Research Officer (HEO) / Senior Research Officer (SEO) - Multiple roles

Vacancy title

Research Officer (HEO) / Senior Research Officer (SEO) - Multiple roles

Closing date

20/04/2026, 16:00

Advertising basis

Fixed Term, Permanent

Actual starting salary

HEO - £37,111 / SEO - £47,675

Salary range or pay band

Other

Allowances

No

Work pattern

Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)

Group

Corporate Services and Inspectorates

Directorate

Digital, Data and Technology

Branch

Multiple branches

Location (s)

Pan Wales

Purpose of post

Our aim is to help the First Minister and Welsh Ministers to build a fairer, greener and more equal Wales.

We are looking for passionate and capable people from all walks of life. Previous experience as a civil servant is not a requirement. We are looking for people who can bring different lived experiences to our decision making, while being able to thrive in collaborative teams that will help change the way we think. We are looking for applications from diverse candidates who can bring fresh skills, lived experiences and perspectives to our work.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a group of researchers working as part of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession. As a Research Officer (RO) or Senior Research Officer (SRO) at the Welsh Government, the post-holders would work closely with policy colleagues and other analysts. Post-holders will be responsible for the development and oversight of a research programme.

Example Posts Are:

Senior Research Officer - Social Partnership and Fair Work

This post will lead and manage social research and evaluation projects that support the Social Partnership, Fair Work and Employability Directorate. The role is responsible for building a robust evidence base to inform policy and delivery across Wales, supporting the evaluation of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) 2023 Act, and strengthening research on fair work, including the impacts of remote and hybrid working and inclusive workplace practices. The postholder will work collaboratively with analysts, economists, and statisticians, and will develop research links with social partnership groups and academic networks to ensure that research findings inform policy and practice across the Welsh Government.

Research Officer - Justice Devolution

This post will be responsible for assisting in the design, development and management of a range of a research activity and evidence development to support and inform Welsh Government preparations for the devolution of justice responsibilities to Wales. As part of this the post holder will work with other teams in the Welsh Government, external stakeholders and partners in the Ministry of Justice, HM Prison and Probation Service and the Youth Justice Board.

Research Officer - Housing

This post plays a key role in delivering a research programme that supports the strategic priorities of the Housing policy team. This includes providing robust data, evidence, and analysis to inform housing policy development and programme evaluation. Working closely with colleagues across housing and regeneration teams, the role will support initiatives in areas such as homelessness, affordable housing supply, and the decarbonisation of homes. The research contributes to cross-cutting priorities, including advancing equality, supporting the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, and addressing the climate and nature emergencies

Note, these are example posts, provided for illustrative purposes. A number of RO and SRO posts are expected to be available at the time of appointment.

All posts will involve supporting emerging needs from the relevant policy areas as well as contributing to projects working across different teams in the Research Profession. Please get in touch if you would like to know more about any of these posts or emerging opportunities.

More information about Social Research careers at Welsh Government can be found at Government Social Research careers | GOV.WALES

Key tasks

The indicative key tasks outlined below may not all necessarily be required within a single post and other tasks may also be undertaken. The level of responsibility will vary between Research Officer and Senior Research Officer roles. There will be a greater emphasis on autonomy and leading projects for a Senior Research Officer role.

What your organisation will expect?

Develop and maintain strategic links with the wider research community. Within Wales, the UK and internationally.

Work with other public sector organisations where common areas of interest are identified.

What your team will expect?

• Lead and/or manage the development and delivery of research and evaluation projects.
• Support and encourage policy colleagues to develop their understanding of social research. This includes appreciating how social research can support wider Welsh Government aims.
• Advise and support internal colleagues on technical and professional social research issues.
• Ensure any line managed staff are developed, through the provision of direction, advice and support for training and professional development.
• Deputise for Principal Research Officers as required.
• Contribute to other areas of research and evaluation, as deemed appropriate by line manager.
  
  

What your stakeholders will expect?

• Ensure that research findings are communicated effectively, including findings feeding into policy and service development, delivery and evaluation.
• Develop and maintain strategic links with the wider research community. Within Wales, the UK and internationally.
• Work with other public sector organisations where common areas of interest are identified.
  
