As the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy, Defra plays a pivotal role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, the water we drink, to the air we breathe.
This is an exciting short-term opportunity to take on a critical role in Defra’s Communications Directorate as the Communications Insight and Evaluation Lead. Defra’s Insight & Evaluation (I&E) team sits in the Strategic Communications team but works with colleagues across all disciplines to ensure insight and evaluation is at the heart of everything we do.
This is a fixed-term appointment as a Communications Insight and Evaluation Lead in the Insight & Evaluation Team. The post is permanent, and the permanent post-holder is absent for a known period. The fixed term will end on the return of the post-holder or when the post is filled on a permanent basis by a different person. This post will begin from the candidate's start date and end on 31st March 2026.
* Lead the insight and evaluation function within Defra communications, overseeing a small team and with line management responsibilities for a Senior Insight and Evaluation Officer
* Conduct and commission research and analysis (both qualitative and quantitative) to identify key insights and trends relevant to Defra Group communications
* Develop and implement comprehensive evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness and impact of Defra communications. Ensure that evaluation methodologies align with industry best practice
* Gather data from various sources including surveys, focus groups, stakeholder intelligence, social listening and behavioural science. Analyse data and interpret findings to inform communications strategies and decision-making
* Support communications colleagues to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and develop measurement tools to monitor and evaluate the performance of communications activities
* Prepare clear and concise reports, presentations and documentation summarising insights and evaluation results and recommendations. Present key findings to communications colleagues and senior leaders within the organisation, including the Secretary of State and Ministers
* Provide strategic recommendations based on insights and evaluation findings to enhance the effectiveness of Defra’s communications efforts. Assist in developing communications plans, messaging strategies, and tactics to address identified areas for improvement
* Provide insight support to help shape and underpin the Directorate-wide communications strategy
* Oversee the management of external research contracts and budgets
* Build and maintain relationships with cross-government insight and evaluation leads as well as social research and other insight colleagues in Defra
* Champion a positive and enthusiastic culture of insight and evaluation in the Defra Group Communications Directorate and help to build capability through the development of cross-directorate training and guidance
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