Statistical Officer

Welsh Government

Apply before 4:00 pm on Monday 3rd April 2023

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Details

Reference number

274149

Salary

£26,900 - £30,610

Job grade

Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Statistics Profession

Type of role

Statistics

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Location

Wales

About the job

Job summary

The role of Welsh Government statisticians is to support decision-making, resource allocation, research and debate within government and the wider community by providing reliable and efficient statistical services. A wide range of topics are covered by Welsh Government statisticians including education, health, housing, poverty, social justice, industry, the economy, local government, transport, the environment, agriculture, demography and the Welsh language. Most of our statisticians work together in a central hub of analysts known as Statistical Services Division; however there are also a small number of statistical teams “outbedded” within Welsh Government policy departments.

The general purpose of our Statistical Officer posts is to manage the provision of analysis and advice through the collection, collation, analysis and presentation of data on specific topics.

Our Statistical Officer posts are available on a permanent basis. If you are an existing civil servant, it is also possible to opt to undertake these posts as a loan for up to 2 years, if you would prefer this. Please note, however, that our loans are only available on a lateral basis.

Job description

Typical key tasks a Statistical Officer is required to carry out vary from post to post. Examples include the following:

Provision of statistical advice and briefing to policy teams and ministers within the Welsh Government
Analysis of large datasets, drawing out key messages, identifying trends and writing insightful commentary
Preparation of appropriate data visualisations and statistical tables to help illustrate messages in data
Answering requests for data and analysis from a variety of internal and external sources
Data management and manipulation including efficient storage of data and automation of statistical processes
Quality assurance including data checking, reporting on statistical quality and the peer review of statistical outputs.

Person specification

Statistical Officer Person Specification

Experience in the practical application of analysis or research with an in-depth knowledge of data sources
Ability to manage own workload and contribute to statistical production
Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex analysis to non-specialists and communicate effectively to stakeholders
Ability to work as part of a team to deliver high quality statistical advice and analysis, often to tight deadlines

Eligibility criteria

You must have, or be on track to obtain by September 2023, one of the following in order to apply:

A first or second class honours degree in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography Data Science or similar); or
A higher degree, e.g. an MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Data Science, Psychology, Geography or similar).
Applications from candidates who do not have a degree are welcomed, but they must demonstrate that they have worked in a statistics/data science related field. Candidates will be required to demonstrate their continuous professional development (via a CPD Log Book) in statistics/data science to demonstrate knowledge at the same level as a foundation degree/HND (Level 5).

Qualifications

You must have, or be on track to obtain by September 2023, one of the following in order to apply:

A first or second class honours degree in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography Data Science or similar); or
A higher degree, e.g. an MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Data Science, Psychology, Geography or similar).

Applications from candidates who do not have a degree are welcomed, but they must demonstrate that they have worked in a statistics/data science related field. Candidates will be required to demonstrate their continuous professional development (via a CPD Log Book) in statistics/data science to demonstrate knowledge at the same level as a foundation degree/HND (Level 5).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Managing a Quality Service
Changing and Improving
Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Experience in the practical application of analysis or research with an in-depth knowledge of data sources
Ability to manage own workload and contribute to statistical production
Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex analysis to non-specialists and communicate effectively to stakeholders
Ability to work as part of a team to deliver high quality statistical advice and analysis, often to tight deadlines
Presenting and Disseminating Data Effectively – Demonstrate how you communicate statistics to non-specialists using a variety of methods.
Acquiring Data/Understanding Customer Needs – Demonstrate your understanding of data sources along with their strengths and limitations. Demonstrate the methods you have used to collect data.
Data Analysis – Demonstrate how you analyse data using statistics techniques. NB You must demonstrate evidence of having used at least 2 statistical techniques.

Benefits

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application form and sift

Please apply by submitting a CV and personal statement via our online application system. Your CV should cover details of education and professional qualifications, employment history and relevant skills and experience.

Your personal statement should reflect the person specification given in this advert. It must include details of your technical and professional achievements and should be no more than 1250 words. When looking at applications, the assessors will be looking for clear evidence of your statistical knowledge and experience.

Multiple choice test

If your application demonstrates the skills and experience required for the role, you will be invited to undertake an online multiple choice test, designed to test your numeracy and statistical knowledge. You will be sent an email with a link to the test. You will have one week to complete the test. It is a timed test and must be completed and submitted by midday on the date specified in the email, in order to be considered for the next stage of the process.

If you are already a member of the Government Statistician Group, you are exempt from sitting the test. Please email Rebecca.Gillard@gov.wales with your GSG membership number who will confirm if you do not need to complete the test. You will then be moved onto the next stage (interview).

Online interview & dissemination test

If you pass the multiple choice test, you will be invited to an online interview. The online interview will take place over Microsoft Teams. The interview will be using various assessment techniques aligned to the Civil Service Success Profiles framework. Questioning styles include Situational and Past Experience types. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. In addition, you will also be asked competency style questions on the Government Statistician Group technical competencies. During which you will be expected to demonstrate understanding of two statistical techniques. Before the interview you will be given 30 minutes to sit a short test, which will form a presentation to be delivered to the panel at the beginning of the interview. The presentation should last no more than 5 minutes and you will remain seated during the presentation. If you are already a member of the Government Statistician Group, you are exempt from sitting this test.

Technical Competencies:

Presenting and Disseminating Data Effectively – Demonstrate how you communicate statistics to non-specialists using a variety of methods.
Acquiring Data/Understanding Customer Needs – Demonstrate your understanding of data sources along with their strengths and limitations. Demonstrate the methods you have used to collect data.
Data Analysis – Demonstrate how you analyse data using statistics techniques. NB You must demonstrate evidence of having used at least 2 statistical techniques.

Civil Service Behaviours:

Managing a Quality Service
Changing and Improving
Working Together

Want to find out more?

To help explain the application process and answer any questions about our Statistical Officer positions, we will be hosting two MS Teams Webinars.

Join on your computer or mobile app by clicking on one of the following links:

13:30-14:00 on 15 March 2023: Click here to join the meeting

11:30-12:00 on 21 March 2023: Click here to join the meeting

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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 Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.