  

Development opportunities

• The post holder will be providing support to policy areas that include high profile government commitments, as a result the post holder will have significant opportunities to work with senior policy officials and also Ministers.
• There are also opportunities to work collaboratively with other analysts within Welsh Government and academia.
  
  

Other vacancy related information

• Blended working will mean spending some time in one or more of our office bases; as well as spending some time working remotely or with Welsh Government partners and customers. As a guide, for most of us who work full-time, this would mean spending on average two days working from an office base in an average week.

An initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Research Knowledge. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift.

This recruitment exercise will also be used to set up a reserve list for future RO and/or SRO level posts which may become available on a permanent, temporary or secondment/loan basis in the course of the next 12 months.

CVs will not be scored but will be used by the panel to gain a fuller understanding of your experience and employment history.

Please read the Candidate guidance document for this vacancy for full assessment details - Guidance for candidates applying for jobs in Social Research (RO/SRO) | GOV.WALES

Sift Stage:

Guidance for Candidates

• To be eligible to apply for these roles, you must meet the Government Social Research profession entry requirements. Via either the qualification or experience route (experience 1)
• Hold a minimum of 2:2 in an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree
  
  

AND

either

• [qualification route] A relevant social science subject at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Which contains substantial social research methods training. (We would expect social research methods to represent around a third of modules taken)
  
  

or

• [experience route] At least 4 years’ social research practice experience. (This would be experience designing, managing and conducting research in a research agency, market research agency or specialised research team. For this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills).
  
  

Candidates must either be an existing GSR member or have satisfied the GSR eligibility criteria. If not the remainder of the application is not scored and the application will be rejected.

• To apply for this opportunity, you will need to submit a CV (no more than 2 sides of A4) and provide evidence against Behaviours and Experience criteria.

These are listed in 'Areas to Evidence' section of the advert.

You should provide up to 250 words per each individual behaviour and experience that needs to be evidenced. You should aim to provide as much evidence as you can for each individual area, so make best use of the word allowance.

Your evidence should address the specific part of the evidence requested rather than the general behaviour.

For more information on Civil Service Behaviours and what is required for each grade, please refer to Success Profiles: Civil Service Behaviours .

Sift outcomes are expected to be issued in May at which point you will be able to book an interview slot. If you are successful at sift, you will not be able to request your sift scores until the full assessment process has completed.

Assessment Stage

Guidance for Candidates

Candidates who are successful at the sifting stage will be assessed using the Government Social Research assessment approach. These include:

• A GSR knowledge test;
• An oral briefing exercise which will assess Research Knowledge, Managing Research and Communicating and Influencing.
• A general interview following the oral briefing which will cover Leadership and Delivering at Pace
• Eligibility for GSR membership is only assessed at application stage.
• A candidate who passes all assessment stages other than the GSR knowledge test may be offered a fixed term post during which they are able to resit the knowledge test. If they subsequently pass then a permanent post may be possible, although that is not guaranteed.
• Applicants will be assessed initially for the Senior Research Officer roles at the SEO grade. However if the applicant is not found appointable at the grade, they will be assessed for the Research Officer role at the HEO grade.
• If an applicant is graded at SEO (SRO), they will have a starting salary of – £ £47,675

If an applicant is graded at the lower grade HEO (RO), they will have a starting salary of -£37,111

For more information and news about the GSR please visit the GSR website – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-social-research-profession .

Please read the Candidate guidance document for this vacancy for full assessment details - Guidance for candidates applying for jobs in Social Research (RO/SRO) | GOV.WALES

Sift Stage:

Guidance for Candidates

• To be eligible to apply for these roles, you must meet the Government Social Research profession entry requirements. Via either the qualification or experience route (experience 1)
• Hold a minimum of 2:2 in an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree
  
  

AND

either

• [qualification route] A relevant social science subject at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Which contains substantial social research methods training. (We would expect social research methods to represent around a third of modules taken)
  
  

or

• [experience route] At least 4 years’ social research practice experience. (This would be experience designing, managing and conducting research in a research agency, market research agency or specialised research team. For this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills).
  
