Overview
Co-Director Knowledge, Analysis & Intelligence – Bristol
About the job
Job summary
The Knowledge Analysis and Intelligence (KAI) Directorate is one of the Civil Service’s largest analytical teams, with around 700 colleagues. We have access to a unique set of administrative data on individuals and businesses, allowing for some hugely exciting analysis.
KAI provides analysis, research and statistics to support transformation, operational delivery and policy in HMRC, partnering with HM Treasury, the Office for Budget Responsibility and wider government. We have an excellent reputation within HMRC and with our wider stakeholders.
Candidate Information Session
Jonathan Athow and Alison Woodhouse will host a webinar on Thursday 6th August 2026, 13:00 – 13:45, for applicants to learn more about the role and KAI, Strategy & Policy Group, and HMRC. There will be time for questions, and we will also discuss the application process.
Please register your interest here: Information Session Co-Director – KAI
Job description
KAI operates under two co-Directors, each with distinct portfolios. The co-Directors jointly lead the Directorate and report to Jonathan Athow, Director General of HMRC Strategy and Policy. There are opportunities for enterprise leadership, tackling cross-business challenges.
You will have line management responsibility for KAI’s compliance and HMRC operations facing teams, as well as the team responsible for research, evaluation, data and technology.
Co-Directors will:
- Jointly lead the KAI Senior Leadership team as a high-performing team.
- Maintain and build KAI’s high-quality outputs and professional standards
- Manage and maintain strong relationships with key customers / stakeholders across HMRC, operational, transformation and Corporate Finance teams, HM Treasury (including ministers), the Office for Budget Responsibility, the National Audit Office and Office for Statistics Regulation, and various Other Government Departments
- Set direction and ensure that KAI delivers a programme of analysis that delivers maximum value for stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively with other analytical directorates, to provide strong strategic leadership for analysis and professionalism in HMRC
- Implement and ensure rigorous prioritisation and strong work management practices, championing analysis, maintaining a highly skilled motivated and engaged workforce with a strong focus on quality assurance
- Use interpersonal and communication skills to land analysis with impact.
- Create a supportive and inclusive environment so that everyone in KAI can thrive.
- Be an active member of the Strategy and Policy SLT (collective decision‑making, cross‑group strategic alignment, and leadership of people, culture and delivery) and wider HMRC leadership community.
Please see the candidate information pack for a full description of the role and KAI Directorate.
Person specification
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leading large analytical teams, driving innovation, and influencing government policy or the strategic direction of other large organisations, as well as a deep understanding of analytical methodologies and a passion for data-driven decision-making.
Essential Criteria:
- Strategic Leadership: Demonstrated experience in leading and developing large analytical teams in an inclusive way, setting strategic direction, and driving innovation.
- Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders in large, complex organisations to influence policy and decision-making.
- Analytical Expertise: Deep understanding of analytical methodologies and techniques, with a track record of delivering high-quality research, analysis, and evaluation. Experience of practical application of these techniques to solve business / policy problems.
- Data and technology. Proven track record of driving strategic data capability improvements.
- Effective Communication: Ability to absorb analytical information quickly and communicate in a clear and credible way to influence decision making.
Desirable Criteria:
- Knowledge of tax policy, administration and operations.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £105,000, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £30,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
All Criminal Record Checks applications are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
