Head of Strategic Roads Research and Evaluation

Department For Transport; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Head of Strategic Roads Social Research and Evaluation. This pivotal role involves leading complex research initiatives that shape the future of transportation in the UK. You will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to drive evidence-based decisions, ensuring that vital government objectives are met. With a focus on strategic thinking and stakeholder engagement, you will play a central role in delivering impactful research projects that inform policy and enhance the transport network. Join a dynamic environment that values innovation and offers a supportive work-life balance.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension

Generous Annual Leave

Flexible Working

Inclusive Working Environment

Qualifications

• Experience in social research and evaluation methods.
• Ability to design and deliver impactful research projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide analytical leadership for research and evaluation activities.
• Ensure research targets policy needs and creates impact.

Skills

Social Research

Evaluation Methods

Analytical Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Strategic Thinking

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Social Science

Master's Degree in Research Methods

Job description

??Location: Birmingham, Leeds, London (Hybrid)

??Salary: £54,857 - A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

??Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

We are looking for someone to fill the position of Head of Strategic Roads Social Research and Evaluation – a unique opportunity to lead high-profile, complex research shaping the future of our roads. You’ll play a key role in delivering vital Government objectives like economic growth, safer travel, and a greener transport network. This is a chance to take on a leadership role in a multidisciplinary, collaborative team—driving strategic, evidence-based decisions on some of the country’s most significant infrastructure programmes.

Top Responsibilities

1. Providing analytical leadership. Provide overall leadership for the portfolio of research and evaluation activity in the roads directorates.
2. Providing expert advice to deliver impactful research. Ensure that research and evaluation is targeted on policy needs; shape work with stakeholders to create impact.
3. Identify solutions to deliver evidence or advice to policy in a fast-paced environment. Manage a portfolio of work, to advisory roles, or lighter-touch, creative analysis.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £54,857, the Department for Transport contributes £15,892 towards your membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Please note, the above example is based on the National minimum salary. The employer pension contribution will be 28.97% of your specific salary.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments, and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

About you

The ideal candidate for this role will be an experienced and strategic social researcher, ready to step into a challenging and policy-facing leadership position. You will have a broad and practical understanding of social research and evaluation methods, alongside a proven ability to design, commission, and deliver impactful research projects.

You will be confident working collaboratively across policy, analytical, and operational teams, building strong relationships with a range of stakeholders. Your strengths will include the ability to structure complex problems, identify key evidence needs, and ensure research and evaluation efforts are clearly focused on supporting decision-making. A clear communicator and strategic thinker, you will play a central role in ensuring that high-quality evidence informs policy and delivery in the strategic roads domain.