Vacancy -- Social Research Student Placement (sandwich year post) x3
Working for the Civil Service
The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
Vacancy Details
Purpose of Post:
These placements are based in the Knowledge and Analytical Services / Tourism and Marketing Division in the Welsh Government.
The main objective of the placement is to provide research assistance on a number of Welsh Government research and evaluation projects. This will involve supporting the development and delivery of different types of research projects, such as literature reviews and survey work.
There are 3 posts available. Two of these posts are based in different teams within Knowledge and Analytical Services, including:
- The Corporate Research Team, which will involve designing, carrying out and reporting on primary research projects (e.g. surveys and interviews) with Welsh Government staff and stakeholders to inform improvements to the way the Welsh Government works. It will also involve conducting evidence reviews and developing social research best practice guides for the team.
- The Sustainable Futures team, which includes housing, environment, culture and sport. The role will involve designing, carrying out and reporting on primary and secondary research projects. These projects will involve a range of stakeholders, both external and internal to the Welsh Government, across a wide variety of issues. It will also involve conducting evidence reviews and developing social research best practice guides for the team, and assisting with recruitment and short-term student placement opportunities.
The other post is based in the Tourism and Marketing Division, working on tourism research.
Key tasks:
Providing assistance for qualitative and quantitative research projects, such as surveys and focus groups.
Contributing to data analysis.
Undertaking reviews of research literature.
Searching on-line databases and other information sources.
Liaising with researchers from across the Welsh Government.
Providing administrative support for data collection exercises.
Administrative tasks such as: organising meetings, seminars and events; taking minutes; and record keeping.
Development opportunities:
The post offers excellent developmental opportunities for someone who is considering a career in social research. They include opportunities to:
Develop an understanding of how social research is commissioned, delivered and used within the Welsh Government.
Develop key skills - including communications skills, constructive thinking and team working.
Practice and develop knowledge and experience of a range of research and evaluation techniques.
Develop project management skills.
Attend appropriate courses, conferences and seminars.
Shadow researchers and analysts from other Departments during this placement.
Closing Date:
Eligibility
Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:
Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.
Equality and Diversity
The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.
We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.
We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.
We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.
Disability Confident
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
Welsh Language Requirements
The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace.
The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.
Social Partnership
In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.
Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
• PCS
• Prospect
• FDA
This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
• pay
• terms and conditions
• policies and procedures
• organisational change.
Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.
The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.
Competency behaviours required for the role
Strategic Cluster – Seeing the Big Picture
Gather information from a range of relevant sources inside and outside their Department to inform own work.
Strategic Cluster – Making Effective Decisions
Examine complex information and obtain further information to make accurate decisions
People Cluster – Collaborating and Partnering
Proactively contribute to the work of the whole team
Performance Cluster – Delivering at Pace
Work in an organised manner using own knowledge and expertise to deliver on time and to standard
Job specific criteria
Assessment Process
Other Information
- Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
- Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
- For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
- Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SCHEME IS OPEN TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THEIR SANDWICH YEAR AT UNIVERSITY OR TO STUDENTS WHO, AFTER THEIR SECOND YEAR AT UNIVERSITY HAVE OPTED TO TAKE A YEAR OUT.
GRADUATES SHOULD NOT APPLY
As a guide, we recommend that you use the competencies and job specific criteria as headings and aim to write 250 to 300 words each.
Candidates successful at sifting stage will be assessed via a presentation and a competency-based interview, covering the competencies and job specific criteria listed in this advert. It is not expected that candidates need to revise for the test.
The purpose of this undergraduate student placement is to provide the successful candidate with an opportunity to develop their skills in the area of information analysis and reporting. As such, one of the required competencies for this placement has been selected from Level 2 of the Civil Service Competency Framework Making Effective Decisions. This is the level which offers the successful candidate the opportunity to gain the appropriate experience to support their academic qualifications. The successful candidate will be provided with sufficient support throughout the placement to enable them to gain the necessary skills and behaviours to operate at this higher level in the future.
How to apply
All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system. If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@wales.gsi.gov.uk to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.
To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system. Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account. Registration takes just a few minutes to complete. You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register. Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.
If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.
For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).
When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)
Grievance and Complaints
This vacancy is closed to applications.