ESRC-funded Innovation Fellowship opportunity - CENTRE-UB Senior Behavioural Research Fellow

The CENTRE-UB Senior Behavioural Research Fellow will be an established behavioural researcher, seconded to Cabinet Office to work across organisational and professional boundaries to develop and deliver an effective and innovative strategy to grow behavioural science research capability across the whole of government. The postholder will be recruited for 4 years/48 months to the University of Birmingham as part of a £17.5m Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) investment in UK behavioural research, and will be seconded into Cabinet Office for a minimum of three years of this period, with option to extend the secondment within the overall term of the appointment. Full details of the position, including information on how to apply, can be found here
The ESRC have recently invested £17M to develop a National Capability in Behavioural Research, establishing a hub, Behavioural Research-UK (BR-UK), and a new Centre for Doctoral Training Plus, the Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (CENTRE-UB). Crucially, this includes building capability in the heart of government in applying behavioural and social science methods, frameworks, theory and evidence to develop strategy, policy and practice. We are seeking an exceptional researcher to lead the development of a new behavioural research capability-building strategy within government. This role will involve the application of behavioural research knowledge, the use of social science research methods, and the application of relevant pedagogies. This post is the first of its kind with the post holder employed within CENTRE-UB and seconded to the Government Skills Directorate (GS), Cabinet Office., The post holder will be a behavioural researcher with an established national, and developing international, reputation gained through original research work, who has a clear record of impact and knowledge translation. They will be passionate about evidence-based policy making and will be knowledgeable of the conditions for this to happen, particularly through building skills and capability. Investment in behavioural science expertise exists already within government (e.g., through Go-Science or the Behavioural Science Network), therefore, the successful candidate will take a leading role in further developing these networks and building on early investments. This unique role builds links between academia and government; therefore, the ideal candidate is expected to have doctoral-level qualifications and expertise in conducting behavioural research, and a track record of designing, delivering and/or evaluating training (or teaching) and learning opportunities,
preferably in sectors beyond academia.
This post offers unique professional development opportunities for a researcher who wishes to develop their expertise working in a policy environment. There is considerable potential for impact for someone passionate about upskilling others to increase adoption of behavioural research and insights within government. We recognise that the post holder will come with an established research profile that they want to maintain. Therefore, 20% of the time (equivalent to 1 day per week FTE) within this post is allocated to the post holder’s own research. There is the potential to increase this time allocation where the goals of the post holder directly align with the deliverables of this post.
In leading the development and implementation of a new behaviour research capability-building strategy for government, the successful candidate will lead on research, likely to include participatory consultations and primary or secondary data collection to: identify learner profiles, the strengths and limitations of existing training, learning and development, and the types of information, tools and skills within the area of behavioural and social sciences that are relevant to the work of civil servants and ministers. They will translate the insights gained from this research into the development of evidence-based capability-building interventions, working closely with the Centre-UB team, Government Skills and the behaviour science community across government. This is likely to include curating existing effective interventions into professional development pathways, developing new interventions (including with Centre-UB), and monitoring and evaluating the implementation
of the interventions and the strategy more broadly. The post holder will produce appropriate publications, presentations and research reports on these aspects of the work.
Cabinet Office is based across multiple UK-wide locations. The post holder can be based within a Cabinet Office in York, Bristol or Glasgow, or can be homeworking. Regardless of location, the post holder is expected to travel to Birmingham monthly for whole-day meetings to work with the team at the University of Birmingham (located in Edgbaston) and will need to travel to London monthly to meet with government colleagues. Some overnight stays may be needed. There is no minimum office attendance requirement, and candidates are encouraged to identify the right hybrid work pattern that meets their personal circumstances and supports delivery in the role.
Main Duties
Research
Lead sustained high value impact activity in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including policy engagement, business engagement, public engagement) that is of manifest benefit to Centre-UB and GS (e.g., planning, designing and developing training programmes that meet the needs of civil servants related to behavioural research and evaluating their success), and: (a) makes a significant contribution to policy development and delivery at national and international level; and (b) involves the development of links and comparable networks and initiatives within government, and between Government, Centre-UB and Behavioural Research-UK (BR-UK).
