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Job description

Thank you for your interest in the position of Consultant, Innovation and Consultancy Services (ICS). ICS is the primary source of internal consultancy to Executive departments and their public bodies. We provide independent advice, insights and service improvement to help support the public sector to deliver better outcomes for our people. We operate on a hard-charging, full cost recovery basis and work out of the Department of Finance (DoF), although we operate independently from the department in the work we do. Consultants play a key role within ICS, delivering a variety of consulting activity across multiple projects for a wide range of public sector clients. The work you will be involved in is therefore hugely varied and interesting, spanning across the ICS service offer. The role requires someone who can work on key public sector challenges and bring ideas, insights and delivery to a diverse programme of work. The ability to thrive within a fast-paced commercial client environment is vital. This is an exciting opportunity to support the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) as it embarks on a major programme of transformation and improvement. You will have the scope to get involved in a diverse range of strategically important areas and have a real impact on public services. Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates. I hope that this pack meets your information needs and encourages you to apply.

Responsibilities

• Carry out project delivery activities including: Undertake detailed research, analysis and evaluation of data and information from a range of sources;
• Gather new information using a range of primary qualitative and quantiative research methods, including surveys, data analysis, interviews and consultations;
• Carry out and write-up findings from stakeholder consultations and interviews; Contribute to the delivery of external events, workshops, training or awareness sessions within projects; and
• Use evidence-based critical thinking to draw out key trends, findings and conclusions, identifying potential advice, options or recommendations for clients.
• Assuming responsibility for providing high-quality initial drafts of agreed deliverables to project managers that can be used for client outputs.
• Assisting in diagnosis, scoping, defining and designing consultancy projects to develop proposals that meet client needs.
• Appropriately managing the delivery of individual well-defined projects with support provided from higher grades.
• Utilising existing skills and knowledge, as well as expanding and developing new skills and/or professional qualifications, in areas required to meet current or future client demands.
• Engaging with clients in a project context, ensuring professionalism and high levels of client satisfaction.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must, by the closing date for applications, be able to demonstrate that they have the following:
• A minimum of two years relevant experience within a management consultancy, research, service improvement, or business improvement environment.
• Relevant experience is defined as drafting high-quality written documents, reports and/or presentations that set out evidence, findings, analysis, and identify insights or recommendations for improvement.
• AND A minimum of two years in total, direct experience in at least two areas set out below. You must give specific examples, including dates, which set out your personal role and contribution:
• Qualitative Research: Proven experience in conducting research with people to understand their views, perspectives, experiences, behaviours and/or needs. Methods used may include consultations, interviews, focus groups, and/or observation.
• This should demonstrate ability to conduct, analyse and draw insights and conclusions from qualitative primary research.
• Quantitative Research: Proven experience in collecting and analysing numerical data to identify trends and provide insights that support conclusions. Methods used may include questionnaires, surveys, data analysis and/or benchmarking.
• Desk-based Research: Proven experience in gathering, analysing and identifying insights from existing available information. This may involve using academic literature, government reports, strategy documents and/or case studies.
• This should demonstrate ability to gather knowledge, identify gaps or opportunities, set out best practice and/or support recommendations.
• Group Facilitation: Proven experience in facilitating groups of stakeholders to address complex or challenging issues. This should demonstrate the use of facilitation tools and techniques to achieve consensus and secure buy-in for progress toward

Desirable Skills

• In addition, applicants should be aware that after an eligibility sift, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to the next stage of selection, the following shortlisting criteria will be used:
• The Panel will carry out an objective evaluation of the depth and breadth of the information provided by candidates in response to eligibility criterion 2.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 19th December 2025 at 12 noon. Applications from Protestants, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcome for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. ALL APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT ARE CONSIDERED STRICTLY ON THE BASIS OF MERIT.

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC320850)