Evidence and Impact Lead

Job summary

In January the government announced the creation of the National School of Government and Public Services to support its ambitions for a world-class, professional Civil Service. The new School will:

• Align Civil Service training with government priorities like AI, ensuring the Civil Service is properly skilled for a more digital approach to government.
• Design and deliver more training in-house, removing duplication and reducing expenditure on external providers over time to provide better value for the taxpayer.
• Introduce a new, streamlined curriculum for civil servants - giving them clarity about what skills they are expected to learn.

The transformation to the new National School is being delivered by Government Skills, which was created in 2020 to improve the coherence and quality of learning and development in government through better training, knowledge and networks. This is an exciting time of growth for Government Skills with new positions being created to support the future operating model.

A centre for evidence is being created to embed an evidence-led and impact-based approach to the new National School. The centre will build on and expand the existing capabilities of the Evidence and Impact team in Government Skills. We use a combination of analytical methods to understand what works in government skills interventions. These include: monitoring/data analytics, social research, evaluation, statistics, behavioural and user research, and economic analysis to provide robust, purposeful insights to inform business decisions. Our evidence supports the creation of effective policy and strategy on the future skills needs of the government and wider public sector workforce, and supports effective design, commissioning and delivery of the interventions required to achieve this.

You can find more information about Government Skills on our GOV.UK page: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-skills-and-curriculum-unit including about our evidence team: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/evidence-based-learning-and-development

Job description

As Evidence and Impact Lead you will lead a diverse portfolio of research and evaluation projects which contribute programmatically to the evidence base on ‘what works’, for who, in what conditions, and why, when building the capability and skills of the civil service and public sector workforce. As part of a diverse, and expanding, analytical team you will work in partnership with other analysts, and with policy and delivery colleagues, to build capacity across the system to develop and mobilise high quality evidence to develop the government and public sector workforce we need to deliver the Government’s Missions and other key priorities.

You will apply your social research knowledge, skills and relationships to manage a broad portfolio of social research projects, including process, impact, and economic evaluations. Your portfolio will include evidence reviews, mapping exercises, and research projects, as well as evaluation work, to help us design interventions that really shift the dial on skills, and work in the varied contexts of the civil service and public sector, including working on Government Major Projects. This role will also include a focus on strengthening how evidence (both developed by the E&I Team, and from external sources) is disseminated and used across Government Skills, the Civil Service and with public sector leaders.

You will also be involved in strategic work across the E&I Team, to help shape the future of our work, including as our Team develops to play a leading role in driving forward the evidence-base on skills across both Government and the public sector. The E&I Team is currently growing and changing as part of wider exciting changes in the way we develop Civil Service and wider public sector capability within the Government’s commitment to a productive and agile state. As part of this, you will manage staff, supporting them to ensure that they can develop both individually and as part of our team.

You will report to the Head of Evidence and Impact and will:

• Lead a complex portfolio of research and evaluation on a thematic area, potentially including evaluation of complex and/or high-profile strategic projects, ensuring commissioning, delivery and reporting are robust, purposeful, efficient and aligned with relevant policies, including the Magenta Book.
• Lead work to strengthen monitoring, evaluation and impact of skills, learning and development interventions in Government Skills (and, where required, across the Civil Service and with public sector leaders), working across the full cycle of intervention design and delivery.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders, including Deputy Directors, to identify, prioritise and thematically connect longer term and immediate evidence needs and identify and implement robust approaches to address them, using and developing your own knowledge of the evidence base and drawing on appropriate external evidence and expertise.
• Reports complex and often conflicting research information to senior non-specialists/customers; and can evaluate and integrate research information from a variety of sources to come to logical conclusions
• Lead the production of high quality written briefings, business cases and other written outputs, and provide clear and purposeful verbal briefings, to senior leaders, Ministers and policy and delivery colleagues.
• Contribute to and, as/if required, lead work on knowledge mobilisation and engagement. This may include work developing and maintaining networks of key stakeholders (e.g. academics, peer evaluators/researchers across Government), and developing approaches to ensure our work is disseminated to meet the needs of all Government stakeholders, including teams across Government designing and delivering learning interventions
• As a member of the Evidence and Impact leadership team, take on a corporate contribution for enabling great evidence and impact work right across the Directorate and with our partners across the Civil Service and public sector.
• Lead a team to deliver high quality research and evaluation, including line management (and task management) staff, and support their development.

