Senior Research Officer - Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Verified Company
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

Details:


Reference number:


Salary:

- £37,295 - £44,724
  • From £37,295 nationally, and from £40,262 for inner London. In addition, these posts are currently offering a temporary nonpensionable, nonconsolidated Specialist Skills Supplement of £3000 per annum (pro rata as appropriate) For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading 'Salary'.
  • A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
    Job grade:
  • Senior Executive Officer
    Contract type:
  • Permanent
    Business area:
  • DEFRA
  • FBT
  • Agri-Food Chain
  • Agrifood chain Directorate 1 post Farming and Countryside Directorate 2 posts
    Type of role:
  • Analytical
  • Social Research
    Working pattern:
  • Flexible working, Fulltime, Job share, Parttime
    Number of jobs available:
  • 3Contents
Location

About the job


Benefits:

Things you need to know

Location

  • Defra Hubs: Bristol, London, NewcastleuponTyne and YorkAbout the job

Job summary:

We are looking to fill three Senior Research Officer posts in Defra.

One post is based in the Food Chain Analysis Team (in the Agri-Food Chain directorate), and two posts are based in the Farming and Environmental Land Management Evidence Teams (in the Farming and Countryside Programme directorate).


As a Senior Research Officer you will design, manage, and/or conduct complex or high-profile research projects (which may be commissioned externally, or conducted in-house).

Additionally, you may analyse and interpret existing data and provide guidance to policy colleagues on current research evidence. Other examples of projects include policy evaluations, literature reviews, public consultations, interviews and surveys. The role is expected to include mentoring or line managing junior research colleagues.


Job description:


Background to Defra


Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food & 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.

We are responsible for England's environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards.

Your role will be critically important to achieving our vision of 'creating a great place for living.


The Social Research Group in Defra


Social researchers in the Defra group play an essential role in helping Defra understand the context in which policy is delivered and its likely impact.

We help by framing and contextualizing the policy challenge, identifying "what works", developing policy solutions, and measuring and understanding the impact of government action.

We work in all the policy directorates in Defra and are involved in the challenges which are important to the Defra group.

These include securing food supply sustainability, reducing air pollution, improving the environmental contribution of farming, and addressing marine pollution.

Social researchers are embedded in policy and evidence teams across the directorates or work in a central research team. Coming together as the
Defra Social Research Group means we have strong working links to our profession. We are also full members of the Government Social Research profession.


As we work daily with policy, implementation and analytical colleagues, we value the support of our vibrant and active Social Research Group.

The Group enables us to share our knowledge and skills, solve common challenges, and develop our careers.


The roles

Senior Research Officer
  • Agri-Food Chain
directorate (1 x permanent post)
This role is based in the Food Chain Analysis team (FCAT).

FCAT is a vibrant and friendly team multidisciplinary team of economists, statisticians and social researchers in Defra's Agri-food Chain directorate.

The team provides analytical support to all aspects of food policy in the post farm gate food chain - from manufacturing to wholesale to retail to catering.

In recent times this has included analysing consumer behaviour, from pre-Brexit stockpiling to coronavirus panic buying, modelling the effects of economic shocks on retail prices, building up our market intelligence capacity and developing a deep understanding of the food supply chain (food is part of our Critical National Infrastructure).


Working in a flexible analytical team and directly with policy means this role is ideal for anyone looking to develop their research skills and influence policy.

It is particularly suited to people with some experience of working on issues relating to the agri-food chain and/or can demonstrate an interest in agri-food issues.

You will lead work across the Agri food Chain portfolio on high profile areas.

Examples of the team's work include:

  • Leading researc
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