Senior Insight Manager

Job summary

We are MHCLG

This is an exciting time to join the Communications Insight and Evaluation team at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). As one of the Government's highest-profile departments, we are delivering on many of the Prime Minister's key priorities, including housing, devolution, local growth and community cohesion. Our work helps ensure that communications are rooted in a deep understanding of audiences, enabling the department to engage people effectively and demonstrate the impact of its activity.

As a Senior Insight Manager, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of government communications. You'll help drive the transformation towards a more digitally-led, audience-centred approach, using insight, research and evaluation to inform strategy, optimise content and improve performance across owned, earned and paid channels. Working alongside colleagues from across communications, policy and the wider Government Communication Service, you'll ensure that evidence is at the heart of decision-making. You'll also have the opportunity to lead and support insight and evaluation for high-profile campaigns that address some of the country's most important challenges. From helping social housing residents understand their rights to supporting behaviour change and public engagement on major government priorities, you'll use robust evidence to shape campaigns, measure their effectiveness and generate learning that improves future communications activity. Working as part of a small, ambitious and highly regarded team you'll have significant autonomy, exposure to senior stakeholders and Special Advisors, and opportunities to influence communications on some of government's highest-profile priorities.

Supported by the Head of Insight and our stand-by research agency you'll act as a trusted adviser to colleagues across the department, helping them identify insight needs, frame research questions and select the most effective approaches to generate actionable evidence. No two projects are the same. One day you could be evaluating a major national campaign, the next conducting audience research to understand the most effective channels, messages or content strategies to reach key audiences. Throughout, you'll ensure that all work meets the highest professional standards, drawing on Government Social Research, Government Communication Service and Market Research Society best practice. This is a unique opportunity to influence high-profile communications activity, develop expertise across the full insight and evaluation lifecycle, and help shape how government uses evidence to deliver better outcomes for citizens.

Job description

• Lead on building the evidence base around some of the government's most important social and housing challenges, likely including strengthening community cohesion, improving building and fire safety, and supporting efforts to end rough sleeping, becoming the team’s trusted insight expert in these areas.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with communications, policy and digital colleagues, as well as external research and creative agency partners, acting as a trusted adviser to ensure insight and evidence are embedded in communications planning and delivery.

• Lead the design, commissioning and delivery of high-quality insight, research and evaluation projects to support departmental communications priorities and decision-making. These will include campaign evaluations, deep dive message testing work and public opinion tracking.

• Analyse and synthesise evidence from multiple sources, including primary research, digital analytics, campaign performance data and external evidence, translating complex findings into clear, actionable recommendations for a non-analyst audience including Senior Leaders and Special Advisors.

• Support the department’s transition towards a more digitally-led and audience centred communications model by championing the use of insight, evaluation and data-driven decision making. This includes through our thematic cross-comms delivery boards.

• Explore and champion innovative approaches to insight and evaluation, including the use of digital analytics, AI-enabled tools and new research methodologies to generate faster, more actionable evidence while also ensuring all projects meet the quality standards expected by the Government Social Research, Government Communications and Market Research Agency standards.

• Build insight and evaluation capability across the communications directorate, championing best practice and helping colleagues make more effective use of evidence in decision-making

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Significant experience commissioning, managing and delivering qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation projects, including working with external suppliers.

• Experience and understanding in a range of social research techniques and methodologies such as evaluation, qualitative methods and surveys.

• Experience using audience insight to inform communications strategy, audience segmentation, targeting and message development. Experience of using low cost/no cost approaches for research and evaluation, whilst also maintaining quality including ad hoc desk-based research

• Experience presenting complex evidence and recommendations to senior stakeholders, influencing decision-making and securing buy-in for evidence-based approaches.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills

• Ability to work under pressure, at pace and can prioritise and project manage several tasks at once. Meets deadlines and manages expectations along the way.

• A good knowledge of the current traditional media and social media landscape and an interest in the changing nature of communications

• Experience of delivering communications evaluation plans

Analysts in MHCLG must be affiliated to a government analytical profession. This is usually one of the following:

• Government Economic Service (GES)

• Government Operational Research Service (GORS)

• Government Social Research Service (GSR)

• Government Statistical Service (GSS)

Stage 1: Filter and eligibility questions, entry tests

Candidates who successfully pass the initial filter and eligibility questions will be asked to confirm which of the analytical professions they belong to or are applying to be part of. This information will be used to progress successful applications to the appropriate professional checks element of the process.

Existing civil servants who are currently a member of one of these professions will retain their professional membership in this role. Applicants on promotion will be assessed for promotion within their profession as part of the selection process. Please make any current affiliation clear in your application.

External candidates or civil servants without a current profession affiliation may be considered for accreditation to one of the professions as part of the recruitment process. If you are not currently a member of a government analytical profession you will be put through the membership process for your chosen profession as part of this application. You must pass the membership process for your application to be successful. If you do not pass the relevant profession entry test your application will not be taken further. See the Guide for Analytical Candidates document for more details of the membership process for the relevant profession.

You will need to address the technical competences for your profession in the application and at interview.

Please refer to the Guide for Analytical Candidates which provides:

1 – the technical competences for each analytical profession – GES, GORS, GSR and GSS

2 – details of the entry requirements to each analytical profession

3 – details of the entry process for each analytical profession

Entry Qualifications

The entry qualifications are listed below. Please list FULL details of your degree in your application form.

Government Social Research (GSR):

You must meet one of the following routes:

1. Degree route

Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1 or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, in a social science subject.

A qualifying social science subject must include substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken in the course). This must include:

Quantitative methods (mandatory), including research design, data collection (e.g. questionnaire design, sampling, weighting) and data analysis (e.g. statistical analysis); and

At least three of the following:

• Systematic or literature reviews

• Qualitative methods, including research design, data collection (e.g. interviewing, focus groups, ethnography) and analysis (e.g. thematic analysis).

• Interpretation of data (qualitative and quantitative), presentation of results, and development of recommendations or conclusions.

• Study design, hypothesis formation, testing and evaluation.

• Application of ethics to research.

Relevant degree subjects in the social sciences can be varied. You will need to demonstrate the substantial social research methods training you have undertaken, not just the subject of your degree.

1. Professional Experience route

Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, in any subject (or a degree equivalent, such as an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), and have at least four years’ social research practice experience.

For Main Stream applicants, the degree requirement is an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, with no requirement for a postgraduate degree.

Social research practice experience typically includes work in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team.

To enter GSR through this route, you must clearly demonstrate the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills. This must include quantitative research methods and at least three of the following:

• Systematic or literature reviews.

• Qualitative methods.

• Interpretation of data and presentation of results.

• Study design and hypothesis testing.

• Application of ethics to research.

Competencies

You will need to address the technical competences for your profession in the application and at interview.

Professional technical competences are listed below:

Social research competences

Social research: technical skills

Social research: using and promoting social research

Social Researcher candidates (entry test):

Candidates who are not members of the Government Social Research service (GSR) will be invited to sit the Government Social Research Knowledge test. This is the first part of the GSR membership process, and you must pass this test for your application to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.

We will arrange for you to sit the GSR Knowledge Test as soon as possible. This test must be completed prior to interview, and if you do not pass this test, your application will not progress further.

Candidates who are existing members of the Government Social Research Service (GSR) do not need to complete this test as part of their application.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,256, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £14,269 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).At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Staff Benefits Scheme, Childcare Vouchers, and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

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

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Experience , Technical , Behaviours

Stage 1: Sift - Technical question & CV/Cover letter

Lead Sift question: Please provide 250 words outlining your technical skills. Please include how you meet the professional and technical skills expected at this grade, in line with the Government Social Research competency framework.

If we receive many applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead question. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

CV & Cover letter: CV (of no more than 2 pages) & Cover letter (of no more than 2 pages) - explaining how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you run into any technical problems when applying through Be Applied (for example, trouble logging in or submitting your application), their support team can help. Please contact them at hello@beapplied.com.

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

We do not consider CV applications sent directly to the inbox. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: Seeing the big picture, Managing a quality service, Communicating and influencing
• Technical: Candidates will be assessed against the Social research competences.
• Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.

Candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 19/10/26.

Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 02/11/26 and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Disability Confident Scheme (DCS)

We are a Disability Confident employer.

We apply a fair and proportionate interview process for all candidates. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to progress candidates who apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and meet the required minimum selection criteria.

However, where high application volumes are received, progression to interview may be limited to those who best meet the role criteria. In these circumstances, the benchmark required to proceed to interview may be raised for all candidates.

How We Recruit

Find out more about our recruitment processes here.

• Applying

• Sifting

• Interview

• Interview Results & Feedback

• Reserve List

• Near Miss

• Civil Service Grades

• We are a Disability Confident Scheme, Redeployment Interview scheme & Great Place to Work for Veterans employer

• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

Find out everything you need to know before applying here.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• Security Clearance Requirements

• Civil Service Nationality Requirements

• Right to Work

• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles

• CV Declaration

• Sponsorships

• Salary and Grade

• Existing Civil Servants

• Conflict of Interest

• Location and Flexible Working

• Internal Fraud Database

• Appeals and Complaints

• Fixed Term Appointments for:

• External Candidates

• Existing Civil Servants (Including Loans)

• Secondments

• MHCLG employees

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: + SC

London Office: + SC

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 security 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

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 : Phillippa Lewis
• Email : Phillippa.Lewis@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk

Further information

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:

a procedural irregularity

an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy

exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.

It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at recruitment@communities.gov.uk.

If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk

Attachments

20171009 Guide for Analytical candidates (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 310kB)