As our team is currently developing, there will be opportunities for growth and development opportunities within the team, and means that you can expect some flexibility around your role description and portfolio of analysis as the team evolves.

Person specification

Successful candidates must be badged into the Government Social Research (GSR) profession at G7 level, as detailed later. Candidates who are not badged are still eligible to apply but would be required to complete the GSR knowledge test.

Essential:

• Strong technical knowledge of relevant evaluation and social research methods including knowledge of experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation designs, other quantitative and qualitative methods and approaches to evidence synthesis. In particular, the ability to evaluate complex programmes or interventions.
• Established track record of working across the social research lifecycle, including procuring, contracting and financial management; successfully designing, implementing, managing and delivering research and/or evaluation projects, including complex projects; and an established track record of managing a diverse portfolio of research/evaluation work whilst delivering at pace, and of managing work flexibly to adapt as priorities change.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate technical information on evaluations to non-specialists in ways that are easily understood and to influence others to support the delivery and use of robust and purposeful research and evaluation. Including the ability to communicate to high-profile stakeholders on organisationally important projects
• Strong collaboration skills, able to understand others’ work, priorities and perspectives and able to bring together flexible, multi-professional teams which deliver against shared objectives.

Desirable:

• The ability to evaluate complex, strategic/transformation programmes, including process, value-for-money, and impact approaches.
• Experience in knowledge mobilisation and/or engagement
• Knowledge or experience of the evidence base and research and evaluation methods and measures used in research into professional learning/organisational change, educational evaluation or psychology/learning sciences.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Memberships

Are you a badged member of Government Social Research? Please note this will be verified by the department. This is not mandatory for application made to this role.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Showing how you meet the professional and technical skills expected at this grade, in line with the Government Social Research competency framework.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,204, Cabinet Office contributes £16,571 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Application process

As part of the application form you will be asked to complete:

• A CV
• A 500 word Personal Statement/Statement of suitability, including setting out how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification.
• 250 words on your Technical Skills, to include showing how you meet the professional and technical skills expected at this grade, in line with the Government Social Research competency framework.
• A GSR eligibility form - Please add your Application ID to this form and upload it.

Please note: if we receive a large number of applications for this role, an initial sift of applications will be made based on the GSR badging requirements (CV), and the technical elements.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills. The behaviours (which will be assessed at interview stage and not at application stage) are:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

CV - GSR Badging

We require any successful applicant to be a badged Government Social Researcher at the grade at which this job is being advertised. The recruitment process is designed so that relevant stages incorporate the required badging element.

Being part of an analytical profession supports you to build your professional networks, develop your career and stay in touch with best practice. Please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-government-social-research-profession-membership/government-social-research-membership-and-eligibility-guidance#introduction to check the eligibility requirements for GSR professional membership and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-government-social-research-competency-framework to ensure you meet the requirements for an SRO role within the GSR technical framework.

You must complete the GSR eligibility form.

Knowledge Test

If you are successful at the sifting stage of the process you will be invited to complete the GSR online multiple choice knowledge test unless you can provide proof in your initial application that you are already GSR badged at the grade being advertised.

This is a timed test and must be completed and submitted by the stated date to be considered for the next stage of the process.

Please ensure you inform us ahead of the test if you require any reasonable adjustments to be considered.

Interview

Those that pass the online test will be invited to attend an interview. This interview will incorporate interview questions that align with the badging process (including technical questions that assess the GSR technical framework). As a result, any successful candidate will have met the badging criteria. The interview will also assess the behaviours listed in the job advert. You will be asked to give a presentation, the topic will be shared ahead of the interview.

Interview date: Interviews are currently planned to take place in the weeks commencing 28 September 2026 although there may be some flexibility.

Interview location: Virtual via Google Meet

Further details will be provided to those candidates who are invited to interview.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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.

Criminal Record Check

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 or Disclosure Scotland 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

National Security Vetting

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years’ UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Diarmid Campbell- Jack
• Email : diarmid.campbelljack@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions Opens in new window (docx, 94kB)E&I Eligibility Form for 474757 Evidence and Impact Lead Opens in new window (docx, 2525kB)