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Data Insights Product Analyst

Data Insights Product Analyst

Animal and Plant Health Agency
remoteHybrid
ExpiresExpires: Expiring in 3 days
Flexible
£34,765 - £41,375 per year

Job summary

Are you passionate about using innovative data tools and techniques to deliver meaningful analysis?

Do you enjoy leading people and helping them reach their full potential?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

As a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) within the Data Insights team, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the delivery of the Agency’s vision, mission and strategic objectives. You will provide oversight and support for the delivery of service and projects within your area of responsibility, ensuring effective implementation of policies, operational procedures and the management of teams.

Job description

The postholder will work within APHA’s Data & Information Unit to support the transformation of the Agency’s approach to performance and insight. Working with specialists and IT professionals, you will help modernise how data is collected, shared and used to produce agency-wide performance and scorecard management information, insights and visualisations.

You will apply your expertise in data analysis and insight to strengthen APHA’s analytical capability, identify opportunities for data-driven improvement and support informed decision-making. The role involves working closely with stakeholders across APHA and Defra to understand data and reporting requirements, maintain effective data processes, and support the development of accessible, automated reporting.

If you enjoy delivering projects, analysing data and working with a wide range of stakeholders, this role may be right for you.

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Leadership and Delivery

Provide day-to-day management within the Data Insights team, coordinating work across functions or geographic locations as required to ensure delivery aligns with the Agency’s strategic objectives.

Data Analysis, Reporting and Insight

Develop, analyse and deliver high-quality, accurate and timely data, intelligence and management information to support operational, scientific and policy decision-making and short- to medium-term planning. Coordinate agency-wide performance reporting to ensure data is available in the right format, at the right time, to support agreed responsibilities and programmes of work.

Data Standards, Systems and Continuous Improvement

Establish and maintain effective data processes and standards, ensuring performance information is accurate, consistent and aligned across qualitative and quantitative reporting. Lead continuous improvement of data analysis processes and dashboards, promoting the adoption of new systems, processes and ways of working, and ensuring consistency across APHA and the wider Defra group where appropriate. Identify and implement process improvements to enhance service delivery, applying continuous improvement practices.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

Build and maintain strong, effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, working collaboratively across teams and professions to achieve shared objectives. Communicate analysis clearly and effectively to support senior policy, operational, scientific and delivery colleagues.

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:

Experience

  • Proven experience working in a data analysis role, developing, preparing and analysing data to deliver robust, scalable data models and dashboards that support management information, inform decision-making and drive positive outcomes.
  • Strong experience using data transformation and analytics tools, including the Microsoft Power Platform (particularly Power BI and Power Automate), Fabric and Azure Synapse Analytics, alongside reviewing and improving systems, processes and ways of working.

Skills and Abilities

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and influence senior leaders on complex or contentious issues.
  • Highly analytical with strong problem-solving ability and sound judgement, able to translate complex analysis into clear insights, briefings and advice for diverse audiences.
  • Well-organised and adaptable, with the ability to deliver high-quality results efficiently in fast-paced, complex environments.
  • Coding skills in DAX, SQL, M and Python.

Technical and Other Knowledge

  • Strong working knowledge of modern data architectures, including medallion architectures and data pipelines, with experience using reporting software (e.g. Power BI) and best practice in the design and implementation of semantic data models in large, complex organisations.
  • Proficient in data analysis and visualisation, with experience applying data tools and translating technical insights into clear guidance for non-technical audiences.

Learning and Development

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role.

In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.

Qualifications

Educated to Higher National Certificate level (Level 4 data apprenticeship or equivalent qualification)

Behaviours

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

  • Changing and Improving
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

  • Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

  • Knowledge of DAX coding.
  • Types of tables within semantic models.
  • Filters in data models.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,765, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £10,071 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Further benefits offered also include:

  • A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
  • An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities tailored to your role.
  • Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
  • Staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
  • Making it work for you - With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances.

These are just a few of our benefits we offer. To find out the full range of what we offer refer to the Information Pack attached for more detail.

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.

Stage 1

Application Process

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

  • A CV submitted through an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite; there is no requirement to upload your personal CV.
  • A 750-word Personal Statement.

CV Guidance

Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements and your main responsibilities in each role and be no longer than 2 pages. Your CV will be used to provide further context on your Personal Statement and scored against the essential criteria.

When completing your Personal Statement, please read and understand the Person Specification thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Please ensure you evidence the key personal qualities and experiences that align with the criteria. Please consider the following points:

  • Experience of dashboard creation with the ability to design star schemas and code in Power Query using M and Power BI using DAX.
  • Understanding of the data analytics cycle and the delivery of analysis meeting customer requirements.
  • Experience of overcoming the challenge of accessing, manipulating and presenting complex data from multiple sources.

The written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc.

We encourage you to use the full 750-word allowance of the Personal Statement but not to exceed.

You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several criteria.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Lead Behaviour Statement.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift and/or progressed straight to interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

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

Stage 2

Preparing for the interview

During the interview you will be assessed based on: (list interview assessment below)

  • A selection of Strength based questions related to the role requirements. Following theSuccess Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UKframework. There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.

If you are selected for interview, you will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.

Upon receiving the interview invitation, please log into the system to schedule your interview slot in advance.

Interviews will be conducted via MS Teams, and a link will be provided in your interview invitation.

The interview

The interview will follow a blended approach and will last approximately 45 minutes.

A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation at interview, offering a more inclusive approach.

The Strength and Behaviour based questioning explores what the candidate can and has done, but also their potential.

Behavioural questions will explore what you have done in previous jobs or experiences as well as what you have achieved and/or learned.

Strength questions will explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role.

This is an example of a strengths-based question:

“It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?”

Technical questions will explore your technical knowledge in specific areas.

After the interview

Once all the interviews have been conducted, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are successful at the interview stage, we will be in touch to offer you a role. Offers will be made in merit order by location.

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

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via: recruitment.sdd@apha.gov.uk using the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – 441939 & vacancy closing date 19/01/2026’

Further Information

Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a civil servant at the point of starting in the relevant new post. If their contract ends (e.g. end of FTA contract or resignation) at any point during the recruitment/onboarding process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Salary

New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

Reserve List

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

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to DEFRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put 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 defrarecruitment.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.

Accessibility

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

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Higher Security Clearance

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.



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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 :

Recruitment team

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 Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here

Attachments

APHA Information Pack Nov 25 (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 1869kB)

Salary range

  • £34,765 - £41,375 per year