Senior Research Officer – Natural Environment

Posting date:	01 December 2025
Salary:	£42,665 to £50,495 per year
Additional salary information:	National: £42,665 - £46,765 London: £46,060 - £50,495 The post currently attracts a Specialist Pay Lead of £3000 per year. For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’.
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	15 December 2025
Location:	Birmingham
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	437872/1

Summary

Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

This role is based in the Research and Evaluation team within the Environment Science and Analysis division. The team provides specialist social research and evaluation expertise to support teams working on natural environment policy issues across Defra’s Strategy, Governance and Climate (SGC) and Biodiversity, Land Use and Investment (BLI) directorates.

As a Senior Research Officer, you will work alongside colleagues in an interdisciplinary evidence division, including social researchers, economists and scientists, reporting to a Principal Social Researcher. You will be working very closely with policy colleagues to deliver a broad programme of research and evaluation and will be responsible for leading high-profile insights, research and evaluation projects, working across professions and complex policy areas.

The team is currently working particularly closely with the Access to Nature team, the wider Access, Landscapes, Peatland and Soils division, and the Land Use division.

The role will contribute to a range of high-profile areas, including: the Environmental Improvement Plan, in particular enhancing beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment; the new National River Walks; Local Nature Recovery Strategies; the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme; peatland policy; and the People and Nature Survey.

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