In addition, research responsibilities will include some but not all the indicative responsibilities from grade 8 listed below.
+ Project manage capability building and research activities, and/or supervising other staff
+ Develop, carry out and report robust and proportionate evaluations of behavioural research capacity building initiatives in government, simultaneously contributing to the development of evaluation capacity within government.
+ Pursue sustained research activity through original research and scholarship, including research-related contributions through conference papers and presentations and/or consultancy projects and advice. Where appropriate for the discipline this may include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below.
+ Make a major contribution to the management of research activities associated with Centre-UB
+ Lead successful funding bids which develop and sustain research support for Centre-UB and the partnership with GS
+ Publish leading research that results in a sustained, highly respected reputation of international quality in the subject area
+ Provide expert advice internally and externally, which builds research and evaluation capacity
+ Provide leadership of research that contributes to the progression of research and pedagogy within human behaviour.
Management/administration
+ Lead the development of a new behaviour research capability building offer for government. This will involve representation on Centre-UB boards and representation on government working groups/networks. Where appropriate to the discipline, this may include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below.
+ Develop and manage staff and resources in support of major research activities associated with Centre-UB and the secondment to GS
+ Contribute significantly to the development and delivery of knowledge transfer, enterprise, policy engagement, business engagement and public engagement activities with a sustained high value impact of manifest benefit to Centre-UB and GS
+ Develop and implement a culture (including policies and procedures) that promotes equality and values diversity and inclusion.
In addition, management/administration responsibilities will include some but not necessarily all the indicative responsibilities from grade 8 listed below.
+ Advise on personal development
+ Contribute to administrative activities within Centre-UB and GS.
Finally, the candidate will be required to:
+ Meet the security checks and other clearance and declaration of interest processes required by the host. This post requires BPSS clearance, which usually requires a criminal record check and baseline personnel security standard checks.
+ Observe the provisions of the Civil Service Code and the Official Secrets Act 1989.
Location of the seconded post: Government Skills, formally known as the Government Skills and Curriculum Unit (GSCU), was set up in 2020 to drive up capability across Government in an evidence-based and impact-led way. GS ensures all civil servants, from entry to most senior leadership, have the core and specialist knowledge, skills and networks they need to deliver great public services and address complex systemic challenges, now and in the future. This mission is delivered through the Government Campus which unifies a wide range of learning and development interventions organised around an innovative and future-facing core curriculum for Civil Servants. This work is central to the Government Modernisation and Reform policy area. The Curriculum team is at the heart of GS, owning and developing the Government skills strategy and translating this into the Curriculum for Government, as well as designing and implementing a range of interventions focused on
developing the core and specialist skills of all civil servants. We are growing our evaluation work in the Campus. You can find more information about GS and the Government Campus on our GOV.UK page: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-skills-and-curriculum-unit including our Evaluation Strategy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-campus-evaluation-strategy, The successful candidate will create a lasting legacy whereby current and emerging social challenges naturally have a social and behavioural research lens focused upon them. The successful candidate will be expected to understand, communicate to others, and action the transformational change needed within government to achieve this goal. In the first-of-its-kind post, the successful candidate will be employed by the new Centre for National Training and Research Excellence in Understanding Behaviour (CENTRE-UB) and seconded into Government Skills (GS), which is part of the Cabinet Office. The candidate will also work closely with civil servants in GO-Science and other UK Government Departments, members of BR-UK and ESRC. Therefore, the candidate will join a cross-sector team that spans academia and government, committed to tackling societal challenges by incentivising and upskilling the government workforce. Existing civil servants should note that, if appointed,
they would become an employee of the University of Birmingham and would cease being a civil servant. This post is not available on a civil service contract, nor is it available as a secondment out of the civil service.
The post holder will be required to:
+ Sign a fellowship agreement between UKRI (the funder), Government Skills (the government host) and the University of Birmingham (the employer).
