Senior Research Officer

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) - Research Analysis and Insight Team

Pay: National: £46,750 - £49,810. London: £50,920 - £53,980

Job summary

Acas is at an exciting time as we change our structure, ways of working, and culture to be fit for the future. Our mission is to make working life better for everyone in Britain, and our research function covers programmes to understand how we can prevent, manage and resolve workplace disputes and evaluate the effectiveness of our services. We have a unique position as an independent and impartial Arm’s Length Body of the Department for Business and Trade.

As a member of the Research Analysis and Insight team (within the Research, Policy and Guidance unit), the postholder will lead the delivery of research projects using primary and secondary data sources to evaluate Acas’ AI transformation programme.

The role would suit someone who has excellent research skills, strong skills in working with customers for analysis and who has an interest in using research both for improving service delivery and influencing policy. Acas takes learning and development seriously and the successful applicant will be self-aware and engage in continuous development.

The Strategy and External Affairs directorate comprises colleagues from strategy, knowledge management, policy, analysis, and communication functions and so gives a great opportunity to work as part of a highly multi-disciplinary team. You will aid the team leader in conveying a sense of purpose for team colleagues and model Acas values. You will be consultative and an effective collaborator while providing constructive challenge.

Acas' Research Analysis and Insights team (RAI) undertakes and commissions a range of in-depth evaluations and research projects, findings from which are captured on our website: https://www.acas.org.uk/evaluations, https://www.acas.org.uk/research-and-commentary

Role purpose

The purpose of the role is to support the Head of Research in delivering evaluation of the Acas AI transformation projects by:

• Leading evaluation strands on selected workstreams prioritised by the Board that inform identification of use cases for wider roll out
• Collaborating with the Acas economics function to generate evidence to feed into Acas' business case for programme extension
• Strengthening Acas’ capability as an evaluation-led organisation for complex service transformation projects

Job description

The successful applicant will be responsible for:

• AI transformation evaluation strands – undertaking and completing complex and high-profile evaluation strands in line with government analysis function standards, using rigorous and innovative methods
• Evaluation design and delivery – supporting on the design, collection and analysis of data using internal data collection and management of externally commissioned evaluation if required.
• Evaluation support – responding to ad hoc evaluation questions, demands for information and evidence from policy and operational teams, providing a user-friendly and authoritative internal consultancy service.
• Evaluation reporting and communicating – working collaboratively to ensure evaluation findings are communicated effectively and with impact on policy and practice to internal and external audiences, including Acas' funders
• Stakeholder Relationships – establishing strong working relationships with key internal teams.

You will be consultative and able to work collaboratively while providing constructive challenge.

More broadly, as a member of the Strategy and External Affairs Directorate you will:

• Promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting difference and external experience
• Be self-aware and role-model continuous self-learning and development
• Collaborate with others to achieve the goals of Acas together
• Effectively manage resources and budget where required
• Work flexibly and collaboratively with those across the Directorate and wider Acas
• Live the Acas values

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