Research Adviser

Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) works on behalf of energy consumers to ensure that every household and business in Great Britain can rely on a safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy supply. We are playing a vital part in accelerating the transition to Net Zero and a carbon neutral energy system.

Through the Energy Act 2023 Ofgem received a new Net Zero Duty1 which requires us to consider how to assist the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero in meeting the government's Net Zero target, while protecting the interests of existing and future consumers. This act also appointed Ofgem as the heat networks regulator. Heat networks will play a crucial role in decarbonising heat in buildings and reducing the cost of living through efficient, affordable heating in densely populated areas.

Team purpose

The Consumer Insight and Behavioural Science team delivers crucial evidence and insight on the needs, behaviours, perceptions and experiences of all households and businesses, including heat networks customers, to ensure that Ofgem is delivering in the interests of consumers. With the continued challenges that consumers face in the current energy market following the global gas crisis and cost of living pressures, and the important role of the consumer in achieving Net Zero, putting the consumer voice front at the centre of our decisions has never been more important. Doing so helps to ensure that policies meet consumers' needs, support consumers as intended, and our regulatory frameworks and protections are fit for purpose.

We support teams across Ofgem by designing, commissioning, analysing and interpreting both quantitative, qualitative, and behavioural research using a range of methodologies and across diverse audiences (including households, vulnerable consumers and businesses). We also conduct qualitative research and behavioural experiments in-house. We have a programme of core tracking surveys to look at trends in consumer experiences across the energy market and conduct bespoke research on topical issues.

Our research is used internally as a key evidence source on consumer experiences and behaviours to inform decision and policy making. It achieves external impact too and is shared widely with external stakeholders, including being published on the Ofgem website, and has even won an award for its impactful work and has even won an award for its impactful work.

We are recruiting for an experienced social or market researcher to work as senior member of the Customer Insight & Behavioural Science team within the Analysis profession. In this role you will focus on scoping, developing and leading a new, robust, value for money programme of research on Heat Network customers. This may include establishing new tracking surveys and bespoke qualitative, quantitative or behavioural research to address emerging evidence gaps. You will work closely with the heat networks policy and implementation teams to ensure the work has visibility and tangible impact on heat networks policy development. You may also be expected to play a leading role in the design and delivery of other aspects of our core consumer research programme, working effectively with stakeholders and staff across the Research and Behavioural Science sub profession.

Ofgem has a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and connects us closer to the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome-as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.,

• 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.


• Champion and embed the consumer voice and unique insights around consumers and their behaviour into Ofgem's decisions, working effectively with other analytical disciplines to triangulate evidence from different sources and generate a holistic narrative around 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.


• Maximise the value and impact of data collected by Ofgem and external organisations, conducting/overseeing analysis, advising on analytical frameworks, and synthesising evidence to address key policy and strategic questions.


• Play a lead role in ensuring research and analysis has impact within Ofgem and that research is effectively interpreted and communicated in policy papers, consultation documents and publications.


• Ensure broad dissemination of consumer and behavioural insights, presenting to internal and external stakeholders (at all levels) in an engaging way, helping to raise the profile and impact of our research, including with senior executives.


• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders eg peers in other regulators or government departments and research agencies, seeking opportunities for collaboration.


• Provide effective task management and mentoring to more junior researchers


• 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.


• Represent Ofgem at external events, networks, conferences etc to showcase the work of research and wider analytical work in Ofgem and bring learnings into Ofgem.


• Keep up to date with developments in social, market and behavioural research - continually exploring new ways to innovate our research and analysis.


Key Outputs and Deliverables

• High quality research plans, project plans and stakeholder engagement to develop fit for purpose consumer surveys and bespoke research that meets stakeholders' needs


• Lead/oversee in-house quantitative statistical analysis of survey data sets to address key policy questions, generating clear, simple and engaging outputs.


• Delivery of timely, publishable standard research outputs from commissioned or 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


• Promotion and dissemination of research internally and externally
  
  Are you dedicated to sustainability and passionate about protecting consumers? Could you help lead the charge towards a Net Zero future for the UK's energy industry? We're looking for a Senior Research Adviser to join us in a pivotal role and deliver vital research projects into energy use, needs and perceptions across the country., Significant experience and understanding in all aspects of quantitative research and survey design, particularly questionnaire design, sampling, statistical methods and hypothesis testing (LEAD)


• Substantial experience (client or agency side) in the end-to-end delivery of complex social, behavioural or market research projects (LEAD)


• Knowledge and experience of behavioural insights and experiments and/or strong understanding of qualitative research design and analysis.


• Proficiency using tools such as SPSS, Python, R, or similar to manipulate, analyse and visualise research data.


• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and to translate policy needs into clear research plans


• Ability to evaluate, synthesise and interpret evidence from a variety of sources, coming to logical conclusions and communicating this effectively to senior non-specialists., Seeing the Big Picture


• Working Together


• Developing Self and Others


• Delivering at Pace


Technical skills

Ofgem is Great Britain's independent energy regulator. We're at the forefront of change across the energy sector, driving toward Net Zero whilst protecting energy consumers - especially vulnerable people.

We are offering a brand-new permanent position where you will lead ground-breaking, research and support a variety of high-profile projects, such as heat networks and consumer experiences. Your work will directly influence decisions that will impact millions of households and businesses across GB and ensure consumer voices are at the heart of energy policy, especially in the context of the transition to Net Zero.

You'll have the opportunity to design and deliver high-impact research projects, using cutting-edge tools and methodologies to generate insights. Working alongside a diverse team of experts, you will be enabled to develop your professional skills in a dynamic, supportive and innovative environment.

We're looking for a first-class social or market research professional with expertise in quantitative research and survey design and ideally some expertise in qualitative research or behavioural insights and experiments too You'll need a decent grasp of SPSS, Python or R in order to analyse and visualise research data as well as the drive to support our senior team and coach junior team members.

What's more, with our fully flexible working patterns and hybrid working options from central offices in London, Glasgow and Cardiff, you will discover a focus on a first-class work/life balance and a small, friendly and knowledgeable team to work alongside.

We have a critical purpose to ensure that we are delivering in the interests of consumers through our evidence and insights and this is your chance to support our essential work and develop an impactful career path.

As part of recruiting for this role we are hosting a Recruitment Open Event on Sept 23rd at 12.30pm in which you will hear from the panel about the role and what life at Ofgem means to them. To hear from the panel and a Q&A session please sign up for free on the link: https://buytickets.at/ofgem/1392734