Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Wilmslow
Job Summary
Senior Research Officer
Full time / Part time
Salary
: £42,593 - £48,245, with potential for further progression to £54,317 with our pay progression scheme.
Location: Flexible
Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.
Please note that our Head Office will be relocating from Wilmslow to central Manchester in the near future. This move marks an exciting step forward, offering enhanced opportunities for collaboration, both within our internal teams and with external partners, through a more flexible, connected, and dynamic working environment.
Why work for the ICO?
- Pay progression scheme.
- Hybrid and flexible working options.
- 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
- Flexi leave (up to 24 additional days leave per year).
- Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
- Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
- Health Cash Plan.
- Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.
Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website .
About Us
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.
As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.
Job Description
This role is central to building the ICOs approach to using insight and evidence to inform ICO’s policy and decision-making. An evidence-based and outcome focused approach to regulation, which puts people at the heart of what we do, will be crucial to ensure we deliver on the vision set out in ICO25.
You will be working in the newly formed Market Research and Insight function. You will have responsibility for both leading and supporting on the commissioning and managing of market research projects, as well as supporting teams across the ICO on their respective research projects.
You’ll work closely with qualitative and quantitative researchers, insights and policy specialists, and research managers within the function to deliver strategically important research programmes, and develop processes and initiatives to raise service standards within the department.
You’ll be collaborating closely with colleagues across the ICO, including in policy, economic analysis and corporate communications to ensure a joined up approach to research, insight and evidence and build a research culture across the ICO. You will also support the team as they scope the needs of the organisation and identify evidence gaps that require market research with the UK public.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading and supporting on procuring and managing qualitative and quantitative market and social research, including quality control processes and oversight of key outputs, keeping colleagues updated and ensuring milestones are met.
- Disseminating findings internally in compelling and engaging ways, including to senior colleagues.
- Working with policy professionals across ICO to champion the value and importance of market research, identify priority areas for qualitative and quantitative research, build ongoing relationships and ensuring early understanding of research needs.
- Working collaboratively with colleagues to understand key concerns, the evidence required, and identify the most effective, timely and value for money approaches to delivering those needs, including advising on the most appropriate methodology, sample etc.
- Identifying opportunities for bringing together and disseminating research and evidence both internally and, where appropriate, externally, including information gathered from external research sources.
- Inform and educate colleagues on best practice and ensuring that high standards are adhered.
- Proactively develop market research expertise, keeping abreast of developments in qualitative and quantitative research methods
This role is central to building the ICOs approach to using insight and evidence to inform ICO’s policy and decision-making. An evidence-based and outcome focused approach to regulation, which puts people at the heart of what we do, will be crucial to ensure we deliver on the vision set out in ICO25.
You will be working in the newly formed Market Research and Insight function. You will have responsibility for both leading and supporting on the commissioning and managing of market research projects, as well as supporting teams across the ICO on their respective research projects.
You’ll work closely with qualitative and quantitative researchers, insights and policy specialists, and research managers within the function to deliver strategically important research programmes, and develop processes and initiatives to raise service standards within the department.
You’ll be collaborating closely with colleagues across the ICO, including in policy, economic analysis and corporate communications to ensure a joined up approach to research, insight and evidence and build a research culture across the ICO. You will also support the team as they scope the needs of the organisation and identify evidence gaps that require market research with the UK public.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading and supporting on procuring and managing qualitative and quantitative market and social research, including quality control processes and oversight of key outputs, keeping colleagues updated and ensuring milestones are met.
- Disseminating findings internally in compelling and engaging ways, including to senior colleagues.
- Working with policy professionals across ICO to champion the value and importance of market research, identify priority areas for qualitative and quantitative research, build ongoing relationships and ensuring early understanding of research needs.
- Working collaboratively with colleagues to understand key concerns, the evidence required, and identify the most effective, timely and value for money approaches to delivering those needs, including advising on the most appropriate methodology, sample etc.
- Identifying opportunities for bringing together and disseminating research and evidence both internally and, where appropriate, externally, including information gathered from external research sources.
- Inform and educate colleagues on best practice and ensuring that high standards are adhered.
- Proactively develop market research expertise, keeping abreast of developments in qualitative and quantitative research methods
Person specification
Essential criteria assessed at application stage
- Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
- Strong track record in leading the design and delivery of market and social research projects, with relevant research experience (minimum of two years research experience), gained from a relevant research environment – for example within a research agency, public or private sector research team, think tank or academic institution.
- Experience of qualitative and quantitative research projects from concept to deliverables, including sample design, questionnaire/topic guide drafting and analysis of findings.
- Excellent research management skills with the ability to manage a project, ensuring deadlines are met and outputs are high quality.
- Experience of interpreting complex policy questions into clearly scoped research projects, including identifying research questions, methodologies, samples, managing procurement processes, and overseeing engaging and impactful deliverables.
- Experience of research software or data analysis techniques, for example, Excel, SPSS, R; surveying software for example Survey Monkey, Snap Surveys or Smart Survey.
Essential criteria assessed at interview stage
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including being able to communicate research findings in a persuasive and compelling way to a wide range of stakeholders.
- Ability to understand project or policy needs and identify appropriate qualitative/quantitative research approaches to meet those needs
- Knowledge of a wide range of qualitative/quantitative research techniques and the ways in which they can be most appropriately and responsibly used.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to foster and maintain effective relationships with ICO stakeholders, research agencies, and external stakeholders.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
Alongside your salary of £42,593, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £12,339 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please visit ico.jobs for full details, including salary and benefits.
Selection process details
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.
If you have a disability or impairment and have difficulty using our online application system, please email the HR team at
[email protected] who can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method.
Closing Date
Please submit your CV by
23:59 on Monday 23rd June 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
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) (opens in a new window)
- 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)
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
Recruitment team
