Situational Awareness Analyst

ESRC
Salary: 46743 per annum
Band: UKRI Band E
Contract Type: Open ended
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE)
Location: Polaris House Swindon Wiltshire - Hybrid working available
Closing Date: 23rd March 2026

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join a new Situational Awareness Function (SAF) within the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The SAF is designed to enhance ESRCs understanding of the UKs social science research landscape providing insight horizon scanning and timely intelligence to inform future strategic decision-making. The SAF will deliver broad up-to-date evidence and analysis across the social science ecosystem drawing on new and existing data sources and will communicate its outputs to a range of audiences.

As an analyst within the Situational Awareness Function you will play a central role in developing and delivering high-quality outputs which contribute towards ESRCs overall strategic decision-making. You will deliver against the SAFs priorities working across ESRC and UKRI to gather analyse and communicate insights from a wide range of data sources. You will contribute to both ongoing monitoring and ad hoc intelligence needs identifying emerging trends knowledge gaps and opportunities for deeper exploration.

Your responsibilities:

Lead and deliver analysison the UKs social science landscape producing outputs tailored to a diverse array of audiences and decision-making needs ranging from descriptive analytics to more interpretive and strategic insights. Outputs may include:

• Landscape summaries and dashboards
• Briefings on emerging trends or developments
• Analytical reports and visualisations
• Contributions to strategic foresight and horizon scanning
• Presentations to internal and external stakeholders
• Support the Situational Awareness Lead in shaping and developing the SAFs analytical work and priorities.
• Deliver joint projects with the UK Metascience Unit that enhance the impact of ESRCs and UKRIs research and innovation investment activity.
• Independently identify and initiate new activities applying innovative approaches to enhance organisational understanding of the social science landscape.
• Represent ESRC externally including participation in UKRI groups and stakeholder engagements.
• Promote analytical expertise within ESRC building organisational capability in intelligence gathering and data-informed decision-making.

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S) Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

Experience of using appropriate statistical methods when working with structured datasets (e.g. bibliometrics HESA UKRI grants). (S/I)
Ability to synthesise and communicate complex information clearly and concisely (S/I)
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills (S/I)
Familiarity with tools such as R SQL or Python for data analysis or the ability and willingness to adopt them quickly (S/I)
Understanding of survey design and analysis (for one of the two roles only) (S/I)
Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities (S/I)

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online if you experience any issue applying please contact