Open Source Senior Data Analyst and Team Lead
HM Revenue and Customs
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 10th February 2025
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About the job
Job summary
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.
The Open Source Data Analysis Team (OSDA) are recruiting for experienced Senior Data Analysts to lead a team of specialist analysts to deliver quality Open Source data analysis at pace.
The team sits within Risk Insight & Analytics (RIA) which plays an important role in HMRC’s Risk and Intelligence Service (RIS).
RIS provides insight into compliance risks and threats to inform HMRC’s compliance priorities, planning, and decision making at all levels. We design and innovate risk and intelligence models, tools, and services to drive more efficient ways of working and deliver better compliance outcomes.
The OSDA team you'd be joining has three core functions:
- Horizon Scanning - identification of broad trends in web technologies, e-commerce and digital developments that impact on HMRC’s strategic objectives.
- Data insight - complex data collection, interpretation, and analysis of compliance populations and/or specific elements of serious non-compliant behaviour to inform tactical and operational decision making.
- Social media analysis - analysis of social media platforms, their use and growth, the sentiment and language used across them, and the compliance behaviour in reaction to changes to HMRC’s approach to compliance and/or legislative changes.
We use a bespoke cloud-based private network and a variety of tools that enable us to access and analyse all areas of the web to deliver actionable analysis and insight to help tackle risks.
Job description
You will have direct line management of 4-6 team members, undertaking all duties in line with HMRC policies.
Your role will also be to provide deeper insight on known compliance risks and provide expert advice in the gathering of open source data and its analysis.
Working with the wider management team you’ll use project management principles & tools to manage conflicting demands including and exciting the forward work programme.
You will lead multiple projects and be responsible for the quality of insight and analysis that is delivered, ensuring it meets the expected standard.
You will develop shared team objectives and engage & motivate your team to implement an action-based delivery plan, ensuring quality and timely outputs.
You will build and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with team, peers, customers, stakeholders, and subject matter experts across HMRC and wider government.
Other Information
The team are based across two sites Nottingham and Croydon and there will be occasional requirement to travel between sites e.g. for team events.
Person specification
The successful candidate will:
- be a strong leader and communicator, skilled in setting direction, and engaging and empowering others
- be able to generate a clear team focus and create an environment where all involved are invested in and fully support shared outcomes
- be confident in challenging analytical outcomes and providing the necessary direction and guidance to not only build capability but also deliver high quality outputs
- be adept at building and maintaining relationships with a broad range of stakeholders
- have a strong focus on continuous improvement, actively encouraging and supporting innovation in the team and coaching individuals
- be able to coach and mentor analysts to build capability and confidence in analytical techniques and tools
Essential Criteria:
Your application must demonstrate:
- previous line management or relevant leadership experience
- experience of leading multiple projects simultaneously
- previous experience of conducting complex data analysis
Desirable Criteria:
- experience of using Power Bi, R and/or Python
- experience using project management techniques
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- A Technical presentation to evaluate the candidates experience in the application of complex data analysis techniques lasting between 5-7 minutes
Benefits
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.
- Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
- Family friendly policies.
- Personal support.
- Coaching and development.
To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
- A name-blind CV including your job history.
- A 750-word personal statement.
Your CV is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
You will be asked to write a 750-word personal statement which should cover how you meet the Essential Criteria and requirements of the job role.
You may include any desirable criteria if you meet these. They will not be marked but may be used in the event of a tie-break situation.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
Sift
At sift, your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
During the panel interview, your experience will be assessed, and you will be asked behaviour-based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of, and you will be asked strength-based questions to also explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role.
This is an example of a strengths-based question:
“It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?”
There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
There will be a requirement to undertake a technical presentation to evaluate the candidates experience in the application of complex data analysis techniques lasting between 5-7 minutes. Further details will be provided if candidates are successful at sift stage.
Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Additional Security Information
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the ‘location preferences’ section that you can travel to.
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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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 : Ris Recruitment Service
- Email : risrecruitmentservice@hmrc.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk
Further information
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.
