Assistant Director of Research and Insight
| Dyddiad hysbysebu: | 23 Chwefror 2026 |
|---|---|
| Cyflog: | £71,725 bob blwyddyn |
| Gwybodaeth ychwanegol am y cyflog: | National - Minimum- £71,725 - Maximum - £79,481 London - Minimum - £78,988 - Maximum - £87,612 |
| Oriau: | Llawn Amser |
| Dyddiad cau: | 09 Mawrth 2026 |
| Lleoliad: | Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester |
| Gweithio o bell: | Hybrid - gweithio o bell hyd at 2 ddiwrnod yr wythnos |
| Cwmni: | HMRC |
| Math o swydd: | Parhaol |
| Cyfeirnod swydd: | 449347 |
Crynodeb
The What Works Centre sits within COD Corporate Centre. The role of the Corporate Centre is to deliver central processes and governance, supporting both the work of Compliance Operations Directorate (COD) and across all Customer Compliance Group (CCG).
As such, the purpose of the What Works Centre team is to drive HMRC’s understanding of customers’ approach to tax compliance. The team uses insight-based collaborative design techniques to develop and test new approaches to address customer non-compliance, assessing what works to inform HMRC’s future compliance activity. Delivery of test and learn activity will be through operations teams, so strong stakeholder engagement skills are required.
While the internal role is to lead the What Works Centre team, this role is fundamentally an assistant director of research and insight.
You will lead and manage a team with diverse professional skills, balancing delivery against objectives with ensuring everyone in the team is supported and offered appropriate career and professional development. This is a diverse, geographically spread team and you will provide guidance and support to the whole team across various disciplines including research, trialling, evaluation, and operational, customer and behavioural insight.
As a senior leader within HMRC and Customer Compliance Group you will be required to ensure that your work, and that of your team, is strategically aligned to HMRC and CCG’s objectives particularly when making prioritisation decisions about your portfolio of work. More widely, you will champion your team’s work, encouraging its wider adoption across HMRC, generating visibility for new interventions and a shared understanding of what works. As part of this, you will manage a broad range of relationships across the department to support the programme of work, embed HMRC’s compliance strategy, and source new initiatives.
Responsibilities
Lead a team which develops and tests new approaches to address customer non-compliance and focuses on the most important work to Customer Compliance Group in the most effective and efficient way.
To improve compliance outcomes and move compliance activity upstream.
Championing the work of the team at senior levels across the organisation.
Communicate clearly and confidently, positively influencing stakeholders and supporting cross-functional working.
Working in partnership with specialist technical experts from other professions and disciplines.
Through research, operationalise HMRC’s compliance strategy and ensuring strategic alignment of your work.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Expertise in a relevant discipline, such as behavioural or customer insight in compliance.
A degree in a behavioural, social science, analytical, or research‑intensive discipline (e.g. psychology, economics, sociology, cognitive science, political science, public policy, statistics, data science) or equivalent and relevant professional experience.
Knowledge and experience of the practical application of behavioural and social science insights.
Experience leading teams to successfully deliver a portfolio while creating an inclusive environment.
Ability to work through ambiguity.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and sustain relationships and influence.
Experience of presenting to senior stakeholders and decision-makers.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a degree in behavioural science or a related discipline (e.g. Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Statistics), with recent experience leading an analytical team in a large, complex organisation.
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
A name-blind CV including your job history and qualifications.
A 750-word Personal Statement. Your personal statement should show how you meet the essential criteria.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
As such, the purpose of the What Works Centre team is to drive HMRC’s understanding of customers’ approach to tax compliance. The team uses insight-based collaborative design techniques to develop and test new approaches to address customer non-compliance, assessing what works to inform HMRC’s future compliance activity. Delivery of test and learn activity will be through operations teams, so strong stakeholder engagement skills are required.
While the internal role is to lead the What Works Centre team, this role is fundamentally an assistant director of research and insight.
You will lead and manage a team with diverse professional skills, balancing delivery against objectives with ensuring everyone in the team is supported and offered appropriate career and professional development. This is a diverse, geographically spread team and you will provide guidance and support to the whole team across various disciplines including research, trialling, evaluation, and operational, customer and behavioural insight.
As a senior leader within HMRC and Customer Compliance Group you will be required to ensure that your work, and that of your team, is strategically aligned to HMRC and CCG’s objectives particularly when making prioritisation decisions about your portfolio of work. More widely, you will champion your team’s work, encouraging its wider adoption across HMRC, generating visibility for new interventions and a shared understanding of what works. As part of this, you will manage a broad range of relationships across the department to support the programme of work, embed HMRC’s compliance strategy, and source new initiatives.
Responsibilities
Lead a team which develops and tests new approaches to address customer non-compliance and focuses on the most important work to Customer Compliance Group in the most effective and efficient way.
To improve compliance outcomes and move compliance activity upstream.
Championing the work of the team at senior levels across the organisation.
Communicate clearly and confidently, positively influencing stakeholders and supporting cross-functional working.
Working in partnership with specialist technical experts from other professions and disciplines.
Through research, operationalise HMRC’s compliance strategy and ensuring strategic alignment of your work.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Expertise in a relevant discipline, such as behavioural or customer insight in compliance.
A degree in a behavioural, social science, analytical, or research‑intensive discipline (e.g. psychology, economics, sociology, cognitive science, political science, public policy, statistics, data science) or equivalent and relevant professional experience.
Knowledge and experience of the practical application of behavioural and social science insights.
Experience leading teams to successfully deliver a portfolio while creating an inclusive environment.
Ability to work through ambiguity.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and sustain relationships and influence.
Experience of presenting to senior stakeholders and decision-makers.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a degree in behavioural science or a related discipline (e.g. Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Statistics), with recent experience leading an analytical team in a large, complex organisation.
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
A name-blind CV including your job history and qualifications.
A 750-word Personal Statement. Your personal statement should show how you meet the essential criteria.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.