Communication & Engagement Lead
| Posting date: | 11 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £42,665 to £50,495 per year |
| Additional salary information: | National: £42,665 - £46,765 London: £46,060 - £50,495 For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’. |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 23 February 2026 |
| Location: | York |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 448587/4 |
Summary
This role will be based in the Data Science and Analytics Hub (DASH) within the Central Analysis and Insights Directorate (CAID) in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
CAID has a key, strategic role to play in leading on cross cutting issues and ensuring that high quality analysis is driving Defra’s strategy, policy and ways of delivering. Alongside this, the Central Data Office’s strategic roadmap seeks to put data at the heart of everything the department does.
The DASH programme is a partnership between CAID and Digital, Data Technology and Services (DDTS) to transform data science and analysis across the Defra group by delivering scalable, adaptable, future-ready and user-oriented services that nurture a highly skilled community of analysts and scientists. We foster collaboration, continuous learning and innovation through learning and development and the provision of modern tools and data services that enable data-driven decision making to improve and protect the environment.
CAID lead the community, capability and engagement elements enabling them to prioritise user needs in the development of the platform and data accessibility. DASH provides the data science expertise to support the analytical and science community in using the platform. DDTS deliver the data and technology capabilities, primarily through the development and delivery of the DASH Platform, and its ongoing support and maintenance.
As Comms & Engagement Lead for DASH, you will play a key role in shaping the way in which we communicate with our users and engage with our community and stakeholders across the Defra group. You will also contribute towards developing and supporting the data science community, driving innovation and ensuring usage and impact of DASH is maximised. Finally, you will be the secretariat for two senior governance groups, interacting with senior leaders across the Defra group and supporting decision-making.
This is a very exciting time to join the DASH programme, as we are transitioning from being a public beta service to a fully operational live service in April 2026.
As Comms & Engagement Lead, you will be expected to:
- Lead the engagement and alignment with key stakeholders and connected initiatives (e.g. ACT, CDO, EOCoE, AI unit, Geospatial community)
- Lead on the communication of DASH’s purpose, successes and lessons across Defra Group and government, including through leading on the newsletter and on planning events
- Lead on the delivery of the Comms & Engagement Strategy, including the continuous improvement of our SharePoint site and our general comms package
- Support the Head of Strategy & Engagement to be the outward face of the DASH team – building profile, securing engagement and developing an understanding of business needs for the DASH service
- Convene and support the DASH user community through organising community events
- Help develop a marketing strategy to ensure DASH understands the potential market across Defra group, the market penetration, identifies opportunities to grow market share and can effectively and accurately support forecasting of demand for the DASH platform
- Be the secretariat for the DASH Programme Board and Design & Delivery Group, ensuring that the meeting invitations are correct, collating / sharing documents in advance, taking notes and sharing minutes and follow-ups
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