Head of Intelligence & Insight

Are you looking for a role where you can help shape something new, make a visible difference and work alongside people who care deeply about their place? We are building a new Combined County Authority for Hampshire and the Solent, bringing together partners across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton to bring investment to the region and to create opportunities for our people, places, communities and businesses.

The role The Head of Intelligence & Insight is HSCCA’s senior professional lead for research, data, analysis, and evidence. The postholder holds organisation-wide responsibility for developing and maintaining HSCCA’s intelligence system, ensuring that strategic decisions, policies, and investments are grounded in robust, forward-looking evidence. The role will build and lead a significant, integrated function covering research, forecasting, horizon scanning, evaluation and insight.

It provides authoritative advice to the Corporate Director of Devolution and Corporate Strategy, Executive team, the Mayor (when elected) and HSCCA Board, shaping policy and strategy across all HSCCA portfolios.

What you’ll be doing ? You will provide:
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the development and delivery of HSCCA’s Intelligence & Insight function, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities, statutory requirements, and regional ambitions. Act as HSCCA’s senior professional lead for research, analysis, forecasting, and evidence, setting organisation-wide standards, methodologies, and ethical principles. Provide authoritative advice and assurance to the Corporate Director, Executive Team, Mayor, Board and Councillors on complex analytical issues, risks, and opportunities.

Shape HSCCA’s strategic policy development by embedding robust evidence, horizon scanning, and long-term trend analysis. Anticipate external economic, demographic, technological, and policy developments and incorporate these into long-term strategic planning. Evidence, Insight & Analytical Leadership
- Lead the development of HSCCA’s evidence base, including data systems, analytical models, forecasting tools, and performance frameworks. Lead complex analytical problem-solving, including scenario modelling, impact assessments, and strategic forecasting across the HSCCA’s areas of competence. Leadership & Resource Management
- Build and lead a multidisciplinary intelligence function, including research, analysis, evaluation and insight. Provide professional oversight, leadership, and mentoring to the Intelligence & Partnership & System Leadership
- Lead strategic engagement with constituent authorities, other Mayoral Strategic Authorities, government departments, academic institutions, and analytical Governance, Risk & Assurance
- Maintain robust governance arrangements for research, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making. What you’ll bring? We’re looking for someone with:
Extensive experience leading research, intelligence, or analytical functions. Proven ability to lead complex analytical programmes with organisation-wide impact. Expert knowledge of research methods, data analysis, forecasting and evaluation. Experience advising senior leaders and political stakeholders (Councillors, MPs) in high-profile environments. Experience building multi-agency analytical partnerships and influencing national or regional policy. Strong understanding of public sector data standards, ethical research principles, and evidence-based policy making.

Ability to set and deliver organisation-wide intelligence strategy and operating models. Proven ability to write and present complex, sensitive, high-impact reports to a range of audiences in an accessible way. Use public money responsibly and make evidence-based…