IFECHUKWU VINCEN OKELEKE-NEZIANYA , London, United Kingdom

I hold Ph.D. In social psychology, M.A. In applied social research and statistics, Postgraduate Diploma (Pg.DM) in Business Management and marketing and Postgraduate certificate in psychodynamic psychotherapy and counselling. In addition, to my academic and professional training in various social research methodologies and methods, such as hermeneutics, ethnography, social surveys, focus groups, literature reviews, in-depth-interviewing, and evaluative research which has provided me with a thorough working knowledge necessary for undertaking research in both government and academic settings. I have undertaken further training in user experience research methods, analysis and synthesis geared towards policy development..

I have over nineteen years of ‘hands-on’ experience in designing, managing, conducting social research specifications to meet the needs of policy customers. For example, as a research analyst at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), I designed and set up social survey, which was used to provide quarterly statistics to monitor progress in meeting the department’s PSA on increasing the awareness of the Disability Discrimination Acts in UK. The project involved designing questionnaire, analysing and interpreting data, and writing reports and briefings for policy colleagues.

I have demonstrated that I can work collaboratively with both internal and external partners to build a good working relationship that contributed to supporting and promoting various government aims. In my recent assignment as a consultant social research manager at DEFRA, I developed an excellent working relationship with a range of people, including economists, operational researchers, policy teams, and in-house social researchers. I regularly kept stakeholders up-dated with project progress through regular meetings. Another approach I have used in the past to build a cooperative relationship was to respond to a stakeholders' requests for information in a prompt, helpful and supportive manner.
I have experience of dealing with data quality and measurement issues. For example, when I was in the ministry of justice (MOJ), I carried out data quality assurances, critical evaluation of measurement method used by the contractors for the selection of interpreters for courts in in United Kingdom (UK), survey data.
I have both as a consultant and lead analyst in various government departments led in designing social research material such as questionnaire, focus group guidelines, piloting/testing of survey, and analysis and reporting of research findings. At the Department of transport, I designed questionnaire used in gathering data from motorists and the public on their perceptions of government directly managing tollgates in motorways. I carried the analysis of the data using SPSS and Excel.
I have demonstrated experience in working with people from all backgrounds, in all cases, I demonstrated professionalism, by treating all people with dignity and respect. I treat men and women equally. I always examine my own bias and behaviour to avoid stereotyping responses. I have recommended by several women's organisations for my project on the emancipation of African women.
I have lead, coordinated and monitored the implementation of several government data collection working very closely with UK National Statistics office.
During my career, I have reviewed and rationalised National Statistics publications, wrote ministerial submissions, commentaries to accompany National Statistics and presentations on the principles of Release Practices.
I have produced a high volume of National Statistics, in line with the guidance of National code of practice. I have also been involved in the cross-government working groups to agree on the definition of disability under the Disability discrimination Acts 1991.
I have had the opportunities to demonstrate effective communication skills in various situations. I have written and orally presented reports to senior managers on the methodological implications the contractors planned to use in researching ‘the experiences of the users of third sector services'. I have presented orally in International conferences and Intra-government workshops and seminars. I regularly write ministerial submissions and replies to parliamentary questions (PQ's), to a national standard. I have received positive feedback from senior policy managers and the minister's office. They were always pleased with the clear, concise and simple style that I used to convey often complex technical information.
I have worked successfully with external contractors, academics and research consultants on various research projects. I build open and honest relationships with them, building into my strategy formal and informal communication channels as a way delivering milestones and managing risks. I have been invited to several contractor's internal meetings to deliver methodologies and analytical techniques.
When I worked as an embedded analyst in a policy division. I responsible for all the division's analytical work. I held regular meetings with the team, to understand their requirements and prioritise my workload, to maximise my analytical impact.
I have vast experience in data analysis and interpretation of complex data sets using various statistical techniques. In my previous posts, I was responsible for developing, analysing, production of a report on ‘public attitudes towards road network performance in Great Britain’. In my earlier post at Home office, I carried data analysis and interpretation of several complex data sets and produced robust reports.
I have carried out an investigation of the Quality Management Framework project (QMF), the aim was to investigate whether the study can produce a robust measurement framework. To investigate the project I compare the concept, methods and methodologies with the existing quality management framework tools.

I have vast experience in managing large and small teams of statisticians, social researchers and generalists. In the Ministry of Transport, I managed a team of 5 comprising social researcher, Statistician and generalists. In the Ministry of Justice, I initially manage a team 6, currently, I manage one analyst.
As a member of the Government Social Research (GSR), I learnt how to problem solve, react fast to changing situations, build relationships and to negotiate practical solutions. These influencing skills stood me in good stead during my years in the civil service and as a consultant.
My skills in working in multidisciplinary teams, and applying innovative approaches, monitoring and evaluating complex and changing project specifications make me an ideal match for this position.
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