+ Meet the security checks and other clearance and declaration of interest processes required by the host. This post requires BPSS clearance, which usually requires a criminal record check and baseline personnel security standard checks.
+ Observe the provisions of the Civil Service Code and the Official Secrets Act 1989., Details of the selection process can be found in the full advertisement for the role here.
Requirements for your application
When applying for this role, please ensure that you use your statement of application (capped at 10,000 characters) to demonstrate how you meet all the essential criteria for the position. It is important that you provide concrete, explained examples which demonstrate how you meet the criteria. It is not enough to just say that you meet the criteria (for example, you must show us that you have experience of working with non-academic stakeholders, not just tell us you have done this). In the examples you share, it can be helpful to use the STAR technique - describe the situation, task, action taken and results. It is very important that you address all the criteria, not just some of them, in your statement of application. We recommend that you structure your statement of application around the criteria. Please also include information about your motivation for applying for the position in your statement of application.
When writing your application, please bear in mind that the panel will include members of research staff and professional services at the University of Birmingham, and Government partners. It is important that your CV and statement of application is intelligible to all these partners, and that both are written in a way which demonstrates how you meet the criteria for the role.
Candidates invited to interview will be asked to give a presentation at interview and prepare a written exercise that is submitted prior to the interview. Further details will be provided to those applicants invited to the interview stage.
Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
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:
o UK nationals
o nationals of the Republic of Ireland
o nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
o 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)
o 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)
o individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
o 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
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Demonstrated excellence at the level of accomplishment expected to meet the promotion criteria for Senior Lecturer in both Research, and Management and Administration, as outlined below. In addition: (i) a higher volume of excellent outputs/inputs in Research, and in research-related Management and Administration than would be expected for a Senior Lecturer in a similar field; and/or (ii) an exceptional quality of outputs in Research and in research-related Management and Administration.
Research requirements
+ An excellent national reputation and a developing international profile through original research work and a clear record of impact related to behavioural research that has policy relevance.
+ High level peer esteem as evidenced by
+ Excellent reputation in the UK and often internationally, reflected in sustained high-quality output, level of innovation, impact on subject and recognition.
+ An excellent and sustained record of peer reviewed research publications.
+ Substantial and sustained research income generation, e.g. through grants, contracts, research consultancy or other external funding.
+ Sustained high value impact knowledge transfer and enterprise demonstrating experience of working successfully with non-academic stakeholders or partners and proactively building and maintaining relevant and diverse networks. This should include proven capacity to deliver high quality advice, impact projects and outputs at pace, and in ambiguous or changing circumstances, in a complex system or organisation.
Management and administration-related requirements
+ Demonstrated significant achievement in management and administration-related activities, including leadership of activities/initiatives.
+ Successful and sustained performance in significant administrative/managerial role(s).
+ Successful and sustained contribution to the corporate life of a Department/School/College/University, displaying willingness to contribute actively to committees, collaborative teaching and administrative tasks.
+ Promotes equality and diversity to internal and external stakeholders, uses data to identify equality and diversity issues, and has experience of developing interventions to address equality and diversity issues.
The skills and experience listed above will be additional to the skills and experience required at grade 8 including;
+ A PhD in a social or behavioural science (such as psychology, sociology, cognitive science, economics, political science, social research, anthropology, pedagogy or education).
+ Very strong, broad knowledge of behavioural research and its applications, including different perspectives within the discipline and have credibility to other leading behavioural scientists and behaviour science practitioners through a personal track record of relevant activities within the discipline.
+ Knowledge and experience in designing, delivering and/or evaluating high-quality and innovative teaching or training of behavioural research (e.g., training programmes, courses, and/or workshops, seminars, or public speaking events) aimed at enhancing capability, preferably in sectors beyond academia.

Full details of the benefits offered by the University of Birmingham are outlined in the full advertisement for this role on the recruiter’s website.
Training opportunities
The successful candidate will have access to the training, networking and knowledge exchange opportunities offered to UK Research and Innovation cohort of Policy Fellows. More information on the Policy Fellowship cohort joining in autumn 2023 can be found here: click here