Government social research officer : Employers and vacancy sources

Opportunities for government social research officers arise in 20 central departments:

• Cabinet Office
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
• Department for Education
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Department for International Development (DFID)
• Department for Transport (DfT)
• Department of Energy and Climate Change
• Department of Health (DH)
• Home Office
• Legal Services Commission
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
• HM Treasury
• Department for Communities and Local Government
• Office for National Statistics (ONS)
• National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA)
• Welsh Assembly Government
• Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)
• Scottish Government

Opportunities vary between departments - some have dedicated research teams whilst others are just starting to develop their own research capacity.

There are also opportunities within local authorities in areas such as environment, housing, economic development and neighbourhood renewal. These roles often involve a crossover with policy and information work. Local authorities tend to advertise vacancies through national and local press and on their own websites.

Sources of vacancies

• Civil Service Jobs Online
• Civil Service Fast Stream - for fast stream opportunities only.
• Individual government department websites.
• Local Government Jobs and individual local council websites (for research officer vacancies with local authorities).

Each individual government department undertakes its own recruitment through the Civil Service Jobs Online and sometimes on their own websites, as and when they need researchers. Vacancies for the fast stream are advertised on the dedicated fast stream website.

SRA News , the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and the Local Authorities Research and Intelligence Association (LARIA) may also have opportunities for social researchers.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.