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Form of work
SalaryTo apply for this job you must be an employee of Kirklees Council for the duration of the recruitment process – up to and including the start date - and have successfully completed your probationary period.
Please note that if you work for an Academy you are not an employee of the Council.
About the role
Kirklees Council recognises the importance of robust decision-making, informed, and supported by insight generated from research and evaluation activities. The Research and Evaluation Lead provides subject matter expertise to drive and transform the use of research and evaluation across the Council. The work of the Research and Evaluation Lead is essential to supporting the Council to navigate the financial challenges ahead.
Working with staff at all levels across all services, you will bring enthusiasm and expertise to a wide range of research and evaluation projects that will improve our knowledge of citizens and local communities, evidence of what works (including return on investment) and understanding of the difference our services and activities make. You will be confident in driving use of this insight to inform decision-making, helping to ensure the Council is investing effectively to ensure the best outcomes for people and places.
You will manage and prioritise research and evaluation demand from across the Council and oversee the delivery of a diverse portfolio of research and evaluation projects through leadership and management of a Research and Evaluation Team. You will be confident in your ability to foster a culture of curiosity and learning and ensure colleagues at all levels are knowledgeable about the importance of, and how to implement, evidence-informed decision-making.
This role plays a significant part in achieving our ambitions for the effective use of data and insight.
The role will be predominantly home-based with some travel to Kirklees, regional and national meetings required as part of the role.
About you
We are looking for someone who shares our energy and ambition for how research and evaluation can be used to make a tangible difference to outcomes for people and places.
You will have proven experience of leading and nurturing research and evaluation teams, and the knowledge, technical skills, experience and expertise to lead and manage a broad range of research and evaluation projects. You will be confident in your ability to develop, implement and embed best practice standards, tools and approaches, ensuring quality is central to everything we do.
You will be confident in building trusted relationships and networks with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels. You will recognise the challenges facing Local Government and understand the importance of partnerships and strategic commitment to embedding the use of research and evaluation. You will be committed to continuous improvement and have a desire to succeed – individually and as part of a team.
If you are looking for a role that is challenging and hugely rewarding, and you have the skills and ambition we are looking for, we would love to hear from you.
About us
Kirklees is set in the heart of beautiful West Yorkshire and has a growing population of c440,000. With the two major centres of Huddersfield and Dewsbury, it also encompasses several smaller towns. It is well served by both rail and road networks and is in close proximity to Leeds and Manchester.
We are a modern and progressive council, committed to family friendly, flexible and agile ways of working - as well as offering many other benefits including a generous pension scheme and annual leave entitlement of 27.5 days a year (plus public holidays). We’re committed to staff development and continuous improvement.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Jill Cushing (Customer Insight, Research and Evaluation Strategic Lead) at jill.cushing@kirklees.gov.uk
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
