Head of Census Operational Design ( 3132)

Job summary

Do you want to shape the delivery of Scotland’s Census, enabling governments and other public bodies to plan the services we all rely on, and telling the story of Scotland's people for generations to come? If so, this post could be for you.

You will be joining the Census 2031 as Head of Operation Design and will be responsible for the development of operational delivery of the 2031 Census data collection operation, whose primary goal is to enable all individuals in Scotland to complete a census return. This will include preparation and delivery of the 2027 Test, 2029 Rehearsal and 2031 Census. It covers the operational management of multiple services including a field operation in excess of 1,000 field officers who will visit non-responding households during an operational period of several weeks in 2031.

You should note that Scotland’s Census is a time limited project which will run until 2032 depending on the role. Please contact the line manager named in this advert if you have any further questions.

Job description

Key duties of the role include (but not limited to):

• Lead on the early operational design of Scotland’s Census 2031
• Develop the high-level design for the operational aspects of Scotland’s census in collaboration with Office of National Statistics (ONS) and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and NRS colleagues.
• Determine the requirements for the building blocks needed to stand up operational capabilities.
• Recruit the operational team to support design work.
• Work alongside statistical and IT design teams to develop the design and delivery plans.
• Produce high level operational requirements to ensure NRS is an intelligent partner and in the best position to collaborate with ONS and NISRA on key contracts.
• Responsibility for field operations during the 2027 Census Test, 2029 Census Rehearsal and 2031 Census itself.

Person specification

Success profileSuccess profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Technical / Professional Skills (Operational Delivery Profession):

• Connections and communication
• Operational leadership and management
• Data and insight
  

You can find out more about the skills required here: Insert link

Experience

• Experience of working in a public sector delivery context and sound financial management of budgets

• Experience of delivering a major operation involving public engagement involving a range of supporting services such as training, health & safety and recruitment.

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions – Level 4.
• Managing a quality service – Level 4.

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

• Connections and communication
• Operational leadership and management
• Data and insight

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £77,460, Scottish Government contributes £22,440 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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, Experience and Technical skills.Please apply using link provided.

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.

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.

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

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 : Jonathon Wroth-Smith
• Email : Jonathon.Wroth-Smith@nrscotland.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scottishgovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot