Senior Data Analyst : Office for National Statistics
Senior Data Analyst : Office for National Statistics
Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 22nd September 2026
Details
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Salary
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Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Information Technology
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Contents
Location
This role is aligned to ONS hybrid working principles, which are based on attending the office with purpose. The postholder will be expected to contribute to the organisation’s overall 40% office attendance, in line with business and role requirements.
The induction process for the role will be conducted in person.
Due to workforce controls you can only select Manchester, London, Darlington or Edinburgh if you are an existing ONS employee contracted to that location. If you are not contracted at one of these sites, these options are not available to you.
Applicants who select a location they are not eligible for will be removed from the recruitment process and will not be considered for alternative locations.
Please refer to attachments for further terms and flexibilities.
About the job
Job summary
We are looking for an experienced Data Analyst to join our Business Data Operations Division.
Business Data Operations Division (BDOD) is a large and diverse area of around 400 staff, collecting economic statistics from several million businesses a year. It is the foundation for most of the ONS’ core economic outputs, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The primary role for the division is the data collection, editing and validation of survey data.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social, and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution, and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime, and migration.
Job description
A Data Analyst collects, organises and studies data to provide business insight.
Responsibilities include:
- Build analytical pipelines for automated processing of data used for regular reporting.
- Lead the production of regular data and insight products.
- Lead on the development and delivery of robust quality control processes over our outputs including the use of automated tests to validate processing.
- Design and build creative data visualisations to deliver actionable insights for our business users.
- Lead on the development of Power BI data models
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to collect information to support the measurement of ONS performance e.g. KPIs, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports etc used to track ONS performance.
- Lead the delivery of management information products, liaising with stakeholders and collecting user requirements.
- Lead the development of system and user process documentation; developing new documentation as required and updates to existing documentation.
- Line manage, develop and coach 1-2 Data Analysts within your team.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
Applying statistical and analytical tools and techniques (Practitioner)
- lead the development of valuable statistical and analytical insights and reports
- identify and apply a range of statistical and analytical techniques and tools, and support others in applying them
- quality assure statistical techniques and analytical outputs across a team
- engage with stakeholders and share statistical and analytical techniques to increase understanding and trust
Developing code for analysis (Practitioner)
- design and implement the analytical approach, including code, using appropriate standards and tests
- lead collaboration to review and improve analytical approaches, including shared code
- guide others in producing analytical approach documentation, identifying improvements
Communicating between the technical and non-technical (Practitioner)
- listen to and interpret the needs of technical and non-technical stakeholders, and manage their expectations
- manage active and reactive communication
- support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders
Data visualisation (Practitioner)
- use a range of data visualisations to simplify a complex story.
- adapt a story to the needs of multidisciplinary stakeholders.
- advise and support others in developing inclusive, accessible data visualisations that recognise different user needs.
- suggest improvements to data visualisation processes and standards to increase efficiency and quality.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Leadership
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Python for Data Analysis
Benefits
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 valued colleagues across the organisation.
Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that our careers site 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.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
Security Clearance
For ONS the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will 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.
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
Please note: We will reach out to you once the advert has closed to confirm eligibility for this role, this will be via an e-mail. Please check you e-mails.
Visa Sponsorship
ONS are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants are expected to hold a valid right to work in the UK when employment commences. If you are applying on a time-limited visa, this will need to be valid for at least 18 months at point of application.
To work at the ONS, candidates must meet both UK right to work and security clearance requirements (where applicable).
If you are unsure whether you meet the appropriate right to work or security clearance eligibility criteria, please refer to the guidance on Gov.uk or contact the recruitment email provided in the advert before applying. Failure to meet these requirements will result in your application being rejected and employment offers being withdrawn.
Application Process
Number of Stages: 2
Stage 1: Application
Stage 2: Interview
Stage 1 – Application
The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your work history, CV, skills, experience, and personal statement. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.
A personal statement is required at application stage, the maximum word count allowed is 1,250 words, which should not be exceeded. You should provide evidence for each essential skill criterion listed in the person specification. As these criteria are scored, it is advisable to give clear examples for each one, including the impact of your actions, ideally utilising the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
In instances where a high number of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted, and candidates will be invited to interview based on merit order, i.e., those with the highest scores.
Please note that Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage of the application process.
When a high volume of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted. Candidates will be invited to interview based on their merit order, with those achieving the highest scores being prioritised. Applicants who score below the adjusted pass mark but still pass will be placed on hold and may be invited to interview at a later date.
We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same behaviours, and essential skills.
Stage 2 – Interview
If invited to interview, you will be assessed using techniques aligned with the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, covering all behaviours listed in the job advert and any required technical skills.
You will be required to provide a 5 minute presentation at interview. The presentation topic will be emailed to candidates who have passed the initial online application stage, 1 week prior to interview. This presentation will assess candidates against the Technical Skill Python for Data Analysis.
Interviews will be via Microsoft Teams.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.
Important Dates
- Eligibility checks from 23/09/2026 – 30/09/2026. Please be aware we will be sending all candidates an e-mail to complete a eligibility form.
- Sift will be conducted from 01/10/2026
- Interviews will be conducted from 13/10/2026
For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment.
Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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
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 :Government Digital and Data Recruitment
- Email :Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email :about.you@ons.gov.uk