Head of Media and International Analysis

The Media and International Analysis team is embedded within the Media and International (MINT) policy directorate. Our directorate aims are to drive sustainable and inclusive growth in the media sector, serve the needs of audiences and protect the future of public service media. Within the directorate, analysts and policy officials work together closely to deliver these across a range of policy areas including television and broadcasting, advertising, press, radio, and international strategy.

As the Head of Media and International Analysis you will lead a multidisciplinary team of ten analysts with direct line management responsibility for four Grade 7s. You will support a wide range of policy areas, providing timely, impactful analysis to ensure high-quality evidence informs all stages of policy development and delivery. Our teams are sociable, friendly and supportive, and we put a strong emphasis on learning, development and wellbeing.

You will play a key role in MINTs senior leadership team, working closely with policy officials to agree priorities and provide leadership across the directorate, with regular opportunities to engage and present to senior stakeholders.

The team is also part of a wider Sector Analysis Team (SAT), and you will work closely with the SAT Deputy Director and other senior analysts, playing an integral role in the leadership of the wider DCMS Analytical Community (DAC).

This role will provide an experienced analytical leader with a unique opportunity to play a vital part in shaping the direction of the UK media sector. At a time when the media landscape is rapidly evolving and the Government is considering what the future of media consumption might look like online or offline, live or on-demand, at home or on-the-go this role will provide an exciting opportunity to ensure that evidence and analytical thinking is at the heart of policymaking, and make a real impact to our daily lives.

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic direction and oversight of analysis across the directorate to drive effective delivery against the teams priorities. This includes multiple programmes of analysis to support policy decisions, including the BBC Charter Review and Media White Paper
• Providing the right environment, support and opportunities for team members to flourish, to develop as individuals and to deliver high quality outputs whilst maintaining work-life balance and wellbeing.
• Acting as a challenge function, identifying obstacles and opportunities to policymaking through research and analysis and robust quality assurance.
• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to build trust, facilitate engagement and influence decision making.
• Providing active leadership and championing analysis across the Media and International Directorate and the wider DCMS analytical community.

The ideal candidate will have the following essential criteria:

• A proven ability to lead high performing, inclusive teams, with the ability to manage resource effectively, build analytical capability and deliver through others.
• Effective senior stakeholder relationship management skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and influence decisions both internally and externally.
• Strong analytical experience, with the ability to think strategically about evidence and analysis and enact sound judgement when under pressure.
• Highly effective oral and written communication skills, with the ability to distil complex analytical issues down to their key insights, judgements and recommendations.

Desirable Skills:

• Knowledge of the UK media sector
• Experience commissioning and delivering externally commissioned research
• Experience delivering impact assessments and business cases

Eligibility and Testing Process

Applicants must be a badged member of either the Government Economic Service, Government Operational Research Service, Government Social Research or Government Statistician Group OR meet the criteria to become badged under one profession.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to confirm your current analytical profession (GES, GORS, GSR, or GSG), or indicate if you are applying to become badged in one of these professions.

If you are not currently a member of the GSR or GSG, you will be required to complete an online test to assess your suitability. This test will be administered after you have submitted your full application. You will receive an invitation via email containing the test details and the deadline for completion after you will submit your full application.

Please note: Failure to complete the test or meet the deadline will result in your application not being progressed further.

Information Session

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Alex Wilkinson (Deputy Director for Sector Analysis), and will take place on:

• Monday 28th September at 11am

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions. Please register your interest by filling out this Registration form and you will be sent an invitation. Invites will only be sent after this deadline has passed.

Please note that the session will not be recorded and will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to [email protected]

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace