Communications Insight, Planning and Evaluation Specialist job description

Our Corporate Services Group (CSG) function is represented in every area of the organisation, with a wide range of specialisms that collectively enable our effective day-to-day operation, ensuring we can deliver our objectives and maintain compliance.

As part of our team, you’ll benefit from plenty of routes for development, access to specialist training and funding for professional qualifications, and a c.27% employer pension contribution. You’ll also have access to a wide range of employee networks, including the Women’s Inclusive Network, Race & Culture Network, Pride Network, Disability Network – and many more. We recognise that the best people for the job may have commitments outside of work, so we’re pleased to promote flexible working to support our colleagues in balancing work and home life.

Does data drive you? Do you like following trends or leading them? We’re searching for an insight driven, communications professional to be our new Communications Insight, Planning and Evaluation Specialist.

A curious mind, and an ability to organise and rationalise information to help others see the bigger picture, is essential.

As part of our team, you will liaise with senior stakeholders, across Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the UK’s Armed Forces, Whitehall, and the world’s defence industry to coordinate both external and internal communications activity. You’ll also co-ordinate data to report and provide information delivered via various media channels and communication platforms. Building strong working relationships in our organisation, you will horizon scan, forecasting and identifying key opportunities and risks for the organisation and its people. Providing advice and guidance as to how these can be best handled and communicated in accordance with other defence or government events, to gain the greatest reach and have the most effective impact.

You’ll be working across internal and external communications, bringing plans together that look out up to 12 months ahead. You will devise a consistent approach to analysing, evaluating, and consolidating data for reports and insights, including segmenting audiences. Your findings will be effectively communicated to senior stakeholders, using insights to drive improved future communications and help the business.

At DE&S, you’ll help coordinate communications on some of Government’s most complex and interesting programmes and engage with a workforce of more than 11,000 people.

Please note some attendance to the stated site may be required for this position.

We strongly recommend tailoring your CV in line with our CV guidance before applying, with specific sections to highlight Key Achievements, Relevant Experience, and Applied Skills & Knowledge.

Responsibilities of the Communications Insight, Planning and Evaluation Specialist

In this role, you will be entrusted with:

• Leading, advising and delivering on communication plans, including our communications strategy, that link to the strategic themes of DE&S and to wider Government communications objectives
• Producing insight reports, taking a lead role in the development of evaluation that provides vital information to the direction of communications and business insight for the organisation
• Engaging with senior external and internal stakeholders across the business to ensure communications is aware of all upcoming risks and opportunities
• Providing advice on timing of communications for maximum impact and effectiveness
• Identifying effective communication channels and using best practice evaluation tools to measure effectiveness across traditional, social and digital channels.
• Reporting to the Corporate Communications senior leadership team and DE&S senior leaders on communications activity and impact
• Presenting clear and concise evaluation data/planning reports identifying risks and opportunities that can either damage or enhance our reputation
• Presenting clear and concise evaluation data/planning reports identifying risks and opportunities that can either damage or enhance our reputation

What you will be assessed against

To be successful with your application you must demonstrate that you meet the following essential criteria:
• Ability to plan and deliver to multiple deadlines and adapt to changing demands
• Experience in managing and influencing people including internal and external stakeholders
• Experience in communications planning, evaluation, and insight
• Proven ability to follow a systematic planning approach including reporting performance against objectives
• Understanding of best practice in using communications insights to deliver best outcomes
• Current understanding of relevant technology and media evaluation and insight tools used e.g Brandwatch

It will also benefit your application if you are able to demonstrate the following desirable criteria:
• Experience of working in a PR Agency or communications team within an organisation
• Experience of operating across traditional media and digital media
• Member of professional body – MRS or CIPR or equivalent

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competencies and behaviours will be assessed at interview:
• Press and Media
• Campaigns and Marketing
• Seeing the big picture
• Managing a quality service

What’s in it for you?

Our careers offer stability, training, progression – and much more! Discover more about what we offer in our Little Book of Big Benefits. Find out more about our pension schemes.

We’re exploring future ways of working with a flexible and a family-friendly approach in mind. This means that successful candidates may be offered the option of hybrid working, combining working at home with working at their contractual location. Further information relevant to hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post, to find a balance that suits your needs and those of the organisation. Please note that employees are responsible for meeting the cost of their travel to and from work when attending site.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are dedicated to creating a great place to work that reflects the diversity of the society we serve. To help us do this, we particularly encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, disabled people and people from LGBT communities. By bringing together different ideas, experiences and perspectives, we can achieve our ambitions, together.

Please click the link below to apply for the Communications Insight, Planning and Evaluation Specialist role by creating an account and upload your details.