6827 - Research Officer
| Posting date: | 12 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £34,140 to £42,019 per year |
| Additional salary information: | The national salary range is £34,140 - £37,105, London salary range is £38,661 - £42,019. Your salary will be dependent on your base location. |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 26 June 2025 |
| Location: | UK |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Ministry of Justice |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 6827 |
Summary
Job title: 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 a resourceful, creative and adaptable research analyst who is committed to public service, and keen to make a difference to users of the justice system. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.
About the team
The Insight Team, part of the HMCTS Strategy and User Insight Division, ensures that user characteristics, behaviours and needs are analysed and shared in inspiring ways to inform decision making throughout HMCTS. This an exciting opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary team, setting the direction for the use of research to create insight across digital services, customer services, and operational delivery teams.
About the role
As a Research Officer, 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.
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 and carrying out fieldwork (e.g. qualitative and observational research, preparatory court visits to help with questionnaire design).
Your role will encompass the following key tasks (but not limited to):
Designing research and evaluation projects with the support of senior analysts.
Delivering quantitative and qualitative projects that enable HMCTS to make timely, evidence-based decisions.
Conducting secondary analysis of data.
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 the results of analysis and managing relationships effectively with operational colleagues, senior stakeholders and external organisations to ensure maximum impact of analytical work.
Providing advice, with the support of senior analysts, on the outcomes of research and analysis.
You will also 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 responsibility of this role.
The civil, family and tribunals team’s work over the next year is likely to include qualitative and quantitative work on improving access to justice in civil, family and tribunal services, as well as improving the operational performance of services through the analysis of a wide evidence base including management information data, user experience data and primary research with users including citizens, court staff, judiciary and the third sector.
Who are we looking for? (Person Specification)
We’re looking for a highly motivated person who can demonstrate the following essential criteria and eligibility requirements:
Essential
An understanding of insight application in the public and/or private sector.
Experience of conducting social research, including quantitative and qualitative research from the development of research materials (survey questionnaires, qualitative topic guides, and data collection instruments), surveys, fieldwork (including qualitative interviews), and analysis of data.
Have experience of, and appreciate the strengths / weaknesses of, a wide range of research methods (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, evaluation) to apply a multi-disciplinary approach.
Good verbal and written communication skills, including an ability to develop relationships with a range of stakeholders, and work collaboratively with them.
Ability to manage work flexibly and adapt as priorities change.
Desirable
An understanding of public policy and services, particularly in the justice sector.
Experience of working closely with designers and developers to turn research and insight into actionable product/service requirements that feed into prototype development, and influence product direction.
Experience of conducting in-house research to develop an understanding of the organisation’s customers.
Familiar with statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS or R.
Experience of conducting user research.
Eligibility
You will either be a member of, or expected to join, the Government Social Research (GSR) profession. See GSR Eligibility requirements below:
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 a resourceful, creative and adaptable research analyst who is committed to public service, and keen to make a difference to users of the justice system. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.
About the team
The Insight Team, part of the HMCTS Strategy and User Insight Division, ensures that user characteristics, behaviours and needs are analysed and shared in inspiring ways to inform decision making throughout HMCTS. This an exciting opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary team, setting the direction for the use of research to create insight across digital services, customer services, and operational delivery teams.
About the role
As a Research Officer, 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.
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 and carrying out fieldwork (e.g. qualitative and observational research, preparatory court visits to help with questionnaire design).
Your role will encompass the following key tasks (but not limited to):
Designing research and evaluation projects with the support of senior analysts.
Delivering quantitative and qualitative projects that enable HMCTS to make timely, evidence-based decisions.
Conducting secondary analysis of data.
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 the results of analysis and managing relationships effectively with operational colleagues, senior stakeholders and external organisations to ensure maximum impact of analytical work.
Providing advice, with the support of senior analysts, on the outcomes of research and analysis.
You will also 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 responsibility of this role.
The civil, family and tribunals team’s work over the next year is likely to include qualitative and quantitative work on improving access to justice in civil, family and tribunal services, as well as improving the operational performance of services through the analysis of a wide evidence base including management information data, user experience data and primary research with users including citizens, court staff, judiciary and the third sector.
Who are we looking for? (Person Specification)
We’re looking for a highly motivated person who can demonstrate the following essential criteria and eligibility requirements:
Essential
An understanding of insight application in the public and/or private sector.
Experience of conducting social research, including quantitative and qualitative research from the development of research materials (survey questionnaires, qualitative topic guides, and data collection instruments), surveys, fieldwork (including qualitative interviews), and analysis of data.
Have experience of, and appreciate the strengths / weaknesses of, a wide range of research methods (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, evaluation) to apply a multi-disciplinary approach.
Good verbal and written communication skills, including an ability to develop relationships with a range of stakeholders, and work collaboratively with them.
Ability to manage work flexibly and adapt as priorities change.
Desirable
An understanding of public policy and services, particularly in the justice sector.
Experience of working closely with designers and developers to turn research and insight into actionable product/service requirements that feed into prototype development, and influence product direction.
Experience of conducting in-house research to develop an understanding of the organisation’s customers.
Familiar with statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS or R.
Experience of conducting user research.
Eligibility
You will either be a member of, or expected to join, the Government Social Research (GSR) profession. See GSR Eligibility requirements below: