Head of Research and Evaluation

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Agency of the Scottish Government, working in partnership with organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver safe and secure custodial services that empower offenders to take responsibility and to fulfil their potential. We employ over 4500 people in a diverse range of professions across our 13 prisons, Headquarters and the SPS College.

About the Role

SPS is committed to putting the people who live and work in Scotland’s prisons at the heart of outcomes focused and evidence-based design, delivery and improvement of services. The Head of Research & Evaluation role is at the forefront of this commitment, supporting development and delivery of the SPS Improvement Framework, and helping SPS to meet its obligations as an effective prison service, as an Executive Agency of Scottish Government, and as a public body.

Leading a small team and reporting to the SPS ‘Head of Improvement’, the post holder is responsible for the creation and delivery of a research strategy for the organisation. This strategy will guide the delivery of a research function that both commissions and directly delivers research and evidence spanning the policy cycle, to enable robust and evidence-based decisions for SPS. This will include a focus on ‘relational’ research and service user voice.

The role is within our Strategy and Improvement function, but the post holder will work with SPS staff at all levels across the prison estate and headquarters - and with a range of partner agencies - to understand their research interests and needs, to align respective efforts and develop collaborative projects where appropriate.

• Develop and implement an impact-focused research strategy for the organisation, supportive of the 23-28 Corporate Plan, aligned with Government Social Research standards and reflecting the research interests and needs of key stakeholders within SPS and across the justice sector more widely. This will include the development of new digitally-enabled and ethically-sound approaches to service user engagement, recognising the value of lived experience and in line with open justice principles.
• Lead the research team, and provide strategic leadership to the wider Corporate and Governance branch including business plans and support to other team leaders, Head of Improvement and escalation to Branch Head as required. The postholder will lead on providing strategic advice and briefings to the organisation and senior leaders on research and evaluation in order to make sound and evidence-based decisions.
• Oversee SPS’s Research Access and Ethics Committee, arranging research clearance and facilitating access to establishments and/or corporate functions for external researchers.
• Work collectively across Directorates to identify, scope and oversee the execution of a range of research and evaluation projects – delivered either by internal Research leads, or by external contractors commissioned via Procurement. The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that research and evaluation work meets well-defined quality standards and is utility-focused i.e. connecting meaningfully to wider work and enabling SPS to deliver services that are more efficient and effective.
• Lead on and enhance strategic engagement with academia, Scottish Government (particularly Justice Analytical Services), justice partners and other external partners as required on shared research interests, to align respective efforts and develop collaborative projects where appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Data & Analysis team and other internal colleagues to provide high-quality advice on performance measures and metrics to colleagues within and outwith SPS as required.

About you

• The post holder should be qualified to degree level or have significant relevant leadership experience, with an understanding of research and evaluation in support of business improvement. (ESSENTIAL)
• Management Experience: Experience of managing a research team and/or programme of research aligned to strategic objectives/delivery plans, with an ability to effectively work across departments and support other business areas. (ESSENTIAL)
• Critical Analysis & Report Writing: Experience of carrying out critical analysis of complex information derived from a variety of different qualitative and quantitative sources in order to provide robust assessment. Ability to apply knowledge in order to collate complex information into high quality, balanced and evidenced based reports, which identify trends and patterns.(ESSENTIAL)
• Government Social Research standards: Experience of conducting research and analysis in accordance with UK Government Social Research standards and protocols (or similar). (ESSENTIAL)
• Designing & Developing Metrics: Experience of leading on the design, development and implementation of metrics and/or analytical frameworks intended to measure performance and understand impact. (ESSENTIAL)

Benefits on offer include (but are not limited to):

• An attractive Civil Service Pension – employer contributions of 27.1% to 27.9%
• Hybrid working policy – supporting flexibility in work arrangements
• Ongoing professional development
• Opportunity for progression
• Annual Leave – 37days rising to 42days
• Sick Pay
• Discounts on High Street stores, supermarkets and restaurants through our partners at Blue Light Card, Edenred and Civil Service Sports Council

For further information on this opportunity, including full job description, person specification, assessment process and to apply, please visit www.sps.gov.uk/careers.