Research Officer (HEO)

The Evaluation Task Force (ETF) is seeking a Research Officer (HEO) to support its ambitious programme of work, which seeks to make UK Government programmes and policies more evidence-based and improve outcomes for the public.
This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre of government in collaboration with teams in Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and across government departments.
We are based in offices at 70 Whitehall in London and we support hybrid working with an expectation of at least 3 days per week working in the office., The Evaluation Task Force (ETF) is a joint Cabinet Office-HM Treasury unit. We are based in the Cabinet Office, and report to both Cabinet Office and HM Treasury ministers.
We were established in 2021, and our aim is to ensure that evidence on the effectiveness of policies and programmes sits at the heart of decisions in government.
We work with every central government department and provide them with specialist advice and support on their evaluation plans and approaches. We also support HM Treasury colleagues to scrutinise and review the evidence and evaluation plans associated with departments’ spending proposals.
Our team funds impactful, innovative research within and outside of government through a range of funds we oversee and administer. We work closely with What Works Centres, and have a range of programmes we lead that are improving the transparency of research outputs in government and upskilling civil servants in evaluation.
We are at the very centre of government, and by joining us, you will play a key role in making government policy and programmes more evidence-based. We would encourage you to take a look at our website, which has further details on our work.
As a Research Officer in our team, you will have many opportunities to stretch and challenge yourself, build new skills and develop your career. You will work collaboratively across our team and manage an exciting workload within a fast paced environment. You will need to adapt to changing priorities and propose effective ways of delivering against these. You will be communicating regularly with a wide range of people and organisations, from both within and outside of government. You will be proactive and work on your own initiative, with plenty of guidance and support from your line manager and other Evaluation Task Force colleagues.
Some familiarity with quantitative and/or qualitative evaluation or research methods is required, but the role will offer professional development and on-the-job opportunities to develop your professional analytical and evaluation experience and other skills.
Activities for this role are likely to include:
+ Supporting a range of new and emerging research priorities across the team, which improve the use of evidence and evaluation across government.
+ Overseeing the management of the UK Government’s Evaluation and Trial Advice Panel, which connects project teams in departments to our panel of evaluation experts from industry, academia and government.
+ Leading on monitoring and reporting on our team’s engagement with departments.
+ Prepare monthly updates for Cabinet Office Ministers about the work of the Evaluation Task Force
+ Supporting the team to commission and oversee high-priority evaluations such as for the Evaluation Accelerator Fund and Labour Market Evaluation and Pilots Fund.
+ Developing and publishing resources and materials on our team’s website for cross-government and wider public audiences.
+ Leading on the delivery of events to promote the value of evaluation to cross-government audiences., If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
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.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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).
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+ Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to the audience
+ Ability to plan, prioritise and deliver work in a fast-paced environment while continuing to make progress on long-term objectives
+ Ability to work collaboratively and build effective working relationships with key stakeholders across the Civil Service and outside of government
+ Knowledge of research and analytical methodologies and ability to demonstrate practical application of both qualitative and quantitative approaches through project based work.
Desirable
+ Experience delivering or managing evaluations (e.g. process, impact, and/or value-for-money evaluations), + Delivering at Pace
+ Working Together
+ Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Technical research skills will be assessed against the Government Social Research Technical Framework

Alongside your salary of £38,250, Cabinet Office contributes £10,327 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role.
+ An environment with flexible working options.
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
+ A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
+ A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.