Census Geospatial Analyst

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.

We are transforming how we use data to better understand and measure the UK’s economy and society, to drive better decision making, and to improve the lives of citizens. A core part of this work is the development of our Geospatial Strategy and capability - driving the effective use of geospatial methods across the organisation to add maximum value to ONS statistics.

In July 2025, HM Government commissioned ONS to conduct a mandatory, questionnaire-based, whole-population census of England and Wales in 2031. We have started to prepare for Census 2031, with a Census Taskforce scoping plans and building on the experience of Census 2021. We are preparing for an inclusive, digital-first census, working with devolved governments to support coherent UK outputs and maximising the benefits from our work with administrative data to date. ONS’ Data Products, Services and Governance (DPSG) Directorate provides many of the data products and services that are a vital part of the infrastructure of Census and wider ONS. Team specialisms include data architecture, various engineering functions, acquisition and governance, and data linkage. DPSG also includes a small but dynamic team of geospatial specialists, providing essential geospatial data products, infrastructure, expertise and guidance to ONS business areas and across wider government.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and talented Geospatial Analyst, to help us drive forward our ambitions, bring creativity and new ways of thinking. We want to build teams with a range of skills, where the team-members’ strengths complement each other. If you have strong technical skills and interpersonal skills, and you are interested in using your geospatial analytical skills to help transform the way we use data across government, then we are interested in your application.

A Geospatial Analyst applies expertise in geography and spatial/location data to deliver high‑quality analysis and geographical products across the office. They lead and support research and analytical projects where location data is central, while actively exploring innovative technologies to improve efficiency and enhance outputs in line with evolving organisational needs.

As the successful candidate, you will work on a broad range of geospatial projects—from creating new geographies to processing spatial/location datasets to generate insights and indicators. You will help advance geospatial analytical methods, introducing new approaches to data processing and interpretation.

You will collaborate closely with colleagues and receive guidance from senior team members, contributing to a supportive and knowledge‑sharing environment. Continuous professional development is encouraged, and you will be expected to stay up‑to‑date with emerging geospatial technologies, datasets, and analytical techniques.

Key ResponsibilitiesThe successful candidate will undertake activities such as:

• Work on specific project alone or with support from team members.
• Use appropriate tools and techniques and/or approaches to meet stakeholder requirements
• Apply a mixture of GIS, coding, analytical and statistical methodologies to produce the necessary outputs
• Collect, collate and prepare datasets for analytical inputs.
• Review and assess new data sources
• Explore and evaluate new datasets, technologies and techniques to maintain and update training packages.
• Quality assess and peer review colleagues outputs to ensure a quality service
• Work with academic and commercial experts on new methods and analysis tasks to improve existing or create new outputs
• Support in the production of training/teaching material for internal and external stakeholders
• Engage in activities to support the geography community across ONS and Government (e.g. GGP)

At least either an undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, with relevance to the job description OR at least 1 years’ experience in a role/study relevant to the job description.

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.

If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please read the information available on Gov.uk on this link, or contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.

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 is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have a valid right to work in the UK when employment commences.

Application Process

Number of Stages: 2 stage process

• Stage 1: Application
• Stage 2: Interview

Stage 1 – Application

The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your CV, personal statement and Technical Skills. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.

A 1250 word personal statement is required at application stage, which should not be exceeded. Where it is a requirement to make a personal statement, 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).

Specific Technical Skills will be assessed at sift, where you will have an additional 250 words to evidence each of the technical skills (GGP) Geospatial Software and Systems and (GGP) Geospatial Coding .

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.

Stage 2 – Interview

If invited to interview, you will be assessed using techniques aligned with the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, covering all behaviours and technical skills listed in the job advert.

You will be required to provide a 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 skills;

• GGP) Geospatial Software and Systems
• (GGP) Geospatial Coding

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.

Our main locations are Newport (South Wales), Fareham, Manchester & Darlington (England).

Important dates

• The Sift will be conducted from 12th October
• Interviews are expected to be conducted from 2nd November

Dates maybe subject to change.

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.