Academic Social Research Secondment

This campaign is to recruit experienced early to mid-career academic analysts who have proven qualitative research skills into secondment roles in the Central Analysis function of the Department for Work and Pensions - delivering research for policy across the wide remit of the work of the Department.

The roles provide the opportunity to bring your qualitative analytical skills to the heart of government designing and creating social research projects to develop the evidence base to inform key decisions. The roles involve active participation in the end-to-end research process working with a wide range of stakeholders including the DWP analytical community, policy colleagues, Finance Group, senior civil servants and Ministers.

You will support work utilising a diverse range of qualitative research and evaluation techniques, including project design, involvement in fieldwork, some project management, and provide expert advice to colleagues delivering programmes of research to support policy decision-making. You will have the opportunity to share your expertise and bring innovative methodological practice to use with colleagues playing a critical role in supporting the professional development of the DWP Social Research community to help build future capability.

These job roles are for a secondment opportunity. Successful individual post holders will work within DWP at the same time as remaining salaried employees of their home employer, subject to their home employer terms, conditions and benefits. For avoidance of doubt, DWP will pay your employer at your current salary rate up to a maximum of £52,450 (National), £55,530 (SLPZ), £55,997 (Outer London) and £57,541 (Inner London) pa pro-rata (pay award pending).

Pay rates are standardised across the department and there is no possibility of individual pay negotiation above the band maximum. Post holders will also need to adhere to the standards of the Civil Service behaviours, operate within the framework of the Civil Service Code and operate with a legally binding non-disclosure agreement.

We are looking for someone currently working in qualitative research within an academic setting. We are seeking early to mid-career academics for this secondment opportunity (full-time hours are preferred, job-share or part-time hours can be considered but would be a minimum of 3 days a week). Successful candidates will be classed as homeworkers with occasional visits to DWP hubs for fieldwork and Team and project meetings.

The DWP hub sites available for these secondments are Sheffield, London, Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle.

Candidates employed in research posts outside of an academic setting (e.g in a job role where the primary function is designing and delivering social research) may be considered if they have the essential qualifications, meet the key criteria and are actively engaged with social policy research.

This role will have a start date in January 2027.

DWP has an excellent reputation for ensuring its work is underpinned by robust evidence and analysis. Analysts work flexibly, in multi-disciplinary, multi-site teams across the organisation, embedded within policy, operational and wider analytical teams, to develop the evidence base providing research and analysis to support key decisions underpinning Departmental policies and projects. These roles sit within the DWP In-House Research Unit (IHRU) which undertakes qualitative research projects to support policy and strategic decision making.

We require analysts with proven qualitative analysis skills to take part in the DWP research programme and help to build the capabilities of DWP staff by conducting, analysing and presenting qualitative research.

The In-House Research Unit works across the Department with stakeholders in policy, finance, service delivery and the senior civil servants. IHRU reports to the DWP Chief Analyst/Chief Scientific Adviser and the DWP Senior Analytical Leadership Team, to identify evidence gaps and engage in qualitative research projects to meet known evidence needs. The In-House Research Unit engages with academic and professional experts via seminars, presentations and joint working to expand the knowledge and capability of staff.

IHRU sits in the DWP Central Analysis and Science Strategy unit, providing a unique opportunity to work within the central team developing research processes, supporting guidance and monitoring approvals across the…