Social Researcher

Do you thrive in an environment where you can work methodically? Can you review key research and create insights to be communicated to others? Are you able to work independently to produce quality outcomes, in a timely manner? If so, we'd love to hear from you! The successful Social Researcher will manage a programme of work across a number of policy areas including driver policy, motorcycle policy and vocational vehicles. This includes managing research and evaluation projects targeted on policy questions, but also work with policy colleagues and other analysts to quickly draw on or gather new evidence for decisions. The role holder will be provided with an excellent opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the policy process, and experience of making an impact with evidence. The role may include a combination of managing externally commissioned research or evaluation projects; advising policy colleagues who directly manage commissioned research; identifying evidence needs and designing solutions; and drawing on and disseminating research for it to be used in decisions. DVSA is open to new approaches to doing things, and there are lots of opportunity to offer leadership and develop new ways of working. This role will have close links with professional contacts within the Department for Transport (DfT) and the cross-government community. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to be an active participant of the Driver Policy senior leadership team. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to;

• Design, specify, commission, deliver and disseminate social research and evaluation projects to inform policy. Engage widely with various customers (policy, analysts, external) to identify evidence needs, shape work and deliver evidence or advice. This may vary across all of the specialist teams working within the Driver Policy teams for example motorcycle policy or Approved Driving Instructor policy areas.
• Collate insights from the evidence base to answer emerging policy questions.
• Provide technical advice to policy colleagues on evaluation and social research methods, including on the relative robustness of evidence sources, and the interpretation of findings, so that they can be used appropriately in policymaking.
• Take individual responsibility for providing timely, high-quality advice, research, analysis and briefing of both driver policy and legislation.