Deputy Director, Central Statistics Unit and Chief Statistician

Job summary

DCMS exists to help people and communities connect, create, and thrive across every part of modern Britain, strengthening the security, resilience, and trust that underpin modern life. As the digital centre of government, our newly expanded department brings together the digital services people rely on, the culture they enjoy, the sport they follow, the media they trust, and the communities they belong to. Because these experiences are increasingly intertwined, our work directly reflects how people experience modern life.

As a leader at DCMS, you will be at the forefront of driving change and outcomes centered on three strategic priorities:

• Helping people live richer, safer, better connected lives: growing our digital and creative sectors while strengthening national security, online safety, and public services.
• Bringing together the things that define modern Britain: uniting technology, culture, and infrastructure to transform public services and strengthen communities.
• Pride and opportunity in every place: investing in digital infrastructure, skills, and local culture so everyone can build a proud future, wherever they live.

We deliver by growing the economy, enabling participation, connecting places, and keeping people safe. At DCMS, your work has the potential to change lives. I am looking for visionary leaders who are ready to lead this transformed agenda and deliver the change our society needs. If you have the skills, capabilities, and passion to lead, and are innovative in your approach and excited by our Department and its agenda, please apply for this role.

Job description

The role heads DCMS's Central Statistics Team, and provides professional leadership for the wider community of around 60 statisticians across DCMS.

• Professional Authority: The post-holder holds statutory authority under the Code of Practice for Statistics, ensuring that departmental statistics inspire public trust and uphold the core principles of Trustworthiness, Quality, and Value (TQV).
• Operational Delivery: Deliver authoritative statistical briefing to Ministers, senior officials, and the Departmental Board. Direct the multi-site c25 FTE team to drive public and policy return from multi-million-pound survey and administrative budgets, producing and publishing a high-quality statistical portfolio of over 30 official statistical releases annually.
• Supporting Devolution: Lead strategic work with partners including the ONS, MHCLG and our Arms Length Bodies to develop granular, sub-national statistics that inform local growth, devolution, and support place sensitive decision-making.
• System leadership: Represent and champion Statistics in DCMS, be a leader in the Government Statistical Service and champion DCMS across the Government Analysis Function and wider Civil Service, driving capability standards and statutory engagement with the OSR and National Statistician.

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have the following key skills and experience:

Essential requirements:

• Strategic Analytical Leadership: demonstrable experience of leading analytical functions and using evidence, data and insight to shape strategic priorities, support organisational objectives and inform senior decision-making.
• Professional Excellence and Quality Assurance: proven ability to ensure the delivery of high-quality analysis, maintaining appropriate governance, quality assurance and professional standards while exercising sound judgement in complex or high-profile environments.
• Influencing and Communicating with Impact: a strong track record of communicating complex analytical findings clearly and persuasively to senior leaders and a diverse range of stakeholders, translating technical evidence into actionable insights and influencing decision-making.
• Building Capability and Inclusive Teams: experience of leading, developing and inspiring high-performing analytical teams, fostering an inclusive culture, strengthening professional capability and supporting the development of talent.
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Leadership: proven ability to build effective relationships across organisational boundaries, working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders to deliver shared outcomes and maximise the value of analysis.
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: experience of driving innovation and continuous improvement in analytical methods, data use, systems or ways of working to enhance organisational performance and decision-making.

Required Qualifications:

Qualification: badged member of the Government Statistician Group (GSG), or demonstrable eligibility for GSG membership through one of the following:

• A minimum 2:2 degree in a numerate subject containing taught statistical content (e.g. Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Psychology, Geography);
• A higher degree (MSc/PhD) with formal statistical training; or
• 3+ years’ experience in a statistical or data science role with evidence of Continuous Professional Development.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes £24,914 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).

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home

• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice

• 3 days of paid volunteering leave

• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave

• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year

• Occupational sick pay

• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice

• Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks

• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work

• Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!

Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.

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.

To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following, via the Civil Service Jobs portal, which will be assessed against the essential criteria for the role:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements.

Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. Include your eligibility against the qualification requirements for the role.

The CV should not exceed more than 2 sides of A4 and you should copy and paste your CV into the "Job History" section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.

• A Statement of Suitability explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

You must make direct reference to the essential criteria and back-up your statement with evidence rather than relying on assertions.

This should be 2 sides of A4 and no more than a maximum of 1000 words.

For the shortlist, we will select applicants who demonstrate the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application and how this meets the essential requirements. Following the shortlist there are no further pass/fail assessment stages and all candidates shortlisted will be invited to the final interview stage.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Shortlist

The panel will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘essential requirements’ section of this pack. Desirable skills will only be used in the event of tied candidates. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Assessment

If shortlisted, you will be invited to undertake an assessment as part of this recruitment prior to a final interview panel:

• A staff engagement exercise: a structured exercise which involves shortlisted candidates facilitating a discussion with a selection of staff from the Department on a given topic.

The assessment will be conducted virtually.

This exercise will not result in a “pass” or “fail” decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

If you are shortlisted, you will also be offered an informal conversation with Urvashi Parashar, ahead of the final panel interview. This does not form part of the assessment process and is merely an opportunity for you to find out more about the role.

Interview

The interview process will assess behaviours and experience and will be aligned with the SCS Capability Framework. Your interview will include a presentation, the topic will be sent in advance of your interview. You will not be required to use visual aids.

The behaviours to be tested at interview are:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

If you are not currently a badged member of the GSG profession, your interview will include additional technical questions against the SCS Capability Framework to determine your eligibility.

Your interview will take place, in person, at 100 Parliament Street.

Feedback

Following interview, all shortlisted candidates will receive their outcome along with some short written feedback on performance at interview. Please note you will only receive feedback if you complete the interview stage.

Timeline

Candidates are asked to note the timetable below, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Advert closing date: Sunday 8th November at 23:55

Shortlisting: W/C 16th November

Pre-interview assessment: W/C 30th November

Interviews: W/C 7th December

Feedback: WC 14th December

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 at: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further Information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (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 : SCS Recruitment Team
• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Head of Resourcing at recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk, in the first instance.

Attachments

Chief Statistician - DCMS SCS Candidate Information Pack 485625 Opens in new window (pdf, 1892kB)485625 Deputy Director, Central Statistics Unit and Chief Statistician - Accessibility pack Opens in new window (docx, 2933kB)