Insight Manager

Insight Manager – Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

Salary: £44,221–£46,339 per year
Location: Liverpool and Darlington initially for training; remote, hybrid or office-based options may be available subject to approval
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, part-time and flexible working
Number of vacancies: 1
Job grade: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Reference number: 485011
Closing date: Monday 2 November 2026 at 10:00 am
Visa sponsorship: Not stated in the job advert. Check eligibility and right-to-work requirements with the employer before applying.

About the Role

The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) is recruiting an Insight Manager to lead its analytical insight and management information function.

The successful candidate will transform data from multiple sources into clear, reliable and actionable insights that support strategic planning, performance management and decision-making across the organisation.

This is an opportunity for an experienced analytical professional with strong leadership, data interpretation and stakeholder management skills to influence organisational strategy and improve service delivery.

The role includes an initial requirement to attend the Liverpool and Darlington offices for desk training. Hybrid or remote working may be available afterwards, subject to approval and business requirements.

Office attendance may also be required during system outages or when business needs demand it.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the DBS Insight function, delivering reliable management information and analytical insight.
• Produce high-quality analysis using data from multiple sources.
• Develop dashboards, visualisations and analytical products that communicate important findings.
• Translate complex data into clear recommendations and actionable intelligence.
• Support the development of self-service management information capabilities.
• Present insights and recommendations to the Executive Team and governance forums.
• Work with stakeholders to understand their information needs and ensure analytical outputs meet business requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve analytical capability, processes, efficiency and service quality.
• Ensure analysis complies with Government Functional Standard 010 (Analysis).
• Build effective relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Maintain the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of data and analytical outputs.
• Identify, communicate and help mitigate risks.
• Support business planning, operational delivery, policy development and strategic decision-making.
• Lead and develop a team, setting objectives, managing performance and workload, and strengthening team capabilities.
• Contribute to governance reporting for senior leaders, boards, committees and ministers.
• Deputise for the Head of Service when required.
• Support wider corporate activities and organisational change as appropriate.

Essential Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Ability to identify opportunities for insight and prioritise work according to risk and impact.
• Understanding of performance management and reporting in a large organisation.
• Strong analytical skills, including interpreting complex data and identifying meaningful insights.
• Ability to communicate complex findings clearly to different audiences, including senior management.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Ability to lead others and deliver results under pressure.
• Effective workload management and prioritisation skills.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools.
• Experience producing, interpreting and presenting data and analytical insights.
• Experience developing data insight products using visualisations and data storytelling.
• Experience designing data collection, analysis and performance reporting approaches to support operational and strategic decisions.
• Experience working in a large, complex business or operational environment, ideally within central government or a similar organisation.
• Experience managing team performance and providing clear direction.
• Evidence of meeting challenging deadlines while managing competing priorities.
• Experience building strategic relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Desirable Skills

The following experience would be beneficial:

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including practical experience with Power Query.
• Up-to-date knowledge of business intelligence tools and their practical applications.
• Experience using BI platforms such as Tableau, Qlik Sense or Microsoft Power BI.
• Ability to develop machine learning solutions using modern tools.
• Strong understanding of business intelligence and analytical technologies, including Qlik.
• Experience using scenario modelling to support decision-making.

Behaviours Assessed

The recruitment process will assess candidates against these Civil Service behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Salary and Benefits

The salary for this position is £44,221–£46,339 per year.

The advertised benefits include:

• Civil Service Pension, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Flexible working opportunities.
• Maternity, paternity and adoption schemes, subject to qualifying conditions.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health and wellbeing support.
• Occupational Health Service, including counselling and physiotherapy referrals.
• 24-hour counselling and wellbeing service.
• Eyecare voucher scheme.

The employer states that its contribution towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme is worth £12,810 based on the salary figure used in the advert.

Working Arrangements

The position may be performed remotely, in a hybrid arrangement or from an office, subject to business needs and approval.

Initially, employees have office-based contracts at one of the DBS’s two sites. Employees can request remote or hybrid working from day one. Approved arrangements generally begin after six months for transfers from the Home Office or after successful completion of probation for new employees.

Informal hybrid working may be possible from the first day, depending on business requirements. The successful applicant must also attend Liverpool and Darlington for initial desk training.

Application and Selection Process

Applications are assessed using the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, focusing on behaviours and experience.

To apply, candidates must submit:

• A CV outlining relevant skills, employment history and experience.
• A personal statement of no more than 500 words explaining how their skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria.

Interview Process

The recruitment process includes an initial sift and a virtual panel interview via Microsoft Teams.

Candidates who pass the initial sift will be invited to interview. They will also be required to deliver a short presentation on a relevant subject. The presentation brief will be provided in advance and assessed against the behaviour Seeing the Big Picture.

The panel interview will assess:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Interviewers will also ask questions relating to the essential criteria.

Indicative Recruitment Timetable

• Closing date: Monday 2 November 2026 at 10:00 am.
• Initial sift: Week commencing 2 November 2026.
• Interviews: Week commencing 16 November 2026.

Dates may change, and alternative interview dates may not be available once appointments have been scheduled. Feedback will only be provided to candidates who attend an interview or assessment.

Security Checks

Successful candidates must undergo a basic criminal record check or equivalent. Applicants working with government assets must also complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.

Nationality and Right-to-Work Requirements

The vacancy is open to eligible groups under Civil Service nationality rules, including UK nationals, Irish nationals, eligible Commonwealth nationals and certain EU and other nationals with qualifying immigration or settlement status.

Applicants should review the official nationality requirements to confirm their eligibility before applying.

How to Apply

To apply, prepare your CV and a personal statement of no more than 500 words addressing the role’s essential and desirable criteria. Submit your application through the official Civil Service Jobs website before the deadline.

Job reference: 485011

Recruitment contact: DBSPeopleSupportTeam@dbs.gov.uk

Closing date: 2 November 2026 at 10:00 am.

Applications should be submitted before the deadline because the vacancy may no longer be available afterwards.