Data Processor

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.

Life Events Processing (LEP) sits within the Population Statistics Directorate at the ONS, a directorate responsible for producing some of the UK’s most important population evidence. The directorate delivers a wide range of high-profile statistical outputs, including population estimates and projections, migration statistics, and in‑depth demographic analysis that informs government, public services and the wider public.

LEP plays a vital role in this work through the production of world‑leading mortality and births statistics. The team is responsible for quality assuring, validating and coding life events data to ensure it is accurate, consistent and analysis‑ready. This work directly underpins national statistics on births and deaths, which are relied upon to inform policy decisions, public health planning and research at both national and international level.

Working within LEP offers the opportunity to contribute to statistics that have real‑world impact. You will be part of a team committed to maintaining high standards of quality, integrity and continuous improvement, ensuring that ONS continues to deliver trusted population statistics for the public good.

To support the accurate and timely processing, coding and quality assurance of statistical data, applying specialist knowledge and established procedures to ensure outputs meet agreed standards. The role contributes to the delivery and continuous improvement of data processing activity by resolving coding queries, supporting quality checks, identifying issues, and helping to maintain consistent ways of working across the team.

Job description

The role will involve working closely with ONS colleagues and, where appropriate, external or international coding experts to resolve coding issues, improve processes and support the development of coding tools, decision tables and automation. You will help test and implement new specialist coding software and contribute to continuous improvement activity that strengthens the quality, efficiency and consistency of data processing.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply specialist data processing or coding knowledge to resolve routine and more complex queries, escalating issues where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate records of coding decisions, processing activity and quality issues to support transparency, consistency and auditability.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to strengthen processes, guidance, tools or ways of working.
• Support the testing, implementation or refinement of data processing systems, coding tools, guidance materials or training resources where required.
• Develop and maintain specialist expertise in mortality coding, ICD classification systems and emerging methodologies, including ICD-11.
• Coach and support colleagues, sharing knowledge and promoting the consistent application of coding standards and best practice.
• Communicate effectively and respectfully, adapting to different audiences and building strong working relationships through collaboration, coaching and information sharing.
• Deliver high-quality work to agreed deadlines, balancing accuracy, productivity and competing demands.
• Develop and maintain training pathways, guidance and specialist knowledge resources for ICD-11, inquest coding and external coding partners, supporting consistent coding practice, knowledge transfer and the successful implementation of evolving coding methodologies.

Working with Sensitive Data

Please note that this role involves regular exposure to sensitive and potentially distressing information, including details from death and stillbirth certificates. This may also include information related to coroner inquests, which can contain graphic and emotionally challenging content. The successful candidate must be able to handle such data with discretion and emotional resilience. ONS recognises the potential impact of working with this type of material and provides support and guidance to help staff manage their wellbeing. This includes access to internal and external wellbeing resources, peer support, and proactive support from line managers.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Encourages an open approach to seeking out and acting on feedback to bring about continuous improvement in own and team’s performance.
• Recognises learning opportunities for self and team that prepares people for the change in the organisation.
• Works with others in collaboration to share information constructively.
• Encourages feedback and creates a secure and safe environment where good communication and relationships can thrive.
• Understands complex information and is able to make the right decision at the right time often under pressure.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,138, Office for National Statistics contributes £8,151 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 and Experience.

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

ONS is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have a valid right to work in the UK when employment commences. If you are currently in the UK on a time-limited visa, it must have at least 18 months remaining at the point of application.

To work at ONS, applicants must meet the Civil Service nationality requirements, satisfy UK right to work requirements and, where applicable, meet the relevant security clearance requirements.

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.

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.

Interviews will be held online 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

The Sift will be conducted from 30th September.

Interviews will be conducted week commencing 19th October.

Dates are subject to change.

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

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 standard (or equivalent) 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 : Emily Llewellyn
• Email : scs.recruitment@ons.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scs.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 v1-00 Opens in new window (pdf, 83kB)Role1_Standard_Requirements Opens in new window (pdf, 76kB)