Assistant Methodologist

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. 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.

Methodology and Quality Directorate (MQD) ensures that analysis carried out by ONS and the analysis community across government is aligned with the Statistics Authority’s strategic vision and relevant quality standards. We aim to improve the rigour and cost effectiveness of regular statistical outputs and the quality of data used for both statistical purposes and more widely in government. We provide advice and guidance on best practice and ensure that new methodologies deliver improved statistics. We seek to exploit technology and emerging methodologies to research and develop innovative solutions to new and existing issues. We provide a forward-looking, efficient, professional, and accessible service to our stakeholders.

If you want to hear more about ONS, the MQD Directorate or the role then please come along to our webinar on 27th August at 12pm. We'd love to see you!

Our Assistant Methodologists help shape the quality, reliability and impact of statistics across government. They carry out research and analysis, develop and improve statistical methods, and provide advice and guidance to colleagues, policymakers and partners.

You’ll work alongside specialists across ONS, academia, other government departments and international statistical organisations to solve analytical challenges and improve the way statistics are produced and used.

Depending on your skills, experience and the vacancies available, you’ll primarily work within one methodological specialism, while also having opportunities to contribute to a wide range of projects supporting economic, social and population statistics.

Areas of expertise include:

• Analysis and modelling
• Bayesian methods
• Data linkage
• Editing and imputation
• Machine learning
• Qualitative research
• Questionnaire design
• Quality measurement
• Sample design and estimation
• Statistical disclosure control
• Time series analysis

Where could you be based?

We are recruiting across three divisions within the Methodology and Quality Directorate:

Quality and Improvement Division Improves the quality of statistics and data across government by developing guidance, supporting quality reviews, providing advice and consultancy, delivering training, and building capability through cross-government collaboration.

Methods and Statistical Design Division Helps ensure ONS statistics are underpinned by robust methodology and high- quality statistical design. The division develops and improves methods, explores innovative solutions, and supports the delivery of trusted, efficient statistics.

Methods and Analysis Capability Division Supports analytical capability across government by developing technical training, driving continuous improvement and innovation in analytical methods, and working across the Analysis Function and Government Statistical Service (GSS) to improve statistical standards and collaboration. In addition, the division also supports social statistics projects with cross-cutting methodological qualitative and quantitative research.

What you’ll do as an Assistant Methodologist

Assistant Methodologists work on clearly defined statistical and methodological projects, applying analytical skills, judgement and technical knowledge to improve the quality and value of statistics.

You’ll:

• Carry out statistical research and analysis on a range of well-defined projects
• Apply appropriate methods to investigate options and solve analytical problems
• Help develop, test and improve statistical methodologies
• Communicate findings through reports, presentations and stakeholder discussions
• Work collaboratively with customers, colleagues and multidisciplinary teams
• Contribute to specialist methodology teams and wider project groups
• Share your knowledge and support others as your experience develops
• Manage your own work with support, guidance and training from experienced colleagues

What we’re looking for

We’re interested in candidates with strong quantitative and/or qualitative research skills who enjoy solving problems, working with data and improving the way evidence is produced and used.

Whether your background is in statistics, social research, data science, economics, behavioural science or another analytical discipline, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your expertise while working on projects that support decisions across government.

As an HEO, you’ll receive structured support, training and professional development to help you build your methodological skills and grow your career within ONS.

Essential

A minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree or post-graduate degree (conditional offers may be made for predicted grades) in a mathematical, statistical, or data science discipline, or other subject with substantial statistical or quantitative analytical content .

OR

Clearly demonstrated equivalent experience, knowledge or qualifications may also be considered.

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)

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

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

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: 4 stage process

• Stage 1: Eligibility pre-sift
• Stage 2: Application
• Stage 3: Interview Stage 1:Technical Presentation
• Stage 4: Interview Stage 2: In-person Interview at either ONS Newport or Titchfield.

Stage 1

A pre-sift will be conducted on location and eligibility criteria set out in the advert. Ineligible candidates will be removed from the selection process and will not proceed to the application stage.

Stage 2 – Application

The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your CV, 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 wordcount allowed is 1250, 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).

Please note that Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage of the application process.

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.

Stage 3: Interview Stage 1: Online Technical Presentation

If your application is successful at sift you will be invited to undertake a virtual technical exercise. You will be required to provide a presentation at this assessment stage. 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 Skills;

• Acquiring Data
• Analysis of Data
• Presenting and Disseminating Data

Stage 4: Interview Stage 2: In-person Interview at either ONS Newport or Titchfield.

If you are successful at stage 3, you will be invited to interview, where 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.

Our main locations are Newport (South Wales), Titchfield and Darlington.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.

Interviews will be held at Government Buildings, Cardiff Road, Newport South Wales, NP10 8XG or Segensworth Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hampshire,PO15 5RR

Important Dates:

• The Sift will be conducted from 7th September
• Stage 1 Interviews will be conducted from 5th October
• Stage 1 Interviews will be conducted from 2nd November

Other Information

Dates may be subject to change.

Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.

For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment.

Technical Skills will be assessed against GSS Technical Framework

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