Social Research Scientist: Principal Research Officer (Band 2/Grade 7)

You will provide social science based evidence to support HSE’s policy development and programme delivery needs. Social researchers support delivery through giving evidence-based advice to inform the process of designing, targeting, running and evaluating interventions. You will work as part of HSE’s Economic and Social Analysis Team (ESAT). This multi-disciplinary team of economists and social researchers work closely on a wide variety of projects addressing the full remit of HSE’s mission. The wider Analysis and Risk Group includes statisticians, psychologists, human factors, epidemiologists and data science colleagues. You will work closely with these specialists and with policy and operational colleagues to ensure evidence can increase the effectiveness of programmes in improving health and safety outcomes.

HSE Science Division is spread principally between two sites in Bootle and Buxton, and includes a wide range of scientists undertaking research, testing, forensic work and commercial work. The small and flexible nature of ESAT provides an excellent opportunity to increase your level of responsibility and exposure to senior staff, leading key strategic programmes of work. There are opportunities to conduct in-house research and analysis as well as opportunities to commission and manage externally contracted research.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing sound social science based advice and analysis on the development of HSE strategy and policy in tackling serious occupational injury and work-related ill health.
• Leading high-quality social science based analysis to support Government regulatory interventions (Impact Assessments) and evaluations of existing policy (Post Implementation Reviews); working closely with economists to devise suitable evaluation and research methods to meet the standards of external scrutiny from the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC).
• Leading social research to meet HSE’s existing and emerging needs for example in relation to the Health and Work Programme; including collection and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data
• Developing constructive relationships with policy and operational policy colleagues to ensure that HSE interventions are evidence-based and can be robustly evaluated. This will involve providing advice and briefing on existing evidence and commissioning fit for purpose research to fill evidence gaps.
• Acting as a visible lead in the team for professional development issues, working alongside the GSR head of profession.