  

Candidates must either be an existing GSR member or have satisfied the GSR eligibility criteria. If not the remainder of the application is not scored and the application will be rejected.

• To apply for this opportunity, you will need to submit a CV (no more than 2 sides of A4) and provide evidence against Behaviours and Experience criteria.
• These are listed in 'Areas to Evidence' section of the advert.
• You should provide up to 250 words per each individual behaviour and experience that needs to be evidenced. You should aim to provide as much evidence as you can for each individual area, so make best use of the word allowance.

Your evidence should address the specific part of the evidence requested rather than the general behaviour.

For more information on Civil Service Behaviours and what is required for each grade, please refer to Success Profiles: Civil Service Behaviours .

Sift outcomes are expected to be issued in May at which point you will be able to book an interview slot. If you are successful at sift, you will not be able to request your sift scores until the full assessment process has completed.

Assessment Stage

Guidance for Candidates

Candidates who are successful at the sifting stage will be assessed using the Government Social Research assessment approach. These include:

• A GSR knowledge test;
• An oral briefing exercise which will assess Research Knowledge, Managing Research and Communicating and Influencing.
• A general interview following the oral briefing which will cover Leadership and Delivering at Pace
• Eligibility for GSR membership is only assessed at application stage.
• A candidate who passes all assessment stages other than the GSR knowledge test may be offered a fixed term post during which they are able to resit the knowledge test. If they subsequently pass then a permanent post may be possible, although that is not guaranteed.
• Applicants will be assessed initially for the Senior Research Officer roles at the SEO grade. However if the applicant is not found appointable at the grade, they will be assessed for the Research Officer role at the HEO grade.
• If an applicant is graded at SEO (SRO), they will have a starting salary of – £ £47,675
• If an applicant is graded at the lower grade HEO (RO), they will have a starting salary of -£37,111
• For more information and news about the GSR please visit the GSR website – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-social-research-profession .
  
  

Vetting level

Basic

Number of posts

1

Contact point for further information regarding the post

socialresearch.recruitment@gov.wales

Welsh language requirements

3 - Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, they are however desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.

Understanding by reading

0 - No skills

Speaking and being understood

0 - No skills

Understanding by listening

0 - No skills

Writing and being understood

0 - No skills

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

Behaviour 1:

The selection process and stages are:

Communicating and Influencing

Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact.

Behaviour 2:

Delivering at Pace

Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance.

Behaviour 3:

Leadership

Take into account different individual needs, views, and ideas, championing inclusion and equality of opportunity for all.

Evidence to provide

CV, Experience questions

Experience 1:

Eligibility for GSR membership – meets either the qualification or research experience requirements for GSR membership.

Experience 2:

Research Knowledge – including both quantitative and qualitative research methods. This should be evidenced with an overview of your relevant experience.

Experience 3:

Managing research - managing or commissioning research work that meets the needs of policy colleagues and/or customers. This should be evidenced with an overview of your relevant experience.

You will be asked about your nationality and if you are legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This is to find out if you are eligible to apply for this vacancy. This is a requirement for working within the Civil Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria your application will not progress. If it becomes clear at a later stage in the process that you are not eligible to apply, your application may be withdrawn, or the offer retracted.

Nationality Requirements

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)

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

All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme
• 31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
• training and development opportunities
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Smart Working flexible working arrangement
• Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)
  
  

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales . Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.

How To Apply

All applications for this vacancy must be made using our online application system.

Unless stated otherwise in the 'Other vacancy-related information for advert', the Welsh Government cannot offer Visa sponsorship. Welsh Government holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

Applications are welcomed from people with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation which represents the diverse communities we serve. There are a number of Diversity networks that staff can participate in, which include the Disability Awareness and Support Staff Network; Minority Ethnic Staff Network; Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (LGBTI+), Women Together and the Neurodivergence Network.

If you have an impairment which prevents you from applying online, please email our recruitment team. You can:

• request an application pack in an alternative format

request a recruitment adjustment to help you submit your application

Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.

You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.

Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.

If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.

Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.

For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .

For TS to G6 recruitment schemes: When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.

Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.

You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.

Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.

If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.

Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.

For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .

For TS to G6 recruitment schemes:

When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.