Deputy Director, Social Surveys Telephone and Ports Collection

Location: The locations for this role are Newport, Titchfield (Fareham) and Manchester.

We operate a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations and working between office and remote throughout the week. As part of the hybrid working arrangement there is a 40% minimum office attendance requirement.

Salary: £81,000

Working Patterns: All our vacancies are offered as a flexible option of Full time, Part time, Flexible working, Job Share

Closing Date: Apply before 11:55pm on Sunday 28th September 2025

ONS’s surveys and, particularly its social surveys, are central to ONS’s priority outcomes to deliver top quality, trusted, relevant and independent statistics and analysis. Despite their critical role, our social surveys are currently facing unprecedented challenges, principally driven by a substantial change in the willingness of citizens to participate in voluntary surveys and past disinvestment in survey data collection.

At the same time, ongoing survey transformation programmes, artificial intelligence and administrative data are providing opportunities that will shape our data collection operation significantly over next five to ten years.

This Deputy Director role will be responsible for providing senior operational leadership and management of:

• Two of ONS’s Field Data Collection Operations: the International Passenger Survey (IPS) operation (involving ~100 interviewers) and the Telephone Operation (TO) (growing to ~200 interviewers).
• Two of ONS’s core survey enabling services, the Survey Validation (SV) team and Survey Enquiry Line (SEL).
• Key continuous improvement projects within the Surveys Improvement and Enhancement Plan, in particular, the Telephone Services Review which has recently moved into implementation phase.

What are we looking for?

• Proven track record in large-scale operations, balancing a data led approach with astute business acumen and ability to manage risks and issues with sound judgements.
• An extensive track record of successfully delivering transformation, organisational change, continuous improvement and or business change into a live operation.
• An inclusive leader, with strong people management skills and a proven track record of developing capability and building large, diverse, high performing teams.
• Strong communication skills, with an ability to engage effectively with staff at all levels and embed a culture which values the voice of the employee.
• Ability to build constructive and collaborative relationships, and influence effectively across a complex stakeholder landscape.

For a full job description and details of the skills & experience we are looking for, please click the APPLY button to see our full advert on Civil Service Jobs.

In return we offer you:

✔Hybrid working and flexi-time so you can work around your life, not the other way around!

✔A market leading pension scheme - our employer contribution rate is around 29%

✔ A choice of working patterns *for every role* full-time, part-time, job-share.

✔Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of 26 weeks full pay (subject to qualifying criteria)

✔Opportunities to learn new technology & skills on the job, utilising blocked out Protected Learning Time in your weekly schedule and taking advantage of the support of our Communities of Practice

✔Employee Assistance Programmes

✔Diversity Network Groups

✔Mental Health Allies

✔Civil Service Sports and Social club

✔Generous holiday allowance – 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years service in addition to 9 public holidays

For more information about this role, a full application pack, and to apply, please hit APPLY to be taken to Civil Service Jobs.