This role has a starting salary of £79,260 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week. This is a 12-month fixed term contract / secondment opportunity. In what is set to be a very exciting year as Surrey embarks on preparations for local government reorganisation, we are looking for an experienced senior leader in the field of insights and engagement to cover the maternity leave of the Head of Resident Insight and Intelligence full time on a fixed term basis of 12 months. Rewards and Benefits 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave A generous local government salary related pension Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more 2 paid volunteering days per year Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources About the Role This is an exciting opportunity to lead Surrey County Council's Resident Intelligence Unit, which is the central team responsible for research, behaviour change and consultation officers. The Unit sits within the Council's communication and engagement service and is the central function responsible for ensuring Surrey's residents, businesses and other stakeholders know how to engage with the council on the issues which matter to them, feel empowered to do so and trust that the Council will listen. The role is responsible for helping the organisation to truly understand our communities, so council policy is developed alongside our residents, helping ensure that no-one is left behind. You will work closely with services across the council including Communications, Customer Services and Transformation, Events and Engagement and Data and Insight teams, as well as all directorates to bring together quantitative and qualitative research and insight, making it accessible to the whole organisation to ensure decision making is evidence-led. We are a forward-thinking team, in an ambitious organisation, always looking to try new things and stay at the forefront of modern techniques and channels. Have you got the strategic vision and passion to have an impact? Shortlisting We are looking for an experienced senior leader, comfortable in high pressure situations, with an analytical mind, a positive and ambitious outlook and an approachable personality, who will make a positive impact, both externally and internally. To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following: Experience of working in a senior position within a similar scale organisation Experience of working closely with senior stakeholders and presenting data and insights for recommendation Experience of leading a multi-disciplinary research and insights team Experience of leading public engagement and research activity and of analysing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data Experience of commissioning external agencies in research, communications, and analysis The job advert closes at 23:59 on 23/03/2025 with interviews planned for the following fortnight. Our Commitment Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where: The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.