Research, Insight & Evaluation Senior Manager - BelfastAbout the jobJob summaryDiscover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it's really like to work at HMRC.Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.Are you passionate about understanding audience behaviour and evaluating the impact of evidence-based government communications? We're looking for an experienced Research, Insight and Evaluation Senior Manager to play a key role in the delivery of our communications strategy, as we support HMRC in its transformation and help collect more of the money that powers our public services. This is an exciting time to join us as we improve how we access and use research and insight across our communications function and further embrace technology to automate our processes. You will play a key role in our newly formed Communications Insight, Impact and Digital Solutions team which brings together new and existing teams of specialists to transform our approach. Your work will help to inform communications insight and evaluation strategy, support the development and delivery of impactful, evidence-based government campaigns, and enable robust identification, tracking and evaluation of communications impact.Job descriptionYou will be part of a skilled communications team collaborating with other communications professionals, campaign leads, researchers and behavioural science experts. Working closely with specialists across the team, together you will unlock insights from a wide range of sources, transforming them into clear, actionable recommendations that help shape communications strategy, inform SMART objectives and evaluate campaign performance. You will support delivery of a programme of communications research - both quantitative and qualitative - including creative and message testing, campaign and brand tracking research, as well as representing HMRC's communications interests as a stakeholder in research projects owned by other parts of the department. You will use these projects to develop a deep understanding of our internal and external audiences, channels, and reputation as a department working closely with data analysts to identify areas for deeper analysis. You will use this deep understanding to support the development of strategic communications strategies and plans, inform SMART objectives for communications campaigns and activities, and support colleagues in evaluating campaign performance.Person specificationKey responsibilities Deliver qualitative and quantitative research that helps to assess HMRC's reputation ensuring that the narrative around the findings is clearly articulated and provides actionable insights for strategic plans.Deliver research to track and evaluate the department's internal and external communications campaigns.Act as a central insight and evaluation expert to HMRC's Communications colleagues, providing insight and evaluation advice and support for priority external and internal communications campaigns, drawing on HMRC's own sources and those across and outside of government.Provide guidance to colleagues on research proposals, methodology and findings as well as drawing their attention to actionable insight in an easily understandable way through written reports, webinars, presentations and databases.Build cross-HMRC relationships to access insight and evaluation from sources outside of Communications, proactively sharing and integrating audience insight and evaluation reports and targeting them to the right teams/campaign leads to inform cross department communications and build capability of communicators.Develop evaluation frameworks for annual communications plans to track and report against objectives to ensure all communications activity has SMART objectives and evaluation criteria to support communications and organisational priorities.Support teams on developing metrics, baselines/benchmarks and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including through survey/historical trend data analysis, and the drafting of responses to strategic reporting commissions.Collaborate with colleagues across the team to deliver the quarterly communications reporting hubs, aggregating metrics, insight and lessons learned.Champion the new Communications Information Management System (CIMS), and integrate insight and evaluation products and tools, such as a new insight library and audience segmentation database, to CIMS to support campaign planning and track impact.Promote continuous improvement in insight and evaluation skills across the Communications team through delivery of training and guidance.Build networks across the department to access research and identify and share relevant insights with communications colleagues.Essential Criteria Experience in commissioning and managing research projects, including procuring and managing external agencies, overseeing tendering, setting up contracts, onboarding agencies and managing suppliersA good understanding of a range of research methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and their application in evaluating communications, policy, or public service delivery.Good analytical skills, and the ability to harness information from a wide variety of sources within HMRC, across government and externally, and turn these into actionable insights clearly and persuasively.Good knowledge or experience of SMART objective setting and evaluation processes.Good stakeholder management skills, with experience of working with a range of stakeholders.Desirable Criteria Knowledge or experience of market research, social research or a related fieldExperience of commissioning and managing research projectsMembership/accreditation of Market Research SocietyMembership of the Government Social Research (GSR) professional body for social researchers working in government.Transitional SitesFor more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.If your location preference is for one of the following sites, it's important to note that these are not long-term sites for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.These sites are: Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, NewcastleYou will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stageLeeds Locations Moves Adjustment Payment will be available for this role, provided the successful applicant is a current HMRC colleague and meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the HMRC's Moves Adjustment Payment guidance.BehavioursWe'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Working Together BenefitsAlongside your salary of £44,110, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £12,778 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.Family friendly policies.Personal support.Coaching and development.To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil ServiceThings you need to knowSelection process detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.How to ApplyAs part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:A name-blind CV including your job history, previous skills and experiences and qualifications.A 750-word personal statement to demonstrate Essential Criteria and Person Specification as detailed within the advert.Please complete a separate statement (Max 250 words) for the Desirable Criteria where applicable. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at sift or interview.Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.SiftIn the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on CV.At full sift your CV and your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview. We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.InterviewDuring the panel interview, you will be assessed on Behaviour based questions and strength based questions.This is an example of a strength based question :-"It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?"There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.EligibilityPlease take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days(Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - (insert vacancy ref) & vacancy closing date (insert date)'.To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.Reserve ListA reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.Merit ListAfter interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.Criminal Record CheckApplications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.Hybrid working at HMRCHMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time). Reasonable AdjustmentsWe want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.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.Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to.Terms and Conditions Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process. Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.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.New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK.Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Nationality requirementsThis 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 ServiceThe 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 InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).