Director of Population Statistics

Job summary

The UK Statistics Authority is a non-ministerial government department responsible for overseeing the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).​

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. ​

The Director of Population Statistics will lead work to deliver population statistics – an ONS priority which forms the foundation of the statistical system and underpins decision making within and well beyond Government. The post holder will report to the Executive Director for the Population, Census and Social Surveys (PCSS), forming part of the Group’s leadership team. The Director of Population Statistics will lead on improvements to the outputs, analytical processes, and capabilities we need to deliver on trustworthy, independent, high quality population and migration statistics.

Job description

This role leads population and migration statistics, which delivers: ​ ​

• A portfolio of statistics including migration, population, births, deaths, life expectancy and living arrangements. ​
• Research and development to support the continuous improvement of statistical outputs through greater use of administrative data and the implementation of innovative approaches. ​
• Administrative data research to support delivery of Census. ​
• Effective communication and dissemination of priority ONS outputs. ​

​As a member of the senior management team, you will need to build credible and trusted relationships at the highest level across ONS, the UK Statistics Authority, across government departments and beyond with a wide range of stakeholders. You will be able to drive quality and identify opportunities in the fast-changing and demanding requirements on the ONS, showing strong leadership and be able to influence and challenge colleagues of all levels to achieve ONS’s strategic priorities and deliver value to the taxpayer. ​ ​

Key Responsibilities ​

Delivery of population and migration statistics;​

• Deliver population and migration statistics system which makes use of appropriate data sources and methods to delivery the best quality statistics, including making the best use of administrative data. ​ ​
• Work with users and stakeholders to ensure needs are being met. ​
• Embed a continuous improvement approach within the delivery of population and migration statistics, including delivering on commitments in ONS’s Economic Statistics Plan. ​ ​
• Lead on stakeholder engagement to understand needs, explain outputs and build credibility, ensuring senior stakeholders are briefed, updated and where appropriate, enrolled in the management and control of key risks. Identifying and engaging specialists as appropriate. ​ ​

Leadership responsibilities;​

• Provide strong, strategic leadership of the Directorate. ​ ​
• Ensure strategic alignment of the work of all divisions, ensuring alignment of plans, statistical outputs, research and public messages. ​ ​
• Accountable for ensuring strategic and operational risks and issues are identified, prioritised, assessed and mitigated. ​ ​
• Build and maintain a strong, motivated, delivery-focused team, supported by a high performing leadership team. ​ ​
• Oversee business support for the running of the Directorate ensuring corporate alliance. ​ ​
• Work with group leadership to embed positive culture across the group and support delivery of the full population, census and social statistics portfolio

Person specification

Essential Criteria

The successful candidate will demonstrate, as a minimum, the following knowledge, skills and experience: ​ ​

• An experienced analyst, with a track record of delivering high profile high-quality statistics in a complex stakeholder environment. ​ ​
• Strong record of strategic direction and delivery, including operational and cultural change management, to build and sustain a high performing team, in relevant analytical fields. ​ ​
• Recognised role model of excellent, inclusive leadership, known for exhibiting behaviour that motivates and engages others. ​ ​
• An ability to work across boundaries and build collaborative partnerships to ensure successful delivery. ​ Strong relationship management skills, with the confidence to influence at all levels, including influential external stakeholders.​ ​
• Knowledge and experience of working closely with official statistics around population, migration and lifestyle.​

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £100,000, Office for National Statistics contributes £28,970 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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

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.

If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please read the information available on Gov.uk on this link, or contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.

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

Selection Process

Applications should consist of your CV and Personal Statementcombined as one document and uploaded as a single attachment through Civil Service Jobs.​

A Curriculum Vitae of no more than 2 pages of A4 consisting of:​

• Details of your education and/or professional qualifications.​

• Full employment history, giving details (where applicable) of budgets and numbers of people managed, relevant key achievements in recent posts.​

• Details of your latest remuneration.​

A personal statement detailing in no more than 2 pages of A4 how you meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification. We recommend that you give clear examples for each describing your own contribution and the impact and value of your actions. ​

Applications will be acknowledged shortly after receipt. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within one week of applying for the post, please contact our SCS Recruitment Team. at: SCS.Recruitment@ons.gov.uk​

Further information on the assessment approach for this role can be found in the candidate pack.

Expected Recruitment Timetable

Shortlisting meeting: 9th March

Employee Engagement Exercise (EEE) - 19th March

Statistical Test/Assessment - WC 23rd March

Stakeholder Conversations - WC 30th March

Interviews - 9th April - Held in 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF

Dates are subject to change.

Full terms and conditions are attached at the bottom of this advert

If you meet the required standard but the recruiting department is unable to offer you the job, you may be given the option of being added to a reserve list. Reserve lists may be shared with other Civil Service departments and professions who are recruiting for similar roles.

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.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 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 : Mary Gregory
• Email : Mary.Gregory@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 1A Permanent - ONS London Inclusive v1-00 (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 83kB)Director_Pop_Stats_Candidate_Pack_Final2 Opens in new window (pdf, 817kB)