Job Title: Strategic Planning and Performance Researcher
Staff: Band D - The starting salary is £40,519 which includes allowances totalling £3,009.
The salary is broken down as £37,510 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £40,141 Plus, a location allowance of £2,009 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.
Location: Remote working nationally within UK. NPCC is currently based in close proximity to St James’ Park Underground Station, London and therefore occasional travel will be required to this premise and other Police locations across the UK. We encourage applications from candidates living across the UK. Further details on flexible arrangements will be discussed at interview stage.
Contract – Fixed Term Contract until 31/03/2027 (with the potential for further extension subject to funding and performance).
THE NATIONAL POLICE CHIEFS’ COUNCIL (NPCC)
Policing is operating in a time of global change and uncertainty, the public and our staff need a service which is responsive, able to tackle future challenges and embrace opportunity.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) brings UK police leaders together to set direction in policing and drive progress for the public.
We achieve this through:
- Coordination – by joining up the operational response to critical national policing issues to deliver policing today and shape the future.
- Collaboration – by working in partnership as part of the whole policing system and beyond to improve public safety.
- Communication – by sharing the collective expertise, views and action of UK police chiefs.
NPCC Strategic Planning and Performance (SPP) Team
The Strategic Planning and Performance (SPP) team forms a part of the NPCC Strategic Hub (the Hub), the SPP team provides strategic and business planning functions to the NPCC including research and analysis, stakeholder engagement and partnership working, and risk management capabilities. The SPP team supports the development and coordination of activity across the NPCC, and the team works effectively with partners and stakeholders across policing, building effective, collaborative relationships and ensuring a coordinated response to policing issues at all of levels.
THE ROLE
To provide a flexible and professional research function to the NPCC’s Strategy, Planning and Performance (SPP) team in support of the NPCC’s Strategic Hub. In particular, the post-holder will.
- Conduct research, report and assess the impact of findings on the NPCC objectives.
- Communicate research findings effectively.
- Work effectively and professionally with colleagues across forces and external partners to achieve desired outcomes.
- Support, as tasked, work strands within the SPP team and NPCC Strategic Hub, in line with overall strategic objectives.
- Research and report on SPP activity, objectives and work requests in support of the SPP team and Strategic Hub.
- Identify areas of improvement, seeking new sources of quality information, maintaining best practice.
- Clear understanding of the complex organisational and political environment, the strategic context surrounding the NPCC, and its effect on outcome delivery.
- Demonstrate sensitivity, confidentiality and tact at all times, particularly when researching/reporting contentious and sensitive issues.
Research processes and SPP activity in line with legislative requirements and compliance with NPCC policies, legal obligations such as the Health & Safety at Work Act, Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act etc.
The successful candidate would need to have the following experiences and skills:
- Competently convey strategic findings both in writing and verbally in a meaningful and comprehensive manner to all levels, including staff and external stakeholders to support corporate and operational priorities and inform decision making.
- Develop and propose recommendations based on research and analytical findings.
- Experience and/or development understanding of working in a confidential and/or politically sensitive environment.
- Deliver timely products, utilising available technology to create effective reports relevant to a variety of audiences.
- Possess the ability to manage conflicting demands and prioritise across a range of requirements.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - If you join and work for us, you will get access to:
- A competitive salary with yearly increments.
- Support networks, free Employees' Assistance Programme, Occupational Health and wellbeing services.
- Flexitime, with the ability to undertake your hours flexibly and in line with business need.
- Hybrid working, with the ability to work remotely dependent on role.
- Competitive pension scheme.
- Company sick pay.
- Job related equipment supplied
- Specialist equipment supplied, under Occupational Health referral
- Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme for discounts and services (requires a one-off payment of £5).
- Development, coaching and mentoring opportunities available.
- Supportive and flexible onboarding plan, including regular check-ins throughout your initial period of joining us to ensure you are up to speed with the role and getting the support you need.
VETTING
Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo RV/CTC level before taking up the post.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Please provide a CV and evidence against the following competencies, (350 words maximum per competency) which are based on the knowledge, skills and experience set out in the job description and the competencies in the Competency and Values Framework (CVF).
Please note, CV’s will not be assessed within the initial application, answers to the CVF questions alone determine next steps. Once candidates identified for interview has been confirmed, CV’s will then be shared with the appropriate Hiring Manager.
Please note, the job description is used as a framework to review and manage performance when an individual is in post, and therefore not all knowledge, skills and experience are required from the outset. We are looking for someone who can demonstrate some of these and is willing to learn and achieve objectives set.
- We collaborate, Level 2 - Describe a time when it was critical for you to establish an effective working relationship with someone outside of your department to complete an important assignment or project
- We take ownership, Level 2- Please provide examples of methods you use to keep yourself accountable for work.
- We analyse critically, Level 2 – Please describe a project where you had to analyse a large set of data. What was your approach?
Should you want to know more about the role, we would strongly encourage you contact hr-recruitment@npcc.police.uk to arrange an informal conversation.
- Please do not attach 2 copies of your CV.
REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS
With all recruitment processes, we support reasonable adjustments. This aligns with the Equality Act 2010 and reflects best practice in inclusive recruitment. Please let us know in advance so we can support you appropriately. See the following examples of adjustments recommended by Optima Medical Team for prior candidates.
- Assistive technology e.g. transcription software
- Advance access to interview questions
- Extra time for assessments and interviews
IMPORTANT NOTICE FAIR RECRUITMENT COMMITMENT / INTERVIEW CONDUCT
We ask all candidates to complete interviews and assessments independently, without the use of AI, automated tools, or external assistance.
However, we recognise that AI can be a helpful tool in the preparation phase of the application process. Candidates may use AI to help structure their thoughts and refine their CVs providing the content remains truthful and accurately reflects their own experiences and capabilities.
Should you require assistive technology as part of a reasonable adjustment (e.g. transcription software), please let us know in advance so we can support you appropriately.
We value honesty, integrity, transparency, and personal accountability. Demonstrating these qualities throughout the recruitment process is essential.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Occasional national travel may be required. Travel expenses will be paid if location allowance is not being received, or when travel falls outside of the home to work journey. NPCC will pay for overnight accommodation if required.
The Metropolitan Police manage HR for NPCC recruitment.
This role does not attract Shift Disturbance Allowance. If you are currently in a shift-working role, SDA should cease upon appointment to this job.
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 20th September 2026.
Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy will commence 21st September 2026.
Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interview dates will commence from TBC.
Please note that if you are applying as a secondee from another national police force or government organisation, please contact HR-Recruitment@npcc.police.uk, do not apply online via Oleeo. Online applications will only be accepted for external candidates, or existing Met employees. If you are external to policing, please ensure you apply through the External link available via - https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/c/careers/police-staff-roles/police-staff-vacancies/.
The Met is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority groups and females.
