Job Description

The Vacancy
As a Senior Social Science and Evaluation Consultant in a Hybrid role, you will lead high-impact projects that inform policy and practice across the agricultural and environmental sectors. Working closely with UK Government departments, public agencies and private sector clients, you will apply advanced social science and evaluation methodologies to deliver evidence-based insights. This role combines technical leadership, strategic client engagement, and mentoring of junior colleagues to support environmental stewardship and the development of sustainable agricultural systems. The role is ideal for a dynamic, forward-thinking professional who thrives on intellectual challenge, leadership, and making a measurable difference in society.
Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership and Delivery
• Strategic Business Development
• Project and Contract Management
• People Development & Mentoring
• Cross-Group Collaboration

Essential Criteria

• Postgraduate degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant social science discipline (e.g., sociology, political science, economics, public policy, psychology).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in applied social research and evaluation, ideally in a consultancy, academic, or policy environment.
• Strong expertise in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, including survey design, statistical analysis, interviews, focus groups, and theory-based evaluation approaches.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects, budgets, and teams to deliver high-quality outputs on time and within budget.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex findings into actionable insights and easy to read formats.
• Experience working directly with clients or funders, including government departments, NGOs, or international organisations.
• Strong understanding of research ethics and commitment to inclusive, participatory, and ethical research practices.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working in the land, agriculture, food, energy or environment sectors.
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, R, SPSS, Stata).
• Publication record in peer-reviewed journals or policy outlets.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.
• Demonstrated success in business development and client engagement.
• A passion for delivering work that drives social, environmental and economic impact.

Salary and Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Flexible and Hybrid working arrangements
• Life assurance
• A flexible benefits programme including the option to buy additional holidays, health cash plan and discounted gym membership
• We encourage Continuing Professional Development and support Chartership to relevant professional bodies.
• Volunteer days allowing staff to support local good causes and environmental activities.

RSK Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer
More detailed job description attached.
#SocialScience #Agriculture #EnvironmentalScience
RSK will not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies other than RSK PSL or Secondary agencies
About Us
ADAS is the UK's largest independent environmental and agricultural consultancy. Our goal as a company is two-fold: secure British food and enhance the environment. Established over 75 years ago and part of RSK Group since 2016, we offer high-quality, research-based tailored solutions for a wide-ranging client base. From working with small and medium-sized landowners to helping shape government policy with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), we are adept at collecting and analysing data and creating bespoke strategies to achieve the best outcome for our client's unique needs. We are a trusted brand when it comes to managing the countryside: we do more than simply tick checkboxes; we will formulate a strategy that benefits the landowner and nature - our approach is fluid and changes according to requirements.
As well as agricultural research and consultancy, ADAS provides ecology, arboriculture, archaeology, planning, and landscape services to a growing base of clients working across multiple sectors. Our technical specialists have supported both local and nationally significant utility, transport, infrastructure, government and development projects. Some of our client relationships span over 40 years. We evolve and innovate with our clients, thereby ensuring that we provide a practical, reliable, and responsive service.
ADAS is part of the RSK Group, a leading integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services business providing dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors. RSK was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since then.
At RSK, we operate as a group of businesses that work together seamlessly, aiming for growth through diversification. Our strategy helps us build a strong and resilient business, capable of weathering external challenges, while also providing greater value to our clients and more opportunities for our employees.
Since the beginning, our philosophy has remained the same: employ, develop and reward talented individuals. People are crucial to our company, and we recognise that our success hinges on our colleagues' growth. We're committed to preserving RSK's people-first culture, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive and caring environment for collaboration. At RSK, we want you to be part of our successes and help you reach your career aspirations. We take pride in offering employees fulfilling and challenging careers by promoting ongoing growth and empowering individuals to excel.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the diversity in our workforce makes us a stronger and more innovative company.
By providing workplace adjustments, we make it easier for people to confidently explore and pursue our career opportunities and recognise that flexibility is key to fostering a dynamic and thriving workplace. Many of our office-based positions benefit from a flexible working arrangement, allowing our team members to achieve a balance between professional and personal commitments.
We actively encourage applications from candidates of all genders, races, ethnicities, ages, neurotypes, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities.
If you're passionate about making a difference, join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable, and sustainable future for all. Do you have what it takes?
An RSK Company
Benefits