About this role
This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.
### Salary
The national salary range is £42,914 - £46,182, London salary range is £49,325 - £53,081 Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Job description
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Job Title: Senior Behavioural Insight Researcher
Grade: SEO
Directorate: Strategy and Analysis
Location: National
Contract Type: 6 Month Loan
Working Pattern: Full-time/ Flexible Working/ Part time 30 hours min
Successful applicants will be expected to be office based 3 days per week in any HMCTS Office (subject to business availability).
Introduction
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals across England and Wales. Our work supports court users, businesses and colleagues in delivering a justice system that is accessible, fair and efficient. We are looking for people who are committed to public service and motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Job Description
This role combines strong research expertise with a practical understanding of behavioural science and how it can be applied to improve services and outcomes. You will lead research and behavioural insight projects from inception through to delivery, selecting appropriate methodologies, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, and translating findings into clear, evidence-based recommendations.
Working as part of the Behavioural Insights Team, you will deliver projects that support improvements to user experience, operational performance and access to justice across HMCTS. Projects may involve engaging with a diverse range of service users, including defendants, victims and witnesses, as well as professional users such as court staff, legal advisers and members of the judiciary.
We are looking for candidates with experience of leading research, insight or evaluation projects within complex organisational environments, alongside an understanding of behavioural science principles and their application to service improvement, policy development and decision-making.
- Your role as Senior Behavioural Insight Researcher will encompass several key responsibilities listed below (but not limited to):
- You will lead the delivery of behavioural insight and research projects from initial scoping through to reporting, implementation and evaluation of recommendations.
- You will design and deliver qualitative and quantitative research activities, using a range of methods such as interviews, workshops, observations, surveys, evidence reviews and data analysis.
- You will apply behavioural science principles and frameworks to understand user behaviours, identify barriers and opportunities, and generate evidence-based solutions.
- You will develop proportionate and methodologically robust research approaches that meet business needs while balancing operational constraints.
- You will manage multiple projects simultaneously, overseeing project plans, timelines, risks, resources and stakeholder engagement.
- You will analyse and synthesise evidence from a variety of sources to produce clear insights, practical recommendations and implementation actions.
- You will design, support and evaluate pilots, trials and service improvements to assess effectiveness and inform future decision-making.
- You will present findings and recommendations to a range of audiences through reports, presentations and facilitated workshops.
- You will collaborate closely with policy, operational, analytical and service design teams to ensure research and behavioural insights influence strategy and service delivery.
- You will contribute to the development of behavioural insight capability, methodologies and best practice across HMCTS.
The post holder will be required to work flexibly and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management that are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of the role.
Essential skills
- Demonstrable theoretical knowledge of behavioural science and an understanding of how behavioural approaches can be applied to improve outcomes in public sector or government settings.
- Knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, with an understanding of how different approaches can be used to answer research questions, generate insight and support evidence-based decision-making.
- Ability to analyse, interpret and synthesise evidence from multiple sources to identify key findings, trends, opportunities and practical recommendations.
- Experience of applying research, analysis or insight to inform and improve policies, services, user experiences or operational performance.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively and understand the needs of different audiences.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex findings, evidence and recommendations clearly and persuasively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.
Desirable skills
- Experience of designing, delivering or evaluating interventions, pilots or trials.
- Experience of working in government, public services or a research and analysis environment.
- Membership of, or eligibility to join, the Government Social Research (GSR) profession or another relevant analytical profession.
- Experience of delivering presentations, workshops or engagement activities to communicate insight and support evidence-based decision-making.
Application process:
Stage 1 - Sift:
To apply for this position, you must submit the following as part of your application:
- An anonymised CV , setting out your career history, key responsibilities and achievements. Your CV will be assessed against the essential criteria outlined within the Essential Skills section of this advert.
- A Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words which should give us real life examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role . We recommend following the STAR (https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/interview-advice/the-star-method) format.
Stage 2 - Interviews:
Successful candidates who passed the sift will be invited to interview via Microsoft Teams. At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following – Technical and Behaviours. Details can be found under the interview stage assessment section on the advert.
Behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
You will be expected to deliver a technical presentation; the presentation brief will be sent to you in advance.
For further guidance on the interview process please click here
Salary details
New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.
Existing Civil Servants applying on promotion, will usually be appointed on the salary minimum of the new pay band, or receive an increase of 10 percent on the current base salary, whichever is higher (This is restricted to the pay maximum of the new band).
Travel requirements
There will be a requirement to travel occasionally to any HMCTS site in line with business needs.
Loan Information
Existing Civil Servants are eligible to apply and will only be considered on a loan basis. Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant.
Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map . All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www. www.GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare) or Childcare Choices (https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/) . You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 . Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ( [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/) )
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos .
Diversity & 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
Civil Service Nationality Rules
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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families (https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fsettled-status-eu-citizens-families&data=05%7C01%7Cchristopher.jeffery%40soprasteria.com%7C8a2293860362402c15da08dbf4cff146%7C8b87af7d86474dc78df45f69a2011bb5%7C0%7C0%7C638372946312587803%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=s%2BxUsev%2BGeeK%2FLgTUjpjfTJu%2FjpKQZ%2BQPJXNduvik3Q%3D&reserved=0)
- 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
Contact Information
MoJ:
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]
Please quote the job reference: 24112
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]
Please quote the job reference: 24112
Allowance
Specialist allowance
Due to the role(s) being analytical, those successful in recruitment will be eligible for a specialist allowance following an analytical interview based on location. This amount will be confirmed at onboarding stage.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.