ONS operates a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations in Newport, Titchfield (Fareham), Manchester, or Darlington and working between office and remote throughout the week.
As part of the hybrid working arrangement there is a 40% minimum office attendance requirement. Attendance is typically at your contractual office, with occasional travel to alternative locations. Due to estates constraints, there are currently temporary exceptions to this for colleagues based at Manchester and Darlington who are required to attend the office for a minimum of 20% of their work time.
Job Summary
Methods, data and research analyst roles sit throughout Economic, Social and Environmental Statistics Group (ESEG). The purpose of these roles is to conduct research and deliver improvements to economic statistics. These improvements could be in relation to the existing compilation methods, data sources or processes or through the development of entirely new methods, processes and/or data sources. Roles will usually be situated in a team with specific responsibility for research and development but could in some instances be an individual role embedded within a wider team (such as a production team).
If you wish to learn more about these vacancies we will be holding a candidate information session on 18th December 2024 from 1200 - 1300.
Job Description
Methods, data and research analysts can have a range of responsibilities, but will always require analytical expertise and in many cases also subject expertise (that is, detailed knowledge about particular areas of economic statistics). The role involves responsibility for managing research and development workstreams and delivering technical or analytical work.
Posts covered by this role will often be filled by staff who are members of badged analytical professions, but could equally be filled by other staff with the requisite skills, such as staff actively engaged on the Operational Delivery Profession: Data Production, Management & Analysis pathway.
The role requires engagement with internal and external stakeholders to understand the requirements, collate the evidence in order to deliver the research or method under investigation. The role requires the production of technical papers and/or articles for stakeholders and/or customers.
Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities will typically include:
- Conducting research and development with the aim of delivering changes and improvements to economic statistics. These improvements could be to existing data sources, compilation methods and processes, or could be related to the development of new outputs or more general analysis, such as required for sector classification.
- Manipulating and analysing data and/or information to produce clear and high quality qualitative and quantitative analyses which can be used to inform decision making both within ONS and by external stakeholders.
- Collaborating with a range of stakeholders (internal and external) to research, develop and (where appropriate) implement improvements, providing technical and analytical expertise.
- Providing subject matter expertise within their area of work. For instance, by leading or contributing to how statistics guidance in the international manuals and guidance notes and similar should be interpreted.
- Ensuring their technical and analytical skills are kept up-to-date.
- Participating in and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
Where a post is filled by an individual in a badged analytical profession, it is expected that they will be able to apply their specialism by ensuring their business area follows the appropriate professional frameworks (whether they be legal requirements, formal Codes of Practice or best practice guidelines), leveraging their professional network to add value to their business outputs, and having evidence of providing expert technical guidance where it relates to their badged profession.
Please note, We will not be badging as part of this campaign, colleagues will be supported to obtained badging status as part of their continuous profession development should they hold the relevant profession requirements.
Methods, data and research analysts can have a range of responsibilities, but will always require analytical expertise and in many cases also subject expertise (that is, detailed knowledge about particular areas of economic statistics). The role involves responsibility for managing research and development workstreams and delivering technical or analytical work.
Posts covered by this role will often be filled by staff who are members of badged analytical professions, but could equally be filled by other staff with the requisite skills, such as staff actively engaged on the Operational Delivery Profession: Data Production, Management & Analysis pathway.
The role requires engagement with internal and external stakeholders to understand the requirements, collate the evidence in order to deliver the research or method under investigation. The role requires the production of technical papers and/or articles for stakeholders and/or customers.
Key Responsibilities Will Typically Include
- Conducting research and development with the aim of delivering changes and improvements to economic statistics. These improvements could be to existing data sources, compilation methods and processes, or could be related to the development of new outputs or more general analysis, such as required for sector classification.
- Manipulating and analysing data and/or information to produce clear and high quality qualitative and quantitative analyses which can be used to inform decision making both within ONS and by external stakeholders.
- Collaborating with a range of stakeholders (internal and external) to research, develop and (where appropriate) implement improvements, providing technical and analytical expertise.
- Providing subject matter expertise within their area of work. For instance, by leading or contributing to how statistics guidance in the international manuals and guidance notes and similar should be interpreted.
- Ensuring their technical and analytical skills are kept up-to-date.
- Participating in and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
Where a post is filled by an individual in a badged analytical profession, it is expected that they will be able to apply their specialism by ensuring their business area follows the appropriate professional frameworks (whether they be legal requirements, formal Codes of Practice or best practice guidelines), leveraging their professional network to add value to their business outputs, and having evidence of providing expert technical guidance where it relates to their badged profession.
Please note, We will not be badging as part of this campaign, colleagues will be supported to obtained badging status as part of their continuous profession development should they hold the relevant profession requirements.
Person specification
- Essential Criteria
- Experience in developing, applying and supporting others in applying, analytical tools and methods to a range of different situations (selecting appropriate tools/methods for each situation) and produce high quality quantitative and qualitative analysis.
- Experience in applying, and supporting others in applying, specialist knowledge to complex situations and arriving at evidenced conclusions, options and/or recommendations.
- Able to motivate their team and provide clear direction. Is an effective role model, leads by example, is approachable, shows enthusiasm, challenges inappropriate behaviour
- Experience in managing workstreams of different sizes and complexity. Using appropriate approaches to plan, monitor and deliver work to a high quality in a timely manner; identifying risks, blockers and issues as appropriate.
- Experience of working collaboratively with people of various grades and professions to identify, prioritise and deliver improvements.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
- Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Able to critique analysis of others and identify gaps, weaknesses and anomalies of the analysis, in a positive and supportive way.
Alongside your salary of £41,364, Office for National Statistics contributes £11,983 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our 5400 valued colleagues across the business.
Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that the benefits pack attached
(bottom of page) will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues, and our fantastic working culture.
Inclusion & Accessibility
At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.
If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Security Clearance
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying.
A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.
If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please read the information available on Gov.uk on this link, or contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.
At the point of SC application you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- Security Services records
Applicants may utilise AI resources in their submissions; ensuring all information provided is factually accurate, truthful, and original, avoiding any form of plagiarism to maintain the authenticity and credibility of the application process.
Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.
Assessment at application stage will be based on your work history, skill and experience and personal statement. Your application should be tailored to demonstrate any skills, knowledge and experience that are relevant to the content of the role.
Your personal statement should be no longer than 1250 words. You should use this space fully to provide evidence for each essential criterion within the person specification. As the criteria are scored, we would recommend that you give clear examples for each including the impact of your actions and set them out using the STAR acronym (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage.
Sift
In cases where there is a high number of applications the sift pass mark may be adjusted and candidates will be invited to interview in merit order, i.e., those scoring the highest.
Interview
Should you be invited to interview you will be assessed against all the behaviours and technical skills outlined in the advert.
A presentation will be required at interview. Further information will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.
Interviews will be held via video conferencing.
Where applicable, a reserve list will be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.
Sift will take place – From 13th January 2025
Interviews – w/c 3rd February 2025
Dates maybe subject to change
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
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 security 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.
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 security 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.
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).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : Analytical recruitment
- Email : ons.analytical.resourcing@ons.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : ons.analytical.resourcing@ons.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact recruitment.complaints@ons.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission