Principal Statistician – Prisons , Analysis Directorate Ministry of Justice (Ref: 91709)
Ministry of Justice
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 7th November 2024
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Job description
Do you have the passion, values, and ability to help us solve the biggest problems of the justice system?
Principal Statistician – Prisons (G7), Analysis Directorate Ministry of Justice
Overview
We have 1 role in the Prison Data Unit, within the Analysis Directorate.
Roles are open to
- Existing analysts from the Government Statistical Service either on level transfer or on promotion.
- Other candidates that are not members of the GSS but possess and can demonstrate similar experience at the appropriate level. Badging opportunities will be available once in post for those who wish to apply.
Minimum requirements to apply:
Candidates must be able to show the relevant experience and skills and must meet the criteria for entry:
Grade 7 – must meet all of the following:
- You have significant work experience (usually a minimum of four years) evidencing use of data and/or analytical skills. Time spent on an analytical PhD can count towards this.
- You have significant experience of managing projects
- You have experience of leading or managing a team
We welcome applications from candidates based across the UK. Candidates will have the option of being based in the Leeds or London HQ offices (with flexible working arrangements available) or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office: see this map for more details.
Alternative locations may be available and will be discussed and agreed on the completion of background checks.
Interviews are likely to take place in November/December 2024 and will be held via MS Teams. We will keep a merit list for a year for those who successfully pass the interview board but who are not offered a post.
About the Analysis Directorate
We are passionate about improving justice outcomes through innovative research, data and analysis. In the Analysis Directorate, we provide high quality data and analysis helping to ensure strategic, policy, finance, corporate and operational decisions are based on robust evidence.
We create a culture in which people are empowered with the data and information to make excellent decisions; using cutting edge tools, techniques and collaboration; putting evidence at the heart of the justice system.
We are a multi-disciplinary team of around 650 staff that sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice providing analytical support across a diverse and exciting agenda. We work in a dynamic and fast-paced context and our skills are in heavy demand across the Ministry of Justice. Our collaborations beyond government are seen as ground-breaking. The Analysis community is made up of analysts and specialists including: Social Researchers, Economists, Operational Researchers, Statisticians, Data Engineers, Data Scientists and other data specialists (such as data strategists, data dissemination, generalists and assurance experts).
Why work in the Analysis Directorate?
In the Analysis Directorate, we want all our people to feel valued for who they are and for the work they do. We provide a warm, inclusive place to work and offer a wide range of flexibilities and benefits as part of our people offer to reward our staff.
What we offer
- Flexible working arrangements and a focus on equality of opportunity – including welcoming part-time and/or job-share arrangements, compressed hours, working from home or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centres or Justice Satellite Office.
- Career development – regular development and promotion opportunities across a wide range of roles, career development support, with a generous individual learning and development budget.
- Range of new areas of work and new tools and techniques – we pride ourselves on our excellent deployment of well-established analytical methods, but also our progress to date. Progress such as our ambitious and innovative transformation programme to leverage departmental data and drive evidence-based decision-making using cutting-edge tools and techniques (for example: experimentation, personalisation, artificial intelligence).
- Analysis is at the centre of the Department’s decision making – our transformation programme is focused on maximising our impact on departmental outcomes. The Ministry of Justice’s Senior Team and our Ministerial Team want all decisions to be evidence driven – your analysis will be key in influencing decisions and real-world impact.
- Vibrant community – part of a multidisciplinary team that has a supportive culture and is looking to further develop the community with the help of everyone.
- See the frontline and what your work is influencing – regular opportunities to visit our front-line service providers, including courts, prisons, and probation to better understand the areas your analysis is affecting.
What you’ll do
Principal Statistician (Prisons) – you will be a supportive leader for a team of analysts providing high-quality data, statistics, management information, analysis and subject matter expertise on prisons. You will work closely with colleagues across policy, operations and analysis to provide the data and insight needed for MoJ to make evidence-based decisions, including supporting urgent work around prison capacity and reprioritising at pace in response to Ministerial requirements. You will seek opportunities to further develop the work of the team in alignment with MoJ’s Data Strategy and the Code of Practice for Statistics.
Who you are
The following experience and skills will be required:
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain complex data and analytical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Confidence in analysing data and presenting it appropriately, including leading others in analytical delivery.
- Experience of leading and developing others, prioritising and delegating tasks in line with organisational objectives.
- Representing your team in discussions with partners, managing partners’ expectations, dealing constructively with challenges and where appropriate adapting your work programme as requirements and circumstances change.
- Strong ability to plan, prioritise and lead a portfolio of analytical requests with challenging and competing timelines.
- Building and maintaining a culture of high-quality analysis and continuous improvement
The following experience and skills are desirable:
- Experience with Official Statistics, freedom of information requests and parliamentary questions
- Knowledge of R and GitHub
- Professional knowledge and experience of working with the justice system, ideally prisons.
How to apply
You’ll need to submit an anonymised CV and evidence against the three Civil
Service success profiles behaviours and one technical element listed below. You will not be considered if you do not provide both a CV and behaviour examples.
Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long and should show us your work history and previous experience. It should be well structured, succinct, and written in clear language.
You will be assessed against the following behaviours in the Civil service success profiles framework:
- Leadership (lead behaviour)
- Delivering at Pace
- Changing and Improving
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at the relevant grades:
As well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you are also asked to provide evidence of suitability for one technical element.
For GSS candidates, please provide evidence against the professional competency Data Analysis. For external (non-Civil Service) candidates and non-GSS candidates within the Civil Service, please provide evidence of leading a piece of analytical work: you will be assessed on your analytical knowledge, experience and abilities, and the impact of your analytical work.
Selection Process
There will be an initial sift of applicants through comparing submitted evidence against the specified behaviours. This usually takes two weeks, depending on the number of applications. In the event there are a high number of applications, the lead behaviour (leadership) may be used to conduct an initial sift and applications that do not meet the minimum requirement for this criterion will not progress to a full sift.
Those who make it through the full sift will be invited to a Civil Service Success Profile interview. In the Civil Service we use Success Profiles to help us find the right person for the job. We will be using a mixture of methods to assess your abilities, strengths, experience, technical skills, and behaviours. We highly recommend learning about Success Profiles and using the Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection (STARR) framework when structuring your answers.
The highest scoring candidates that pass the interview will be offered the roles. The whole process can take up to a month.
Behaviours
You will be assessed against four behaviours from the Civil service success profiles framework at the interview stage:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade.
For GSS analysts, as well as the four civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on two sets of professional competencies at interview. For external (non-Civil Service) candidates and non-GSS candidates within the Civil Service, as well as the four civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on your analytical knowledge, experience and abilities, and the impact of your analytical work.
Professional Competencies
- Professional Competency (1) Knowledge & Skills
- GSS - Data Analysis.
- Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact
- GSS - Presenting and disseminating data effectively.
For more information regarding Professional Competency (2) please refer to the analytical profession internet link below. Please note that some aspects of the professional competency may overlap with the MoJ competencies listed above. We therefore recommend that in providing evidence for the professional competency, candidates focus on the technical and methodology aspects of the competencies that are specific to the profession. We will use evidence presented for the MoJ competencies in assessing the wider skills candidates have.
Government Statistician Group (GSG): Further information, including a user guide, can be found within the link below:
Applicants invited for Interview
You will be required to carry out an analytical skills test at interview. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview.
Further Information
If you require any additional information about the role, please contact:
David Dawson, Head of Prison Data, david.dawson@justice.gov.uk
Technical Skills
Technical 1
For GSS candidates, please provide evidence against the professional competency Data Analysis. For external (non-Civil Service) candidates and non-GSS candidates within the Civil Service, please provide evidence of leading a piece of analytical work: you will be assessed on your analytical knowledge, experience and abilities, and the impact of your analytical work.
Person specification
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Please refer to Job Description
- Professional Competency (1) Knowledge & Skills -GSS - Data Analysis.
- Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact -GSS - Presenting and disseminating data effectively.
Benefits
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
- Telephone : 0845 241 5359
Recruitment team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Further information
