Research Advisor

Ofgem; Scotland; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Ofgem is seeking a Research Advisor to champion the consumer voice in shaping a fairer energy system. This role involves leading impactful consumer research, engaging with stakeholders, and translating insights into policy recommendations, all within a collaborative and inclusive environment offering hybrid working options.

Benefits

Hybrid working

30 days annual leave after 2 years

Access to training and development opportunities

Generous Civil Service pension

Family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Experience in leading research projects from design to delivery.
• Ability to draft high-quality research reports.

Responsibilities

• Deliver robust research and analysis for consumer insights.
• Design and manage qualitative and quantitative research projects.
• Engage with stakeholders and translate policy needs into research.

Skills

Quantitative research

Qualitative research

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Job description

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Join to apply for the Research Advisor role at Ofgem

Play a pivotal role in championing the consumer voice at the heart of Britain’s energy transition. Ofgem is seeking a Research Adviser to join our Consumer Insight & Behavioural Science team, helping shape a fairer, greener energy system by delivering high-impact consumer research and insight.

As Great Britain’s independent energy regulator, Ofgem is driving the transformation to Net Zero while protecting energy consumers especially those in vulnerable circumstances. In a time of rising energy costs and rapid system change, understanding consumer needs, perceptions, and behaviours has never been more critical.

In this role, you’ll lead the design and delivery of robust consumer research, including qualitative, quantitative, and deliberative methods. One project you may be involved in is shaping the consumer research programme for the next Electricity Distribution (ED3) price control ensuring that the voices of households, businesses, and vulnerable consumers are central to decisions that will shape the future of our energy networks.

You’ll work closely with policy teams, research agencies, and stakeholders across the energy sector to deliver evidence that informs strategic decisions. From designing and commissioning research to analysing industry insights and presenting findings, your work will directly influence how the energy system delivers for consumers now and in the future.

We’re looking for a consumer-focused researcher with a strong track record in designing and delivering impactful research. You’ll be confident engaging with stakeholders, translating policy needs into research plans, and communicating insights in a clear and compelling way. Your ability to synthesise evidence and advocate for the consumer perspective will be key to your success.

At Ofgem you’ll join a collaborative, inclusive analytical profession that values diverse perspectives and supports your development. We offer hybrid working, a comprehensive benefits package, and the opportunity to work on projects that make a real difference to people’s lives.

This is a unique opportunity to lead research that puts consumers at the centre of energy regulation helping to shape a system that is fair, affordable, and fit for a Net Zero future.

Purpose:

Delivery: Deliver robust research and analysis by leading quantitative, qualitative (including deliberative) or mixed methods consumer research projects.

Impact: Maximise the value and impact of data collected by Ofgem and external organisations, conducting analysis, synthesising evidence and working with stakeholders to identify use insight to address key policy and strategic questions. Play a critical and central role to advocating and championing the Consumer Voice, providing advice based on robust consumer evidence.

Communication: Creative communication and dissemination of insights, ensuring Ofgem staff have access to timely, engaging insights on consumers, and helping to ensure the consumer voice is central to policy making.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working with policy teams and stakeholders to understand their requirements and translate these into high quality research proposals
• Scoping, designing and delivering qualitative (including deliberative), quantitative and mixed methods research projects, helping to ensure the consumer voice is central to Ofgem’s policy decisions.
• Lead on project management and procurement for commissioned research projects including preparing briefs, liaising with Procurement, reviewing tenders etc, managing research agencies
• Support with research activities delivered in-house including running depth interviews, focus groups, conducting analysis and reporting
• Review, assess and summarise research and evidence conducted by energy industry and other external stakeholders
• Promote the ‘voice of the customer’ within the ED3 process, and more broadly across Ofgem and externally including through provision of advice, and effective and creative dissemination of research outputs
• Responding to ad-hoc requests for data and insight from internal and external teams including input to policy consultations, briefings, senior speeches and ensuring research is effectively interpreted and communicated in policy papers
• Design engaging PowerPoint presentations and deliver presentations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders e.g. DNOs, Independent Stakeholder groups, peers in other regulators or government departments and research agencies.

Key Stakeholder Relationships

Internal

• ED3 Team
• The wider Networks directorate
• Policy teams across Ofgem, including ED3 team
• Other members of the Research & Behavioural Science sub profession
• Other analytical functions e.g. economists, data science, monitoring teams

External

• Distribution Network Operators
• Consumer groups and charities e.g. Citizen’s advice
• Research agencies
• Peers in Government Departments, other regulators
• Energy industry, think tanks, consultancies
• Government Social Research community

Person specification

ESSENTIAL:

• Knowledge and expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods (including survey design and analysis, in-depth interviewing, deliberative research and inclusive research approaches) (LEAD)
• Experience leading the end-to-end design and delivery of quantitative/qualitative research projects (LEAD)
• Ability to draft high-quality, engaging research reports and presentations
• Ability to build strong and effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and to translate policy needs into clear research plans
• Ability to evaluate, interpret and synthesise evidence from a variety of sources, coming to logical conclusions and communicating this effectively to senior non-specialists.

DESIRABLE:

Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Research and Analyst

• Industries

  Utilities

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