Government Social Research (GSR) Engagement Manager

Salary: National: £34,820 - £40,000. If the successful candidate is a current Civil Servant joining on level transfer, HM Treasury will honour their current substantive salary if higher.

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: This post is available on a full time, part time or job share basis, and flexible working hours can be accommodated.

Location: Darlington (Feethams House)

About the Team

The Government Economic and Social Research Team (GESR) is a friendly and dynamic team who support the Government Social Research (GSR) and Government Economic Service (GES) cross‑government professions. We work to ensure that social researchers and economists have all the tools needed to produce the best analysis and evidence for policymakers in support of the entire range of UK Government and public service activities. We also work with external organisations as partners on things that matter like improving the use of evidence in policy making and growing diversity in recruitment. The team is organised into a Strategy and an Operations team, who together deliver all the policies and commitments in the GSR and GES Strategies, working very closely with senior leaders. It is a high‑profile team across both professions with extensive opportunities for leadership and professional development. Diversity and inclusion of people and ideas is at the heart of all we do, and you must also be committed to role‑modeling the positive and inclusive behaviour we expect of our membership.

About the Job

The Government Social Research (GSR) Engagement Manager occupies a central role in supporting and shaping the GSR profession, which includes over 2,500 social researchers across government. You will have the opportunity to develop leadership, project management and partner engagement skills, providing a professional and high‑quality service. The ability to balance a variety of work streams at once is a must, as well as the flexibility to respond to changes. This post provides opportunities to expand your understanding of cross‑government working and develop experience of supporting and promoting social research. Whilst the role would suit a candidate who has experience working with researchers, this experience can be developed in the role by the right candidate. However, it is essential that the successful candidate is someone with a passion to develop their experience and knowledge of social research in government. You will lead on board governance for the profession’s most important decisions, in direct collaboration with the most senior social researchers in government. This offers rare exposure to strategic decision‑making and opportunities to influence the profession’s direction. The Engagement Manager also organises the GSR’s flagship annual conference, providing an excellent opportunity to work directly with senior colleagues, lead all aspects of a budget, and develop project management skills in a supportive environment. You will lead a cross‑government Artificial Intelligence community of practice, helping to drive forward the adoption of AI in analysis for government. This is a fast‑evolving and high‑impact area, offering the chance to be at the forefront of innovation in government research. You will also be a line manager and this aspect of the role enables you to develop people management skills and support colleagues’ professional growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a high‑quality service to the GSR Leadership, Boards and working groups.
• Support the GSR Senior Leadership Team (SCS Head & Deputy Heads of GSR) by producing briefs, writing speech notes and other activities as required to a high standard.
• Drive the Governance Board agenda, coordinating the GSR Boards’ secretariat, finalising and disseminating agendas, papers and briefings ensuring correct Board members receive these in advance of the meetings, and producing accurate minutes.
• Lead the GSR Shadow Boards (members who receive the same papers as governance boards), providing support, direction and maintaining engagement as well as selecting those who participate.
• Lead on engagement and communications with GSR members, including working closely with and supporting the cross‑government GSR networks, handling regular profession‑specific mail‑outs, updating information on the GSR members website, and dealing with a wide range of GSR‑related enquiries.
• Manage relationships with external organisations related to social research (e.g. ESRC).
• Lead the delivery of the high‑profile annual GSR member conference and ongoing events programme, through helping to curate the programme and chairing high‑profile cross‑government events.
• Lead the cross‑government AI Community of Practice, including strategic agenda setting, providing the secretariat for monthly meetings, and helping to build AI capacity across the two professions through the dissemination of new resources.
• Support the delivery of the new 2025–2029 GSR Strategy.
• Support outreach and marketing workstreams linked to GSR, including designing and presenting at welcome events for those joining the profession and at Q&A events for those looking to join.
• Serve as a point of contact for GSR member working groups looking at engagement‑related activities for the profession plus any other areas of particular interest (e.g., website review, development/reviews of GSR‑related guidance, development of assessments).
• Support in reviewing data and surveys from members to identify any area of improvement to better deliver the GSR Strategy and improve members’ experience.
• Provide line management duties for the EO Events Manager; supervise and ensure their work programme is relevant and manageable, work with other GESR managers in a matrix management arrangement, and provide positive support through the quarterly check‑in process and end‑of‑year review.
• Work flexibly and proactively across the team in order to support changes in priorities or additional activities, in line with business needs.

About You

You can communicate effectively and purposefully and establish effective professional relationships. You demonstrate the ability to respond well to change and balance a variety of work streams.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant).
• Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month.
• Flexible working patterns (part‑time, job‑share, condensed hours).
• Generous parental and adoption leave packages.
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28%.
• Access to a cycle‑to‑work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances.
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity.

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.