Business Analyst

Job summary

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.

These Business Analyst roles will be working in the newly established Economic Statistics Improvement (ESI) directorate which has responsibility for delivering the Survey and Economic Statistics Improvement Plan, setting the strategic direction for how we develop, modernise, and enhance the UK’s economic statistics. Architecture, Design and Data Sources (ADDS) division sits within the ESI Directorate, in the Surveys and Economic Statistics (SES) Group.

We’re looking forthree enthusiastic Business Analysts ready to begin their careers as Business analysts and contribute to shaping how we deliver services within ESI.

Job description

As a Business Analyst you would understand and analyse user and business needs. Ensure outcomes are aligned with service vision and the business strategy by contributing to the link between current and future business models and delivering to the business architecture.

Work with solution architects and developers to provide analysis of system capabilities, developing use cases and ensuring that solutions meet business needs.

Challenge constructively and act as a critical friend to achieve solutions that are fit for purpose.

Facilitate collaboration and lead effective communication with all stakeholders to support design, build and deliver to meet the user needs.

Responsibilities

• Review existing system capabilities, develop use cases and information models, and align business requirements to specific capabilities of system development, including working with developers to ensure that user needs are met.
• Define improvements to business processes, developing business cases to enable decisions to be made based on the benefits of the change.
• Facilitate, understand, and communicate the project scope and work to assure the overall goal is maintained in creation of the product backlog.
• Lead in defining solutions to real business problems through influence, facilitation and communication and ensuring the end-to-end process is considered.
• Shape and challenge business priorities and ways of working through collaboration with business and technology teams.
• Elicit functional and non-functional requirements using appropriate techniques, considering the nature of change and established practices.
• Deliver at pace using the most appropriate delivery methodologies and adopting agile principles.
• Develop suitable analysis models using appropriate modelling techniques, considering traceability, adherence to business objectives and fitness for purpose.
• Work with business and solution architects to ensure that the wider architecture considered when undertaking analysis work.
• Assist decision makers in gathering information to make informed decisions.
• Promote a culture of assurance and security.
• Help to quality assure test solutions and products.
• Actively participate in the Business Analysis community and broader communities to refine and develop standards, working practices, sharing of knowledge, and understanding.
• Works under the direction of other Business Analysts.
• Can self-manage their workload.

Willing to work towards BCS (ISEB) accreditation in a module that contributes to one of the following diplomas: BCS (ISEB) diploma in Business Analysis or BCS (ISEB) diploma in Solution Development or have appropriate Business Analysis experience.

This campaign is for external candidates who wish to be based at either our Newport or Titchfield site. Therefore this campaign has been linked with the internal advert 468216. If you are an internal candidate to ONS please apply via the other campaign. The selection and interview process will be combined, so you do not need to apply for both campaigns.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Business Analysis (Working) -Apply structured approaches to identify, investigate, analyse and communicate complex business problems and opportunities, within a defined project. Analyse business goals, objectives, functions and processes, using relevant information and data to support the definition of requirements. Conduct options analysis, assess feasibility and operational impact quantify potential business benefits and contribute to business case development. Help to ensure proposed solutions meet business and user needs. Work with limited direction to complete tasks and defined outputs linked to the project.
• Business Modelling (Working) - Model various elements of the business with limited direction. Understand the impact of potential changes and how business processes, systems, data, roles and responsibilities interact.
• Business Process Improvement (Working) - Analyse and evaluate business processes to identify problems and opportunities. Design, prioritise and facilitate the implementation of business process improvements, with some support. Validate improvements to business processes through testing.
• Requirements Definition and Management (Working) - Identify, analyse, challenge and validate business and user requirements. Work under limited supervision to co-ordinate and review the prioritisation of requirements. Use appropriate requirements management life cycle methods to complete tasks and outputs related to the project.
• Stakeholder Relationship Management (Working) - Identify important stakeholders and communicate with them clearly and regularly. Tailor communication to stakeholders' needs and work with them to build relationships while meeting user needs.Build and reach consensus with stakeholders. Work to improve stakeholder relationships using evidence to explain decisions.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Stakeholder Relationship Management

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,587, Office for National Statistics contributes £10,019 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

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 process

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 1250 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).

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.

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 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 Success Profiles Behaviour Changing and improving.

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 17/07 - 24/07. Please be aware we will be sending all candidates an e-mail to complete a eligibility form.
• Sift will be conducted from 27/07/2026
• Interviews will be conducted from 24/08/2027

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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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 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

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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Government Digital and Data Recruitment
• Email : Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact recruitment.complaints@ons.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission

Attachments

2721 Advert 1B Permanent - ONS National Opens in new window (pdf, 83kB)Flexibilities_Advert Opens in new window (pdf, 47kB)