Insight and Evaluation Manager (Communications)

The Insight and Evaluation Manager will play a key role in shaping the ICO’s approach to communications – leading work to help us target our comms for impact, measure our success and drive improvements in what we do.
You will provide insight about our audiences and what key stakeholders think about our work, using data and other evidence to help us choose the right strategies, tools and channels to achieve our communications objectives.
You will also lead the evaluation of our communications, ensuring we are able to measure our objectives meaningfully from the outset, demonstrate the value of communications and learn lessons.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.
As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.
As a member of the Corporate Communications management team, you will work collaboratively to bring together insight and research from sources within and outside the directorate to inform communication strategies and plans.
Your work will enable Comms to act as the voice of the audience during policy development and service design to ensure the best communication approach. You will also work with colleagues in the wider organisation to ensure the ICO’s overall research programme is coherent and effective., + Work with Comms colleagues to identify priority areas for insight and research, build ongoing relationships and ensuring early understanding of needs.
+ Identify the most effective, timely and value for money approaches to delivering those needs - capturing insights that help us identify the right tools and channels to deliver comms objectives effectively.
+ Lead the development of evaluation processes for communications, including work to set measurable objectives for activity across campaign planning, media, web, social media and external events.
+ Drive continuous improvement in the evaluation of communications work, identifying and sharing actionable insights with Comms colleagues in consistent and creative ways.
+ Gather and present evidence to demonstrate the impact of different communications approaches, inform communications planning and support the development of the ICO strategic communication plan.
+ Commission and procure research where required, including advising on the most appropriate methodology, sample, questionnaire design etc.
+ Work with colleagues in the wider organisation to ensure the ICO’s overall research programme is coherent and effective, identifying opportunities for bringing together and sharing insights internally and, where appropriate, externally
+ Build and maintain excellent working relationships with external stakeholders and suppliers and represent the ICO as required.
+ Champion public-sector best practice in the use of research, insight and evaluation, and its contribution to high-quality comms outputs and outcomes; proactively develop own expertise, keeping abreast of developments in research methods.
+ Play an active role in the Comms directorate management team, collaborating on work including business planning and staff development.
+ Comply with ICO policies and procedures.

Successful candidates must show they have experience of leading insight and evaluation work that helps to deliver impactful, high-quality communications in a fast-moving environment.
You will demonstrate expertise in collating evidence and research in ways that ensure it can be used to inform effective communications; identifying gaps and areas for improvement, and leading work to address these – including in response to anticipated or actual changes in the external environment.
You will be confident in your ability to brief colleagues at all levels of seniority, presenting up-to-date insights in ways that are accessible and engaging.
Strong analytical skills and experience of a range of insight and evaluation techniques, including both qualitative and quantitative research, are essential to this role. You will also have experience of procuring and managing research to provide robust outputs and actionable insights.
Line or matrix management experience in a communications setting is desirable., + Substantial experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
+ Substantial experience of leading insight and evaluation work to inform the development and delivery of impactful, targeted outputs and support continuous improvement
+ Excellent written communication skills, with ability to write high-quality research briefs, procurement documents and sample questionnaires
Essential criteria assessed during interview:
+ Ability to deal with a demanding workload and to switch priorities at short notice
+ Ability to interpret complex research needs into clearly scoped research proposals, including identifying methodologies and samples, managing procurement processes and overseeing deliverables.
+ Strong analytical skills and experience of a range of insight and evaluation techniques, including both qualitative and quantitative research.
+ An engaging presenter, able to communicate insights in accessible and compelling ways, and represent the ICO with a range of stakeholders.
+ Excellent interpersonal skills: confident and persuasive, with ability to foster and maintain effective relationships with senior ICO stakeholders, research agencies and other external parties., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.

Salary: £55,591 - £62,974, with potential for further progression to £70,907 with our pay progression scheme.
Location: Hybrid
Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.
Why work for the ICO?
+ Pay progression scheme.
+ Hybrid and flexible working options.
+ 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
+ Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
+ Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
+ Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
+ Health Cash Plan.
+ Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.
Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website ., Alongside your salary of £55,591, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £16,104 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides., Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme.