Research Advisor

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
• Support functions – comms, legal, procurement, finance etc

External

• Distribution Network Operators
• Independent Stakeholder Groups
• Energy Network Association
• 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

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:

• Energy sector expertise

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Please refer to the Candidate Pack and Role Profile attached for full details.

Job contact :

• Name : Lisa Buchanan
• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk