6671 - Senior Specialist, Social Science - National

The Social Science team is based within the Science Directorate of the Chief Scientist’s Directorate in Natural England. The Directorate is responsible for Natural England’s Science, Evidence and Evaluation Strategy and supports its implementation to ensure Natural England is an evidence-led organisation.

We are an interdisciplinary team and welcome applications from candidates with different disciplinary backgrounds and specialisms within the social sciences.

Our mission, to build partnerships for nature’s recovery, reflects the need for us to work with and through a wide range of people. In order to do this effectively, we need to understand people: to work with diverse ways of knowing, experiencing and thinking about the natural environment; understand behaviour and what drives it; understand how we engage with nature (or why we don't); as well as how best to work together towards delivering thriving nature for people and planet.

The post holder will join a dynamic and welcoming team of social scientists and lead on a number of social science evidence projects in response to Natural England priorities and work programmes.

The nature of the work may change over time, responding to organisational priorities. We are therefore seeking a permanent social science specialist who can be flexible and adaptable, with the ability to provide social science thought leadership and insights across Natural England’s programmes as the need arises. We employ social scientists with a broad set of knowledge and skills although we are currently particularly interested in increasing skills to input to a large Accredited Official Statistics survey.

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

In 2020, Natural England, working with Defra, launched the People & Nature Survey. This built on and replaced the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment. The survey is government’s primary source of evidence on engagement with nature, experiences in green and natural places, and environmental attitudes and behaviours for both England and Wales.

The post holder will be responsible for overseeing research design, analysis and presentation of results, with a focus on the Children’s People and Nature Survey. As well as building partnerships with academia, across government and the third sector and with survey users to maximise the research value for the survey, they will work with Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and Defra colleagues, contractors and external stakeholders to maximise the research impact of the survey. The post-holder will lead on social science / technical input, as well as supporting the Senior Responsible Officer, survey steering group and project team in strategy and decision making. Work areas will vary but may also include some of the following:

Contributing to the development and delivery of NE’s Services and Enabling teams, including helping to scope opportunities where social science evidence and approaches can support programme delivery.

Involvement in external networks to promote the use and impact of social science within the natural environment sector.

We are seeking someone who is confident and capable of working at a strategic level and with the ability to quickly understand and respond to current needs and challenges.

The role of the senior specialist for social science includes

Leading social science input to Children’s People and Nature survey, including developing research questions and identifying and prioritising themes for analysis (e.g. inequalities and access, climate change concern). Providing quality assurance for products and publications based on PANs/CPANs data and leading evaluation of the survey. Oversee survey review and development (including methodological and ensuring quality and compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics and accredited official statistics). Working with wider Defra policy teams’ team to ensure the survey meets data and evidence needs, and that results are understood and used.

Undertaking primary research (e.g. quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods) including research design, data collection and analysis (methodological approach dependent on successful candidate’s knowledge and expertise) in line with organisational needs to support social science delivery against Natural England’s priorities. Development oversight/project management and quality assurance of other colleagues social research in NE, including support for procurement and contract management of research projects.

Providing evidence based social science advice and guidance in relation to a wide range of NE’s work (for example, to help progress the effectiveness and scope of the People and Nature Survey). Provide analysis and synthesis of critical evidence to support Natural England teams (including rapid evidence reviews, policies and summary briefings). Delivery of workshops, webinars and presentations to raise awareness of social science research findings and support others to use and understand these to maximise the robustness of research delivered across NE.

Supporting the Social Science Team to continue to deliver and improve on our evidence standards and impact on priority areas of NE work. Working in and helping to build interdisciplinary teams, including with our Natural Capital and Economics Team and Evaluation Team.

Maintaining their specialism (keeping up to date with the latest research/developments in their specialist area of environmental social science expertise), including contributing to relevant networks (for example, the cross-government Natural Environment Social Research Network) and building links with social researchers and analysts in the Government Social Research (GSR) community.

The exact work areas to be supported will depend on the successful candidate’s knowledge and expertise and responsibilities will develop and change over time. The post holder will need to maintain a flexible and adaptable attitude and approach and will be expected at times to use their skills in an agile way, working outside their core specialism as required by Natural England.

The cross-cutting nature of the role means there is significant scope for personal development and developing areas of personal interest. The post holder will be provided with support in the role by Senior and Principal Specialists working on social science. We also have a strong informal and formal training offer.