About the job

Job summary

Health and social care issues affect us all. From patient care to mental health, NHS funding to medicine supply and adult social care – the work of the department is always at the forefront of the news agenda and a key government priority.

DHSC Communications Directorate is looking for a talented research and evaluation specialist to bring the voice of the public, patients and health and care workforce into our vital work. You will design and deliver a programme of research, data analysis and insight to provide a detailed understanding of target audiences and evaluate the impact of communications.

This exciting role will help inform how we develop and engage people through innovative communications to support ministers’ priorities, enable the efficient and effective operation of health and care services, and improve people’s lives.

This work is high profile, fast paced and ever changing, the role will suit a self-motivated, intellectually creative and persuasive person who can spot opportunities and take responsibility for achieving them.

If you are passionate about understanding audiences, bringing together multiple data sources to surface new actionable and compelling insights to shape and evaluate award-winning communications, we want to hear from you.

Job description

Audience insight is at the heart of what we do. To ensure our communications stay relevant and impactful, they are grounded in a deep understanding of behaviours, intentions, attitudes, and media habits.

The Head of Insight and Evaluation is critical in moulding how insight is at the core of our communications activity. The successful candidate will lead a team to deliver a programme of insight, through the utilisation of primary and secondary data sources that shape strategic thinking and drive communications; as well as leading the department’s approach to communications evaluation.

You will be a trusted advisor to senior communicators, special advisors and ministers, carefully scoping research requirements and providing incisive communications advice rooted in a deep understanding of audiences.

Fast-paced research to provide audience-led actionable advice in a matter of days is the team’s business as usual. Alongside, the team delivers additional strategic programmes of research to inform the direction of the department’s communications and support upstream policy decision making.

Using market research, desk research, data analysis, behavioural science, and evaluation best practice you will build an in-depth insight into people’s attitudes, behaviours and engagement. Working with agency partners you will deliver robust, timely and incisive insight that sets direction and offers value for money. You will use this to identify the role for communications in supporting policy delivery and achieving the Secretary of State's priorities, prioritise target audiences, refine messages and creative and understand the impact of communications.

You will need to influence senior stakeholders across DHSC and work collaboratively across the health system and across government, with the gravitas and credibility to inspire confidence in your work.

The successful candidate will:

• Shape and lead the Communications Directorate’s audience insight and evaluation programme in line with Government Communication Service’s (GCS) best practice and underpinned by theories of change.
• Lead the delivery of effective primary qualitative and quantitative research and application of secondary research and data.
• Champion the voice of the target audience in all our work. Develop and promote a deep understanding of and insight into audiences’ attitudes, behaviours and engagement on departmental priorities. You’ll keep ahead of the latest communications trends and considers how these apply to the work of government.
• Lead, manage and motivate the Insight and Evaluation team. Play an active leadership role within the Communications Directorate and across the health system and GCS market research communities; collaborating, sharing best practice and championing the work of your team.
• Build strong and effective networks across the department, and beyond, to be a credible partner and trusted advisor to senior stakeholders.
• Effectively manage external agencies to achieve research objectives ensuring value for money.

Person specification

Key skills and Experience

We are looking for a rare combination of excellent research, data and analysis experience which will be brought to bear as powerful insight to set the direction for departmental communications and as evaluation to evidence its impact.

• A creative and innovative thinker and persuasive communicator able to identify new ideas to solve complex issues and use data and insight to tell complex stories in a simple and compelling way.
• Excellent analytical skills and an ability to interpret and manipulate a range of data sources to generate actionable audience insights to inform communications and policy. Expertise in behaviour change theory and experience of applying models to generate real impact/outcomes.
• Proven track record and extensive experience of undertaking market research projects across a range of methodologies and audiences, including survey design and qualitative discussion guides.
• Experience of building, leading and motivating high performing teams and delivering through others. You will take an active role in developing capability within your team and as a leader in virtual teams.
• Excellent influencing skills across a range of internal and external stakeholders with a proven track record of establishing as a trusted advisor at senior level.
• Excellent organisational skills, the ability to juggle multiple priorities within a complex and often rapidly changing landscape and deliver at pace to often pressing deadlines.
• Commercial awareness and experience of appointing and managing agencies effectively to achieve value for money. Ability to manage budgets effectively.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,116, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £14,341 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Statement of Suitability (1000 word max).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert.

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 1000 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert. 

Applications will be sifted on CV and Statement of Suitability. 

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Technical Skills. 

Sift and Interview dates

Sift date: TBC

Interview date: TBC

Interview location: Microsoft Teams,

Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift. 

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores. 

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via dhscrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 
• Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

Further Information

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website here 

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available. 

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.

Any move to DHSC from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.