Research and Evaluation Officer

Job Description

Location: Hybrid / London, UK - BSB Offices, 289-293 High Holborn, WC1V 7HZ Majority Home Worker (minimum 4 days per month in the office)The BSBThe Bar Standards Board (BSB) regulates barristers and their professional practice and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. We are responsible for setting education and training requirements, setting standards,authorising organisations, monitoring the service provided, and handling complaints. Barristers work at the heart of our justice system so BSB’s mission is fundamentally important to the maintenance of the rule of law. It is an exciting time to join the organisation,as we deliver a transformational change programme that will demonstrate good practice and bring benefits to consumers of legal services.Purpose of the RoleTo work within the BSB Research team to provide the evidence-base for policy and decision making throughout the BSB. The role will involve designing, delivering and managing both inhouse and commissioned research projects to develop the evidence base forour regulatory functions. This will include undertaking qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research, developing research materials and surveys, conducting field work, through to the analysis of data and evaluation.General ResponsibilitiesResearch, evaluation and analytical expertise

• Conduct and commission in-depth research, monitoring, evaluation and analysis to build the evidence base to support the BSB to meet its regulatory objectives and strategic priorities.
• Use technical expertise and knowledge to manage and deliver all stages of the research process, including:

1. designing robust research and evaluation projects and drafting research specifications and invitations to tender,
2. designing research tools and instruments (such as interview topic guides, survey questionnaires, sampling frames),
3. undertaking and advising on analysis and drafting findings,
4. providing quality assurance of research outputs delivered by others, to assure integrity and objectivity,

• Conduct secondary analysis of existing dataset and other ad hoc research tasks, as required, to support the BSB to meet its regulatory objectives and strategic priorities.

Research Project Management

• Use appropriate project management tools and resources to manage time effectively in order to balance the delivery of several simultaneous research projects, including externally-commissioned projects;
• Apply Research Team guidance, templates and protocols to deliver own workload
• Report to line manager on the management of research projects on which you lead, raising any issues promptly to ensure deadlines and quality requirements are met.

Increasing visibility and impact of BSB Research

• Produce research reports and briefings which communicate evidence in a user-friendly way.
• Work with colleagues to ensure the appropriate dissemination, uptake and use of BSB research evidence, and monitor its impact.
• Present findings to the Senior Management Team, Programme Boards, Committees and the BSB Board, as required.

Improving research awareness and use of evidence

• Advise colleagues on best practice in data monitoring, collection and utilisation, including quality of external research reports, research evidence and research design proposals
• Deliver internal training to promote colleagues’ understanding of research methods and the appropriate use of evidence.
• Maintain research and statistics elements of the BSB website to ensure they are accurate and up to date.

Collaborative working and customer focus

• Provide research support for the Strategy and Policy department and more widely across the BSB, including through technical research, evaluation and analytical guidance and advice.
• Seek opportunities to collaborate with researchers in other legal regulators in delivering research and evaluation activities.
• Respond to research queries and requests for research material from internal and external stakeholders in a timely manner.

Person SpecificationExperience

• Applied experience of designing and delivering high-quality social research and evaluation, including:

1. Extensive use of a range of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods data collection and analysis skills.
2. Ability to use different data collection techniques and a range of data analysis approaches using appropriate IT software.
3. Ability to translate policy requirements into robust research specifications which meet customer needs.
4. Ability to write invitations to tender and commission and quality assure research, evaluation and analytical activities.
5. Ability to manage several simultaneous research projects and tasks.

• Demonstrable experience of managing, manipulating and querying large-scale, complex datasets to provide meaningful interpretations.
• Good experience of standard research and data analysis software (such as SPSS and NVivo) and online survey solutions.
• Demonstrable experience of writing clear and compelling research reports and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Proven experience of using research and data to persuade, influence and advise both specialist and non-technical audiences.

Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge of research methods, including quantitative, qualitative and evaluation methods.
• Knowledge of applied research ethics and good practice in social research and reporting of analysis.
• Knowledge of quality assurance techniques to assess methodological rigour.

The Bar Standard Board aims to recruit a talented workforce and values the diversity in background, skills and experience of its staff. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all job applicants irrespective of race, sex, disability, age,religion or belief, sexual orientation, maternity or pregnancy, marital or civil partnership status or gender re-assignment.

Keyskills :
Data AnalysisData CollectionEvidenceProject Management ToolsResearch Projects