Deputy Director, Head of Research Analysts

Position description

The Deputy Director, Head of Research Analysts is responsible for:

• Leadership of the RA Cadre, setting clear direction and overseeing the delivery of high-quality impactful RA analysis, informing FCDO decision-making. You will advocate for RA and the use of evidence and expertise across the FCDO and ensure there is senior visibility of RA work. You will work to improve the targeting and impact of RA work through maintaining good relationships with core customers, understanding requirements and systematically capturing feedback to inform RA’s analytic output. You will drive improvements in the standard of RA’s output through quality assurance mechanisms and promoting innovation, the use of data, new analytic tools, visualisation and open-source exploitation.
• Management of RA, overseeing resource allocation and capability development and providing effective, inclusive people management within the context of wider FCDO workforce and business planning processes. You will have overall responsibility for the RA Cadre’s workforce planning and ensure the Cadre is focused on FCDO priorities and well positioned to support crises. You will need to use RA’s corporate governance structures to best effect to consult with staff and deliver high quality management, capability development and improvements for all RAs. You will directly line manage the RA Business Manager, the Deputy Head of States & Societies Faculty and quality assure the line management of the two part-time Deputy Heads of RA, nine Heads of Research Groups and other senior RAs as required.
• Representing RA and maintaining RA's external relationships, across HMG, Allies and academia. You will sit on the cross-Government Intelligence Analysis Profession Board, collaborating with colleagues to improve analysis and assessment, its professionalisation and modernisation across HMG. You will play a leading role in the FCDO’s analytical diplomacy, leading analytic exchanges and seeking ways to enhance the value we get from our relationships with allies. You will use your own and the RA network of academic and think-tank contacts to broaden and deepen the FCDO’s access to external expertise.
• Deputy Director of Analysis, contributing to the effective leadership and management of the Analysis Directorate and its advocacy of analysis, evidence, innovation and expertise across FCDO. Working to the Chief Economist / Director of Analysis, you will contribute to the Directorate’s management and delivery by taking on Directorate-wide corporate responsibilities and encouraging and strengthening cross-Directorate collaboration. You will use your leadership and management experience to support the Director on longer-term strategic staff planning and operational delivery; and your specialist skills and knowledge to support the Chief Economist’s role in advocating for data, analysis and expertise across the FCDO and encouraging collaboration across different expert and analytic capabilities.
• Head of Profession for Intelligence Analysis in FCDO, overseeing professional standards and cohering and developing FCDO's RA and wider intelligence analysis capability. As Head of RA, the main member organisation of the intelligence analysis profession in FCDO, you will oversee the FCDO’s intelligence analysis capability, working with colleagues in other analytic teams to improve coherence, spread best analytic practice and champion professional learning and development.
• Head of the States & Societies Faculty of the International Academy with oversight of the FCDO's geographic learning offer. Working closely with the Head of the International Academy and the FCDO’s Geographic Directorates, you will chair the Faculty’s Governance Board and oversee the work of a small two-person Faculty team delivering foundation, practitioner and expert level learning on states and societies for FCDO and wider cross Government colleagues.

Person specification

It is important that in your application you provide evidence and examples of proven experience of these selection criteria. These responses will be developed and discussed with candidates invited to interview. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

Essential Experience (to be tested at application and interview):

• A track record of strong inclusive leadership skills and change management experience, ideally in analytical or research-focused teams.
• Proven analysis skills and experience drawing on evidence and analysis to answer policy questions and influence government decision-making.
• Proven ability to build and maintain successful relationships with an extensive network of stakeholders inside and outside HMG (in government departments, agencies and public bodies, academia, media, think tanks, business consultancy etc).
• Knowledge and experience in the field of international relations or national security.

Behaviours (to be tested at interview):

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving

Technical knowledge (to be tested at interview):

The Intelligence Analysis Profession has a Professional Development Framework that sets out the skills required in the profession, as well as an agreed set of Analytic Standards. Candidates will need to show an awareness of and commitment to the skills framework and standards. Further information can be found here.

 

Application instructions

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