salary supplement which is applied after successfully taking up the post.   

 

Travel Requirements 

You will be expected to travel to HMCTS sites on an ad-hoc basis in line with business needs. This will include occasional travel to London, if nationally based. 

 

Working pattern 

This is a full-time position only due to the nature of the role.  

 

About our benefits 

 

We reward our people for their hard work and commitment. We have a number of family 

friendly and flexible working polices that will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition, we offer a range of employee benefits which include generous annual leave, a highly competitive contributory pension scheme, childcare benefits, season ticket and bicycle loans. 

 

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going. 

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours 

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits 

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension 

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training 

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks 

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 13042

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please provide a statement of suitability demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria (up to 750 words). Please ensure you cover both ‘what’ you do but also ‘how’ you do it. (i.e., the effective skills, knowledge & experience needed to undertake the role).
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Technical
Technical Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Confirmation of GRS membership.

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To Be Confirmed
Behaviours
Managing a Quality Service
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Technical
During Interview, candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation followed by questions from the panel. The presentation brief will be shared with candidates in advance of their interview. The presentation and follow-up questions will focus on both aspects of the GSR Technical Framework, including Technical Skills and Using & Promoting Social Research.
Level of security checks required
DBS Basic

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.