Situational Awareness Analyst

UK Research and Innovation

Situational Awareness Analyst enhancing insights in the UK’s social science research landscape. Delivering high-quality analysis and reports to inform strategic decision-making in ESRC.

Posted 4/29/2026full-timeSwindon • 🇬🇧 United KingdomMid-LevelSenior💰 £46,743 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonSQL

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and deliver analysis on the UK’s 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 SAF’s analytical work and priorities.
Deliver joint projects with the UK Metascience Unit that enhance the impact of ESRC’s and UKRI’s 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.

Requirements

What you’ll need

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

Comp & perks

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.

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

statistical methodsdata analysissurvey designbibliometricsHESAUKRI grantsanalytical reportsvisualisationsstrategic foresighthorizon scanning

Soft Skills

synthesise informationcommunicationanalytical skillsproblem-solvingindependencetime managementorganisational capabilitystakeholder engagementinnovationdecision-making