Job Title: Senior Research Officer
Directorate: Strategy, Analysis & Change
Workstream: Strategy and User Insight
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
An existing member of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession - Government Social Research Profession - GOV.UK.
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 Profiles - GOV.UK
The Government Social Research Technical Framework - GOV.UK
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.