Commercial Data Analyst

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Chief Operating Officer Group works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities.

The group is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Security, Estates and Information and Digital, Data and Technology.

As a Data Analyst in the Commercial Directorate, you will deliver high‑quality analysis and insight to support commercial decision‑making across the Home Office.

You’ll work with complex spend, supplier and performance data, producing dashboards, reports and insights that help improve compliance, value for money and operational delivery across some of the Government’s largest and most complex commercial programmes.

This is a great opportunity to work on nationally significant programmes, develop your data and analytical skills, and influence senior decision‑makers. You’ll be part of a supportive team with access to professional development, working at the heart of a fast‑paced and high‑impact Commercial function.

Job description

Data Analysts collect, organise and study data to provide business insight.

As a Data Analyst, you will understand, manipulate and accurately analyse data, providing insight, briefing internal and external audiences in ways that make complex information easy to understand, particularly for non-technical audiences.

You will work within the Commercial Directorate, applying tools and techniques for Data Analysis and data visualisation, including the use of BI tools.

You will be engaged with, and actively contribute to, the performance analysis community and be comfortable with mentoring to upskill junior staff.

Key responsibilities

• Collect, manage, clean, link and analyse data from multiple sources, ensuring appropriate data quality, security and information assurance standards are applied.
• Use a range of analytical and statistical techniques (including data mining, forecasting, time series and modelling) to identify, interpret and predict trends.
• Manipulate, aggregate and migrate data across systems, working with Data Engineers to map, transform, test and implement new data feeds.
• Develop and maintain reports, dashboards and visualisations using Business Intelligence tools, presenting complex information clearly for non‑technical audiences.
• Summarise findings, draw evidence‑based conclusions and present insights and recommendations clearly to a range of internal and external stakeholders, in line with Analysis Function standards.
• Contribute to the performance analysis community, continuously developing analytical capability and supporting the upskilling of others through mentoring and coaching.

The successful candidate will need to be adaptable and willing to work flexibly across the wider team as required, performing additional duties reasonably expected within the scope of the grade.

Travel

Occasional travel may be required to other UK work locations to meet specific business needs. This is expected to be infrequent and may include overnight stays. All related costs will be reimbursed in line with Home Office policy.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable experience of applying data analytics techniques (such as network analysis, data matching, information retrieval, and text analysis) to support decision‑making in real‑world contexts, with the ability to explain the approach taken and outcomes achieved.
• Knowledge of different types of data—including open and public data, administrative data, and research data—and an understanding of their appropriate use, limitations, quality considerations, and ethical handling.
• Understanding of core data concepts, including data structures and database systems, with experience contributing to the design, implementation, or maintenance of data solutions in collaboration with others.
• Ability to work with users and stakeholders to clearly define data and analytical requirements, ensuring solutions are accessible, proportionate, and aligned with user needs.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical or analytical information clearly and inclusively to both technical and non‑technical audiences, adapting language, format, and level of detail as required.
• Experience of presenting analytical or technical work to senior stakeholders, with appropriate support or guidance, responding constructively to feedback and questions.
• Practical experience using data tools such as SQL and Power BI (or comparable technologies), with openness to learning new tools and approaches as required.

The essential skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA8 framework- Use the levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skill listed). Please see below for the relevant skills for your role:

Strategy & Architecture

• Strategy and Planning
  • Innovation (INOV) – Level 2
• Governance, Risk and Compliance

  • Quality Assurance (QUAS) – Level 2

Development and Implementation

• Systems Development
  • Programming/Software Development (PROG) – Level 2
• Data and Analytics
  • Data Modelling and Design (DTAN) – Level 2
  • Analytics (INAN) – Level 3

Relationships and Engagement

• Stakeholder Management
  • Stakeholder Relationship Management (RLMT) – Level 3

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrating awareness of data protection and legal issues

• Experience in identifying, preventing, and resolving data quality issues, with a strong understanding of quality assurance principles for analytical work.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Innovation (INOV) – Level 2
• Quality Assurance (QUAS) – Level 2
• Programming/Software Development (PROG) – Level 2
• Data Modelling and Design (DTAN) – Level 2
• Analytics (INAN) – Level 3
• Stakeholder Relationship Management (RLMT) – Level 3

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• The advertised role is eligible for a Digital Capability Allowance. Successful candidates with exceptional skills and experience may apply for a Recruitment and Retention Allowance.
• ​The allowance values are set by the Home Office, subject to remaining in a qualifying role. This allowance is non-contractual, subject to an annual review and could be withdrawn at any time. Please see the Home Office Digital Recruitment and Retention Allowance Careers page for more information.
• For both new entrants and existing civil servants, the total compensation offer is a combination of base salary and, if applicable, a capability-based allowance.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.

After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete the followingCivil Service Numerical Test.

1. Online Test – by 30th April 2026

If you successfully pass theCivil Service Numerical Test., you will be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online test(s) as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online test(s) or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

Guidance for the Civil Service test(s) will be available when you are invited to take the test(s). The online tests are accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.

You cannot complete the tests on a mobile phone or tablet.

Please note: Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on 19/04/2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

Following successful completion of your test/s, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.

2. Application – by 30th April 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).

Your CV should consist of your career history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

3. Sift – commencing 5th May 2026

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement and CV.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (CV). Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

4. Interview – commencing 27th May 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert), Strength based questions and Technical Skills based questions. All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.

In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.

The presentation will be assessed against SFIA8 Framework and will be assessed against the Technical Skill Analytics (INAN) – Level 3.

The interview will take place on MS Teams.

For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the SFIA8 Framework levels of responsibility

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location Preferences

You can select up to threelocations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred locations and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has the same Success Profiles elements and essential skills. There is no guarantee that further such vacancies will arise.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. The level of Criminal Record Check required for this role is Basic. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

Further information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

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 : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamHSGPSGandMBG@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

candidate_information_v16_January_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 429kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)